The woody flora of Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India - A checklist

Naveen Babu Kanda,Kurian Ayushi Kurian Ayushi,Vincy K Wilson Vincy K Wilson,Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy,Narayanan Ayyappan Narayanan Ayyappan

doi:10.11609/jott.7239.13.13.20033-20055

Naveen Babu Kanda, Kurian Ayushi Kurian Ayushi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7239.13.13.20033-20055

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Abstract

Documenting the biodiversity of protected areas and reserve forests is important to researchers, academicians and forest departments in their efforts to establish policies to protect regional biodiversity. Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) is an important protected area located in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka state known for its diverse flora and fauna with distinct ecological features. For the last four decades the sanctuary has witnessed the loss of forest cover, yet the vegetation in few locations is relatively undisturbed. The current inventory was undertaken during 2019–2020 to provide a checklist of woody species from SWS under-researched earlier. The list comprises 269 species of trees, lianas and shrubs distributed in 207 genera and 68 families. The most diverse families are Fabaceae, Moraceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Lauraceae, Apocynaceae, Meliaceae, Malvaceae, Phyllanthaceae, and Anacardiaceae, representing 48% of total woody flora. The sanctuary shelters 263 native and six exotic plant species. Thirty-nine species were endemic to the Western Ghats, five species to peninsular India and one species to the Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Four forest types, i.e., dry deciduous, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen forests, are represented in the sanctuary. Of the total species, only seven occurred in all forest types, while 111 species are exclusive to a single forest type. One-hundred-and-four taxa were assessed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List. Ten species that fall under Near Threatened, Vulnerable, and Endangered categories were encountered occasionally. The baseline data generated on plant diversity will be useful in highlighting the importance of these forests for species conservation and forest management. Such data form a cornerstone for further research. For instance, to understand the effect of invasive species and human impacts on the diversity of the region.

Highlights

The study produced a comprehensive checklist of woody species of Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS), which indicates that the region is moderately diverse concerning angiosperms
The study revealed that the landscape is complex with mosaics of natural forests to managed plantations (Teak, Eucalyptus, and Acacia species) and the human habitations surrounded by agricultural lands (Image 1G)
Moist deciduous forests spread across the sanctuary, whereas semi-evergreen and evergreen forests were restricted to the western slopes of hilltops

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Over the past few decades, there has been growing concern about the loss of biodiversity from the hotspots subjected to numerous threats (Marchese 2015), with deforestation as the primary threat; for instance the Western Ghats lost 35% of forest cover between 1920 and 2013 (Reddy et al 2016). It is necessary to assess a species based on the revised IUCN Red List criteria for effective conservation as currently protected areas experience numerous threats (IUCN 2017). In this context, it is crucial to investigate underexplored areas to identify species of importance for conservation actions. This study was undertaken to document woody flora from deciduous and evergreen forests of SWS in the central Western Ghats with a note on endemic species diversity

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

79 Croton caudatus Geiseler

Findings

98 Alseodaphne semecarpifolia Nees