Variation in bark thickness in a tropical forest community of Western Ghats in India

Abstract

1. We examined the relation between bark thickness and girth in a large sample of trees from evergreen and semi-evergreen rain forest. 2. There is a significant tendency for bark thickness to increase with tree girth. Removing this tendency, we find a significant trend for species from more disturbed habitats to possess thicker bark. 3. Species from more disturbed habitats also have a greater propensity for secreting gums and resins. 4. Nine of the 29 species occurring in more than one habitat type and with a sample size of at least 11 individuals show a tendency for possession of a thicker bark by individuals in the more disturbed habitats. 5. We conclude that bark thickness and occurrence of gums and resins are physiognomic-structural attributes of value in characterizing tree communities created by different levels of disturbance.