@article{aees202210102,
author={{Amina, P.V. and Sreeja, P and K, Manoj},
title={Tree Diversity and Abundance of Western Ghats Striped Squirrels, <i>Funambulus Tristriatus</i> in Sacred Groves: Evidence from Kannur, Kerala},
journal={Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences},
volume={10},
number={10},
pages={601--613},
year={2022},
url={http://pubs.sciepub.com/aees/10/10/2},
issn={2328-3920},
abstract={The study was carried out to measure tree species diversity of six spatially heterogeneous Sacred Groves (SGs) to observe the abundance of IUCN Red List (LC) Western Ghats Striped squirrel, <i>Funambulus tristriatus, </i>Waterhouse (1837) inside these SGs. ShannonĄ¯s and SimpsonĄ¯s Indices and IVI were used to examine the tree species diversity. The abundance of squirrels in all six SGs was also recorded through a two-month-long 48-kilometre transect walk survey. The floristic composition exhibited that <i>Memecylon randerianum</i> is the dominant species in Neeliyarkottam<i> </i>and Madayi kavu; <i>Myristica malabarica</i> is the dominant species in Poongottukavu, and <i>Carallia brachiata</i> is the predominant tree species in Iriverikavu. Thazhekavu is home to the mangrove species <i>Avicennia officinalis</i>. Chamakavu is a coastal SG with the highest density of <i>Syzygium caryophyllatum </i>and the highest IVI of <i>Gmelina arborea</i>. The study found that squirrels<i> </i>are significantly encountered in fruit-giving trees with a high canopy. Our descriptive statistical findings reveal that out of the total observed <i>F. tristriatus</i> (<i>n=106), </i>about 42% of squirrels are encountered in<i> Memecylon randerianum, followed by Mangifera indica (31%), Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.</i> (<i>4%), Elaeocarpus tuberculatus (3%), etc. </i>Neeliyar kottam has the most tree species and individual trees with a high diversity of <i>Memecylon randerianum, Mangifera indica, and</i> higher squirrel encounters. <i>F. tristriatus </i>fed the flowers and berries of <i>Memecylon randerianum</i> and flowers and drupes of <i>Mangifera indica.</i> In sum, the presence of trees and the diversity of SGs is critical for the survival of <i>F. tristriatus </i>in densely populated and rapidly urbanizing districts like Kannur.},
doi={10.12691/aees-10-10-2}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}