Part Of Western Ghats Research Articles

Spatial analysis and assessment of soil erosion in the southern Western Ghats region in India.

Soil erosion is expected to worsen in the future as a result of climate change, growing population demands, improper land use, and excessive exploitation of natural resources in India. Due to the growing population and changes in land use, it has become increasingly crucial to map and quantitatively assess soil for the purpose of sustainable agricultural usage and planning conservation efforts. The problem of soil erosion is mainly on steeper slopes with intense rainfall in parts of Western Ghats. The 20.17% of geographical area have been converted into wasteland due to soil erosion. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a highly prevalent and effective technique utilized for estimating soil loss in order to facilitate the planning of erosion control measures. Despite the fact that RUSLE is accurately estimate sediment yields from gully erosion, it is an effective tool in estimating sheet and rill erosions losses from diverse land uses like agricultural to construction sites. The current study is mainly about combining the RUSLE model with GIS (Geographic Information System) to find out how much soil is being lost, particularly in Noyyal and Sanganur watersheds which is located in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. This analysis is based on the soil order, with a significant proportion of alfisols and inceptisols being considered. The obtained outcome is contrasted with the established soil loss tolerance threshold, leading to the identification of the areas with the highest susceptibility to erosion. Within the narrower and more inclined section of the watershed, yearly soil loss scales from 0 to 5455 tonnes/ha/year, with an average annual loss of soil of 2.44 tonnes/ha. The severe soil erosion of 100 to 5455 tonnes/ha/year is found along the steep and greater slope length. The generated soil map was classified into six categories: very slight, slight, moderate, high, severe, and very severe. These classifications, respectively, occupied 6.23%, 14.88%, 10.56%, 15.70%, 7.73%, and 6.63% of the basin area. Based on the results of cross-validation, the estimated result of the present study was found to be very high compared to past studies conducted 0 to 368.12 tonnes/ha/year especially in very severe erosion zones. But very slight to severe erosion zones nearly matched with same level of soil loss. To protect the soil in the study area from erosion, more specific actions should be taken. These include micro-catchment, broad bed furrows, up-and-down farming, soil amendment with coconut coir pith composition, streambank stabilization with vegetation, and micro-water harvesting with abandoned well recharge. These actions should be carried out over time to make sure to work.

New Records of Testate Amoebae in Shenthuriney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India: Insights into Microbial Biodiversity

This report summarizes the results hitherto achieved in the study of moss inhabitant testate amoebae in Shenthuriney WLS, part of Western Ghats, Kerala. This is the first study on this important protozoan group in the sanctuary to document the testate fauna.The study reveals the novel records of 28 species of testate amoebae span over 6 families and 9 genera from Shenthuriney WLS, Kerala.

Status of macrofungal diversity in the wet evergreen forests of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is a part of Western Ghats (India), has diverse ecosystems and constitutes an important biogeographical ‘hotspot’ which is well known for its species richness and endemism. Since limited information was available on the mycoflora in this area, a survey was conducted to evaluate the macrofungal diversity in the wet evergreen forests of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. The survey was carried out during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2021–2022 and revealed the existence of 62 macrofungal species belonging to 43 genera, 24 families, and eight orders. Out of the eight orders, seven orders belong to the division Basidiomycota and the other order Xylariales belongs to Ascomycota. The family Polyporaceae was identified as the dominant family. The survey also noted the presence of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi. Among the identified species, the maximum density was of Panellus pusillus (6.08) followed by Microporus xanthopus (5.38). Microporus xanthopus (82.14%) exhibited the maximum frequency of occurrence and was identified as the most common species. Coprinellus disseminatus was the most abundant species among macrofungi. The assessment of macrofungal diversity using the Shannon biodiversity index resulted in a value of 2.99, indicating a rich and diverse fungal population within the forest. This finding emphasizes the significant role of the forest ecosystem in supporting a wide variety of fungi

GIS based landslide susceptibility mapping and assessment using weighted overlay method in Wayanad: A part of Western Ghats, Kerala

The objectives of the study are to generate a landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) map of Wayanad for effective and efficient disaster management in the future and to determine the various parameters and usefulness of remote sensing and GIS in landslide susceptibility mapping. The topographical factors like slope, elevation, and aspects influencing landslides are derived from the digital elevation model (DEM). The rainfall data were collected from 2011 to 2019 from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and four sampling sites were identified through a field visit. We used Landsat8 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) satellite imagery with a resolution of 30 m to create land use and land cover (LULC) using the unsupervised classification method. It was divided into seven categories based on the annual precipitation of the study area using inverse distance weighting (IDW). The LSZ map was derived using the weighted overlay method by analysing the geographical and climatic factors. These factors helped produce the final LSZ map, which was divided into three zones from high to low. LSZ areas with steep slopes, high elevation, prolonged rainfall, and predominant land use changes. Study reveals that the north-east, south, and south-east regions of the study area are more vulnerable to landslides.

Taxonomy and distribution of desmids in Karapuzha Dam, Western Ghats, Kerala

AbstractDuring the studies of algae in the Wayanad district, a notable diversity of desmids observed in the Karapuzha dam, Kerala, India. Karapuzha Dam is 700 to 2061 metres above sea level and is a part of Western Ghats. Thirty‐nine taxa of desmids were identified from Karapuzha Dam of Wayanad district from June 2019 to May 2020. The collection comprises ten genera of 39 desmids, including 24 species of Cosmarium, 5 Staurastrum, 2 Closterium, 2 Euastrum, 1 Gonatozygon, 1 Triplastrum, 1 Penium, 1 Spondylosium, 1 Micrasterias and 1 Arthrodesmus. Among these, Cosmarium regnesi var. montanum is new to India, 8 taxa are new to Kerala and 2 taxa are new to South India. Some rare and high altitude distributed species are found in the study. This desmid diversity relates to the oligotrophic nature of the dam. This paper is a pioneer attempt to document the desmid flora of Karapuzha Dam, Kerala.

Discovery of the genus Andreimyrme Lelej, 1995 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in India and description of a new species from the Western Ghats.

The Oriental genus Andreimyrme Lelej, 1995 is newly reported from India. A new species A. paniya sp. nov. is described based on a female specimen from Kerala part of Western Ghats. Diagnostic features of this new species to separate it from similar species A. neaera (Mickel, 1935) and A. sarawakensis Lelej, 1996 are discussed. This new species has the mesosoma and metasoma with reddish-brown cuticle which approximates Eastern mimicry ring in North America. Andreimyrme paniya sp. nov. expresses a rare color pattern. In India such color syndromes occur in two species of the tribe Smicromyrmini and two species of the subfamily Dasylabrinae. These species inhabit the tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southern India. An updated diagnosis for males and females of Andreimyrme is given.

<strong><em>Phyllanthus sanatanadharmae</em> (Phyllanthaceae): a new species from southern Western Ghats, India</strong>

A new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae: Eriococcus), P. sanatanadharmae, from the southern part of Western Ghats, India is described. Detailed taxonomic description and colour photographs are provided along with key to the section Eriococcus in Kerala region of Western Ghats.

<strong><em>Elaeocarpus gadgilii</em> (Elaeocarpaceae), a new species from Western Ghats (India)</strong>

Elaeocarpus gadgilii, a new species of Elaeocarpus (Elaeocarpaceae) from the southern part of Western Ghats (India) is described. Detailed description, distribution, phenology and photographs are provided. The differences between the new species and the similar E. variabilis Zmarzty and E. serratus L. are also discussed.

Addressing Wallacean shortfall using small sampling approach: a case study with endemic Lycodon flavicollis (Squamata: Colubridae) Mukherjee & Bhupathy, 2007

Delineating species distribution comprising information on habitat suitability is vital for developing conservation strategies. Like many other snake species, Lycodon flavicollis is a poorly studied peninsular Indian endemic species known only from few locality records. We used MaxEnt following the small sampling approach to determine the probable distribution of the species. We found that the majority of the predicted area falls under Deccan Peninsular (Central Plateau and Deccan South) region of India followed by parts of Western Ghats. Isothermality and mean temperature of wettest quarter had considerable influence on the predicted distribution range of the species. The findings of the present work show that our modelling approach may help in identifying new areas where this species may occur. We discussed the usefulness of this approach in determining potential distribution of data deficient species such as L. flavicollis. Additionally, we have also provided significant information on morphology and natural history to enrich our current knowledge on the species.

A new species and a new record of Dicuspiditermes Krishna (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae) from the Kerala part of Western Ghats, India

ABSTRACT A new species, Dicuspiditermes leghugathrae Amina and Rajmohana sp.nov. (Termitidae) is described and illustrated based on the morphological characters of soldiers and workers. Dicuspiditermes hutsoni (Kemner), a termite species hitherto endemic to Sri Lanka, is reported for the first time from India. Both the species are recorded from the Kerala part of Western Ghats. An identification key to the species of Dicuspiditermes found in India (based on soldier caste), along with a species distribution map is also provided. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:44AB093B-6A02-4A35-BC1B-3277259A3104

Landslides susceptibility assessment by analytical network process: a case study for Kuttiyadi river basin (Western Ghats, southern India)

In the case of Western Ghats of Kerala located in southern India, landslides become the most devastating hazard during the monsoon season is mainly because of intense rainfall. The recent landslides struck in the months of June and August 2018 were the worst in the history of the state as the damages to life and property happened were very dangerous. From this evidences, being a landslide-prone area a hazard zonation attempted using the terrain susceptibility concept for highlands of Kuttiyadi river basin is a part of Western Ghats in Kozhikode district with a maximum elevation of 1640 m above MSL. Through landslide susceptibility mapping, the assessment of areas likely to have or probable to landslides in the future identified using geospatial and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool mix. This work explores the usage of the MCDM tool—analytical network process (ANP)-based decision-making approach to determine the relationship between each landslide conditioning factors and to assign weight effectively. Factor maps of various landslide triggering parameters such as slope, soil, landuse, drainage density, stage of landform, lineament density, geology, and geomorphology were prepared and integrated through geospatial analyses in the GIS platform, and the study area (318 km2) is categorized into four classes of unstable (121 km2), moderately unstable (76 km2), stable to moderately stable (124 km2), high vulnerability (67 km2), and very high vulnerability (74 km2). The result of this work concluded that the application of ANP is an effective tool to weight the factors causing landslides and to generate landslide susceptibility zonation map with maximum accuracy using geospatial technology. The validation of output data with landslide inventory data is satisfying it.

A review of the pest status and natural enemy complex of Banana skipper Erionota torus evans in south India and its management

Huge outbreaks of the banana skipper Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), considered as a minor pest of bananas and plantains in the northeast India, were witnessed in South India during 2012 16. It's present status as a pest of bananas in South India is briefly reviewed here with information on its natural enemies, seasonal incidence and varietal preference. Natural enemies of E. torus from South India were surveyed during 2015–18 and 14 parasitoids were observed on various stages of E. torus including five on eggs, seven on larvae and two on pupae. Most of the parasitoids observed in South India are known to parasitize E. torus in other parts of South and South East Asia, except Acropimpla sp. nr. nigroscutis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which is reported here as a larval parasitoid of E. torus for the first time. Egg parasitism by Ooencyrtus pallidipes (Ashmead) and early larval parasitism by Elasmus brevicornis Gahan and heavy bird predation on older larvae were identified as major regulatory factors of E. torus in South India. At present, E. torus is mostly confined to parts of Western Ghats with cooler weather than the plains and its population is lower or absent in the plains of South India where outbreaks were reported earlier, possibly due to the influence of natural enemies and adverse abiotic factors. Other management options available for the pest are briefly discussed.

Rediscovery of Oreoweisia brevidens Herzog (Dicranaceae; Bryophyta) an Indian endemic species from Western Ghats reported after 75 years

Oreoweisia brevidens a rare Indian endemic moss described by Herzog in 1939 from Assam is reported after 75 years from the Karnataka part of Western Ghats. The species is described with photos and illustration.

Impact of the Indo-Western Pacific Ocean Capacitor mode on South Asian summer monsoon rainfall

The influence of Indo-Western Pacific Ocean Capacitor (IPOC) mode on South Asian summer monsoon rainfall variability is investigated in the present study. It is found from the observations that the IPOC mode induces a tripole pattern in precipitation anomalies over the South Asian region. Strong positive precipitation anomalies over some parts of western Ghats and Sundarbans and Bangladesh region separated by negative precipitation anomalies over the monsoon trough region are found to be the main characteristic features closely associated with the IPOC mode. It is noted that anomalous western north Pacific (WNP) anticyclone and tropical Indian Ocean (TIO) warming maintain a tripole precipitation pattern over the South Asian region. Anomalous low level convergence in the northern flank of WNP anticyclone and orographic lift cause enhanced rainfall over the Sundarbans and Bangladesh region. Meanwhile, westward propagating atmospheric cold Rossby wave as a response to suppressed convection over the WNP region induced moisture divergence and downward motion play important role in maintaining negative rainfall anomalies over the monsoon trough. At the same time, TIO SST warming supported by easterly wind anomalies associated with WNP anticyclone has contributed to the enhanced rainfall over parts of eastern Arabian Sea and western Ghats. Coupled General Circulation Model sensitivity experiments are performed to investigate individual and combined impact of the TIO warming and WNP circulation on south Asian summer monsoon rainfall variability associated with IPOC mode. The model experiments revealed that WNP anticyclone influences the rainfall over the monsoon trough region and Sundarbans-Bangladesh region. Further the moisture convergence induced by local SST warming is mainly helping to sustain enhanced Western Ghats rainfall. Sub-seasonal variability of ISM rainfall associated with the IPOC modes is also discussed. This study advocates the importance of IPOC mode in exerting strong impact on regional summer rainfall variability over the Indian/South Asian summer monsoon region on the interannual time scale. Thus, it is important to consider the possible roles of TIO warming and WNP circulation in predicting the South Asian summer monsoon rainfall.

‘Kulagar’-A Potential System to Conserve the Crop Diversity

Goa and Konkan region of Maharashtra are parts of Western Ghats with huge diversity of flora and fauna. Hot-humid climate with heavy monsoon makes this area a biodiversity hotspot. Farmers of this region have a conventional, multitier, homestead system of gardening called kulagar, inherited from their ancestors, to cultivate and conserve the local crop plants near their household. It is an integrated system with the skeletal component as areca nut palms. Other types of crops included in the system are cash crops, plantation crops, spices, fruits, local vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants and flower crops. Some of the kulagars include animal components to make the system cost effective and holistic. Bioresource conservation, crop diversification, recycling of the resources, value addition and processing and byproduct utilization are important features of a kulagar. Advanced crop production technologies are being incorporated in kulagar by the new generation farmers to make it sustainable and economically viable.

Molecular phylogenetic investigations of Triops granarius (Lucas, 1864 (Branchiopoda: Notostraca) from the type locality of the former Apus orientalis Tiwari, 1952 and three other localities in the Western Ghats of India.

We investigated the phylogenetic position of Triops granarius populations from four localities in the Western Ghats using partial sequences of three mitochondrial genes (COI, 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) publicly available on the GenBank database. One of these localities, Panchgani, is particularly important since it is the type locality of the former Apus orientalis which is currently treated as a junior synonym of T. granarius. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that populations from all the four localities (Kolhapur, Chalkewadi, Panchgani, and Dighi) form a single lineage, which is here named 'Maharashtra lineage'. One of the two previously published samples from India, treated as lineage 'Triops granarius 4' is nested within this clade. The 'Maharashtra lineage' is separated from other lineages by mean maximum likelihood distance ≥ 11.9% in the COI gene. This distance is suggestive of a separation on species level from other lineages of T. granarius. This interpretation is further supported by a conservative genus-wide species delimitation analysis performed in the present study upon application of the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery method. The 'Maharashtra lineage' branches out in two sub-lineages of Panchgani+Kolhapur and Dighi+L4+Chalkewadi samples, separated by 5.9% mean ML distance (uncorrected p-distance = 5.4%) in COI. The application of a 5% threshold to the COI dataset would thus even suggest a possible differentiation of both sub-lineages on species level. Comparative morphological data is presently not available because most vouchers associated with the sequences were depleted for DNA extraction. Further studies are needed in order to prepare a sound taxonomic revision. Thus, in the current study we refrain from re-instating Apus orientalis to full species status (likewise, for other names of Asian taxa in this morphogroup, including Apus sinensis Uéno, we retain the status as junior synonym of T. granarius). Nonetheless, our study highlights the fact that still there may be undescribed cryptic species associated with the specific name in this part of Western Ghats (Linnean Shortfall) and paves the way for future taxonomic investigations and conservation strategies for the genus Triops in India.

Spatiotemporal Variability of Seasonality of Rainfall Over India

AbstractWe analyzed 113 years (1901–2013) of daily rainfall over India to investigate spatiotemporal variability of rainfall seasonality. Rainfall seasonality and mean annual rainfall were found to be high over the Western Ghats, central, and northeastern parts of India and over the Indo‐Gangetic plains, and low over northwest, southern, and northernmost parts of India. Significant decreasing trends in seasonality coupled with decreasing rainfall were found over parts of central India, the Indo‐Gangetic plains, and parts of Western Ghats. Trends in timing of peak rainfall indicate later occurrence in the season, especially over southern Indo‐Gangetic plains, by ~10–20 days per century. In addition, there is a general decrease in the wet‐season duration throughout India by ~10–20 days per century. El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures were found to strongly influence seasonality and rainfall over large parts of India. The changes to rainfall and its seasonality will have profound socioeconomic implications for India.

Clematis pettimudiensis (Ranunculaceae), a new species from Western Ghats, India

A new species of Clematis sect. Naraveliopsis (Ranunculaceae), C. pettimudiensis, from the southern part of Western Ghats, India, is described and illustrated. It is closely allied to C. metuoensis, a species distributed in China, but differs in several characters.

A new species of Litsea (Lauraceae) from Kerala part of Western Ghats, India

A new species of Litsea from India is described and illustrated. Litsea indoverticillata is recognized from the Malabar Wildlife sanctuary of Nilgiri phytogeographical zone of southern Western Ghats. It is distinguished from the closely related L. quinqueflora and L. verticillata by straggling shrub habit; 7–15 mm long, glabrous petiole, chartaceous and glabrous leaves, glabrous midrib; 15–24 pairs of lateral veins; solitary, glabrous, and pruinose inflorescence; greenish-white to whitish flowers.

Two new taxa of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from southern parts of Western Ghats, India

Two new taxa of Impatiens viz. I. mankulamensis sp. nov. and I. panduranganii sp. nov. (Balsaminaceae), are described from the southern Western Ghats, India. Notes on description, distribution, morphological variation and conservation status accompany each description, along with colour photographs.