Impact of Mikania micrantha on The Habitat of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Unicornis Linnaeus, 1758) in Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest, Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

This study was carried out aiming to assess the floral diversity, status and distribution of Mikania and its impact on Rhinoceros habitat in three different habitats namely natural forest, planted forest and grassland in the onset of monsoon season. For Sampling 20×20m 2 , 5×5 m 2 and 1×1m2 sized quadrates were used to obtain quantitative data related to trees, shrubs and herbs having sampling intensity 0.8%, 0.1% and 0.004% respectively under belt transect method of data collection. Altogether 88, 53 and 50 plant species were recorded in natural forest, planted forest and grassland respectively. Among three habitats, natural forest was found to be more diverse, followed by planted forest and grassland. Based on IVI of tree species natural forest was classified as Albizia-Trewia forest and planted forest as Dalbergia-Trewia forest. Mikania was found to be more abundant in planted forest than in natural forest but in grassland, Imperata cylindrica was found to be more abundant and followed by Saccharum spontaneum and Mikania micrantha. Altogether 41 food species of rhino were recorded, among them Imperata cylindrica. Saccharum spontaneum, Phragmites karka were smothered by Mikania invasion. Myrsine chisia and Litsea monopetala were found to be more severely impacted among major tree species followed by Mallotus philipensis, Dysoxylum binecteriferum, Milusa veluta, Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo and so on. The preference habitat of Rhinoceros was found to be more severely impacted by Mikania micrantha invasion where more number of Rhinoceros was recorded. The abundance of Mikania micrantha and the species richness are highly negatively correlated at the 0.01 level and same types of correlation was found between coverage of Mikania micrantha and food species of Rhinoceros unicornis, which indicates that higher coverage of M. micrantha in the plot lowers the species richness and food species of Rhinoceros unicornis. Food species of Rhinoceros unicornis is more sensitive towards presence of M. micrantha than overall species richness.

Key words: Mikania, Species diversity, Impact, Rhinoceros, Invasive species