scholarly journals Lateritic Plateaus in the Northern Western Ghats, India; a Review of Bauxite Mining Restoration Practices

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Thorpe ◽  
Aparna Watve
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Bauxite Mining ◽  
Successful Model ◽  
Restoration Practices ◽  
Faunal Diversity ◽  
Bauxite Mines ◽  
Microhabitat Heterogeneity ◽  
High Level ◽  
Animal Communities

The northern Western Ghats are characterised by plateaus and hilltop carapaces formed from ferricretes rich in aluminium ore. Ferricretes in Western Ghats are home to a high number of endemic species, many with extremely limited distribution. The heterogeneity of microhabitats on ferricretes supports a great diversity of plant and animal communities. With little overburden and a high percentage of recoverable metals they are targeted for mining which leads to removal of all soil, vegetation and microhabitats. Vegetation and faunal diversity of unmined sites from Kolhapur district were studied providing reference data used to discuss restoration efforts on two mined sites in the region. Restoration efforts have faced ecological and legal hurdles. The international literature for the restoration of bauxite mines fails to demonstrate any successful model to return the species assemblage to a pre-mining profile. Restoration practices fail to adequately replicate microhabitat heterogeneity; often restoring sites to a different ecosystem from the original. The present mining policies do not take cognizance of the special nature of plateau habitats, ecology or the ecosystem functions they provide. We suggest a moratorium on mining of the high level lateritic plateaus in Western Maharashtra is justified until the biodiversity value and ecosystem services of the sites are fully understood and can be weighed against the economic gains from mining.

scholarly journals DNA Barcode for the Parthenogenetic Surinam Cockroach Pycnoscelus surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Blattodea: Blaberidae) from India

2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
A Shabnam ◽  
K P Dinesh
Keyword(s):  
Dna Barcoding ◽  
Molecular Identification ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Insect Fauna ◽  
Mt Dna ◽  
Faunal Diversity ◽  
Southern Western Ghats

DNA Barcoding is one of the emerging tools in molecular identification of faunal diversity, specifically insect fauna. The Surinam cockroach, Pycnoscelus surinamensis is the only known roach to be obligatorily parthenogenetic, with reported haplotypes. P. surinamensis is well established in Indomalayan, tropical and subtropical regions and substantially documented from India with a phenetic approach. Herewith we report the first set of mt DNA barcode from a vouchered collection for the species from southern Western Ghats India. Discussions are made on the identity of two sequences each of Blatteria species and Pycnoscelus species reported from USA.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 15916-15921
Author(s):  
A.V. Abhijith ◽  
Shomen Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Breeding Behavior ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Western Ghats ◽  
Reproductive Life History

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.   

Ecology of Coastal Marine Sediments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Thrush ◽  
Judi Hewitt ◽  
Conrad Pilditch ◽  
Alf Norkko
Keyword(s):  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Soft Sediment ◽  
Chemical Gradients ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
High Level

Marine sediments dominate the seafloor, creating one of the largest ecosystems on earth. Marine sediments contain some of the steepest known natural chemical gradients and are extraordinarily productive and reactive, particularly in shallow water. The plants and animals that live on and in marine sediments create highly heterogeneous conditions that strongly influence ecosystem functions and how marine ecosystems drive and respond to change. Seafloor biodiversity is a key mediator of ecosystem functioning, but its role is often excluded from global budgets or simplified to black boxes in ecosystem models. Despite this, marine sediments are fascinating places to study population, community and ecosystem ecology. This book provides an overview of soft-sediment ecosystems and how and why we should study them. It addresses the interactions between marine organisms and their physical and chemical environment, why we need to carefully design research and provides basic steps needed to both formulate good ecological questions and translate them into empirical studies of real-world ecosystems. It provides a context for different points of entry into soft-sediment ecology by offering a high-level approach. It is designed to help you think about the connections between different system components and drivers of change and identify how you can make a contribution to developing knowledge on the biodiversity and functioning of soft sediments and understanding ecosystem change, human impacts and the need for restoration.

Climate and vegetation collectively drive soil respiration in montane forest-grassland landscapes of the southern Western Ghats, India

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atul Arvind Joshi ◽  
Jayashree Ratnam ◽  
Harinandanan Paramjyothi ◽  
Mahesh Sankaran
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Exotic Tree ◽  
Western Ghats Of India

AbstractLand-use conversion to non-native species plantations not only affects biodiversity but also alters important ecosystem functions including above- and below-ground carbon sequestration, and CO2 release rates from soils via soil respiration. Though the role of soil temperature and moisture on soil respiration is well recognized, little is known about how their effects vary across different land-use types. This study looked at the effects of land-cover change on temporal patterns of soil respiration in a montane forest-grassland-plantation matrix, a highly diverse but climatically sensitive ecosystem in the tropical Western Ghats of India. Among native vegetation types, soil respiration rates were higher in grassland compared to forest patches. Invasion of grassland by an exotic tree species - wattle (Acacia mearnsii) reduced soil respiration rates to levels similar to that of forests. However, conversion of native grasslands to non-native pine (Pinus patula) plantations led to the largest declines in soil respiration rates. In addition, the sensitivity of soil respiration to changes in temperature and moisture differed between different vegetation types. Across all vegetation types, respiration was largely insensitive to changes in soil temperature when moisture levels were low. However, when soil moisture levels were high, respiration increased with temperature in grassland and wattle patches, decreased in the case of pine plantations, and remained largely unchanged in shola forests. Our results suggest that changes in aboveground vegetation type can significantly affect soil C cycling even in the absence of any underlying differences in soil type.

scholarly journals Functional identity and diversity of animals predict ecosystem functioning better than species-based indices

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1801) ◽  
pp. 20142620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Gagic ◽  
Ignasi Bartomeus ◽  
Tomas Jonsson ◽  
Astrid Taylor ◽  
Camilla Winqvist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Taxonomic Approach ◽  
Animal Communities ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

Drastic biodiversity declines have raised concerns about the deterioration of ecosystem functions and have motivated much recent research on the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem functioning. A functional trait framework has been proposed to improve the mechanistic understanding of this relationship, but this has rarely been tested for organisms other than plants. We analysed eight datasets, including five animal groups, to examine how well a trait-based approach, compared with a more traditional taxonomic approach, predicts seven ecosystem functions below- and above-ground. Trait-based indices consistently provided greater explanatory power than species richness or abundance. The frequency distributions of single or multiple traits in the community were the best predictors of ecosystem functioning. This implies that the ecosystem functions we investigated were underpinned by the combination of trait identities (i.e. single-trait indices) and trait complementarity (i.e. multi-trait indices) in the communities. Our study provides new insights into the general mechanisms that link biodiversity to ecosystem functioning in natural animal communities and suggests that the observed responses were due to the identity and dominance patterns of the trait composition rather than the number or abundance of species per se .

scholarly journals The Impact of Exotic Tamarix Species on Riparian Plant Biodiversity

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 395
Author(s):  
Kgalalelo Tshimologo Annie Setshedi ◽  
Solomon Wakshom Newete
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Plant Biodiversity ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Riparian Ecosystems ◽  
Agricultural Ecosystem ◽  
Faunal Diversity ◽  
The Impact

This study investigated the impact of exotic Tamarix species on vascular plant biodiversity in riparian ecosystems in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Vegetation was sampled, using 5 m wide belt transects, along the Leeu, Swart, and Olifants riparian areas, which had varying invasion intensities. Each transect was split into three zones (Zone 1: 0–15 m; Zone 2: 15–35, and Zone 3: >35 m), which were identified at each site based on species composition across each riparian zone. Woody plant species were identified, counted, and their heights measured within the transects that were laid out from the waterpoint (Zone 1) outwards (Zone 2 and 3). Herbaceous aerial cover (HAC) was determined subjectively and objectified using the Walker aerial cover scale. Leeu River had the highest species richness (Dmg = 2.79), diversity (H′ = 2.17; −lnλ = 1.91; N1 = 8.76 and α = 4.13), and evenness (J′= 0.80). The Swart River had the lowest species richness, which declined from Dmg = 1.96 (Zone 1) to Dmg = 1.82 (Zone 3). Exotic Tamarix species ranked in the top three most abundant woody vascular plant species along the Swart and Olifants rivers, where they ranked first and third, respectively. The Jaccard’s and Sorenson’s coefficients of similarity indicated that species differed greatly between the different sites, x¯ < 27% for both indices. The indices also indicated that the Swart River had the lowest level of species distinctness between zones (x¯ > 80%) while the Leeu River had the highest level of species distinctness (x¯ < 50%) between the different zones. These findings suggest a possible displacement of herbaceous and woody tree species by exotic Tamarix invasion, inter alia, a decrease in ecosystem functions and services associated with the loss in biodiversity, as well as significant bearings on the agricultural ecosystem by reducing the faunal diversity such as crop pollinators, inter alia.

scholarly journals Faunal diversity of Satara District, Maharashtra, India

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (13) ◽  
pp. 9537
Author(s):  
Amit Sayyed
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Red List ◽  
Faunal Diversity ◽  
Deccan Plateau ◽  
Total Species ◽  
Geographical Distribution Pattern ◽  
Different Parts

Satara District of Maharashtra State is a part of northern Western Ghats and Deccan Plateau biogeographic zones.  The data on various faunal groups was collected from the extensive study carried out during the period between 2007 and 2010, covering different parts of the district.  The present study reports faunal diversity of the district with 677 species under 150 families belonging to 11 different groups.  Overall, the district has substantial faunal diversity.  Out of the total species, 94 are recorded as endemic species, 35 species are listed as threatened under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and 38 species are listed in the different schedules of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (as amended up to 2013).  The information on geographical distribution pattern of mammalian species in the district is also provided. 

scholarly journals The Impact of Traditional Conservation Practices on Species Composition and Diversity Patterns of Sacred Swamps in the Central Western Ghats, India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narasimha Hegde ◽  
Shrikanth Vasudev Gunaga ◽  
Hans Joosten
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Central Western Ghats ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Sacred forests are of immense value for their ecosystem functions. Traditional indigenous conservation practices have helped maintaining biological diversity over centuries and have resulted in the preservation of some of the best patches of natural vegetation. Exclusive taxa find refuge in the micro-climatic conditions of sacred groves and many rare species are found here. Ten sacred swamps and ten non-sacred swamps in the central Western Ghats region, India, with a similar distance from roads, village settlements, or commercial orchards and with nearly the same size, were compared with regard to their species composition, floristic structure, diversity, occurrence of amphibians, odonates and birds. In the sacred swamps, 122 plant species from 99 genera and 58 families occur against 83 species from 72 genera and 47 families in the non-sacred swamps. Tree stem density was 277 individuals/ha in sacred swamps against 158.4 in non-sacred swamps. Average basal area was 47.57 m 2 /ha in sacred swamps and only 14.60 m 2 /ha in non-sacred swamps. Sacred swamps have higher number of endemic species (28%) when compared to non-sacred swamps. We conclude that the traditional belief system of treating the swamps as sacred has helped to protect these ecologically important forests.

scholarly journals Assessment of regulating ecosystem functions/services of the urban forests in the Angara region (Eastern Siberia, Russia)

2021 ◽  
Vol 908 (1) ◽  
pp. 012042
Author(s):  
O V Shergina ◽  
T A Mikhailova ◽  
A S Mironova
Keyword(s):  
Soil Cover ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Air Purification ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
Biogeochemical Parameters ◽  
High Level

Abstract The studies of urban forests were carried out on the territory of the Angara region in cities with a high air pollution index (up to 20) and with a high recreational load. The state of forest biogeocenoses was assessed by the parameters of trees, forest litter, and soil. Morphostructural, physicochemical, biochemical, and toxicological indicators were analysed. It was found that the selected biogeochemical parameters of trees and soils have a high level of correlation relationships under conditions of negative anthropogenic impact. The biogeochemical redistribution of technogenic pollutants in urban forests connects with the accumulating capacity of the soil cover and the regulatory function of trees, namely the ability to purify atmospheric air by accumulating toxicants in the needles and leaves. Regulatory function/service of pollutant absorption and air purification depends not only on the condition of urban forests, it is unequal for forests of different cities and, even more, for different forested territories.

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