VARIATION IN BARK THICKNESS IN A TROPICAL FOREST COMMUNITY OF WESTERNGHATS IN INDIA

1. We examined the relation between bark thickness and girth in a larg e sample of trees from evergreen and semi-evergreen rain forest. 2. Th ere is a significant tendency for bark thickness to increase with tree girth. Removing this tendency, we find a significant trend for specie s from more disturbed habitats to possess thicker bark. 3. Species fro m more disturbed habitats also have a greater propensity for secreting gums and resins, 4. Nine of the 29 species occurring in more than one habitat type and with a sample size of at least 11 individuals show a tendency for possession of a thicker bark by individuals in the more disturbed habitats. 5. We conclude that bark thickness and occurrence of gums and resins are physiognomic-structural attributes of value in characterizing tree communities created by different levels of disturb ance.