Biodiversity Study in the Western Ghats
A comprehensive study conducted between February 2021 and March 2023 across 144 sites in five Indian states has highlighted significant concerns regarding biodiversity in the Western Ghats.
Key Findings
- Species Documented: Only about 65% of historically recorded dragonfly and damselfly species were documented, indicating a potential shortfall of 35%.
- Odonata Species: 143 species were recorded, including 76 dragonflies and 67 damselflies, with 40 species endemic to the Western Ghats.
- Vulnerable Species: Three species are classified as vulnerable: Elattoneura Souteri, Protosticta Sanguinostigma, and Cyclogomphus Ypsilon.
- Data Deficiency: Many species are categorized as “data deficient” or “not evaluated” on the IUCN Red List, reflecting gaps in scientific understanding.
State-wise Findings
- Maharashtra: 100 species documented across 105 sites, including 12 endemics.
- Kerala: 33 endemic species recorded across 14 sites.
- Karnataka: 64 species with 6 endemics across 17 sites.
- Goa: 35 species including 4 endemics across 3 sites.
- Gujarat: 18 species recorded with no endemics across 5 sites.
Environmental Sensitivity
The Odonata species are highly sensitive to environmental changes as they rely on freshwater ecosystems, making them key indicators of ecological health. Their absence may signal deeper ecological stress.
Threats to Biodiversity
- Linear infrastructure development
- Hydropower projects
- Severe pollution
- Large-scale land-use changes
- Unregulated tourism
- Recurring forest fires
- Impact of climate change
Conservation Status
- 100 species classified as ‘Least Concern’
- 22 species as “data deficient”
- 16 species as “not evaluated”
- 2 species as “near threatened”
- 4 species listed as “vulnerable”
New Discoveries
New spatial records and several new taxa were discovered, highlighting the rich biodiversity of undersampled regions.
Regional Differences
The southern Western Ghats exhibit greater diversity and endemism due to suitable microhabitats and perennial streams, especially south of Coorg and in Kerala.
Recommendations
The study underscores the necessity for more intensive surveys in unexplored areas to address existing knowledge gaps and better understand the distribution of odonata species.
