Cbh: Circumference at Breast Height, - Data Not Available

Table S1Vegetation characteristics of sal and other deciduous forests in India (modified from Uma Shankar 2001)

Forest type / Location / Plot size (ha) / Size class cbh (cm) / Species richness / Stand density (ha-1) / Basal area (m2ha-1) / Source
Eastern Himalaya and West Bengal
Sal forests / North Bengal / 0.04 / ≥30 / 134 / 438 / 56.52 / Present study
-do- / South West Bengal / 0.04 / ≥30 / 35 / 1006 / 19.62 / - do -
-do- / Mahananda Sanctuary, Darjeeling / 2 / ≥10 / 87 / 484 / 26.3 / Uma Shankar (2001)
Central and Western Himalaya
Sal forests / Phanduwala / 0.2 / ≥10 / 13 / 1510 / 37.8 / Pande (1999)
-do- / Lachchhiwala / 0.2 / ≥10 / 21 / 1920 / 22.3 / - do -
-do- / Balandiwala / 0.2 / ≥10 / 17 / 1150 / 24.2 / - do -
-do- / Jhajhra / 0.2 / ≥10 / 18 / 1460 / 23.8 / - do -
-do- / Timli / 0.2 / ≥10 / 11 / 1332 / 23.4 / - do -
-do- / Siwaliks / 0.74 / ≥10 / 62 / 254-376 / - / Rawat and Bhainsora (1999)
-do- / DoonValley / 0.74 / ≥10 / 56 / 640 / - / - do -
-do- / Outer Himalaya / 0.74 / ≥10 / 54 / 644 / - / - do -
-do- / CorbettNational Park / 2.9 / ≥31.5 / 3-20 / 180-860 / 14.5-71.8 / Singh et al. (1995)
-do- / Gorakhpur / - / ≥30 / 10 / 814 / 56.2 / Shukla and Pandey (2000)
-do- / Gorakhpur / 0.01 / ≥30 / 51 / 624 / 35.45 / Shukla (2009)
-do- / Uttarakhand and U.P. (Shiwaliks in part) / 0.04 / ≥30 / 10 / - / 17.90 / IIRS (2002)
-do- / Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, U.P. / 0.01 / ≥30 / 34 / 515 / - / Chauhan et al. (2008)
-do- / Himachal Pradesh / 0.04 / ≥30 / 9 / - / 19.63 / IIRS (2002)
Sal old growth forest / Siwaliks / - / - / - / - / 51.2 / Rana et al. (1988)
Sal seedling coppice forest / Siwaliks / - / - / - / - / 33.5 / - do -
Sal plantation / Gorakhpur / 2.4 / ≥30 / 29 / 451 / 43.9 / Pandey and Shukla (1999)
-do- / Gorakhpur / 0.01 / ≥30 / 16 / - / 41.25 / Pande and Shukla (2005)
Dry deciduous / Himachal Pradesh / 0.04 / ≥30 / 27 / - / 21.31 / IIRS (2002)
-do- / Punjab Shiwalik Hills / 0.04 / ≥30 / 141 / - / 22.95 / IIRS (2002)
-do- / Uttarakhand and U.P. (Shiwaliks in part) / 0.04 / ≥30 / 20 / - / 8.5 / IIRS (2002)
Moist deciduous / Himachal Pradesh / 0.04 / ≥30 / 58 / - / 7.29 / IIRS (2002)
-do- / Punjab Shiwalik Hills / 0.04 / ≥30 / 42 / - / 38.42 / IIRS (2002)
-do- / Uttarakhand and U.P. (Shiwaliks in part) / 0.04 / ≥30 / 36 / - / 15.24 / IIRS (2002)
Central India
Sal forests / Vindhyan Hills / - / ≥30 / - / 294-559 / 7-23 / Jha and Singh (1990)
-do- / Karanjia, Mandla / 0.75 / ≥30 / 12-14 / 324-476 / 27-55.3 / Prasad and Pandey (1992)
Western Ghats
Dry deciduous / Mudumalai / 50 / ≥3.14 / 72 / 518 / 24.7 / Sukumar et al. (1998)
-do- / BR Hills / 10 / ≥3.14 / 69 / 905 / 26.8 / Murali et al. (1996)
-do- / Karnataka / 0.1 / ≥31.4 / 157 / - / 21.07 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 44 / 450 / 28.15 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Anaimalai Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 33 / 100 / 11.95 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 40 / 123 / 4.80 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Tirunelveli Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 25 / 71 / 21.92 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Kerala / 0.1 / ≥30 / 29 / - / 16.45 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Maharashtra / 0.1 / ≥30 / 59 / - / 2.40 / NRSA (2002)
Deciduous scrub / BR Hills / 4 / ≥3.14 / 69 / 2685 / 7.9 / Uma Shankar et al. (1998b)
Moist deciduous / Western Ghats / 0.5 / ≥31.4 / 77 / 352 / 33.7 / Sundarapandian and Swamy (1997)
-do- / Western Ghats / 10.32 / ≥31.4 / 27 / 276 / - / Ghate et al. (1998)
-do- / Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 36 / 222 / 51.14 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Anaimalai Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 24 / 58 / 54.37 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 39 / 127 / 41.68 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Tirunelveli Hills, Tamil Nadu / 0.1 / ≥30 / 120 / 614 / 34.04 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Karnataka / 0.1 / ≥10 / 229 / - / 32.25 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Kerala / 0.1 / ≥30 / 102 / - / 28.55 / NRSA (2002)
-do- / Maharashtra / 0.1 / ≥30 / 195 / - / 18.46 / NRSA (2002)
Eastern Ghats
Sal mixed dry deciduous / Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 76 / 527 / 26.30 / Reddy et al. (2007)
-do- / Boudh district, Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 91 / 591 / 25.50 / Sahu et al. (2007)
-do- / North-east Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 100 / - / 29.87 / NRSA (2007)
Sal mixed moist deciduous / Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 121 / 557 / 42.08 / Reddy et al. (2007)
-do- / Southern Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 94 / - / 23.97 / NRSA (2007)
-do- / North-west Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 78 / - / 12.65 / NRSA (2007)
-do- / North-east Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 178 / - / 46.51 / NRSA (2007)
-do- / Southern Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 198 / - / 32.83 / NRSA (2007)
-do- / North-west Orissa / 0.04 / ≥30 / 103 / - / 30.83 / NRSA (2007)
Range for dry tropical forests / - / - / 35-90 / - / 17-40 / Murphy and Lugo (1986)

cbh: circumference at breast height, - data not available

Table S2Distribution of species in different families according to their habit

Sl. No. / Family / Moist sal / Dry sal
No. of species of / No. of species of
Trees / Shrubs / Herbs / Total / Trees / Shrubs / Herbs / Total
1. / Acanthaceae / 5 / 12 / 17 / 1 / 6 / 7
2. / Adiantaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
3. / Alangiaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
4. / Amaranthaceae / 3 / 3 / 0
5. / Anacardiaceae / 6 / 1 / 7 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 6
6. / Annonaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 0
7. / Apocynaceae / 4 / 3 / 2 / 9 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 9
8. / Araceae / 4 / 4 / 2 / 2
9. / Araliaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
10. / Arecaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
11. / Aristolochiaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
12. / Asclepiadaceae / 2 / 5 / 7 / 2 / 2
13. / Asteraceae / 2 / 23 / 25 / 1 / 7 / 8
14. / Athyriaceae / 3 / 3 / 0
15. / Balsaminaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
16. / Bignoniaceae / 3 / 2 / 5 / 0
17. / Bolbitaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
18. / Bombacaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
19. / Boraginaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
20. / Brassicaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
21. / Caesalpiniaceae / 3 / 2 / 5 / 2 / 2
22. / Caryophyllaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
23. / Combretaceae / 6 / 1 / 7 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 11
24. / Commelinaceae / 6 / 6 / 1 / 1
25. / Convallariaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
26. / Convolvulaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
27. / Cucurbitaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
28. / Cyperaceae / 12 / 12 / 1 / 1
29. / Dilleniaceae / 2 / 2 / 0
30. / Dioscoreaceae / 1 / 5 / 6 / 3 / 3
31. / Dipterocarpaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3
32. / Dryopteridaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
33. / Ebenaceae / 0 / 1 / 1 / 2
34. / Elaeocarpaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
35. / Euphorbiaceae / 9 / 10 / 9 / 28 / 6 / 3 / 9
36. / Fagaceae / 3 / 3 / 0
37. / Flacourtiaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 6
38. / Gentianaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
39. / Gesneriaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
40. / Hypoxidaceae / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1
41. / Icacinaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
42. / Juglandaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
43. / Lamiaceae / 6 / 6 / 12 / 0
44. / Lauraceae / 8 / 2 / 1 / 11 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3
45. / Lecythidaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
46. / Leeaceae / 2 / 1 / 3 / 0
47. / Liliaceae / 3 / 3 / 2 / 2
48. / Loganiaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
49. / Lygodiaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
50. / Lythraceae / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2
51. / Magnoliaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
52. / Malpighiaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
53. / Malvaceae / 1 / 3 / 8 / 12 / 3 / 3
54. / Melastomataceae / 1 / 1 / 2 / 0
55. / Meliaceae / 14 / 2 / 16 / 0
56. / Menispermaceae / 2 / 5 / 7 / 0
57. / Mimosaceae / 9 / 6 / 3 / 18 / 1 / 2 / 3
58. / Moraceae / 4 / 1 / 2 / 7 / 1 / 1
59. / Myrsinaceae / 2 / 1 / 3 / 0
60. / Myrtaceae / 4 / 1 / 1 / 6 / 1 / 1
61. / Onagraceae / 0 / 1 / 1
62. / Orchidaceae / 3 / 3 / 0
63. / Oxalidaceae / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3
64. / Pandanaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
65. / Papilionaceae / 5 / 15 / 14 / 34 / 2 / 3 / 7 / 12
66. / Piperaceae / 3 / 3 / 0
67. / Poaceae / 2 / 18 / 20 / 4 / 4
68. / Polygalaceae / 3 / 3 / 0
69. / Polygonaceae / 5 / 5 / 0
70. / Pteridaceae / 5 / 5 / 1 / 1
71. / Pteridiaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
72. / Ranunculaceae / 1 / 1 / 2 / 0
73. / Rhamnaceae / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 2
74. / Rubiaceae / 4 / 10 / 8 / 22 / 1 / 5 / 3 / 9
75. / Rutaceae / 1 / 5 / 1 / 7 / 1 / 1 / 2
76. / Sapindaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
77. / Sapotaceae / 0 / 1 / 1 / 2
78. / Sarcospermataceae / 1 / 1 / 0
79. / Scrophulariaceae / 4 / 4 / 1 / 1
80. / Simaroubaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
81. / Sinopteridaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
82. / Smilacaceae / 4 / 1 / 5 / 1 / 1 / 2
83. / Solanaceae / 1 / 1 / 2 / 0
84. / Sonneratiaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
85. / Sterculiaceae / 3 / 1 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 2
86. / Sterculiaceae / 0 / 1 / 1
87. / Tetramelaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
88. / Theaceae / 1 / 1 / 2 / 0
89. / Thelypteridaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
90. / Thymelaeaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
91. / Tiliaceae / 2 / 2 / 4 / 0
92. / Tiliaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
93. / Ulmaceae / 1 / 1 / 0
94. / Urticaceae / 2 / 4 / 6 / 0
95. / Verbenaceae / 4 / 7 / 2 / 13 / 2 / 1 / 3
96. / Violaceae / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
97. / Vitaceae / 1 / 2 / 2 / 5 / 0
98. / Zingiberaceae / 8 / 8 / 1 / 1