The Hindu Business Line : Real hotspot of biodiversity mapped

The scientists at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) have identified and mapped a unique Myristica swamp, believed to be the first of its kind, in a small area of around two sq. km, a home for 30-50 per cent of the tree, plants and a number of living creatures.

"It is a real hotspot of biodiversity," Dr J.K. Sharma, Director, KFRI, told Business Line. It is a very characteristic eco system, found in the Kulathupuzha forests in Kollam district. "This is a biodiversity trove and a very specialised ecological niche," he said.

The study to map the biodiversity of Myristica swamps in Southern Kerala, sponsored by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, has been undertaken by a team led by Dr P. Vijayakumaran Nair, Principal Investigator, of the KFRI, Peechi. It has mapped the area and the final report would be made available soon, he said. About 50 per cent of the State's amphibian species and more than 20 per cent of the reptilian species have been found here, Dr Nair said.

Many of these are either endemic and or red-listed. This data is significant because the Myristica swamps in Kerala hardly make up 0.01 per cent of the total area of Kerala, he added.

Endemic to Western Ghats

The study has led to the mapping of about 60 individual swamp patches. A total of 78 shrub, herb and lianas were recorded from these swamps, of which, 18 are endemic to Western Ghats, one rare species, one threatened species and one vulnerable species has been recorded.

Of the 68 tree species recorded from the swamps, 29 are endemic to Western Ghats, while one rare and one vulnerable species each, five endangered species and two threatened species have also been recorded.

Four species of annelids, three species of crabs and 60 species of butterflies and 44 species of spiders were recorded.

Ten species of fishes, 54 species of amphibians, 55 species of reptiles, 126 species of birds and 25 species of mammals have been identified from the swamps. Twelve species of genus philautus and one species of genus Nyctibatrachus are hitherto undescribed.

Since Myristica swamps were not reported prior to the 1960s, there is a no record of the swamps that perished during logging operations, the Grow More Food Campaign of 1950s and due to associated microclimatic changes, Dr Sharma pointed out. During the present study, a variety of anthropogenic threats to the swamps were recorded.

Variety of habitats

The Western Ghats, one of the global biodiversity hotspots supports a variety of habitats.

Some of them though rich in biotic wealth are poor on the conservation, management and awareness aspect. One such endangered and lesser-known ecosystem is the Myristica swamps. Members of Myristicaceae dominate Myristica swamps.

The swamps act as a natural flood control and erosion control device and help stabilise the water table. The loss and desiccation of rich ecosystems such as Myristica swamps and the accompanied alteration in vegetation will eventually affect the composition and structure of animal populations in irreversible ways.

A scientific, long-term conservation plan, which allows for monitoring and inclusion of the interests of the local human population and wildlife without being hampered by red tapes or paucity of funds, is the need of the hour.

India has four genera namely Horsfieldia, Gymnacranthera, Knema and Myristica, and altogether 15 species which are distributed along the evergreen forests of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya and the Western Ghats.

The Western Ghats has three genera and five species of Myristicaceae; all of them are trees associated with evergreen to semi-evergreen forests. Of these, Gymnacranthera canarica and Myristica fatua var. magnifica are exclusive to the swamps.

The Myristica swamps need special non-biotic conditions such as flat-bottomed or gently sloping valley in between heavily forested hills of evergreen forests, deep soil layer in the adjoining hills with rock below which will allow water to be stored above the rock layer, and temperature ranging from 20 to 30 degree Centigrade to develop.

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