PLANT DIVERSITY, LIFE-FORMS AND THE BIOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF THE CHINTAMONI KAR BIRD SANCTUARY, WEST BENGAL, INDIA.

This study was carried out in newly declared human-impacted Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary to document the life-forms and present the biological spectrum. The study enlists 149 flowering plant species belonging to 134 genera under 56 families. Of these, Rosids (56 species) are the most species dominant followed by Asterids (45 spp.) and Monocots (30 spp.) besides enriched with seven basal angiosperm species. The Apocynaceae are the most dominant family followed by Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae and Poaceae. Among the genera, Ficus was found as dominant with four species followed by Cyperus and Dioscorea (3 spp. each). As per growth forms, herbs dominate (51 spp.; 33.8%), followed by trees (47 spp.; 31.7%), shrubs (29 spp.; 19.6%), and climbers (22 spp.; 14.9%). The Raunkiaer life-form analysis shows that phanerophytes make up 54% of the flora followed by 13% cryptophytes (geophytes), 12% therophyte, 11% hemicryptophytes and 10% chamaephytes. The study suggests that the region enjoys a hot and humid Phanerophytic climate. The selective planting of various fruit-bearing woody species contributed to the dominance of phanerophytes; historically the site was an orchard till it was declared a sanctuary in 1982. However, there were changes in the plant growth over the decades of protected status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]