Herbaceous Species Diversity, Composition and Anthropogenic Disturbances at Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary (GAWLS), Maharashtra, Western India

Herbaceous flora plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem functions, yet comprehensive studies on their diversity and ecological significance remain limited. This study assesses the species richness, density, frequency, abundance, and Importance Value Index (IVI) of herbaceous plants within the GAWLS Sanctuary. A total of 33 herb species, belonging to 33 genera and 18 families, were documented. Asteraceae emerged as the dominant family with six species, followed by Fabaceae (five species) and Acanthaceae (four species), indicating their prominence in the herbaceous layer. Density analysis identified Senna tora (L.) Roxb. as the most dominant species, with 176.39 individuals per hectare (14.77%), followed by Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze (11.86%) and Hemidesmus indicus var. indicus (11.63%). Frequency analysis revealed Hemidesmus indicus var. indicus as the most frequent species (44.44%), contributing 13.73% to the relative frequency, while Euphorbia thymifolia L. and Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze exhibited notable frequencies of 33.33% and 29.17%, respectively. In terms of abundance, Senna tora (L.) Roxb. recorded the highest abundance (6.35 individuals per plot), followed by Ageratum conyzoides L. and Corchorus trilocularis Auct. (6.25 each). The IVI analysis confirmed Senna tora (L.) Roxb. as the most ecologically significant species (IVI = 38.12), followed by Hemidesmus indicus var. indicus (IVI = 36.99) and Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze (IVI = 32.73). Anthropogenic disturbances, including livestock grazing, bridle path usage, and dependence on forest resources by local communities, exert significant pressure on the ecosystem. Religious activities, such as festival gatherings, vehicle parking, and open-fire cooking, further contribute to habitat degradation. Additionally, tree felling and logging accelerate habitat fragmentation, threatening biodiversity conservation efforts. This study provides critical baseline data for future ecological assessments and highlights the importance of conserving herbaceous plant diversity within protected areas.