XVI International Botanical Congess

The effect of selective logging and clear felling on the density and regeneration of 6 important fruit trees- Cullenia exarillata, Aglaia elaeagnoidea, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Myristica dactyloides, Gomphandra coriacea, Palaquium ellipticum were studied in a 25 years old logged forest. Transects (10x100m) in primary, selectively logged and clear felled forests were laid to enumerate trees. 10cm DBH trees and sub-plots (10x10m) at 0-10m, 40-50m and 90-100m were enumerated for saplings (1-10cm DBH). Adul nsity. P.ellipticum had no saplings in clear felled site. The adult / sapling ratio was much less in logged sites compared to primary forest. The low adult density and reduced regeneration potentiality of these species in the logged site suggests that mid elevation evergreen forest at Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve does not encourage any kind of manipulation of these forests.