Plant Traits & Plant Resource Users in Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest

Plant traits and plant resource users have substantial and complex effect on ecosystem structure and functioning (herbivory, pollination and seed dispersal etc.). These effects may affect ecosystem services positively or negatively, depending on site management goals and perspectives. Evidently, plant trait-based framework can also support the understanding and aid in management of multiple ecosystem services. Tropical forests are well known for their rich biodiversity, contribution to global carbon stock and various ecosystem services they render to humanity and to wildlife. There are 16 major forest types in India ranging from dry tropical scrubs to montane wet temperate forest. Among them the tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF) on the Coromandel (East) Coast of peninsular India constitute one of the under-researched forest types Such baseline research on plant resource use by faunal communities will be valuable in understanding the complex web of forest biotic interactions useful for conservation of this and similar tropical forests. For effective conservation of TDEF sites, we advocate creating environmental awareness to various sections of the society.