ECOTONE STRUCTURE AS AN INDICATOR OF CHANGING FOREST SAVANNA BOUNDARIES (LINGANAMAKKI REGION, SOUTHERN INDIA)

To understand the dynamics between forests and savannas, a study of fo rest-savanna boundaries was conducted in the Western Ghats of Karnatak a, India. Tree communities occurring in six transects cutting across t he savanna, ecotone and forest were analysed. The floristics, structur e and regeneration of the trees revealed three situations: forest expa nding into the savanna, stability between the two ecosystems and fores t regression due to human pressure. When the forest is protected from disturbance (human impact, grazing and fire), it expands into the sava nna.