South Western Ghats montane rain forests
| South Western Ghats montane rain forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Indomalayan |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 22,545 km2 (8,705 sq mi) |
| Country | India |
| States | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical/endangered[1] |
| Protected | 5,998 km²%[2] |
The South Western Ghats montane rain forests is an ecoregion in South India, covering the southern portion of the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu at elevations from 1,000 to 2,695 m (3,281 to 8,842 ft). Annual rainfall in this ecoregion exceeds 2,800 mm (110 in).[3]
Setting
The ecoregion is the most species rich in peninsular India, and is home to numerous endemic species. It covers an area of 22,600 square kilometers (8,700 sq mi). It is estimated that two-thirds of the original forests have been cleared, and only 3,200 square kilometers, or 15% of the intact area, is protected.
The southern portion of the Western Ghats contains the highest peaks in the range, notably Anamudi in Kerala, at 2695 meters elevation. The Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea, and the average annual precipitation exceeds 2,800 mm. The northeast monsoon from October to November supplements the June to September southwest monsoon. The South Western Ghats are the wettest portion of peninsular India, and are surrounded by drier ecoregions to the east and north.[3]
Protected areas
In 1997, this ecoregion encompassed 13 protected areas with an area of 3,250 km2 (1,250 sq mi).[3] As of 2017, the total size of protected areas within this biome amounted to 5,998 km2 (2,316 sq mi), equivalent to 27% of the biome's extent. Another 62% is forested but outside protected areas.[2] Several of the protected areas in the northern portion are included within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, and the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve covers the southern portion.
- Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (50 km2)
- Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka (190 km2)
- Eravikulam National Park, Kerala (97 km2, partly in the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests)
- Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, 410 km2 , Tamil Nadu
- Grass Hills National Park, Tamil Nadu
- Indira Gandhi National Park (Anamalai), Tamil Nadu (600 km2, partly in the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests)
- Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu (290 km2)
- Karian Shola National Park, Tamil Nadu
- Karimpuzha National Park, Kerala (230 km2)
- Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu (120 km2, partly in the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests)
- Mukurthi National Park, Tamil Nadu (60 km2)
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (260 km2)
- Periyar National Park, Kerala (540 km2, partly in the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests)
- Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka (60 km2, partly in the North Western Ghats montane rain forests)
- Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (40 km2, partly in the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests)
- Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu (1611 km2, partly in the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests)
- Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (300 km2)
- Silent Valley National Park, Kerala (110 km2)
- Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka (250 km2)
Flora
The cool and moist climate, high rainfall, and variety of microclimates brought about by differences in elevation and exposure supports lush and diverse forests; 35% of the plant species are endemic to the ecoregion. Moist evergreen montane forests are the predominant habitat type. The montane evergreen forests support a great diversity of species ( Animals and plants ). The trees generally form a canopy at 15 to 20 m, and the forests are multistoried and rich in epiphytes, especially orchids. Characteristic canopy trees are Cullenia exarillata, Mesua ferrea, Palaquium ellipticum, Gluta travancorica, and Nageia wallichiana. Nageia is a podocarp conifer with origins in the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, of which India was formerly part, and a number of other plants in the ecoregion have Gondwana origins. Other evergreen tree species of the montane forest include Calophyllum austroindicum, Garcinia rubro-echinata, Garcinia travancorica, Diospyros barberi, Memecylon subramanii, Memecylon gracile, Goniothalamus rhynchantherus, and Vernonia travancorica.[3]
The other major habitat type in the ecoregion is the shola-grassland complex, found at elevations of 1,900 to 2,220 m. Shola is a stunted forest, with an upper story of small trees, generally Pygeum gardneri, Schefflera racemosa, Linociera ramiflora, Syzygium spp., Rhododendron nilgiricum, Mahonia napaulensis, Elaeocarpus recurvatus, Ilex denticulata, Michelia nilagirica, Actinodaphne bourdillonii, and Litsea wightiana. Below the upper story is a low understory and a dense shrub layer. These shola forests are interspersed with montane grasslands, characterized by frost- and fire-resistant grass species like Chrysopogon zeylanicus, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Arundinella ciliata, Arundinella mesophylla, Arundinella tuberculata, Themeda tremula, and Sehima nervosum.[3]
Fauna
The ecoregion supports India's largest elephant population, along with populations of threatened tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), gaur (Bos gaurus), and dhole or Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus). The rare and endemic Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is limited to a 400 km band of shola-grassland mosaic, from the Nilgiri Hills in the north to the Agasthyamalai (Ashambu) Hills in the south. The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) and Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johnii) are endangered endemic primate species.[3]
90 of India's 484 reptile species are endemic to the ecoregion, with eight endemic genera (Brachyophidium, Dravidogecko, Melanophidium, Plectrurus, Ristella, Salea, Teretrurus, and Xylophis). Almost 50% of India's 206 amphibian species are endemic to the ecoregion, with six endemic genera (Indotyphlus, Melanobatrachus, Nannobatrachus, Nyctibatrachus, Ranixalus, and Uraeotyphlus).[3]
References
- ^ "South Western Ghats montane rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ a b Dinerstein, E.; Olson, D.; Joshi, A.; Vynne, C.; Burgess, N.D.; Wikramanayake, E.; Hahn, N.; Palminteri, S.; Hedao, P.; Noss, R. & al. (2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wikramanayake, E.; Dinerstein, E. & Loucks, C.J. (2002). "South Western Ghats montane rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press. p. 284–287. ISBN 978-1559-639-23-1.
External links
Media related to South Western Ghats montane rain forests at Wikimedia Commons
