Status review of Rocky plateaus in the northern Western Ghats and Konkan region of Maharashtra, India with recommendations for conservation and management

Assessment of air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) of selected roadside plant species for the green belt development at Ratnagiri City in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India

Small towns are becoming hotspots of pollution due to industrial, urbanisation, and domestic activities. Air pollution affects human health and it is also responsible for physiological changes in plants. Green belt development programmes are cost-effective for the minimisation of air pollution. In the present study, to calculate air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API), samples of 25 plant species were collected from each area i.e. the industrial (I), urban (U), and rural (R) areas and analysed for different parameters. Amongst all three areas, APTI of Artocarpus heterophyllus (46.74), Calotropis gigantea (43.63), and Bauhinia racemose (42.11) have shown the highest values and these plants can act as an inhibitor of air pollution. Also, the APTI of Ocimum tenuiflorum has found to be the lowest (12.05, 11.32, 12.86) as compared to other plant species amongst the three areas. Statistical analysis reveals that values of R² are consistent in case of total chlorophyll (TC) and ascorbic acid (AA). API index showed the efficiency of Calotropis gigantea (excellent), Artocarpus heterophyllus (very good), and Mangifera indica (very good) for the green belt development around the selected areas. It is recommended to plant above-mentioned plant species along the roadside by considering their air pollution tolerance ability and medicinal as well as economic importance. Furthermore, it is suggested to plant species of Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) and Mangifera indica (Alphonso mango) which will generate income source for the local government bodies (Ratnagiri Municipal Council), as the fruits and wood of these plants can be exported and sold.

Striking between-population floral divergences in a habitat specialized plant

When the habitat occupied by a specialist species is patchily distributed, limited gene flow between the fragmented populations may allow population differentiation and eventual speciation. 'Sky islands'-montane habitats that form terrestrial islands-have been shown to promote diversification in many taxa through this mechanism. We investigate floral variation in Impatiens lawii, a plant specialized on laterite rich rocky plateaus that form sky islands in the northern Western Ghats mountains of India. We focus on three plateaus separated from each other by ca. 7 to 17 km, and show that floral traits have diverged strongly between these populations. In contrast, floral traits have not diverged in the congeneric I. oppositifolia, which co-occurs with I. lawii in the plateaus, but is a habitat generalist that is also found in the intervening valleys. We conducted common garden experiments to test whether the differences in I. lawii are due to genetic differentiation or phenotypic plasticity. There were strong differences in floral morphology between experimental plants sourced from the three populations, and the relative divergences between population pairs mirrored that seen in the wild, indicating that the populations are genetically differentiated. Common garden experiments confirmed that there was no differentiation in I. oppositifolia. Field floral visitation surveys indicated that the observed differences in floral traits have consequences for I. lawii populations, by reducing the number of visitors and changing the relative abundance of different floral visitor groups. Our results highlight the role of habitat specialization in diversification, and corroborates the importance of sky islands as centres of diversification.

New records of Agriocnemis keralensis Peters, 1981 and Gynacantha khasiaca MacLachlan, 1896 (Insecta: Odonata) from Maharashtra, India

Agriocnemis keralensis Peters, 1981 is reported for the first time from Maharashtra, India.  Previously it was known from Kerala and Goa states.  In this paper we report A. keralensis from Thakurwadi and Bambuli wetlands and Chipi Plateau, Sindhudurg District. Also, the new record of Gynacantha khasiaca MacLachlan, 1896 is confirmed on the basis of specimens collected from Sindhudurg District.  Hence, we report the range extension of both A. keralensis and G. khasiaca in northern Western Ghats.  Apart from this, a combined checklist of Odonata fauna of Thakurwadi (51 species), Bambuli wetlands (44 species), and Chipi Plateau (51 species) is provided. 

Observations on the flowering plant diversity of Madayippara, a southern Indian lateritic plateau from Kerala, India

Northern Kerala of southern India is characterized by widely spread lateritic plateaus which provide an extremely harsh physical environment for life leading to the development of specialized plant communities with a large number of endemic and habitat specific species.  Madayippara, a midland lateritic plateau located in the Kannur District of northern Kerala is an icon of rich floristic diversity and endemism.  The plateau forms a number of microhabitats due to the difference in geographic terrain and soil cover, thus forming a complex of habitats with diverse forms of plants, mainly ephemeral herbs.  Out of the 636 flowering plant taxa recorded from the microhabitats of the plateau, within a limited area of 3.65km2, 160 (c. 25%) are endemics.  Most of the endemic species occur in specialized microhabitats. The plateau is the type locality of 11 taxa.  Lateritic plateaus of southern India, which are associated with characteristic and rich biodiversity, are now under varied types of anthropogenic threats such as large scale mining for bricks and clay, and they need urgent attention for conservation of the biodiversity.

Small mammals in the human-dominated landscape in the northern Western Ghats of India

The Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot is under huge anthropogenic pressure, with unique flora and fauna facing severe threats from habitat fragmentation, loss, and degradation.  The northern Western Ghats has been poorly studied for its small mammal fauna, hence we examined small mammals near Pune from 2014 to 2017.  Live trapping was carried out in irrigated and rainfed agriculture fields, forests, and grasslands at low, mid, and high elevations.  A total of 538 individuals were trapped, representing 17 species of rodents and one shrew.  Most abundantly captured species were Millardia kondana (23%), Mus saxicola (19%), Suncus murinus (17%), and Mus booduga (13%).  Species richness and abundance of small mammals varied across the habitats.  High elevation grasslands were species-rich relative to low elevation grasslands and forests.  Our observations indicate that human disturbances play a role in determining the richness and abundance of small mammals in the area, where populations are under threat from urbanization, tourism, agriculture, grazing, and fire.  Habitat and species specific conservation measures need to be taken, coupled with in-depth species–habitat relationship studies, for the conservation of small mammal diversity of the northern Western Ghats.

S, P. P, S. N, M.P. P, M.S. S. A checklist of angiosperm flora of low elevation lateritic hills of northern Kerala, India

An inventory to prepare the checklist of angiosperm species in the lateritic hillocks of northern Kerala was conducted in five sampling sites during April 2013–March 2015.  In total, we recorded 364 genera with 535 species, of which 334 are native and 201 are non-native.  Native species were represented in 102 families, namely, Poaceae (28), Fabaceae (25), Acanthaceae (22), Rubiaceae (17) Euphorbiaceae (14), Commelinaceae (11), Phyllanthaceae (7), etc., whereas, non-native species were represented in 99 families.  Among the native species herbs are the predominant habit with 147 species (44%).  Out of the 72 endemic species, three taxa namely, Syzygium travancoricum, Santalum album and Hopea ponga are red listed species documented from the study area.  Twenty-seven invasive species were also recorded and major threats to the laterite ecosystems are by Lantana camara, Mikania micrantha, Pennisetum polystachyon, Ipomoea spp., and Senna spp.  Most part of the laterite has been converted to plantations, building sites and mining sites.  The indiscriminate mining for laterite, soil and demolishing the hillocks have severely threatened the very existence of the flora.  

Multivariate analysis of elements from the microhabitats of selected plateaus in the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

The Western Ghats represents a small part of the Deccan Traps continental flood basalt province that erupted about 65 million years ago.  It is an area of outstanding scenic beauty and has attracted the attention of geologists, naturalists and geomorphologists for over a century.  One of the unique habitats in the Western Ghats are the rocky plateaus.  Previous studies have covered plant species composition, geological and geomorphological status of the rocky plateaus.  An analytical study of microhabitats and associated therophytes of four rocky plateau sites was conducted.  The study sites were Durgawadi Plateau, Naneghat Plateau which are basalt outcrops and Zenda plateau and Amba Plateau, which are laterite outcrops on the escarpment of the northern Western Ghats.  The results revealed a correlation between basalt and lateritic rock outcrops as well as ephemeral plant elements.  All four outcrops are similar in their nutrient status but the microhabitats of these plateaus are extremely different from each other.  

Wind farms have cascading impacts on ecosystems across trophic levels

Wind farms are a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels for mitigating the effects of climate change, but they also have complex ecological consequences. In the biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats in India, we find that wind farms reduce the abundance and activity of predatory birds (for example, Buteo, Butastur and Elanus species), which consequently increases the density of lizards, Sarada superba. The cascading effects of wind turbines on lizards include changes in behaviour, physiology and morphology that reflect a combination of predator release and density-dependent competition. By adding an effective trophic level to the top of food webs, we find that wind farms have emerging impacts that are greatly underestimated. There is thus a strong need for an ecosystem-wide view when aligning green-energy goals with environment protection.

Climate structuring of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in the threatened amphibians of the northern Western Ghats, India

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a pathogen killing amphibians worldwide. Its impact across much of Asia is poorly characterized. This study systematically surveyed amphibians for Bd across rocky plateaus in the northern section of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, including the first surveys of the plateaus in the coastal region. These ecosystems offer an epidemiological model system since they are characterized by differing levels of connectivity, edaphic and climatic conditions, and anthropogenic stressors. One hundred and eighteen individuals of 21 species of Anura and Apoda on 13 plateaus ranging from 67 to 1179 m above sea level and 15.89 to 17.92° North latitude were sampled. Using qPCR protocols, 79% of species and 27% of individuals tested were positive for Bd. This is the first record of Bd in caecilians in India, the Critically Endangered Xanthophryne tigerina and Endangered Fejervarya cf. sahyadris. Mean site prevalence was 28.15%. Prevalence below the escarpment was 31.2% and 25.4% above. The intensity of infection (GE) showed the reverse pattern. Infection may be related to elevational temperature changes, thermal exclusion, inter-site connectivity and anthropogenic disturbance. Coastal plateaus may be thermal refuges from Bd. Infected amphibians represented a wide range of ecological traits posing interesting questions about transmission routes.

Micro-habitat distribution drives patch quality for sub-tropical rocky plateau amphibians in the northern Western Ghats, India

The importance of patch quality for amphibians is frequently overlooked in distribution models. Here we demonstrate that it is highly important for the persistence of endemic and endangered amphibians found in the threatened and fragile ecosystems that are the rocky plateaus in Western Maharashtra, India. These plateaus are ferricretes of laterite and characterise the northern section of the Western Ghats/Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot, the eighth most important global hotspot and one of the three most threatened by population growth. We present statistically supported habitat associations for endangered and data-deficient Indian amphibians, demonstrating significant relationships between individual species and their microhabitats. Data were collected during early monsoon across two seasons. Twenty-one amphibian taxa were identified from 14 lateritic plateaus between 67 and 1179m above sea level. Twelve of the study taxa had significant associations with microhabitats using a stepwise analysis of the AICc subroutine (distLM, Primer-e, v7). Generalist taxa were associated with increased numbers of microhabitat types. Non-significant associations are reported for the remaining 9 taxa. Microhabitat distribution was spatially structured and driven by climate and human activity. Woody plants were associated with 44% of high-elevation taxa. Of the 8 low-elevation taxa 63% related to water bodies and 60% of those were associated with pools. Rock size and abundance were important for 33% of high elevation specialists. Three of the 4 caecilians were associated with rocks in addition to soil and stream presence. We conclude the plateaus are individualistic patches whose habitat quality is defined by their microhabitats within climatic zones.

Description of male Tylorida sataraensis Kulkarni, 2014 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) with notes on habits and conservation status

The male sex of Tyloridasataraensis Kulkarni, 2014 is described based on specimens from the type locality. The distinguishing characters from its closest species Tyloridaventralis (Thorell, 1877) are detailed. An interesting behaviour of going underwater by T.sataraensis, on disturbance is recorded and tested for significance. The surveys have shown sighting of this species only to the perennial streams of the rocky outcrops in Satara region. The potential threats to this species and the possible conservation status based on known distribution are discussed.