Parambikulam Research Articles

Correction to: Application of GIS and AHP Method in Forest Fire Risk Zone Mapping: a Study of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India

Correction to: Application of GIS and AHP Method in Forest Fire Risk Zone Mapping: a Study of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India

A contribution to the earthworm diversity (Clitellata, Moniligastridae) of Kerala, a component of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, using integrated taxonomy

Earthworms (Clitellata, Moniligastridae) of Chaliyar River Malappuram, Eravikulam National Park, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar National Park, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary and Wayanad Forest, Kerala, a component of the hotspot of Western Ghats, India, were studied by the standard method of taxonomy, and their DNA barcode signatures using the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) were generated for the first time. This study represents eleven species of earthworms of the family Moniligastridae: Drawida brunnea Stephenson, Drawida circumpapillata Aiyer, Drawida ghatensis Michaelsen, Drawida impertusa Stephenson, Drawida nilamburensis (Bourne), Drawida robusta (Bourne), Drawida scandens Rao, Drawida travancorense Michaelsen, Moniligaster aiyeri Gates, Moniligaster deshayesi Perrier, and Moniligaster gravelyi (Stephenson). In the phylogenetic analysis all the species were recovered in both neighbour–joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) trees with high clade support. The average K2P distance within and between species was 1.2 % and 22 %, whereas the clear barcode gap of 2–5 % was suggested by barcode gap analysis (BGA) of studied species, reflecting the accuracy of characterization. The study presents the first step in the molecular characterization of the native earthworm family Moniligastridae of India. Data published through GBIF (Doi: 10.15470/l2nlhz)

Application of GIS and AHP Method in Forest Fire Risk Zone Mapping: a Study of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India

Application of GIS and AHP Method in Forest Fire Risk Zone Mapping: a Study of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India

A first complete documentation of the early stages of Hampson’s Hedge Blue Acytolepis lilacea lilacea Hampson, 1889 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Western Ghats, Kerala, India

This is the first complete documentation of the early stages of Acytolepis lilacea lilacea, the subspecies from southern India, with the first record of the larval host plant Cycas circinalis, and a comparison with the early stages of Acytolepis puspa felderi Toxopeus, 1927, a sympatric and similar species, highlighting the notable differences. The significant differences noted in the early stages of Acytolepis lilacea lilacea with that of A. puspa are the difference in ornamentation of eggs, more fluffy, blue shaded and less hairy larvae and more elongated pupae. No previous record of the early stages of any of the subspecies of Acytolepis lilacea Hampson, 1889 is available. Preliminary observations regarding the flight period and seasonal varriations of Acytolepis lilacea lilacea, from Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India, are also presented.

Community dependence on the natural resources of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India

Forest ecosystems are vital for terrestrial biodiversity and the effective management of these natural resources stands essential, owing to the subsistence needs of humans. The resources derived from the forest ecosystem meet multiple purpose for different sub groups of people. On a macro perspective, the vulnerable groups, i.e., the tribals depend on forest resources for meeting their employment and livelihood requirements. The Forest Dependence Index, a numeric indicator of the social and economic dependence of the community in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve highlights 43.5 per cent dependency on the forest resources to meet their livelihood needs. This clearly depicts the relevance and significance of forests in the livelihood of the resident community in the Reserve. Assessing the dependency of the community on the forest will help in creating awareness on the resource dependence and specify strategies for sustainable forest management. This paper analyses the forest dependency of the tribal communities residing within Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, one of the well-protected ecological niche of Anamalai sub unit of the Western Ghats and its policy implications on the livelihood of the forest dependents in the wake of Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Large scale burning for a threatened ungulate in a biodiversity hotspot is detrimental for grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera)

Habitat management strategies across the globe are often focusing on flagship species, such as large threatened mammals. This is also true for most protected areas of India, where large mammals such as the Tiger or Asian Elephant represent focal species of conservation management, although a shift towards other species groups can be observed in recent times. Prescribed burning is a controversially debated method to manage open habitat types. This method is practised as a tool to manage the habitat of the endangered Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius (an endemic goat) at a large scale (50 ha grids) in Eravikulam National Park of the Western Ghats (Kerala, India). However, the impact of prescribed burning on other biota of this unique environment in a global biodiversity hotspot has not been studied. We compared the impact of large-scale prescribed burning on grasshopper abundances in Eravikulam National Park with small-scale burning in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve from 2015 to 2018, to assess the impact of the different fire management practices of these reserves on this species-rich insect group. We observed a negative response of grasshoppers to burning of larger contiguous areas in terms of their recovery after fire events, whereas burning small patches in a mosaic pattern facilitated rapid recovery of grasshopper communities. Our results suggest that burning management can be optimized to benefit both, the flagship vertebrate species as well as species-rich invertebrate communities.

The Problems and Challenges of the Kadar Tribe of Kerala

The present article unfurls the problems encountered by the Kadar tribe of Kerala. Kadar is one of the five particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) located in the premises of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Vazhachal Forest Division, to the south of it and in the vicinity of the Athirappilly Waterfalls on riverside of Chalakudy. The study highlights the problems encountered by this tribal community. The particular problems extracted from the study were lack of adequate finance, exploitation by the government officials, problems in finding employment for a minimum standard of living, lack of education, lack of stable income, threat of displacement, alcoholism among members of the family, long distance to educational, medical and commercial institutions, rules and regulations of the government, delay in getting the payments from government agencies, ill health and malnutrition, drain of forest resources and financial liability of the household, lack of infrastructure facilities like good roads to settlements, the existence of unwed mothers, no proper implementation of the Forest Regulation Act (2006) and no documents provided for the ownership of land.

Ecotourism in Kerala - a case study on empowering the indigenous community

The tribal communities are one of the highly marginalised groups and not many studies addresses the existing tribal welfare opportunities and practices available in the ecotourism destinations. This study illustrates the conservation governance model that dovetails cogently the imperatives of conservation, livelihoods and economic production has been documented. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is one of the most popular ecotourism sites in India. This paper highlights innovative practices adopted at the reserve with an intention of replicating these procedures elsewhere. The study identified possible direct and indirect benefits bestowed on the local community and ecology by tourism such as transformation of the reserve into cattle free, plastic free, poacher free, fire free zone and also strategies that led to the generation of sizable revenue directed towards conservation and community welfare. Several implications of ecotourism are introduced and recommendations for future research are presented.

Ecotourism in Kerala - a case study on empowering the indigenous community

The tribal communities are one of the highly marginalised groups and not many studies addresses the existing tribal welfare opportunities and practices available in the ecotourism destinations. This study illustrates the conservation governance model that dovetails cogently the imperatives of conservation, livelihoods and economic production has been documented. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is one of the most popular ecotourism sites in India. This paper highlights innovative practices adopted at the reserve with an intention of replicating these procedures elsewhere. The study identified possible direct and indirect benefits bestowed on the local community and ecology by tourism such as transformation of the reserve into cattle free, plastic free, poacher free, fire free zone and also strategies that led to the generation of sizable revenue directed towards conservation and community welfare. Several implications of ecotourism are introduced and recommendations for future research are presented.

Small carnivores of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, southern Western Ghats, India

The first ever detailed study on the small carnivores of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PkTR) in the southern Western Ghats, using camera trap techniques, reported 11 species. A total of 1,350 camera-trap nights were used for the study. This was supplemented with 242km of day transects and 344km of night transects using spot-lights. The small carnivores reported were the Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni, Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii, Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus, Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii, Jungle Cat Felis chaus and Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis. About 90% of the small carnivores captured in the camera traps in PKTR were members of the Viverridae family such as the Small Indian Civet (31.67%), Common Palm Civet (30%) and Brown Palm Civet (28.33%). The study recorded all the four species of mongoose known from the Western Ghats from PkTR. Two out of the 11 small carnivores belong to the ‘Vulnerable’ category on the IUCN Red List.

GROUP-SIZE AND AGE-SEX COMPOSITION OF NILGIRI LANGUR Trachypithecus johnii (PRIMATES: CERCOPITHECIDAE) IN INDIA

Group size and group composition of Nilgiri langur (Trachypithecus johnii) was studied in two habitats of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. Group size and age-sex composition data was collected during scan sampling, 18 monitoring transect lines, road-strip count, and direct encounter of the groups. Mean group size value significantly differ between moist deciduous forest and evergreen forest. Group size was varied from 2 to 22. The maximum group size, 22 was recorded in evergreen forest habitat. The mean group size of Nilgiri langur is less in moist deciduous forest and higher in evergreen forest.

Diversity of rhacophorids (Amphibia: Anura) in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, Kerala, India

A study on the rhacophorids of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve was conducted from April to July 2011. Eleven species of rhacophorids in four genera—Rhacophorus (three species), Polypedates (one species), Pseudophilautus (one species) and Raorchestes (six species)—were recorded. Distribution, natural history and biological information is provided including some recommendations for changes in the IUCN conservation status of the rhacophorids of Western Ghats have been proposed in the paper.

Foraging ecology and relative abundance of large carnivores in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, southern India

The food habits and relative abundance of large carnivores was studied through scat analysis technique in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary from November 2002 to April 2003. A total of 377 scats (103 of Tiger, 188 of Leopard and 86 of Dhole) were analysed. The niche breadth, niche overlap and diversity indices of the diet were calculated. The relative abundance of large carnivores in different habitats was assessed based on the number of scats encountered per kilometer. The result showed that the major part of the diet of all the three large carnivores were from Spotted Deer and Sambar. The Leopard showed a higher diversity and niche breadth in its diet compared to the Tiger. Niche overlap analysis showed that a strong overlap exists between large carnivores. All the large carnivores showed more preference to undisturbed habitat and less preference to evergreen habitat. The result has shown high implication in understanding the predator-prey dynamics and preference of large carnivores to different habitats.

Dry deciduous forests of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and its significance to the flora of Kerala

Kerala flora is endowed with Malabar floristic elements. The extent of dry deciduous forests and its floristic representatives in the State is very low. Flora of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is significant in this context. This paper deals with the dry deciduous forests in the Sanctuary and peculiarity of its flora, including ten new records to the flora of Kerala.

Fauna of protected areas - 2: A preliminary list of spiders from Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, with descriptions of three new species

Fauna of protected areas - 2: A preliminary list of spiders from Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, with descriptions of three new species

Butterflies of Government College Campus, Madappally, Kozhikode District, Kerala

Kerala has a rich and diverse butterfly fauna because of the availability of a wide range of habitats. About 1501 species of butterflies have been recorded from India so far, of which 313 species of butterflies are from Kerala (Gaonkar, 1996). In Kerala detailed studies have been made on butterflies only in some specific habitats. Ferguson (1891) recorded 220 butterfly species from Travancore area. From Silent Valley National Park, Mathew and Rahmathulla (1993) recorded 100 species. Subsequently, Palot (1995) reported 67 species from the Sacred Groves of North Malabar. Later, Palot et al. (1997) recorded 119 species of butterflies from Periyar Tiger Reserve. Further, Palot (1998) had recorded 65 species of butterflies from Calicut University Campus. Recently Sudheendrakumar et al. (2000) recorded 124 species of butterflies from Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. The present paper reports the butterfly diversity of Government College Campus, Madappally, Kozhikode.

Monitoring prey-predator abundance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring prey-predator abundance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring prey-predator abundance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring prey-predator abundance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring prey-predator abundance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Monitoring prey-predator abundance in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

The macro Hymenopteran fauna of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

The macro hymenopteran fauna of Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala was studied during 1995-97. Of the 105 species collected, 84 species belonging to 47 genera and 16 families were identified. The dominant families includes Formicidae, Apidae, Pompilidae and Sphecidae.