Oct 15, 2004 the apparent biotic affinities between the mainland and the island in the western ghatssri lanka biodiversity hotspot have been interpreted as the result of frequent migrations during recent periods of low sea level. The western ghats and sri lanka biodiversity hotspot, with its unique assemblages of. Apr 25, 2017 the western ghats is a mountain range running parallel to peninsular indias western coast. We conducted genetic and demographic studies of nothapodytes nimmoniana graham, one of the extensively harvested medicinal plant species in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot, india to assess the effectiveness of protected areas in longterm maintenance of economically important plant species. Nov 01, 2015 the western ghats form one of the four watersheds of india, feeding the perennial rivers of india. Information about the western ghats and sri lanka biodiversity hotspot was developed using the ecosystem profile pdf 1. Indoburma is one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots, due to the rate of resource exploitation and habitat loss. Freshwater biodiversity assessments in the western ghats iucn. Since taxonomy, biology and distribution of these frogs. Free and open access to indias biodiversity information. Pdf a brief overview of the western ghats sri lanka biodiversity. About the western ghats the hill ranges of the western ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, extend along the west coast of india from the river tapti in the north to the southern tip of india. What makes the western ghats a hotspot of biological. Biodiversity hotspot, deforestation, species endemism, protected areas, sri lanka, western ghats.
Biodiversity hotspots in india indian flora and fauna. A brief overview of the western ghats sri lanka biodiversity hotspot. Some areas receive as much as 350 inches of rain every year, making it one of the wettest places on earth. Acoustic indices as rapid indicators of avian diversity in. Their positioning makes the western ghats biologically rich and biogeographically unique a veritable treasure house of biodiversity.
Therefore, the western ghats can be considered among the leading biodiversity hotspot regions in terms of the number of new amphibian species described over the. Jan 12, 2015 consequently, western ghats constitutes not only one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the world, but also one among worlds eight hottest hotspots. Using 36 acoustic indices we developed random forest models to predict the richness, diversity, and total number. At least 325 globally threatened species occur here.
Fish community responses to stream flow alterations and. High cryptic diversity of endemic indirana frogs in the. Pdf a brief overview of the western ghats sri lanka. Global biodiversity hotspot extraordinarily rich in plant and animal species. For example, in the western ghatssri lanka wgsl biodiversity hotspot, forest loss has been so rapid that out of the original extent of 182,500 km2 of primary vegetation only 12,450 km2 i. Pdf the western ghats of india and sri lanka biodiversity hotspot is often regarded as one unit because of shared biogeographical history. However, recent studies suggest that certain faunal. The mountains rise abruptly, resulting in a diversity of ecosystems that range from alluvial grasslands.
Eastern himalayas, which was originally part of the indoburma biodiversity hotspot and included bhutan, northeastern india and southern, central and eastern nepal. The apparent biotic affinities between the mainland and the island in the western ghatssri lanka biodiversity hotspot have been interpreted as the result of frequent migrations during recent periods of low sea level. The western ghats is a mountain range running parallel to peninsular indias western coast. Download biodiversity hotspots notes pdf for ias exam. Improved understanding of the processes shaping the assembly of. The western ghats are internationally recognized as a region of immense global importance for the conservation of biological diversity, besides containing areas of high geological, cultural and aesthetic values.
In the indoburma biodiversity hotspot, india shares only a small part in north east india. Endemic indirana frogs of the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. Western ghats biodiversity is a significant source of. A chain of mountains running parallel to indias western coast, approximately 3050 km inland, the ghats traverse the states of. While bangladesh and malaysia only extend marginally into the indoburma hotspot. More like rolling hills than snowcovered mountains, the western ghats stretching some 1,600km from the north of mumbai to the southern tip of india are a biodiversity hotspot that contains a large proportion of the countrys plant and animal species. We show, using molecular phylogenies of two invertebrate and four vertebrate groups, that biotic interchange between these areas has been much more limited than hitherto assumed.
The evergreen forests are abundant in flora and fauna. Two dammed and one undammed tributary of the netravathi river, having similar stream order, elevation, and surrounding land. Frogs of the genus indirana belong to the endemic family ranixalidae and are found exclusively in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. This article looks at the existing information on species richness and endemicity of taxa in both regions. Ghat, a term used in the indian subcontinent, depending on the context could refer either to a range of steppedhills with valleys ghati in hindi, such as the eastern ghats and western ghats. Agumbe area in karnatakareceives the highest rainfall in india. Prioritisation of conservation areas in the western ghats, india. Pdf carbon sequestration potential of the forest ecosystems. Pdf local endemism within the western ghatssri lanka.
We show, using molecular phylogenies of two invertebrate and four vertebrate groups, that biotic interchange between these areas has been much more limited than hitherto. The western ghats in india is one of the worlds most heavily populated biodiversity hotspots, providing for and supporting 400 million people through water for drinking, transport, irrigation, and hydroelectric power, together with food and resources to sustain livelihoods. Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability among all groups of living organisms and ecosystem complexes in which they occur. We show, using molecular phylogenies of two invertebrate and four vertebrate groups, that biotic interchange between these areas has been much more. State of biodiversity in maharashtra sites natural landscapes cultural landscapes species. Resource collection, livelihood concerns and sustainability. A unesco world heritage site and a biodiversity hotspot, the western ghats ecoregion is a storehouse of natural treasures found nowhere else in the world. The himalaya hotspot is home to the worlds highest mountains. Himalaya the himalaya hotspot is home to the worlds highest mountains, including mt.
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation norman myers wrote about the concept in two articles in the environmentalist 1988, and 1990 revised after thorough analysis by myers and others hotspots. Notably, the latest hotspot analysis by mittermeier et al. We read with interest the report local endemism within the western ghatssri lanka biodiversity hotspot by f. India has major four biodiversity hotspots the himalayas, the indoburma region, the western ghats and the sundaland. Includes nicobar group of islands and indonesia, malaysia, singapore, brunei, philippines. Western ghats is known as one of the worlds top ten hottest biodiversity hotspots and home to thirty nine national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests and designated as world heritage sites in india. Endemic indirana frogs of the western ghats biodiversity. Seven new species of night frogs anura, nyctibatrachidae. The western ghats of india and sri lanka biodiversity hotspot is often regarded as one unit because of shared biogeographical history. Carbon sequestration potential of the forest ecosystems in the western ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot article pdf available in natural resources research november 2020 with 1,163 reads. These ranges are known for their rich biodiversity and natural heritage. Western ghatssri lanka biodiversity hotspot have been interpreted as the result of frequent migrations during recent periods of low sea level. A hotspot must contain at least 1500 species of vascular plants as endemics, this area has over 1600 species of vascular plants as endemics.
Ramesh4, ramanan umashaanker5 and selvadurai dayanandan1,2 abstract background. Pdf conservation of western ghats biodiversity hotspot through. Important rivers include the godavari, tungabhadra, krishna, thamiraparani and kaveri. The western ghats, also known as sahyadri benevolent mountains, are a mountain range that covers an area of 140,000 square kilometres 54,000 sq mi in a stretch of 1,600 kilometres 990 mi parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula, traversing the states of kerala, tamil nadu, karnataka, goa, maharashtra and gujarat. Cepf is an alliance of leading conservation donors that provides grants to nonprofit and privatesector organizations that are working to protect the biodiversity hotspots and improve human wellbeing. It has rich and unique assemblage of flora and fauna mi ttermeier et al. Biodiversity of india, biodiversity hotspots of india. What makes the western ghats a hotspot of biological diversity.
It is a unesco world heritage site and is one of the eight hottest hotspots of biological diversity in the world. The western ghats form one of the four watersheds of india, feeding the perennial rivers of india. It is the source of water for the entire peninsular india, and also influences the monsoons. Western ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in southwestern india. The sri lankan shrub frogs of the genus philautus gistel, 1848.
Local endemism within the western ghatssri lanka biodiversity hotspot. Maharashtra are called sahyadri, the mountains vary in height from 20 to 2000 m. Both the western ghats and sri lankas central highlands are particularly known for their amphibian diversity. Western ghats also known as sahyadri benevolent mountains is a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula, located entirely in india. Western ghats and sri lanka 35 asia tropics 198,824 2,700 3,049 38,810 19. Along the southwestern coast of india lies the western ghats mountain range. The range covers 60,000km 2 and forms the catchment area for a complex of river systems that drain almost 40% of india. Out of them, eastern himalaya and western ghats are mostly located within indias territory. The geographic scope of the project included all major river catchments with their origin within the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. High biodiversity and high fragility hotspecks, corridors. This study assessed the impacts of two shps on freshwater fish communities in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot of india. There are high levels of topographic and climatic heterogeneity in the western ghats and sri lanka, which support diverse vege.
The western ghats is one amongst the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. Cepf is an alliance of leading conservation donors that provides grants to nonprofit and privatesector organizations that are working to protect the. Therefore, the western ghats can be considered among the leading biodiversity hotspot regions in terms of the number of new amphibian species described over the past decade. Indias western ghats face biodiversity loss scidev. Eastern himalaya and western ghats are mostly located within indias territory. General introduction biodiversity of western ghats india is recognized as one of the worlds 12 megabiodiversity nations. With less than 6 percent of the land area of india, contains more than 30 percent of all plant, fish. Whats more, conservation international is an investor in the critical ecosystem partnership fund. The western ghats are one of the worlds biodiversity hotspots with over 5,000 flowering plants, 9 mammals, 508 birds and 179 amphibian species. These rivers flow to the east and drain out into the bay of b. This also makes most part of the western ghats evergreen. A more uncertain rainfall pattern is one of the biggest impacts of climate change, scientists say.
Although the area accounts for less than 6 percent of the national land area, it contains more than 30 percent of all plant, fish, herpetofauna, bird and mammal species found in the country. Western ghats, indoburma, based on a1b scenario for year. The rain gives western ghats its flavor and richness. While a considerable amount of work has already been done on identifying areas. Biodiversity in sri lanka and the western ghats science.
The western ghats, a unesco world heritage site, is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to more than 4,000 flowering plants, about 500 bird species, and over 300 species of mammals and amphibians. The tapi, krishna, and cauvery systems are included, with freshwater species native to the western ghats states of gujarat, maharashtra, goa. Functional trait and community phylogenetic analyses. State of biodiversity in maharashtra western ghats. The western ghats alone also stands at a close fourth position with 103 new species after indoburma approximately 117. The biodiversity hotspot of the western ghats, india. Genetic structure, diversity and long term viability of a. Future of endemic flora of biodiversity hotspots in india plos. The western ghats is the home for about 50 million people belonging to the six states of the country. Recordings were collected at 28 sites in a range of landuse types, from tea, co. The western ghats is biologically rich and biogeographically unique the western ghats is covering an area of 180,000 square kilometres. Earths biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregions and a. The spectacular flora and fauna of the sundaland hotspot are succumbing to the explosive growth of industrial forestry in these islands.
The mountains intercept the rainbearing westerly monsoon winds, and are consequently an area of high rainfall, hence known also as. Freshwater biodiversity assessments in the western ghats. Consequently, western ghats constitutes not only one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the world, but also one among worlds eight hottest hotspots. In the southern region of the western ghats hotspot, india, a globally important eco. View enhanced pdf access article on wiley online library html view download pdf for offline viewing. Pdf forest degradation in the western ghats biodiversity. Only about 5% of natural habitats remain in relatively pristine condition, with another 10 to 25% of the land in damaged, but. India shares its territories into three biodiversity hotspots viz. The western ghats covers 6% of the land area of total indian land, the western ghats lies parallel to the western coast of the indian peninsula. The western ghats region of india is centered on a range of mountains that runs along the west coast. Given are name of hotspot, running number id corresponds with table and fig. Forest degradation in the western ghats biodiversity hotspot. Pdf protected areas are considered as one of the crucial tools for conserving the biodiversity of this planet. Western ghats biodiversity is a significant source of moisture for monsoon raghu murtugudde pune updated on may 04, 2018 published on may 04, 2018 a view of the western ghats at kakayam area.
Varying rainfall threatens biodiversity in western ghats. Although the area accounts for less than 6 percent of the national land area, it contains more than 30 percent of all plant, fish, herpetofauna. A unique repository of information on indias biodiversity. Huge diversity of natural, seminatural and agroecosystems. Hottest hotspots of biodiversity, species richness and endemism the western ghats. The portal aims to aggregate data through public participation and provide open and free access to biodiversity information. Dec 10, 2007 the western ghats of india and sri lanka biodiversity hotspot is often regarded as one unit because of shared biogeographical history. The flora and fauna of wallacea are so varied that every island in this hotspot needs secure protected areas to preserve the regions biodiversity. Areas which exhibit high species richness as well as high species endemism are termed as hot spots of biodiversity. The western ghats runs along the western side of india parallel to the western coast of the arabian sea. Phylogenetic diversity in the western ghats biodiversity. However, recent studies suggest that certain faunal components, particularly in the wet zones are distinct.
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