Abstract
In India and other countries, large and ancient trees that persist in sacred groves and human-dominated landscapes support ecosystem services, including frugivore-mediated seed dispersal. In this study, we assessed the ecological significance of 'giant' trees (>1 m trunk circumference) in Vanzole Village, Western Ghats, India. We documented 82 giant trees belonging to 20 species in four sacred groves and surrounding human settlements. Sacred groves harbored a higher species richness of large trees (14 species, N = 44) than human settlements (8 species, N = 38). Tree composition varied, with Mangifera indica (Mango) and Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) dominating in human settlements, whereas Terminalia bellirica (Beheda) and several other species were more abundant in sacred groves. Giant trees in human settlements exhibited larger canopy diameter (p = 0.002) and DBH (p < 0.001), while trees in sacred groves were significantly taller (p < 0.001). Sapling recruitment was notably higher in sacred groves; Caryota urens saplings were found under 91% of trees in groves (mean = 56.0) versus 47% in settlements (mean = 4.9). The larger-seeded Strychnos nux-vomica was nearly absent in human settlements (5%) compared to sacred groves (77%). Our study highlights the unique conservation value of sacred groves due to their retention of numerous and diverse giant trees. Together with remnant large trees in human settlements, this network is vital for sustaining the regeneration of zoochorous species by supporting the activity of hornbills and other frugivores.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
The study documented 82 giant trees of 20 species.
Verbatim
e0“We documented 82 giant trees belonging to 20 species in four sacred groves and surrounding human settlements”
Claim · model-written summary
Sacred groves had higher large-tree species richness than settlements.
Verbatim
e0“Sacred groves harbored a higher species richness of large trees (14 species, N = 44) than human settlements (8 species, N = 38)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mango and jackfruit dominated settlement tree composition.
- Taxon
- Mangifera indica
_from_India.jpg?width=60)
Mangifera indicae0 - Outcome
- dominating in human settlementse0
- Setting
- human settlementse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_from_India.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Mangifera indica (Mango) and Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit) dominating in human settlements”
Claim · model-written summary
Terminalia bellirica and other species were more abundant in sacred groves.
- Taxon
- Terminalia bellirica
Terminalia belliricae0 - Outcome
- abundante0
- Direction
- more abundante0
- Setting
- sacred grovese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Terminalia bellirica (Beheda) and several other species were more abundant in sacred groves”
Claim · model-written summary
Settlement giant trees had larger canopy diameter.
Verbatim
e0“Giant trees in human settlements exhibited larger canopy diameter (p = 0.002) and DBH (p < 0.001), while trees in sacred groves were significantly taller (p < 0.001)”
Claim · model-written summary
Settlement giant trees had larger DBH.
Verbatim
e0“Giant trees in human settlements exhibited larger canopy diameter (p = 0.002) and DBH (p < 0.001), while trees in sacred groves were significantly taller (p < 0.001)”
Claim · model-written summary
Sacred grove trees were taller.
Verbatim
e0“Giant trees in human settlements exhibited larger canopy diameter (p = 0.002) and DBH (p < 0.001), while trees in sacred groves were significantly taller (p < 0.001)”
Claim · model-written summary
Caryota urens saplings occurred beneath 91% of grove trees versus 47% in settlements.
- Taxon
- Caryota urens
Caryota urense0 - Outcome
- saplings were found undere0
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 91%e0
- Qualifier
- 47%e0
- Comparator
- settlementse0
- Setting
- grovese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Caryota urens saplings were found under 91% of trees in groves (mean = 56.0) versus 47% in settlements (mean = 4.9)”
e1“Sapling recruitment was notably higher in sacred groves”
Claim · model-written summary
Caryota urens mean sapling recruitment was 56.0 in groves versus 4.9 in settlements.
- Taxon
- Caryota urensCaryota urense0
- Outcome
- saplingse0
- Direction
- highere1
- Value
- 56.0e0
- Qualifier
- 4.9e0
- Comparator
- settlementse0
- Setting
- grovese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Caryota urens saplings were found under 91% of trees in groves (mean = 56.0) versus 47% in settlements (mean = 4.9)”
e1“Sapling recruitment was notably higher in sacred groves”
Claim · model-written summary
Strychnos nux-vomica was less frequent in settlements than groves.
- Taxon
- Strychnos nux-vomica
Strychnos nux-vomicae0 - Outcome
- nearly absente0
- Direction
- nearly absente0
- Value
- 5%e0
- Qualifier
- 77%e0
- Comparator
- sacred grovese0
- Setting
- human settlementse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The larger-seeded Strychnos nux-vomica was nearly absent in human settlements (5%) compared to sacred groves (77%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Sacred groves retain diverse giant trees with conservation value.
Verbatim
e0“Our study highlights the unique conservation value of sacred groves due to their retention of numerous and diverse giant trees”