CLASSIFICATION OF FOREST

CLASSIFICATION OF FOREST

1. SUBMITTED BY , SONA PETER P MSC . BOTANY VIMALA COLLEGE THRISSUR

2. BASIS OF FOREST CLASSIFICATION PHYSIOGOMY : general apperance of forest ( shrub , herb tree , grass ) or seasonal changes STRUCTURE : basis of sratification ie , the way in which different species are alinged in different layers of forest. Ex:height and spacing FUNCTION : on basis of morphology leaf size , stem & root character FLORISTICS : refer to the species present in a forest HABITAT: environmental conditions PHYSIOGRAPHY: refer to the natural feature of the earth surface. HISTORY: refer to the past condition

3. Forest fall under 4 major categories TROPICAL FOREST SUBTROPICAL FOREST TEMPERATE FOREST NORTHERN CONIFEROUS FOREST 1. TROPICAL FOREST Found in tropical zone Oldest type of forest on earth Characterized by high temperature , high rainfall & flora and fauna are abundance The soil in this area is nutrient-poor and acidic . two type - Tropical rain forest - Tropical deciduous forest

4. TROPICAL RAIN FOREST Also known as jungles These are dense evergreen forest Found near equator Character are : high species diversity Rainfall through out year Warm climate High humidity Abundance of flora and fauna Dominant plant have large & broad leave and they provide shade to many plants

5. TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST Also known as tropical seasonal forest or monsoon forest Found in south east easia , central and south america , northern australia Characters are : High temperature High rain fall Tree usually 20-30 m tall Leafless during dry seasons 2 . SUBTROPICAL RAIN FOREST Found in region where high rainfall & temperature EX : rain forest of florida (USA) They seen to be evergreen but shed their leaves during summer season

6. 3.TEMPERATE FOREST Found in temperate zone Moderate temperature , rainfall Three type – Temperate deciduous forest - Temperate evergreen forest - Temperate rain forest

7. TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST Seen in moderate climatic region Trees have broad leave They shed their leaves during winter & florish during spring They are not dense & evergreen In summer – days are long , plenty of moisture & they engaged in active photosynthesis In winter – days are shorter , and the atmosphere is cool , but dry .so tree shed their leaves to reduce transpiration Animal population is rich in this area TEMPERATE EVERGREEN FOREST Also known as temperate evergreen wood lands Intermediate b/w temperate deciduous forest & dry grass land Dominant vegetation plant have needle leaves or slightly broad leaves

8. TEMPERATE RAIN FOREST Coldest type of rain forest Rain fall usually high Dominant trees include sequoia , eucalyptus Animal population also rich here 4.NORTHERN CONIFEROUS FOREST Also known as boreal forest , cold forest , taigas or north wood Trees have narrow , needle leaves In these forest summer are short and winter are long Needle like leave prevent excess evaporation Soil is acidic , mineral deficient & they have slow decomposition these is due to slow downward movement of water Winter season is not good for animal because of that they migrate or disappear

9. CHAMPION AND SETH REVISED CLASSIFICATION OF FOREST –IN INDIA (1968) Five major group TROPICAL FOREST 2. MOUNTAIN SUBTROPICAL FOREST 3. MOUNTAIN TEMPERATE FORTEST 4. SUB ALPINE FOREST 5. ALPINE FOREST

10. MAJOR GROUP ONE : TROPICAL FOREST Tropical wet evergreen forest - southern tropical wet evergreen forest - northern tropical wet evergreen forest Tropical semi evergreen forest - southern tropical semi evergreen forest - northern tropical semi evergreen forest Tropical moist deciduous forest - andaman moist decuous forest - southern indian moist deciduous forest - northern indian tropical moist deciduous forest littoral & swamp forest - the littoral forest - tidal & fresh water swamp forest Tropical dry deciduous forest - southern tropical dry deciduous forest - northern tropical dry deciduous forest

11. Tropical dry thorn forest - south india tropical thorn forest - northern india tropical thorn forest Tropical dry evergreen forest 1.TROPICAL WET EVERGREEN FOREST Southern tropical wet evergreen forest Found in tropical part of south india & andaman Annual temperature 27 c Annual Rainfall 2000mm-3000mm number of rainy days 118-150 Divided into : Giant evergreen forest B. Andaman tropical evergreen forest C. Southern hill top tropical evergreen forest D. West coast tropical evergreen forest

12. Northern tropical wet evergreen forest : Seen in north east india Annaul Rainfall 2500 mm Temperature 22c -26c Number of rainy days 122-137 Divided into : Kayea forest Mesua forest - occur in heavy rainfall area Cachae forest 2. TROPICAL SEMI EVERGREEN FOREST Southern tropical semi evergreen forest Occur through out moisture region Annual temperature 26c Annual Rainfall 2000 mm-3000 mm Number of rainy days 98 -110

13. Divided into : Andaman semi evergreen forest – seen in andaman West-coast semi evergreen forest _ seen in western ghats Trinelver semi evergreen forest – seen in eastern slope of southern western ghats Northern tropical semi evergreen forest Occur in heavy rainfall area Annual temperature 24c Annual Rainfall 1500 mm -3000mm Number of rainy days 95 - 108 Divided into : A. Assam valley semi evergreen forest a). Assam valley alluvial plain semi evergreen forest – seen in heavy rainfall area b). eastern sub mountain semi evergreen forest - seen in sub himalayan area B. Cachar tropical semi evergreen forest – seen in lower slope of cachar hill

14. 3.TROPICAL MOIST DECIDUOUS FOREST Andaman moist deciduous forest Found in andaman island Annual temperature 26c Annual rainfall 3000mm Number of rainy days 150 South indian moist deciduous forest Occur in jabalpur This forest contain many commerically valueable teak Annual temperature 24 – 27c Annual rainfall 1500 – 2500mm Divided into : Moist deciduous forest Very moist deciduous forest Slighty moist deciduous forest

15. Northern indian tropical moist deciduous forest Found in up , bihar , orissa , mp , assam , and other northern states Annual temperature b/w 21 & 26c Sal or shorea rohusta is the most important species in this group Divided into : A. Moist sal Eastern hill sal eastern bhabar sal east himalayan sal Khasi hill sal Eastern himalayan lower bhabar sal Eastern tarai sal forest B. Very moist sal C. Moist sal savannah D. Moist mixed deciduous E. Northern secondary moist mixed deciduous

16. 4. LITTORAL & SWAMP FOREST Littoral forest Soil is sandy and rich in lime but poor in nitrogen Water is brackish Rainfall varies from 760mm – 5000mm Tidal & fresh water swamp forest Seen near river of krishna , godavari Dense growth of mangrove swmap Mangrove scrub or salt water forest – seen in muddy coast Mangrove forest – seen in west bengal Salt water mixed forest - seen in river bank of krishna , godavari Brackish water mixed forest – seen near river ganga Palm swamp – river valley of travancore and kerala 5.TROPICAL DRY DECIDUOUS FOREST Southern tropical dry deciduous forest Found in mp , ap , gujarat , maharastra and karnadaka

17. Annual temperature less than 1900 mm or more than 750 mm A. Dry teak bearing forest Very dry teak forest – seen in high rainfall area Dry teak forest – seen in high rainfall area - clay soil - found in karnataka B. Red sanders bearing forest – occur in dry hills C. southern dry mixed deciduous forest northern tropical dry deciduous forest Seen in northern india Annual temperatuere 24 – 27c A. Dry sal bearing forest Dry siwalik sal forest Dry plain sal forest Dry peninsular sal forest B. Northern dry mixed deciduous forest

18. 6.TROPICAL THORN FOREST Temperature is high Low rainfall South indian tropical thorn forest North indian tropical thorn forest 7. TROPICAL DRY EVERGREEN FOREST Seen in madras Rainfall only in october – december Temperature 27 – 28 c MAJOR GROUP TWO :MOUNTAIN SUBTROPICAL FOREST Seen in high rainfall area Rainfall 3237 – 6635 mm Temperature 18 – 24c Widespread in kerala ,madaras , mysore and in region of bombay Divided into :

19. Nilgiri subtropical hill savannah South indian subtropical hill savannah Reed brakers Western subtropical hill forest Central tropical Subtropical broad leaved hill forest Seen in eastern himalaya and hills of bramaputhra Dominant species include oaks and chesnuts Subtropical pine forest Divided into : Assam subtropical hill savannah Subtropical pine forest Subtropical dry evergreen forest Small leaves thorny Species are seen here

20. MAJORT GROUP THREE :MOUNTAIN TEMPERATE FORTEST Montane wet temperate forest - see in nilgiri , palni hills (TN) Himalayan moist temperate forest - seen in assam , himachal pradesh Himalayan dry temperate forest - seen in north west kashmir MAJOR GROUP FOUR :SUB ALPINE FOREST it is dense shrubby forest Height 9500- 12000 Occur in jammu and kashmir , up , bengal , assam and manipur MAJOR GROUP FIVE :ALPINE FOREST These forest are characterized by simple snow fall A thick layer of black humus is present Soil is generally wet Snow is main source of water High speed wind blow through out year Moist alpine scrub forest – main species is rhododenron and jumiperus Dry alpine scrub forest – seen in inner part of himalaya