Abstract
Variation in life form, dominance and diversity of the vegetation during succession was studied on a protected jhum fallow. The species number was found to decline with succession whereas the total (community) density increased consistently on the jhum fallow. Arundinella bengalensis was a dominant grass species, however, other species of grasses like Eulalia fastigiata and Imperata cylindrical were also important in the community. A. bengalensis showed a consistent increase in density and IVI with succession. Various indices like dominance, diversity, richness and evenness were influenced by the seasons. Diversity and richness were highest in rainy season while dominance and evenness were in summer. With succession the dominance-diversity curves also changed from long normal distribution of Preston (1948) to the geometric series of niche pre-emption model (Whittaker, 1975).
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