Rocky plateaus are globally threatened ecosystems and the lateritic plateaus in northern section of the
Indian Western Ghats/Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot (NWG) are notable landscape features. The
NWG are geologically distinct from and biologically isolated from the other two sections of the
Western Ghats. The NWG is known to possess elevated levels of endemic flora their biotic
relationships remain poorly understood. We present here the first quantitative multi-taxa comparative
study of plateau fauna in the northern Western Ghats. Ants, water beetles and amphibians were
selected for the comparison as they use different ecological resources from each other and at various
times of year therefore may provide a wider representation of plateau usage. Distribution and
endemism were expected to reflect distribution and isolation by plateau and inter-plateau environment
related to elevational, latitudinal, climatic and land-use clines. The study explored patterns of
amphibian, water beetle, ant and fungal distribution and sampling seasonal pools and terrestrial
surfaces of 13 representative plateaus in western Maharashtra, with sites ranging from 67-1179 m and
across 2° of (sub) tropical latitude. Distribution of all taxonomic groups was spatially non-random at
all levels of organisation and across all spatial scales. At the macroscale assemblages differed
significantly with climate related to elevation, latitude but at a local scale land-use and microhabitat
availably had an impact. Ants displayed a large seasonal assemblage variation, responding to seed
availability. Water beetles the ants (combined survey data) were the best surrogates for all taxa data
with amphibians the weakest representatives. Infection by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis, was extensive but less intense below the escarpment. We report the first records of
infection in 13 endangered and data deficient amphibian species in the Western Ghats. The plateaus of
western Maharashtra have recently been recognised as fragile and threatened ecosystems most still
lack adequate statutory protection. In the absence of peer reviewed comparative data, the importance
of individual sites is difficult to demonstrate hampering evidence-based conservation decisions.
Date of Award | 2018 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | |
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Supervisor | Mairi Knight (Other Supervisor) |
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- Biogeography
- Rocky Plateaus
- Ferricretes
- Laterite
- Amphibians
- Water Beetles
- Ants
- Rock Pools
- Sub-Tropic
- Terrestrial Islands
- India
- Western Ghats
The biogeography and conservation status of the rocky plateaus of the northern Western Ghats, India.
Thorpe, C. (Author). 2018
Student thesis: PhD