T. J. Roby ¹, Joyce Jose ¹, P. Vijayakumaran Nair ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Trees of Myristicaceae family are dominant hence these swamps are popularly known as 'Myristica' swamps. Members of other families such as Celestraceae, Diptereocarpaceae, Anacardiaceae, Xanthophyllaceae, Myrtaceae, etc. are a significant part of the swamp community in some of these swamps, but are less frequent. Ground vegetation consists mainly of Pandanus, Calamus, Ochalandra and members of Araceae, Acanthaceae, and Zingiberaceae family. Endemic and Endangered species such as Myristica fatua var.magnifica, Syzygium trvancoricum, Vateria indica are well represented. Sixty swamps in Southern Kerala were surveyed and mapped recently. A check list of the plant species of Myristica swamp forests of southern Kerala, India from over a period of five years is presented. 221 species of plants belonging to 88 families have been recorded from these swamp forests. Of the total plant species in Kerala, 5% have been recorded from the Myristica swamp forests of Kerala, the cumulative area of which is less than 0.01% of the land area of the State. 79 species of trees, 93 species of herbs/shrubs and 49 climbers constitute the vegetation. Eighteen of these plants are in the redlist and 49 plants are endemic.

Keywords

Myristica Swamps, Flora, Biodiversity

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Joyce Jose ¹, T. J. Roby ¹, K. K. Ramachandran ², P. V. Nair ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, St. Thomas' College, Thrissur-1, Kerala, IN
2 Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, IN

Abstract

Species richness of butterflies in and around the highly fragmented, threatened and restricted patches of Myristica swamp forests in South Western Ghats, Kerala, India was documented. Eighty species of butterflies belonging to 5 families were recorded from these swamp forests with a land area of less than 1.5 km² (149.75 ha). Species composition inside and outside the swamps showed above 80% similarity Presence-absence of butterfly species was affected by variations in host plant diversity, % of canopy cover, % of inundated area and % of ground litter cover. Habitat usage studies indicated that while habitat specialists were restricted to larger patches of evergreen forests, habitat generalists were not similarly constrained and formed the bulk of the species. The ecotone area between the swamps and the adjacent matrix had relatively more number of species, except where the ecotone had been disturbed. The increase in the butterfly species diversity at the expense of habitat specialists and the proliferation of generalists is an indicator of cryptic changes in the swamp environment leading to increase in microhabitats and host plants associated with disturbance and call for immediate conservation measures.

Keywords

Butterfly, Myristica Swamp Forests, Species Richness, Habitat, Conservation.

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