Wayanad Region Research Articles

First sighting record of the elusive Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii in Wayanad, Southern Western Ghats, India

Abstract This note reports the first sighting of the elusive and threatened Nilgiri marten in Wayanad district of Southern Western Ghats. All the previously known occurrences of Nilgiri marten in the Western Ghats, along with the addition of this new record, were marked on a map. This record highlights the need for further studies on this population’s status and behavior, as well as to understand whether any coexistence or conflicts occur with local people, thereby examining underlying threats to the population in the Wayanad region.

Chelatrematidae n. fam., a new family of digenetic trematodes from the South Western Ghats, India, erected on the basis of morphological and molecular studies.

On the basis of the morphological characterization of Chelatrema neilgherriensis Manjula & Janardanan, 2006 recovered from the freshwater fish Barilius gatensis (Valenciennes, 1844) in the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats, the diagnostic features of the genus Chelatrema Gupta & Kumari, 1973 have been modified. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of C. neilgherriensis and comparative morphology studies relative to members of other families of Gorgoderoidea Looss, 1901, this genus is placed in a new family Chelatrematidae n. fam. The studies revealed the molecular and morphological closeness of Chelatrema with Paracreptatrematina limi Amin & Myer, 1982, and the latter is transferred to this new family. Hence the new family Chelatrematidae n. fam. comprises the genera Chelatrema and Paracreptatrematina.

Effectiveness of One Health approach for control of Kyasanur Forest Disease in Wayanad, Kerala, India.

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a vector borne haemorrhagic fever that is endemic in the Wayanad region located in Northern part of Kerala, India. The region is managing the outbreak well ever since the major epidemic of 2015. This was because of the successful implementation of One Health (OH) initiative concentrating on multisectoral collaboration between regional institutions involved in public, animal and environmental health domains. The article presents how OH was implemented for the first time in the district in the year 2015 and evaluates the degree OH-ness of the Initiative. The OH approach involved trans-disciplinary stakeholder meetings and reviews, outbreak management and integrated surveillance targeting ticks, monkeys and humans. The degree of OH-ness used for addressing KFD during the year 2015 was evaluated following the protocol developed by the Network for Evaluation of One Health (NEOH). In detail, we (i) described the OH initiative and its system (Aim, stakeholders, action strategy) and (ii) scored different aspects of this initiative (i.e., OH-thinking, -planning, -working, -sharing, -learning, -organization), with values from 0 (=no OH approach) to 1 (=perfect OH approach). We obtained a median score for each aspect evaluated. We reached high scores for OH systemic organization (1.0), OH thinking (0.83) and OH working (0.83). Lower scores were attributed to OH planning (0.58), OH sharing (0.50) and OH learning (0.33). The OH index was 0.36 and OH ratio was 0.95, indicating a balance between the OH operations and supporting infrastructures. With this we could high-light some critical issues related to communication on sharing data as well as learning gaps for consideration to control future outbreaks. The strengths and weaknesses detected may be used to refine the initiative, aiming to provide a basis for the development of shared recommendations in a more OH-oriented perspective. This model of evaluation criteria will serve to create a database of OH success stories in India that will in turn help to institutionalize the approach at ministerial level. Future India is moving towards implementing a One Health, hence, this study data will provide an ideal opportunity for all sectors to control any vector borne diseases.

Studies on trematode metacercariae infecting libellulid larvae from the Western Ghats, Wayanad region.

Understanding the host specificity of trematode larvae is vital in predicting the mode of trophic level transfer of trematode parasites and their evolution. In this study, six species of trematode metacercariae, Eumegacetes sp., Orthetrotrema monostomum, Ganeo tigrinus, Mehraorchis sp., Pleurogenoides sp. and Phyllodistomum sp. infecting the larvae of the odonate family Libellulidae from the water bodies in the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats are recorded. The prevalence of infection of these metacercariae was 5.8%, 2.0%, 10.4%, 9.1%, 2.6% & 1.3%, respectively. Further, the mean intensity of infection was estimated to be 4.44, 1.67, 5.38, 6.21, 6.0 & 17.5 and the mean abundance 0.26, 0.03, 0.56, 0.56, 0.16 & 0.23 respectively.

Spider diversity (Arachnida; Araneae) in different plantations of Western Ghats, Wayanad region, India

The study was conducted to explore the spider diversity in different plantations of Western Ghats Wayanad, Kerala state, India. The investigation was carried out for the period from February 2019 to February 2020. A total of 100 species belonging to 74 genera under 20 families were recorded from the selected habitats. This represents 51% families recorded from the Western Ghats, Kerala. The highest species richness was found in the coffee plantation (site A) with 56 species belonging to 12 families. The tea plantation (site B) recorded 27 species belonging to 11 families. The rubber plantation (site C) showed the lowest species richness with 17 species belonging to ten families. Guild structure analyses of the collected spiders revealed nine functional groups viz.., orb-web builders, stalkers, ambushers, cob-web builders, ground runners, foliage runners, tent web builders, sheet-web builders and funnel web builders. The pattern and the architecture of webs varied among different families. During the period of study, five different web patterns were recorded- orb web, tent web, cob web, sheet web and funnel web. It is concluded that the structure of the vegetation is expected to influence the diversity of spiders in different plantations.

Spectral and Chemical Characterization of Copiapite and Rozenite from Padinjarathara in Wayanad, Southern India: Implications for Mars Exploration

Copiapite (Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 ∙ 20 H2O) and rozenite (Fe2+(SO4) ∙ 4H2O) are secondary hydrous sulfate minerals, mostly formed because of oxygenation and weathering events of primary sulfides on Earth. Acidophiles, mainly archaea and bacteria, and specifically anaerobic methanogens (methane-producing microorganisms) have been detected in regions where alteration of primary sulfide phases to secondary sulfates are predominant. These secondary sulfate minerals are significant in defining past geological environments on Earth and other rocky planets such as Mars. We discuss here the results of chemical and spectral analyses of copiapite and rozenite found in massive sulfide zones associated with banded iron formations (BIFs) in the Wayanad region in Kerala, southern India. The results from different spectroscopic techniques — VNIR reflectance, TIR (emitted radiation), FTIR, Laser Raman, and X-ray diffraction — were recorded and matched with existing literatures and databases. Different matching algorithms like Spectral Feature Fitting (SFF), Spectral Similarity Value (SSV), Modified Spectral Angle Similarity (MSAS), and Pearsonian Correlation Coefficient (PCC) were utilized in order to quantitatively match the reflectance spectra with the reference spectra (USGS and RELAB). The genesis of copiapite and rozenite in the area is through seasonal and temporary development of an acidic environment, with the high elevations of the Wayanad plateau providing the necessary low-humidity condition during the dry season. Copiapite and rozenite were detected as alteration products in different regions on Mars, which can provide insights into environmental conditions that prevailed during the biogeochemical evolution of Mars. The study of copiapite and rozenite formation in a terrestrial environment will therefore enhance our understanding of similar mineral precipitation, genesis, and fluvial processes on Mars. Future missions to Mars could also use the data obtained from the present study to calibrate similar instruments to detect these secondary sulfate minerals.

A new Indian species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 closely related to R. sanguineus Beddome, 1863 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae).

A new species of the uropeltid (shieldtail snake) genus Rhinophis is described based on a type series of seven specimens from the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. The holotype was collected before 1880 but had been misidentified as the phenotypically similar and parapatric (possibly partly sympatric) R. sanguineus. Rhinophis karinthandani sp. nov. is diagnosed by a combination of 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody, 4-8 pairs of subcaudal scales, colour pattern (uniformly dark above, whitish below with extensive dark mottling), and by its distinct mitochondrial DNA sequences (e.g. 7.6% uncorrected p-distance for nd4). Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicates that the new species is most closely related to R. sanguineus among currently recognised species, with this pair most closely related to the partly sympatric R. melanoleucus. The new species description brings the number of currently recognised species in the genus to 24, six of which are endemic to India and 18 endemic to Sri Lanka. A new key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis is provided.

Life-history traits and courtship behaviour of four poorly known endemic bush frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Rhachophoridae) from the Western Ghats of India

The Western Ghats have a high level of anuran endemism. Although there has been an extensive focus on their taxonomy, the ecology of most species are poorly known. In this note we describe the reproductive life-history traits and breeding behavior of four species of endemic bush frogs, Pseudophilautus wynaadensis, Raorchestes akroparallagi, Raorchestes glandulosus, and Raorchestes ponmudi (Amphibia: Anura: Rachophoridae) from Wayanad region of Western Ghats. 

A new species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from theWayanad region of peninsular India.

A new species of the shieldtail snake genus Rhinophis is described based on a type series of seven recently collected specimens from the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats of peninsular India. Rhinophis melanoleucus sp. nov. is diagnosed based on a combination of 15 dorsal scale rows at (or just behind) midbody, more than 215 ventral scales and a long rostral. The new species also has a distinctive (mostly black and white) colouration. A new key to the identification of Indian species of Rhinophis is provided.

Studies on the life cycle of Pleurogenoides wayanadensis Shinad & Prasadan, 2018 (Digenea: Pleurogenidae) from the Western Ghats, India.

The life cycle of Pleurogenoides wayanadensis Shinad & Prasadan, 2018, infecting the frogs Hoplobatrachus tigerinus and Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, is elucidated in this study. All the life cycle stages from egg to egg-producing adults were elucidated under natural conditions and successfully established in the laboratory. The life cycle took about 58 to 65 days for completion. Miracidia were released by teasing the eggs with fine needles. Sporocysts were found in the freshwater snail, Bithynia (Digoniostoma) pulchella, collected from paddy fields at Payode, Western Ghats, Wayanad region, in the months of October and November 2019. Cercariae were of the virgulate xiphidiocercous type. Metacercariae were recovered from the eyes of the damselfly naiads of the species Ischnura sp. and Copera sp., and the thorax and abdomen of the dragonfly naiads, Orthetrum sp. The metacercariae showed progenetic development. The growth and development of the metacercariae in the naiads that were exposed to cercariae, and development of the trematode in frogs that were force-fed with encysted metacercariae, have been studied at regular intervals. The prepatent period is 14-19 days. The present life cycle study of a Pleurogenoides spp. forms the seventh report from the world, fourth report from India and the third from Kerala.

A parapleurolophocercous cercaria and a furcocercous cercaria from the freshwater gastropods of the Western Ghats.

Two cercariae were recorded from freshwater snails, one each from Digoniostoma pulchella and Indoplanorbis exustus and named Cercaria sp. III Western Ghats n.sp. and Cercaria sp. IV Western Ghats n.sp. respectively. Cercaria sp. III Western Ghats n.sp. is distome, ocellate and pharyngeate with peculiar spines on the tail, belongs to the Parapleurolophocerca group. This cercaria has 10 pairs of penetration glands in two groups; thick walled large excretory bladder and 10 pairs of flame cells including a pair arising from the caudal excretory canal. Cercaria sp. III Western Ghats n.sp develops inside the sausage shaped redia. Developed cercariae were found outside the rediae, in the host tissue. The furcocercous cercaria, Cercaria sp. IV Western Ghats n.sp is elongate, non ocellate, pharyngeate and longifurcocercous with three crowns of spines beside mouth, three pairs of penetration glands, small excretory bladder and twenty-two flame cells including four flame cells in the tail stem. Asexual multiplication of the organism occurs inside the sporocyst in the hepatopancreas of I. exustus. The present paper reports two new cercariae with their intra-molluscan stages recovered from the snails of the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats, and their morphological and morphometric comparison with the related species to determine their systematic positions.

Prevalence, intensity and mean abundance of digenean parasites of the frog Fejervarya sp. (Anura: Dicroglossidae) of the South Western Ghats

Four species of digenean parasites, Ganeo glottoides, Pleurogenoides cyanophlycti, Tremiorchis ranarum and Encyclometra colubrimurorum infecting the frog Fejervarya sp. (Anura: Dicroglossidae) of the Wayanad Region of the South Western Ghats are reported in this paper. Of the trematode parasites recovered, three, G. glottoides, P. cyanophlycti and T. ranarum, were adults and one, E. colubrimurorum, a metacercaria. Multiple infections were also recorded during the study. Prevalence of infection of G. glottoides, P. cyanophlycti, T. ranarum and E. coloubrimurorum were 1.27%, 0.84%, 0.84% and 0.84%, respectively, the intensity of infection 5, 1, 4.5 and 1.5 and the mean abundance 0.063, 0.008, 0.038 and 0.012, respectively. Mean abundance is a clear indication of the dispersion of parasites among hosts. The mean abundance, prevalence of infection and the intensity were at the maximum level in G. glottoides infection.

Digenean parasites of the Family Lecithodendriidae (Luhe, 1901) Odhner, 1901 infecting the frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Anura: Dicroglossidae) of the Western Ghats, Wayanad Region, India

Three species of digenean parasites, Pleurogenoides euphlycti, P. wayanadensis and Meharorchis ranarum of the frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Anura, Dicroglossidae) from the Wayanad Region of the South Western Ghats are reported in this paper. Multiple infections were also recorded during the study. Prevalence of infection of P. euphlycti, P. wayanadensis and M. ranarum were 15.15%, 9.09% and 12.12%, respectively, and the intensity of infection were 5.2, 7.3 and 8, and the mean abundance were 0.78, 0.66 and 0.96, respectively. Mean abundance is an indication of the dispersion of parasites among hosts. The mean abundance and the intensity were at the maximum level in M. ranarum infection and that of prevalence of infection was at the maximum level in of P. euphlycti infection.

Two new species of furcocercous cercariae from freshwater gastropods of Western Ghats.

Two new furcocercous cercariae, Cercaria sp. I Western Ghats n. sp. and Cercaria sp. II Western Ghats n. sp. were found infecting the freshwater snails Indoplanorbis exustus and Thiara tuberculata respectively of the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats. Cercaria sp. I Western Ghats n. sp., a distome, apharyngeate, non-ocellate and spinose cercaria having three pairs of penetration glands, kidney- shaped small caeca and 20 pairs of flame cells including a pair in the furcae was recovered from I. exustus and Cercaria sp. II Western Ghats n. sp., a non-ocellate, pharyngeate, longifurcate furcocercous cercaria with two pairs of irregularly bordered penetration glands, septate caeca and 21 pairs of flame cells including three pairs in the furcae, from T. tuberculata. Sporocysts of Cercaria sp. I Western Ghats n. sp. were sausage-shaped while that of Cercaria sp. II Western Ghats n. sp. were thread-like and both of them developed in the hepatopancreas of their hosts. This paper describes the two new cercariae with their intramolluscan stages and compares them with related species to establish their systematic positions.

Comparative Performance of some Native Rice Cultivars of Wayanad Region of Western Ghats, South India under Upland and Wetland Conditions

Wayanad district of Kerala State of India, situated in the Western Ghat region has a tribal population of about twenty percent. Kurichyas, Mullukurumas, Paniyas, Kattunaikas, etc. are the most important tribes inhabiting the area. Rice is their staple source of carbohydrate and they cultivate several native rice cultivars from ancient days. Kurichyas and Mullukurumas are traditional rice farmers. The rice cultivars grown by them are phenotypically and genotypically diverse and can be categorized according to ecological and geographical variations. Rice is grown both under wetland and upland conditions by them. Some of the rice cultivars are adapted to upland conditions and others to wetland conditions. However, no efforts have been made in the area to scientifically evaluate the adaptability of the rice cultivars to these conditions. Upland rice farming is very important in peasantry agriculture including tribal farming since this method demands lesser inputs. Moreover, upland rice farming can be carried out in non-conventional areas thus making the crop to spread to new agricultural areas. The present study validates the usability of twelve native rice cultivars cultivated by the tribal farmers of Wayanad both under wetland and upland conditions. These cultivars form an integral part of the native rice germplasm of the area and their conservation and use are the only valid steps that can be adapted to prevent the loss of the unique genes associated with them. The rice cultivars screened successfully for efficient performance both under wetland and upland conditions in the present experiment are Adukkan, Chennelthondi, Jeerakasala, Karimbalan, Kaima, Kothandan, Mahamaya, Marathondi, Thavalakkannan, Thondi, Urunikaima and Vellimuthu. Recently a devastating flood occurred in Kerala State of India including the Wayanad area in the month of August 2018 and the entire rice crop has been devastated. More curiously, after the flood, the surface water level has receded tremendously leaving the entire rice farms dry, which is completely unusual in the area. The only alternative for rice farming in the area in the second crop season is irrigated upland cultivation and invariably the farmers have to resort to it since at least a small crop to keep the seeds viable until the next year’s crop season is to be raised.

Geochemical Signatures of Karlad Lake Sediments, North Kerala: Source Area Weathering and Provenance

ABSTRACT In the present study, the lake floor sediments of the Karlad lake, located at higher elevation in Wayanad region of north Kerala, were analyzed for textural characteristics, organic matter, calcium carbonate, major oxides and trace elements. This study was carried out to infer the chemical composition, provenance and intensity of chemical weathering of the source rocks in the lake catchment area. Textural studies signify that lake floor sediments are predominantly as clays (38.75%) followed by sand (36.36%) and silt (25.19%) fractions. The C/N ratio of the lake sediments signify that the sediments are both autochthonous and allochthonous in origin. The major oxides average content reveals the order of abundance as follows; SiO2 > Al2O3 > Fe2O3 > TiO2 > MgO > CaO > K2O > P2O5 > Na2O > MnO. Moreover, the various weathering indices such as Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA-Avg. 93.5%), PlagioclaseIndex of Alteration (PIA-Avg. 95.6%) and Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW-Avg. 95.76%) suggest an intense chemical weathering of the source area. The A-CN-K diagram is also corroborating the same. Various provenance discrimination diagrams reveal that the sediments are derived from the mafic source rocks.

<b>The ecology and distribution of percoid fish <I>Dario neela</I> from Wayanad in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India</b>

Dario neela, a newly described badid fish endemic to the Western Ghats is little known to science. Distribution and ecology of this species is not well documented. In this paper, we provide information on new records of this rare fish from Wayanad region of the Western Ghats and discuss its distribution, ecology and conservation.

A study of variability among some important Native Rice Cultivars of Wayanad Region of Western Ghats, South India

Wayanad, a district in the north-east part of Kerala state is situated in the hilly tracts of the Western Ghat region of India. Wayanad in the vernacular language means the land of paddy fields. Rice is an inseparable component of their cultural and agricultural identity. Several native rice cultivars are traditionally cultivated by the people of this area. The present experiment was carried out to study twenty one such native rice cultivars which are cultivated in this agricultural hamlet in terms of the extent of variability present between them in relation to growth and yield characters. Observations were made on nine growth characters and eight yield characters. All the growth and yield characters showed statistically significant variation between the cultivars.

Description of Tetracotyle wayanadensis n. sp. (Digenea: Strigeidae) metacercaria infecting six species of freshwater fishes from Western Ghats, India.

Tetracotyle wayanadensis n. sp. (Digenea, Strigeidae) infecting different organs of six species of freshwater fishes, Haludaria fasciata (eye, buccal cavity), Amblypharyngodon melettinus (eye, buccal cavity), Aplochelus lineatus (operculum, heart, mesenteries), Pethia conchonius (brain), Parambassis thomassi (muscles, mesenteries) and Lepidocephalus thermali (mesenteries) collected from water bodies in the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats is described and illustrated. Tetracotyle wayanadensis n. sp. is new to the genus and is separated from its congeners on the basis of differences in morphology and morphometry. The present paper also describes the prevalence, intensity, mean abundance and sites of infection of the parasite in each host. The prevalence of infection of T. wayanadensis n. sp. in Haludaria fasciata is 7.5%, intensity of infection is 2.66 and mean abundance is 0.2; in Amblypharyngodon melettinus 10%, 6 and 0.6; in Aplochelus lineatus 12.2%, 6.2 and 0.76; in Pethia conchonius 7.14%, 5 and 0.36; in Parambassis thomassi 100%, 2 and 2; in Lepidocephalus thermali 10%, 2 and 0.2 respectively.

Digenean parasites of the water skipper Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799) (Anura: Dicroglossidae) of the South Western Ghats, India

Five species of digenean parasites, Diplodiscus mehrai, Tremiorchis ranarum, Halipegus mehransis, Ganeo glottoides and Ganeo tigrinum, of the frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799) (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the Wayanad Region of the South Western Ghats are reported in this paper. Multiple infections were also recorded during the study. Prevalence of infection of D. mehrai, T. ranarum, H. mehransis, G. glottoides and G. tigrinum were 12%, 8%, 2%, 31% and 8%, respectively, and the intensity of infection were 1.7, 34.4, 2, 4.5 and 2.9, respectively.