Northern Western Ghat: a research niche in the biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is defined as an area with a high level of endemic species occurring only there and nowhere else in the world; with a loss of over 70% of its original habitat; with sustained environmental and anthropogenic threats. The Western Ghats escarpment running parallel to the western coast of India’s peninsula is one among four of India’s biodiversity hotspots. While a considerable amount of research grants and conservation efforts have been expended in this hotspot, there is so much more to do. Researchers and conservationists agree that a thorough knowledge and a systematic data collection in the biodiversity hotspots is the key to highlighting environmental concerns and designing effective interventions. The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) has provided an open-access platform for biodiversity research papers and has compiled a special series of articles focused on the Western Ghats. In recent years, JoTT has been publishing quite a few papers on the northern Western Ghats —an obviously lesser-studied, yet a biogeographically significant portion of the hotspot—which has often been overlooked in favour of the southern Western Ghats, with more endemic species. Yet, the northern Western Ghats have been throwing up a fair few surprises for the researchers who have dedicated themselves to the region. This article is part 1 in the series that will focus on their discoveries and efforts.
The northern Western Ghats comprises of the western stretch of Maharashtra, ending just south of the Kutch peninsula of Gujarat. It is characterized by mixed escarpment forests and valleys, a dense network of east-flowing rivers, interspersed with laterite plateaux. It is very different from the southern Western Ghats of evergreen forests, with numerous west-flowing and east-flowing rivers and occasional basalt traps. The northern Western Ghats are influenced by the economic capital of Mumbai, and other major cities like Pune, Kolhapur, Nashik, and Surat, creating several anthropogenic pressures. The unique geography of biodiversity and development and the economic implications of conservation action make it imperative to study the region in better detail – and to find well-aligned strategies.
Studies focused on the ecosystem of the laterite outcrops, once thought to be barren wastelands, have revealed the presence of a rich floristic diversity and high species richness, whereas the forests have yielded a new sooty mold fungus, hinting at more botanical and fungal potential, if studied in depth. There have been numerous papers published on the freshwater fish of the northern Western Ghats, partly due to the unique river networks and partly due to the efforts of a few dedicated researchers. The ichthyological studies have yielded a better understanding of freshwater fish, river-wise checklists, the rediscovery of an endemic sisorid catfish long thought to be extinct, and a new species of stone loach; as also the underlying threats highlighting the diversity and the research potential of the northern Western Ghats riverine systems. Though the amphibians of the region are less studied than those in the south or central portions of the hotspot, there have been several new discoveries in the past 15 years, each bearing a scientific name from their study locations. Studies of amphibians include population variations and have also extended to certain forest patches, like in Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary. The arthropod studies have largely focused on Odonata, with new records of damselflies and dragonflies and their habitats. Also of great interest are the papers on a new scorpion species in the heart of Mumbai and a new spider species on the rocky outcrops, an indication that diverse habitats from overpopulated cities to sparsely vegetated plateaux can yield discoveries in the field of biodiversity and can help us wonder at what more surprises are in store. Other studies have focused on freshwater ostracods (crustaceans, in the less scientific parlance) from the historic forts of Maharashtra, avian collision assessments at a wind farm, among others. Comparing these research papers indicates a potential for more studies on flora, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Some research findings
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A new species of stone loach (Balitora laticauda) found in the Krishna River (Bhoite et al. 2012)
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New records of dragonflies and damselflies from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra (Koparde et al. 2014)
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A new sooty mold fungus (Sheathnema indicum) found in the Sawantwadi Taluka (Dubey & Moonnambeth 2014)
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A new species of spider (Tylorida sataraensis) found in the rocky outcrops
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The discovery of a new scorpion species from Mumbai (Lychas)
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The rediscovery of the fish species, Glyptothorax poonaensis, after over 70 years after it was thought to be extinct
Beyond scientific inquiry, these papers provide baseline data, highlight the threats to the ecosystems, suggest management protocols and can provide a backbone to implementing effective conservation strategies. Often papers lend perspective on areas that have long been considered under-significant for biodiversity, identify areas for conservation and underline the need for environmental impact assessments for development projects.
Here are some concerns and management strategies detailed in the research papers on the northern Western Ghats (a full list of the papers with links can be found in the Bibliography below):
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The Fungoid Frog Hylarana malabarica has been assessed as a Least Concern species due to its widespread distribution in India, yet research shows that it is a species complex, with a more restricted distribution of cryptic species, Hydrophylax bahuvistara – immediate conservation action may be required (Padhye et al. 2012, 2015).
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Freshwater ostracod records from the rocky plateaux of the northern Western Ghats indicate that their numbers are underestimated and their diversity is still to be discovered. However, their seasonal habitats are under severe threat from anthropogenic activities and their conservation requires attention if we are not to lose out on as yet undocumented and unstudied micro- and macro-invertebrate diversity (Shinde et al. 2014).
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High endemism and recent new species records imply that the rocky plateaux of the northern Western Ghats have high conservation significance, serve as water catchment areas, and feature in local rituals. Aparna Watve’s paper has detailed management suggestions for saving this diverse, lesser-studied habitat (Watve 2013).
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The discovery of a new scorpion species from Mumbai highlights our lack of knowledge, which may be compounded if the habitat which is near a residential area continues to face its current threats of forest fires and forest clearing for agriculture, bootlegging and exotic plantations (Mirza & Sanap 2010).
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Comparing studies conducted in the 1920s, 1930s, 1990 and in 2010, indicates a loss of 31% of odonates can be attributed to drastic land use changes in the Mula-Mutha river basins. Odonate population concentrations in urban green spaces with wetlands, highlight the need to preserve such biodiversity refugia in cities across India (Kulkarni & Subramanian 2013).
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‘Green Energy’ wind farms, like conventional sources, impact wildlife and the environment – if erected in locations like biodiversity hotspots, should undergo due strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) and environmental impact assessments (EIAs) (Pande et al. 2013).
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The occurrence of 50% endemic anuran species (of which 32% are globally threatened) in the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, indicates that this is a key site for amphibians and conservation action to protect the same, are essential (Katwate et al. 2013).
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The rediscovery of the fish species, Glyptothorax poonaensis after over 70 years, when it was thought to be extinct is newsworthy. Yet more so is the fact that the upstream stretches of the river that are a breeding ground for this species face severe siltation, pollution and a threat from introduced fish species – all of which could have adverse effects on the fish populations and their survival (Dahanukar et al. 2011).
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The fish fauna of Indrayani River, Maharashtra, is economically significant and with the presence of several endemic species, there is an urgent need to prioritize conservation needs and action (Dahanukar et al. 2012).
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Koyna River, with a rich fish diversity, is relatively less threatened by anthropogenic factors, with modest fishing pressure, tourism, pollution and alien fish species. The area could be demarcated as a refuge for conservation (Jadhav et al. 2011).
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The Krishna River basin near Wai, Maharashtra, hosts a number of globally threatened fish species and site-based management plans could include monitoring backwater fishing activities around breeding seasons, monitoring water quality for the release of untreated and inorganic wastes, promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices along the banks, and strictly regulating tourism related stressors (Kharat et al. 2012).
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Raigad District’s globally threatened freshwater fish species are severely affected by anthropogenic factors and the introduction of exotic fish. Intensive monitoring to trace the impact of the former and conservation measures to protect the local diversity is essential (Katwate et al. 2012)
Bibliography
Bhoite, S., S. Jadhav & N. Dahanukar (2012). Balitora laticauda, a new species of stone loach (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Balitoridae) from Krishna River, northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(11): 3038–3049; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3129.3038-49
Dahanukar, N., M. Diwekar & M. Paingankar (2011). Rediscovery of the threatened Western Ghats endemic sisorid catfish Glyptothorax poonaensis (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Sisoridae). Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(7): 1885–1898; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2663.1885-98
Dahanukar, N., M. Paingankar, R.N. Raut & S.S. Kharat (2012). Fish fauna of Indrayani River, northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(1): 2310–2317; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2771.2310-7
Dubey, R. & N.A. Moonnambeth (2014). Sheathnema indicum gen. et sp. nov. a new sooty mold fungus from northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(12): 6549–6555; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3514.6549-55
Halali, S., D. Halali & P. Rangnekar (2015). Range extension of Microgomphus souteri Fraser, 1924 (Insecta: Odonata: Gomphidae) to northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(8): 7480–7483; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o4259.7480-3
Jadhav, B.V., S.S. Kharat, R.N. Raut, M. Paingankar & N. Dahanukar (2011). Freshwater fish fauna of Koyna River, northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(1): 1449-1455; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2613.1449-55
Jadhav, M. & R.M. Sharma (2013). Range extension of Malabar Tree Nymph Idea malabarica(Moore) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra and a review of distribution records. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(1): 3556–3558; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3267.949
Katwate, U., C. Katwate, R. Raghavan, M.S. Paingankar & N. Dahanukar (2014). Pethia lutea, a new species of barb (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) and new records of P. punctata from northern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(6): 5797–5818; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3929.5797-818
Katwate, U., D. Apte & R. Raut (2013). Diversity and distribution of anurans in Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS), northern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(2): 3589–3602; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3038.3589-602
Katwate, U., R. Raut & S. Advani (2012). An overview of fish fauna of Raigad District, northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(5): 2569–2577; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2760.2569-77
Keskar, A., P. Kumkar, M.S. Paingankar, A. Padhye & N. Dahanukar (2015). Length-weight and length-length relationships of seven loach species (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) from five localities in northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(15): 8205–8220; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.2462.7.15.8025-8220
Kharat S.S., M. Paingankar & N. Dahanukar (2012). Freshwater fish fauna of Krishna River at Wai, northern Western Ghats, India Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(6): 2644–2652; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2796.2644-52
Kharat, S.S. & N. Dahanukar (2013). Population dynamics of the Hill Stream Loach Acanthocobitis mooreh (Sykes, 1839) (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from northern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(11): 4562–4568; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3301.4562-8
Koparde, P., P. Mhaske & A. Patwardhan (2014). New records of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(5): 5744–5754; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3402.5744-54
Kulkarni, S. (2014). A new species of the genus Tylorida Simon, 1894 (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) from a rocky outcrop in the northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(3): 5558–5561; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3606.5558-61
Kulkarni, A.S. & K.A. Subramanian (2013). Habitat and seasonal distribution of Odonata (Insecta) of Mula and Mutha river basins, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(7): 4084–4095; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3253.4084-95
Mirza, Z.A. & R.V. Sanap (2010). Description of a new species of scorpion of the genus Lychas C.L. Koch, 1845 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(4): 789-796; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2363.789-96
Padhye, A., A. Jadhav, M. Diwekar & N. Dahanukar (2012). Population variations in the Fungoid Frog Hylarana malabarica (Anura: Ranidae) from northern Western Ghats of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(2): 2343–2352; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2863.2343-52
Padhye, A.D., A. Jadhav, N. Modak, P.O. Nameer & N. Dahanukar (2015). Hydrophylax bahuvistara, a new species of fungoid frog (Amphibia: Ranidae) from peninsular India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(11): 7744–7760; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o4252.7744-60
Pande, S., A. Padhye, P. Deshpande, A. Ponkshe, P. Pandit, A. Pawashe, S. Pednekar, R. Pandit & P. Deshpande (2013). Avian collision threat assessment at ‘Bhambarwadi Wind Farm Plateau’ in northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(1): 3504–3515; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3096.210
Pethe, J., A. Tillu & A. Watve (2015). Threat status assessment of Ceropegia anjanerica Malpure et al. (Magnoliopsida: Gentianales: Apocynaceae) from Anjaneri Hills, Nashik District, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(3): 6965–6971; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3772.6965-71
Rahangdale, S.R. & S.R. Rahangdale (2014). Plant species composition on two rock outcrops from the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(4): 5593–5612; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3616.5593-612
Rajeshkumar, K.C. (2014). A reappraisal of the fungus genus Phalangispora with the rediscovery of P. bharathensis on leaf litter of Mangifera indica from the northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(9): 6278–6281; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3891.6278-81
Shinde, Y.S., R. Victor & K. Pai (2014). Freshwater ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) of the plateaus of the northern Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 6(4): 5667–5670; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3610.5667-70
Watve, A. (2013). Status review of Rocky plateaus in the northern Western Ghats and Konkan region of Maharashtra, India with recommendations for conservation and management. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(5): 3935–3962; https://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3372.3935-62