Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Read the attached story
Mains level : Western Ghats and its biodiversity richness
The Western Ghats is still home to large varieties of butterflies points out a survey in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS).
Highlights of the survey
- The survey was done jointly by the Forest and Wildlife Department in association with the Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS).
- The survey was mainly aimed at assessing the butterfly diversity in the forest areas of the region, which is vulnerable to climatic changes.
- Researchers sighted 191 species, 12 of which are endemic to the biodiversity-rich region.
- The first-time sighting of Silver forget me not, Common three ring, and Brown onyx was also recorded.
- The diversity was very rich in areas where plants such as Mikania micrantha and Lantana camera remained dominant.
Significance of butterflies
- Butterflies are one of the best bio-indicators.
- The sighting of 191 species of butterflies is an evidence of a healthy butterfly habitat in the region.
- But the degradation of the riparian forest in many part of the region may adversely affect the butterfly habitat in the near future.
- The diversity of butterflies is affected where alien invasive plants such as Senna spectabilis invade other endemic plants.