scholarly journals Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Aryanad Grama Panchayat, Kerala, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 20153-20166
Author(s):  
Reji Chandran ◽  
A. Vivek Chandran
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Southwest Monsoon ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
Southwest Monsoon Season ◽  
The Western Ghats

A year-long study to document the diversity and seasonality of odonates was conducted at Aryanad Grama Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, southern India. A total of 93 species (56 dragonflies and 37 damselflies) belonging to 12 families were recorded. Twenty-four species of odonates recorded are endemic to the Western Ghats, three to peninsular India and one to India. Small streams showed the highest species richness, hosting 69 species and ponds the lowest with 59 species. Species richness showed a peak during the southwest monsoon season and a dip in winter. The study highlights the importance of biodiversity documentation at regional level. 

A new species of rock-dwelling Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Tamil Nadu, southern India

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4571 (3) ◽  
pp. 383
Author(s):  
AKSHAY KHANDEKAR
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Tamil Nadu State ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
A New Species

A new species of the gekkonid genus Cnemaspis is described based on a series of nine specimens from near Sankari in Salem district, Tamil Nadu state, southern India. The new species is diagnosable by the following suite of characters: a small-sized Cnemaspis (adult snout to vent length less than 33 mm); heterogeneous dorsal pholidosis consisting of weakly keeled granular scales intermixed with large strongly keeled, conical tubercles, 9–11 rows of dorsal tubercles, 12–17 tubercles in paravertebral rows; spine-like scales absent on flank, 17–20 lamellae under digit IV of pes. Males with 4–6 femoral pores on each thigh, separated on either side by eight poreless scales from four precloacal pores; precloacal pores separated medially by a single poreless scale; two single dorsal ocelli on occiput and between forelimb insertions, two pairs of ocelli on either side just anterior and posterior to forelimb insertions. Cnemaspis agarwali sp. nov. is the fifth endemic species of Cnemaspis from peninsular India outside the Western Ghats and highlights the rich and unique diversity of this understudied region. 

scholarly journals A new taxon of Nacaduba Moore, 1881 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatini) from Agasthyamalais of the Western Ghats, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 17939-17949
Author(s):  
Kalesh Sadasivan ◽  
Baiju Kochunarayanan ◽  
Rahul Khot ◽  
Ramasamy Kamaya Naicker
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Southern India ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Southern Western Ghats ◽  
The Western Ghats

A new butterfly taxon, Nacaduba sinhala ramaswamii ssp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatini), is described from Agasthyamalais of southern Western Ghats in peninsular India.  The new taxa can be diagnosed from all other Nacaduba of southern India and N. sinhala Ormiston, 1924  from Sri Lanka, by its distinct male genitalia.  The early stages, larval hostplants, flight periods, ecology and the known distribution of the new taxa are discussed.  The revised keys to all known Nacaduba of Western Ghats of peninsular India are provided.

scholarly journals Fluorescent Biological Aerosol Particle Measurements at a Tropical High Altitude Site in Southern India during Southwest Monsoon Season

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Valsan ◽  
R. Ravikrishna ◽  
C. V. Biju ◽  
C. Pöhlker ◽  
V. R. Després ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Southwest Monsoon ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Coarse Mode ◽  
Southwest Monsoon Season ◽  
Biological Aerosol Particles

Abstract. Primary Biological Aerosol Particles (PBAPs) like fungal spores, bacteria, pollen, etc. are reported to constitute large fraction of the atmospheric aerosols. They are responsible for the spread of organisms and diseases throughout the biosphere and may impact atmospheric processes and the hydrological cycle by acting as ice nuclei (IN) and giant cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Despite their importance in the biosphere and climate, continuous measurements of PBAPs in high time and size resolutions are not available for the Indian subcontinent. Here we report the first measurements of fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAPs) in India. The measurements were carried out using an ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UV-APS) in Munnar, a high altitude tropical site in southern India. The study was conducted for three consecutive months during the Southwest monsoon season (1.June.2014–21.August.2014), which is marked by heavy and persistent rainfall and strong Westerly/Southwesterly clean winds. Averaged over the entire campaign arithmetic mean number and mass concentrations of coarse-mode FBAP (> 1 μm) were 0.02 cm−3 and 0.24 µg−3, respectively, which corresponded to ~ 2 and 6 % of total aerosol loading, respectively. Average FBAP number size distribution exhibited a peak at ~ 3 μm, which was most likely contributed by fungal spores, as supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, and the results are consistent with previous studies made for FBAP. During eleven weeks of measurements the corresponding total (TAP) coarse mode particle number concentration was highly variable in contrast to the variability observed in FBAP number concentration. Averaged over the entire campaign the TAP number and mass concentrations were 1.8 cm−3 and 7.0 µg m−3. The TAP and FBAP number concentrations measured at this site were strongly dependent on changes in wind direction and rainfall. During the period of continuous and persistent rainfalls the TAP and FBAP concentration exhibited very low concentration levels (1.3 cm−3 and 0.005 cm−3, respectively) with no observed diurnal variations. Averaged over the entire campaign FBAP exhibited a moderately diurnal variation with highest concentration during early morning hours (~ 06:00–08:00 hrs). The campaign averaged FBAP number concentrations were shown to correlate with daily patterns of meteorological parameters and were positively correlated with relative humidity (RH; R2 = 0.58), and negatively with temperature (R2 = 0.60) and wind speed (R2 = 0.60). We did not observe any significant positive correlation with precipitation as reported by previous researchers from selected areas. These measurement results confirms the fact that fraction of PBAPs to TAP is strongly dependent on size and location and thus may constitute significant proportion of total aerosol particles.  

Two additional new species of Clypeocaenis Soldán, 1978 (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) from the Western Ghats of Peninsular India

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4915 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-388
Author(s):  
CHELLIAH BALASUBRAMANIAN ◽  
MARIMUTHU MUTHUKATTURAJA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Outer Margin ◽  
Southern India ◽  
Peninsular India ◽  
Fore Femur ◽  
The Western Ghats

Two new mayfly species of Clypeocaenis (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) are described based on nymphal and adult characters from Kaveri River, Kodagu, Karnataka, Southern India. The main characteristics that distinguish Clypeocaenis kaveri sp. nov. from other Oriental species are: (i) fore femur with 4 long spines at middle of inner margin, a row of bifid spines at outer margin and row of bifid spines at subapical surface; (ii) dorsal surface of femora with complete transverse row of bifid setae located 3/4 distance from the base; (iii) forceps smaller than penis lobe. The main characteristics that distinguish Clypeocaenis napoklu sp. nov. from other Oriental species are: (i) fore femur with 2 long spines at middle of inner margin and row of thin setae on outer margin; segment 2 with bifid spine at apex.(ii) dorsal surface of femora with incomplete transverse row of bifid setae located 2/3 distance from the base; (iii) forceps little longer than penis lobe. A key for the nymphs of described species has been provided. 

scholarly journals Does the Western-Ghats play any dynamical role in the distance effect of vortex over the Bay of Bengal on the enhancement of monsoon rainfall over Pune?

MAUSAM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-578
Author(s):  
SOMENATH DUTTA ◽  
S. I. LASKAR ◽  
M. MAITI
Keyword(s):  
Bay Of Bengal ◽  
West Coast ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Distance Effect ◽  
Southwest Monsoon ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dynamical Model ◽  
Considerable Depth ◽  
The Western Ghats

lkj & bl ’kks/k i= esa nf{k.k&if’pe ekulwu _rq ¼,l-MCY;w-,e-,l-½ ds nkSjku caxky dh [kkM++h esa mBs coaMj ds nwjorhZ izHkko ds QyLo:Ik iq.ks esa o"kkZ esa gqbZ o`f) esa if’peh ?kkV ¼MCY;w-th-½ dh xR;kRed Hkwfedk ¼;fn dksbZ gks rks½ dh tk¡p djus dk iz;kl fd;k x;k gSA bldh tk¡p djus ds fy, e/; ekiØe vojks/k ds Åij ok;q&izokg ds ,d xR;kRed ekWMy dk mi;ksx fd;k x;k gSA N% ?kVukvksa ds v/;;u ls ;g Kkr gqvk gS fd caxky dh [kkM+h esa coaMj mBus dh fLFkfr esa iq.ks esa gqbZ o"kkZ esa o`f) ns[kh xbZ gSA bu N% ?kVukvksa esa ls pkj  ?kVukvksa esa ;g ns[kk x;k gS fd xR;kRed ekWMy iq.ks esa o"kkZ dh izsf{kr ?kV&c<+ ¼deh&cs’kh½ dk irk yxkus esa xq.kkRed :Ik ls lQy jgk gSA bu pkjksa ?kVukvksa esa if’peh iousa if’pe rV ds fdukjs m/okZ/kj esa vis{kkÑr dkQh rhoz FkhaA vU; nks ?kVukvksa esa ls ,d ?kVuk esa ;g ekWMy o"kkZ dh vf/kdrk dks] de ls de xq.kkRed :Ik esa] irk yxkus esa lQy jgk gS ijUrq o"kkZ esa deh dk irk yxkus esa vlQy jgk gSA ,d vU; ?kVuk esa ;g ekWMy iq.ks esa o"kkZ dh ?kV&c<+ Kkr djus esa xq.kkRed :Ik ls Hkh iw.kZr;k vlQy jgk gSA vafre nks ?kVukvksa esa if’pe rVh; LVs’ku ij if’peh iou detksj ,oa lrgh FkhA   An attempt has been made to examine the dynamical role (if any) played by the Western Ghats (WG), in the distance effect of vortex over the Bay of Bengal (BOB) on the rainfall enhancement over Pune, during southwest monsoon season (SWMS). To examine it, a dynamical model of airflow over a meso-scale barrier has been used. Six cases have been studied, in which enhancement of rainfall over Pune in presence of vortex over the Head Bay are noticed. Out of these six cases, in four cases it is found that the dynamical model can capture, at least qualitatively, the observed fluctuation (rise and fall) of rainfall over Pune. In these four cases westerly along west coast was strong with considerable depth in vertical. In one of the other two cases, the model has been able to capture, at least qualitatively, the observed rise in rainfall but failed to capture the observed fall in rainfall. In the other case the model has failed completely to capture, even qualitatively, the fluctuation in observed rainfall over Pune. In the last two cases, westerly along west coast station was weak and shallow.  

scholarly journals Low mammalian species richness is associated with Kyasanur forest disease outbreak risk in deforested landscapes in the Western Ghats, India

One Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 100299
Author(s):  
Michael G. Walsh ◽  
Rashmi Bhat ◽  
Venkatesh Nagarajan-Radha ◽  
Prakash Narayanan ◽  
Navya Vyas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Forest Disease ◽  
Kyasanur Forest Disease ◽  
The Western Ghats

scholarly journals The freshwater diaptomid copepod fauna (Crustacea: Copepoda: Diaptomidae) of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra with notes on distribution, species richness and ecology

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihir R. Kulkarni ◽  
Kalpana Pai
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Calanoid Copepods ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Temporary Habitats ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
Diaptomid Copepods ◽  
The Western Ghats

<p>The diversity of many invertebrate taxa from Western Ghats of Maharashtra remains unknown due to lack of systematic studies. We studied freshwater calanoid copepods from this region, and found eleven species of diaptomid copepods in 180 samples collected from 80 sites in the study area. Most of these are new records for this region. The observed fauna includes Oriental, Gondwanan, Palaearctic and Indian endemic taxa. Locality data for all the observed species, along with notes on some ecological aspects of the sampled sites are provided. Non-parametric estimates of species richness for the region suggested an overall adequacy of sampling effort, and probable missing out of some species from habitats with longer hydroperiod. Hydroperiod, depth, electrical conductivity, altitude, mean annual temperature and latitude largely influenced the distribution of species in the study area. Co-occurrences of species were overall rare but more common in temporary habitats. Assemblages of diaptomid copepods restricted to certain sites were identified. The importance of temporary habitats is discussed in the light of their species richness, faunal composition and the increasing anthropogenic pressures they face.</p>

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