Quaternary vegetational history of ootacamund, Nilgiris, South India, 1. Kakathope and rees corner

Abstract

The paper incorporates the results of pollen analytical investigations of profiles collected from Kakathope and Rees Comer, Ootacamund in the Nilgiris, South India. The study of these lake sediments has not only brought about the interesting features of the changes in the plant communities but has also reflected upon the climatic cycles during the past. The important aspect of this study concerns the formation and regeneration of shola forest.

The grasslands, as revealed by the pollen diagram from Kakathope, are the pioneer communities. The formation of shola forest commenced through gradual invasion of grasslands about 35-40,000 years B.P., and it gained optimum during 14,000 B.P. The sholas afterward declined giving pace to the grasslands.

The present day patchy distribution of sholas throughout the Nilgiris is due to the destruction of forests. The major and foremost reason affecting regeneration of sholas is climatic factor, although edaphic and biotic factors have also played a considerable role in not permitting the sholas to regenerate.