Contributions of vulnerable hydrogeomorphic habitats to endemic plant diversity on the Kas Plateau, Western Ghats

Utsarga Bhattarai,Sylvia Kelso,Pundarikakshudu Tetali

doi:10.1186/2193-1801-1-25

Abstract

BackgroundThe Western Ghats of India are known to be a major biological hotspot that supports plant diversity and endemism. On the Kas Plateau, a lateritic plateau of the northern Western Ghats, we examined mesoscale distributions of endemic, rare, or locally significant plant species in forest habitats or on the plateau and its escarpments, and assessed the edaphic and hydrological parameters of seasonal plateau microhabitats.FindingsAlmost two thirds of over 100 phytogeographically significant species occur on the plateau top; these represent 26 plant families and 43 genera. About 80% of the species are restricted to the upper plateau and its escarpments.ConclusionSince botanically critical plateau habitats are generally small, dependent on seasonal monsoon moisture, and determined by drainage-related parameters that can be altered by anthropogenic activities, they are highly vulnerable. Maintenance of appropriate microhabitats should be a key consideration for conservation of regionally significant plant biota.

Highlights

The Western Ghats of India are known to be a major biological hotspot that supports plant diversity and endemism
The Western Ghats, or Sahyadri Mountains, which represent the edge of the Deccan Plateau of western India, are among the well-known global hotspots recognized for exceptional biotic diversity and endemism (Chandran 1997; Daniels 1997; Mittermeier et al 1999; Myers et al 2000; Padhye and Ghate 2002; Watve 2003; Bossuyt et al 2004; Punekar and Kumaran 2005; Gunawardene et al 2007; Daniels and Vencatesan 2008) accompanied by an alarming level of habitat loss
Mesoscale distribution We found that a large component of the regionally significant plant species occur on the plateau top and escarpments (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The Western Ghats of India are known to be a major biological hotspot that supports plant diversity and endemism. The Western Ghats, or Sahyadri Mountains, which represent the edge of the Deccan Plateau of western India, are among the well-known global hotspots recognized for exceptional biotic diversity and endemism (Chandran 1997; Daniels 1997; Mittermeier et al 1999; Myers et al 2000; Padhye and Ghate 2002; Watve 2003; Bossuyt et al 2004; Punekar and Kumaran 2005; Gunawardene et al 2007; Daniels and Vencatesan 2008) accompanied by an alarming level of habitat loss Due to their exceptional biota, the Western Ghats have recently been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization 2012). While less heavily impacted than the forests, the plateaus are subject to uses such as grazing, mineral extraction, and increasingly, tourist visitation, all of which are activities with high potential to alter and degrade habitats

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