Response of wet forest butterflies to selective logging in Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Implications for conservation

The butterfly fauna of an unlogged wet evergreen site in Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve was compared with that of an adjoining 30-year-old selectively logged site. Comparison of the vegetation structure of both sites showed that the canopy was less contiguous and the ground cover was higher in the logged site. Species richness, abundance, and diversity of butterflies were higher in the selectively logged site. Species abundance in both forests types fitted log series distribution, which indicates that only a small portion of the assemblage occur in high abundance. Examination of habitat usage by the butterflies showed that the logged forest harbored a greater number of ubiquitous species along with the wet forest assemblage. Few species like Idea malabarica showed restraint in logged site, while there was a release of few other species in logged site. Implications of these results for butterfly conservation are discussed

Bird, flowers and pollination ecology

The recent paper by Atluri et al.1 provides some interesting information on the pollination ecology of Helectresisora. Information on bird flowers, their visitors and their pollination ecology are few from the sub-continent and this paper is a welcome addition to our knowledge of such systems. However, there are a few major errors in the paper that need to be addressed. The most glaring of these is the identification of the bird pollinator. The authors refer toQuaker babbler (Alcippe poioicephala) as one of the pollinators, but according to Figure 1 d in the article, it appears that the bird is the white-headed babbler (Turdoises affinis). The two are very different birds. T. affinis is bigger with a broader bill that can closely fit an H.isora flower, while A. poioicephala is a small bird and its bill and forehead do not fit the flower as closely as T. affinis. Consequently, pollination efficiency may be different between the two species. Misidentification can have important implications when it comes to conservation and in no case should betaken lightly, especially when the pollinators can be identified by proper use of field guides

Global South leadership towards inclusive tropical ecology and conservation

Strengthening participation of Global South researchers in tropical ecology and conservation is a target of our scientific community, but strategies for fostering increased engagement are mostly directed at Global North institutions and researchers. Whereas such approaches are crucial, there are unique challenges to addressing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the Global South given its socio-economic, cultural and scientific contexts. Sustainable solutions protecting biodiversity in the tropics depend on the leadership of Global South communities, and therefore DEI improvements in the Global South are paramount in our field. Here, we propose ten key actions towards equitable international collaborations in tropical ecology, which, led by Global South researchers, may improve DEI at institutional, national and international levels. At an institutional level, we recommend (1) becoming role models for DEI, (2) co-developing research with local stakeholders, and (3) promoting transparent funding management favouring local scientists. At a national level, we encourage (4) engagement in political actions protecting scientists and their research in tropical countries, (5) participation in improving biodiversity research policies, and (6) devising research that reaches society. At an international level, we encourage Global South researchers in international collaborations to (7) lead and direct funding applications, (8) ensure equitable workloads, and (9) procure equal benefits among national and foreign collaborators. Finally, (10) we propose that Global South leadership in DEI efforts has the most potential for worldwide improvements, supporting positive long-lasting changes in our entire scientific community. Supplementary materials provide this abstract in 18 other languages spoken in the Global South

The occurrence of Spot Puffin in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, southern Western Ghats

Volume: 95Start Page: 522End Page: 52

Pollination systems of trees in kakachi, a mid-elevation wet evergreen in Western Ghats, India

Tropical wet forests support a diverse assemblage of tree species, which are dependent on an equally wide array of animals for their pollination (Baker et al., 1983; Bawa, 1990). This has resulted in a highly complex set of interactions among them (Gilbert, 1980). Identifying pollination guilds or tree species assemblages with common pollination modes can delineate this complexity to some extent (Ibarra-Manrı´quez and Oyama, 1992). Further, comparisons of pollination modes in the different wet forest sites in the tropics can provide insights into the broad coevolutionary patterns between plants and their animal vectors (Howe, 1984) or perhaps cast light on such issues as the role of pollinators on angiosperm diversification (Bawa, 1995). Broad-scale community-level pollination studies also have wide application in ecosystem restoration (Johnson and Steiner, 2000; Kremen and Rickett, 2000). There is an increasing concern that human alterations of the ecosystem affect pollination systems, especially those that are relatively more specialized and dependent on a few pollinators (Bond, 1994). Specialized systems cannot be identified unless we conduct community-wide surveys of pollination systems. Complete community-level characterization of pollination of any tropical forest site has not been successfully executed so far (Shatz, 1990). This kind of study could not be completed because much of the diversity of the plant species is contributed by the tall canopy trees in tropical forests that have remained inaccessible (Lowman and Nadkarni, 1995)

Treetops at RiskChallenges of Global Canopy Ecology and Conservation /

XIX, 444 p. 100 illus., 78 illus. in color.onlin

Pollination and fruit dispersal in the wet forests of the southern Western Ghats

Pollination and seed dispersal can play an important role in the functioning of tropical ecosystems and the maintenance of diversity in them. Wet forests in tropics are known to have exceptionally high diversity of pollination and dispersal mechanisms that are complex and can vary across continents. Identifying modes of pollination and dispersal can, to some extent, delineate this complexity and help in better understanding of these systems (TharraManriquez and Oyama, 1992). Only recently a detailed analysis of the pollination and dispersal modes of the wet forests of Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, has been carried out (Ganesh and Davidar, 2001; Devy, 1998). This study documents the pollination and seed dispersal modes of tree species in a mid-elevation wet forest at Kakachi in the southern Western Ghats. A total of 89 flowering species and 82 fruiting species were observed. Flowers were watched for visitors from the commencement of an thesis. Similarly fruiting trees were watched for visitors during ripe fruit stage and also frugivore identity was inferred from fruits and seeds in droppings and scats. Nocturnal observations were also done for visitors of several species. The data were obtained over a span of seven years and are based on direct observations of visitors to flowers and fruits. Many of these observations were recorded by ascending the canopy of trees using tree ladders

Adult butterfly communities in coffee plantations around a protected area in the Western Ghats, India

Although large areas of relatively undisturbed forests are essential for preserving biodiversity, opportunities for conservation in human-dominated landscapes must not be overlooked. Agroforestry systems such as shaded coffee plantations are known to be more compatible with biodiversity conservation than other, more drastic, land transformations. In recent times, however, modernization of coffee cultivation has influenced its conservation values adversely. We evaluated adult butterfly diversity in 12 coffee plantations around a protected area (PA) in the Western Ghats, India. We sampled 25 transects that varied in distance from the PA and in proportion of silver oak Grevillea robusta, an exotic timber species. We also had two transects within the PA. We used a combination of line transects and fruit bait traps to sample butterflies. Micro-climatic variables (temperature, humidity and light intensity) and other habitat variables (e.g. canopy cover, tree diversity, herb species richness) were recorded for each transect. We analyzed the effect of these variables on the abundance and species richness of butterflies, overall as well as in different families, feeding guilds and size classes. Proximity to the PA significantly influenced the abundance and richness of butterflies in coffee plantations, with transects close to the PA having higher abundance and richness than transects further away. Also, in terms of butterfly species composition, similarity to forest declined with increasing distance. Among the habitat variables, only canopy cover had a significant effect on abundance and richness, and the effect was negative. These patterns, with some exceptions, were also reflected for different families and feeding guilds. The proportion of silver oak had no apparent effect on butterflies. This study demonstrates that coffee plantations can act as a buffer for butterfly fauna within a certain radius of a PA. They have great potential as auxiliary tools and can significantly complement conservation efforts that are currently centered on PAs