1Department of Environmental Science, Mangattuparamba Campus, Kannur University, Kannur, Kerala, India, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2888-0615
2PG Department of Botany and Research Centre, Sir Syed College, Kannur, Kerala – IndiaORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8163-9994
3Department of Environmental Science, Mangattuparamba Campus, Kannur University, Kannur, Kerala, India, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1097-1006
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, Funambulus tristriatus, Waterhouse (1837) inside these SGs. Shannon’s and Simpson’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 Memecylon randerianum is the dominant species in Neeliyarkottam and Madayi kavu; Myristica malabarica is the dominant species in Poongottukavu, and Carallia brachiata is the predominant tree species in Iriverikavu. Thazhekavu is home to the mangrove species Avicennia officinalis. Chamakavu is a coastal SG with the highest density of Syzygium caryophyllatum and the highest IVI of Gmelina arborea. The study found that squirrels are significantly encountered in fruit-giving trees with a high canopy. Our descriptive statistical findings reveal that out of the total observed F. tristriatus (n=106), about 42% of squirrels are encountered in Memecylon randerianum, followed by Mangifera indica (31%), Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (4%), Elaeocarpus tuberculatus (3%), etc. Neeliyar kottam has the most tree species and individual trees with a high diversity of Memecylon randerianum, Mangifera indica, and higher squirrel encounters. F. tristriatus fed the flowers and berries of Memecylon randerianum and flowers and drupes of Mangifera indica. In sum, the presence of trees and the diversity of SGs is critical for the survival of F. tristriatus in densely populated and rapidly urbanizing districts like Kannur.
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