Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Assessment of Forest Fragmentation and Species Diversity in North Andaman Islands (India): A Geospatial Approach

P. Rama Chandra Prasad, A.N. Sringeswara, Ch. Sudhakar Reddy, Nidhi Nagabhatla, K.S. Rajan, A. Giriraj, M.S.R. Murthy, S.H. Raza, C.B.S. Dutt

Abstract


The present study was carried out in the context of conservation biology research, focusing on the species diversity in the fragmented landscapes of island ecosystem. The study analyzed the levels of forest fragmentation and its effect on species diversity in the North Andaman Islands using satellite remote sensing data and a GIS-based fragmentation model in conjunction with phyto-sociological analysis. Results depict that the model performed well when the forest is considered as a single unit, compared to the scenario wherein the individual forest types are accounted. Additionally, the phyto-sociological data analysis results are correlated with the fragmentation model, which indicates that majority of the area is under intact category, contemplating that the process of fragmentation in these islands is in its initial phase. Taking a note of such observations, conservation measures are recommended to facilitate the sustainable management of the pristine vegetation glory of these islands.

Keywords


Forest, GIS, Remote sensing, Visual interpretation, Random sampling

Full Text:

PDF


Disclaimer/Regarding indexing issue:

We have provided the online access of all issues and papers to the indexing agencies (as given on journal web site). It’s depend on indexing agencies when, how and what manner they can index or not. Hence, we like to inform that on the basis of earlier indexing, we can’t predict the today or future indexing policy of third party (i.e. indexing agencies) as they have right to discontinue any journal at any time without prior information to the journal. So, please neither sends any question nor expects any answer from us on the behalf of third party i.e. indexing agencies.Hence, we will not issue any certificate or letter for indexing issue. Our role is just to provide the online access to them. So we do properly this and one can visit indexing agencies website to get the authentic information. Also: DOI is paid service which provided by a third party. We never mentioned that we go for this for our any journal. However, journal have no objection if author go directly for this paid DOI service.