BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY STUDY

For systematic biodiversity assessment, Tirunelveli District has been divided into five distinct ecological zones, each further subdivided into 5-square-kilometer grids to facilitate structured data collection.

Reserved Forests: Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, and other protected forests. Key Ecosystems: Tropical evergreen forests,moist deciduous forests, and shola grasslands. Sampling Strategy: Stratified random sampling based on elevation, habitat types, and forest composition

Tamiraparani River System: Covering the main river channel, tributaries, riparian zones, and associated wetlands Key Ecosystems: Fresh water ecosystems, riparian forests, and aquatic habitats. Sampling Strategy: Transect surveys along river banks and tributaries with an emplhasis on aquatic and semi-aquatic species.

Wetlands: Including ponds, lakes, marshes and paddy fields. Key Ecosystems: Fresh water wetlands and irrigation tanks. Sampling Strategy: Quadrat sampling for vetetation and transect surveys for aquatic fauna.

Dry Lands: Comprising arid and semi-arid zones, scrublands, and fallow lands Key Ecosystems: Thorn forests, dry grasslands, and rocky outcrops Sampling Strategy: Randomized sampling to capture drought-resistant flora and fauna diversity

Coastal Zones: Covering estuaries, mangroves, sandy beaches, and intertidal zones. Key Ecosystems: Mangrove forests, coral reefs, and coastal dunes. Sampling Strategy: Transect surveys along the coastline and quadrat sampling for mangrove regions.