scholarly journals Status of raptors in the Moyar River Valley, Western Ghats, India

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 12317-12327 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.R. Anoop ◽  
S. Babu ◽  
S. Bharathidasan ◽  
R. Nagarajan
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Milvus Migrans ◽  
Gyps Bengalensis ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Conservation And Management ◽  
Near Threatened ◽  
Tree Characteristics

This study examined the species composition and nest-tree characteristics of diurnal raptors in the tropical forests of Moyar Valley, Western Ghats between December 2012 and March 2013.  We recorded 28 species of raptors including three species of vultures.  Accipitridae was the dominant family comprising of 25 species followed by two from Falconidae and the monotypic Pandionidae.  Among them, eight species fall under various threatened category: three Critically Endangered, one Endangered, two Vulnerable and two Near Threatened.  The Critically Endangered Gyps bengalensis was frequently recorded during the survey (175 sightings) followed by Milvus migrans (39 sightings) and Haliastur indus (27 sightings).  We located 53 active nests of four species of raptors, viz., Gyps bengalensis (42 nests), Nisaetus cirrhatus (4 nests), Haliastur indus (4 nests), and Milvus migrans (3 nests).  A notable difference in the nest-tree characteristics among the sympatric raptors was observed.  These results would be important to identify priority areas for developing future conservation and management programs for the long-term conservation of raptorial birds in the Western Ghats.

scholarly journals Distribution and habitat associations of the Critically Endangered frog Walkerana phrynoderma (Anura: Ranixalidae), with an assessment of potential threats, abundance, and morphology

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Arun Kanagavel ◽  
Sethu Parvathy ◽  
Abhiijth P. Chundakatil ◽  
Neelesh Dahanukar ◽  
Benjamin Tapley
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Time Activity ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Pesticide Runoff ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Western Ghats

Distribution and habitat associations of the Critically Endangered frog Walkerana phrynoderma (Anura: Ranixalidae), with an assessment of potential threats, abundance, and morphology. Little is known about Walkerana phrynoderma, a frog endemic to the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats of India. Baseline information (i.e., distribution, threats, habitat characteristics, activity patterns, and relative abundance) is provided for this species, with the aim of improving our understanding of the status of the species in the wild. Visual-encounter, transect, and time-activity budget surveys were conducted in and around the Anamalai Hills of the Western Ghats. The frog skin was swabbed to determine the presence/absence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and habitat and environmental characteristics were recorded at sites where W. phrynoderma was found. These data were compared with those of sites apparently lacking this species that had suitable habitat. Walkerana phrynoderma is restricted to evergreen forests between 1300 and 1700 m a.s.l. in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and at Munnar; thus, its range was extended from the state of Tamil Nadu to the adjoining state of Kerala. Pesticide runoff and human disturbance are the most severe threats to the species; B. dendrobatidis was not detected. This nocturnal anuran prefers forest edges and is associated with well-shaded forest foors in cool areas near freshwater streams. Walkerana phrynoderma is rarely encountered whereas its congener, W. leptodactyla, is more common. The impact of anthropogenic disturbances, especially waste disposal and development of tourism infrastructure, should be evaluated. The land that is owned by the Forest Department peripheral to the protected areas could be designated as eco-sensitive sites to prevent changes in land use that could have an adverse effect on W. phrynoderma.

Female courtship calls of the litter frog (Rana curtipes) in the tropical forests of Western Ghats, South India

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savitha Krishna ◽  
Sharath Krishna
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
South India ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Calling Behavior ◽  
Tropical Rain Forests ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
Gravid Females ◽  
Female Call ◽  
The Western Ghats

AbstractWe noticed an uncommon phenomenon of female vocalization in the forest litter frog, Rana curtipes during the breeding season. We digitally recorded the male and female vocalization of the litter frogs in the tropical rain forests of the Western Ghats of South India and analyzed the call characteristics. The female call varied from the male call by being single note in composition. In contrast, the male calls were composed of seven to eight notes and longer in duration. We observed that gravid females, occupying the same location every day, emitted low volume calls when numerous males were found calling at that time. Some females arrived asynchronously and called even in the absence of males possibly to declare their receptive condition. Calling females responded agonistically to receptive conspecifics of the same sex. In addition to declaring receptivity, this calling behavior may be a response to adjacent competing females when the males are few.

Impatiens megamalayana, a new species of Impatiens from the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 302 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. RAMASUBBU ◽  
C. DIVYA ◽  
N. SASI KALA ◽  
ANJANA SURENDRAN ◽  
A.K. SREEKALA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Floral Structure ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

Impatiens megamalayana, a new species from Tamil Nadu, India is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by a ridged stem, ensiform and villous leaves, a wrinkled boat-shaped lower sepal with outwardly curved tip, ornamented seeds and strictly ovate pollen grains. This combination of characters makes determining the relationships of I. megamalayana difficult. The floral structure of I. megamalayana is closely allied to I. herbicola Hook.f. and I. inconspicua Benth. in Wall., the latter with three varieties, but it differs by several unique vegetative and floral features. Impatiens megamalayana is assessed as Critically Endangered in accordance with the IUCN guidelines. The habitat of the species is severely affected by landslides. As a result, effective strategies should be developed to protect I. megamalayana from exinction.

scholarly journals Population assessment of the Endangered Nilgiri tahr Nilgiritragus hylocrius in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, using the double-observer survey method

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kulbhushansingh Ramesh Suryawanshi ◽  
Divya Mudappa ◽  
Munib Khanyari ◽  
T. R. Shankar Raman ◽  
Devika Rathore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Tropical Mountains ◽  
Tiger Reserve ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Double Observer

Abstract The Nilgiri tahr Nilgiritragus hylocrius is an Endangered species of mountain ungulate endemic to the Western Ghats of India, a biodiversity hotspot. Habitat fragmentation, hunting and a restricted range are the major threats to this species. Although several surveys have assessed the species’ status, a population estimate based on a scientifically robust method is needed. We used the double-observer method to estimate the population of the Nilgiri tahr in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a protected area in the Western Ghats. We walked 257 km of transects across the Reserve, covering 36 grassland blocks (i.e. clusters of montane grasslands that were relatively separate from each other). We counted a minimum of 422 individuals in 28 groups, and estimated the tahr population in the study area to be 510 individuals (95% CI 300–858) in 35 groups. The male:female ratio was 0.71 and the young:female ratio was 0.56. Comparing our estimate with previous surveys suggests that the Nilgiri tahr population in Anamalai Tiger Reserve is stable. We found the double-observer survey method to be appropriate for population estimation and long-term monitoring of this species, and make recommendations for improved field protocols to facilitate the implementation of the method in the tropical mountains of the Western Ghats. Our findings suggest that the Reserve harbours 20–25% of the global population of the Nilgiri tahr, highlighting the area's importance for the conservation of this species.

Bridging the gap: Sharing responsibility for ecological restoration and wildlife conservation on private lands in the Western Ghats

Social Change ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 129-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Shankar ◽  
Divya Mudappa
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Mutual Cooperation ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Sharing Responsibility ◽  
The Western Ghats

A major conservation issue, particularly in the tropics, is habitat loss and fragmentation due to developmental activities and increasing human populations. Ecologiste today recognise that much of the once-pristine forests that are now secondary forests, as well as large areas outside existing conservation reserves, harbouring significant levels of biological diversity need to be targeted for long-term conservation. Governmental agencies such as the Forest Department and the conservation community have come to accept that the conventional patrol-and-protect method has its limitations in addressing the increasing threats to such conservation areas. A complementary strategy is to develop conservation plans for protection and improvement by ecological restoration of forests, particularly isolated fragments and degraded areas on private lands. This requires bridging gaps between private landowners, governmental agencies, and nongovernmental conservation organisations and fostering efforts based on mutual cooperation and collaboration as well as developing positive incentives for private landholders involved in conservation of forests and biological diversity. In this paper, we discuss one of the first examples of such an effort of sharing responsibility for long-term conservation in a highly disturbed tropical rainforest region of the Western Ghats.

scholarly journals On the diversity of the vertebrate fauna (excluding fishes) of Panchet Hill (Garh Panchkot), Purulia, West Bengal, India

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 12979-12985
Author(s):  
Sanjib Chattopadhyay ◽  
Somenath Dey ◽  
Utpal Singha Roy
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
West Bengal ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Information Collection ◽  
Vertebrate Species ◽  
Multiple Methods ◽  
Vertebrate Fauna ◽  
Gyps Bengalensis ◽  
Hyaena Hyaena ◽  
Near Threatened

The present study was conducted at Panchet Hill (Garh Panchkot), Purulia, West Bengal between June 2013 and May 2015.  Multiple methods were used for making a consolidated checklist and comments on the relative abundance of vertebrate diversity, excluding fishes.  The methods included hand capturing, extensive searches in micro habitats, opportunistic spotting and information collection from the local people.  A total of 106 different vertebrate species were recorded during the study span of two years.  Aves was recorded as the Class with the highest diversity (63 species) while Amphibia was recorded as the Class with the lowest diversity (9 species).  Most of the species recorded during the present study belong to ‘Least Concern’ category as designated by IUCN.  The Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus and Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena belong to ‘Near Threatened’ category while the White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis belongs to ‘Critically Endangered’ category.  The present study location is facing pressures from the usual anthropogenic interventions and needs attention from the concerned authorities.

scholarly journals Discovery of Two Critically Endangered Tree Species and Issues Related to Relic Forests of the Western Ghats

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. K. Mesta ◽  
T. V. Ramachandra ◽  
M. D. Subash Chandran ◽  
G. R. Rao ◽  
Sameer Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Endangered Tree ◽  
Endangered Tree Species ◽  
The Western Ghats

scholarly journals Rediscovery, systematics and proposed Red List status of Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale and S.R. Rahangdale nom. nov. (Asparagaceae) - an endemic species from the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 8421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savita Sanjaykumar Rahangdale ◽  
Sanjaykumar Ramlal Rahangdale
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Red List ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
New Name ◽  
Threat Status ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Iucn Criteria

<p>A new name in the genus <em>Ledebouria</em> Roth is validated for <em>Scilla viridis</em> Blatter &amp; Hallberg [non <em>Scilla viridis </em>(L.) Salisbury].  It is rediscovered after about 85 years of its first and only report.  It is also redescribed on the basis of morphology, anatomy, cytology and assigned the name <em>Ledebouria junnarensis </em>S.S. Rahangdale &amp; S.R. Rahangdale belonging to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Hyacinthoideae.  As this is a species endemic to the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, it is studied for threat status as per IUCN criteria &amp; guidelines and assigned the status Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).  Identification keys for the genera and species of subfamily Hyacinthoideae reported from India are prepared on the basis of reported and observed characters.</p><div> </div>

scholarly journals Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 16048-16063
Author(s):  
M. Tadwalkar ◽  
A. Joglekar ◽  
Monali Mhaskar ◽  
A. Patwardhan
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Threatened Plant Species ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Woody Species Diversity ◽  
The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats of India support an array of tropical forests ranging from wet evergreen to scrub formations.  Several endemic and threatened plant species are located in areas other than protected areas (PAs).  There is an urgent need to understand species diversity in areas other than PAs, for effective management of tropical forests.  In this context, reserve forests and informal PAs of Amboli from northern Western Ghats have been investigated. Woody species composition, diversity, and stand structure were assessed by laying quadrats and transects (n=46, area=2.575ha) in closed and open canopy forest patches covering habitat heterogeneity and environmental gradient of the area. A total of 2,224 individuals (of 87 species, 68 genera, and 35 families) was enumerated.  Memecylon umbellatum, Syzygium cumini, and Diospyros nigrescens were found to be the most dominant species as per importance value index.  Melastomataceae was the most dominant family as per family importance value, whereas Euphorbiaceae and Rutaceae were the most speciose.  Fourteen IUCN Red List assessed species and 18 species endemic to the Western Ghats were encountered.  Endemic species accounted for nearly 20% of the total number of individuals sampled.  Demographic profile exhibited reverse ‘J’ pattern.  Average basal area was 27.02m2 per hectare. Woody species diversity of Amboli forests was found comparable with other PAs from northern Western Ghats.  Amboli and the adjoining area have been proposed as ecologically sensitive and in the wake of anthropogenic and developmental pressures they experience, it calls for urgent conservation attention.

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