GEN101:India as a megadiverse nation - Revision history

Gauravm at 19:27, 13 November 2010

2010-11-13T19:27:17Z

Gauravm: /* Indo-Burma */

2010-11-13T19:22:22Z

‎Indo-Burma

Gauravm at 19:21, 13 November 2010

2010-11-13T19:21:35Z

Gauravm at 19:00, 13 November 2010

2010-11-13T19:00:49Z

Gauravm at 18:55, 13 November 2010

2010-11-13T18:55:35Z

Gauravm at 04:21, 12 November 2010

2010-11-12T04:21:25Z

Gauravm at 04:20, 12 November 2010

2010-11-12T04:20:56Z

Gauravm at 04:20, 12 November 2010

2010-11-12T04:20:33Z

Gauravm: /* India's biodiversity compared to world biodiversity */

2010-11-12T04:18:17Z

‎India's biodiversity compared to world biodiversity

Gauravm: /* Flora and fauna of India */

2010-11-12T04:16:46Z

‎Flora and fauna of India

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 ==Biodiversity hotspots==
-''Sourced from: [[w:Fauna of India|Fauna of India]]
+A '''biodiversity hotspot''' is a [[w:biogeographic|biogeographic]] region with a significant reservoir of [[w:biodiversity|biodiversity]] that is under threat from humans. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on Myers 2000 edition of the hotspot-map, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of [[w:vascular plant|vascular plants]] as [[w:Endemism|endemics]], and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.<ref>Myers, N. et al. Nature 403, 853–858 (2000)</ref> Around the world, at least 25 areas qualify under this definition, with nine others possible candidates. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of endemic species.
 ===The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka===
 The Western Ghats are a chain of hills that run along the western edge of peninsular India. Their proximity to the ocean and through [[w:orographic effect|orographic effect]], they receive high rainfall. These regions have [[w:South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests|moist deciduous forest]] and [[w:South Western Ghats montane rain forests|rain forest]]. The region shows high species diversity as well as high levels of endemism. Nearly 77% of the amphibians and 62% of the reptile species found here are found nowhere else.<ref name="RJRD">Daniels, R. J. R. (2001) [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/aug102001/240.pdf Endemic fishes of the Western Ghats and the Satpura hypothesis]. Current Science 81(3):240-244</ref> The region shows biogeographical affinities to the [[w:Malay Peninsula|Malayan]] region, and the Satpura hypothesis proposed by [[w:Sunder Lal Hora]] suggests that the hill chains of Central India may have once formed a connection with the forests of northeastern India and into the Indo-Malayan region. Hora used torrent stream fishes to support the theory, but it was also suggested to hold for birds.<ref>Ripley, Dillon S. (1949) [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2405549 Avian relicts and double invasions in Peninsular India and Ceylon]. Evolution 2:150-159</ref> Later studies have suggested that Hora's original model species were a demonstration of [[w:convergent evolution|convergent evolution]] rather than speciation by isolation.<ref name="RJRD"/>
@@ Line 95: / Line 98: @@
 ==References==
-* Major sections of this article have been copied from [[w:Demographics of India|Demographics of India]] article and [[w:Wildlife of India|Wildlife of India article]] on Wikipedia. ''Accessed November 2010''
+* Major sections of this article have been copied from the following articles on Wikipedia: [[w:Demographics of India|Demographics of India]], [[w:Fauna of India|Fauna of India]] and [[w:Wildlife of India|Wildlife of India article]] ''Accessed November 2010''
 {{reflist|2}}

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ===Indo-Burma===
-[[File:Pseudoryx nghetinhensis.PNG|right|250pc|thumb|The Saola, a bovine, is one of the world's rarest mammals. It was discovered in Vietnam only in 1992]]
+[[File:Pseudoryx nghetinhensis.PNG|right|250pc|thumb|The [[w:Saola|Saola]], a bovine, is one of the world's rarest mammals. It was discovered in Vietnam only in 1992]]
 The Indo-Burma region encompasses several countries. It is spread out from Eastern [[w:Bangladesh|Bangladesh]] to [[w:Malaysia|Malaysia]] and includes North-Eastern India south of Brahmaputra river, Myanmar, the southern part of China's Yunnan province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, [[w:Cambodia|Cambodia]], Vietnam and [[w:Thailand|Thailand]]. The Indo-Burma region is spread over 2 million sq. km of tropical Asia.
-Much of this region is still a wilderness, but has been deteriorating rapidly in the past few decades. In recent times, six species of mammals have been discovered here: Large-antlered muntjac, Annamite muntjac, Grey-shanked douc, Annamite striped rabbit, Leaf deer, and the Saola. Many of the species, especially some freshwater turtle species, are endemic. Almost 1,300 bird species exist in this region including the threatened white-eared night-heron, the grey-crowned crocias, and the orange-necked partridge. <ref>[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/indo_burma/Pages/default.aspx Biodiversity hotspots.org] ''Accessed: Nov 15, 2010''</ref>
+Much of this region is still a wilderness, but has been deteriorating rapidly in the past few decades. In recent times, six species of mammals have been discovered here: Large-antlered muntjac, Annamite muntjac, Grey-shanked douc, Annamite striped rabbit, Leaf deer, and the [[w:Saola|Saola]]. Many of the species, especially some freshwater turtle species, are endemic. Almost 1,300 bird species exist in this region including the threatened white-eared night-heron, the grey-crowned crocias, and the orange-necked partridge. <ref>[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/indo_burma/Pages/default.aspx Biodiversity hotspots.org] ''Accessed: Nov 15, 2010''</ref>
 ==Recent extinctions==

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:21, 13 November 2010
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	==Biodiversity hotspots==		==Biodiversity hotspots==
		+	''Sourced from: [[w:Fauna of India\|Fauna of India]]
		+	===The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka===
		+	The Western Ghats are a chain of hills that run along the western edge of peninsular India. Their proximity to the ocean and through [[w:orographic effect\|orographic effect]], they receive high rainfall. These regions have [[w:South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests\|moist deciduous forest]] and [[w:South Western Ghats montane rain forests\|rain forest]]. The region shows high species diversity as well as high levels of endemism. Nearly 77% of the amphibians and 62% of the reptile species found here are found nowhere else.<ref name="RJRD">Daniels, R. J. R. (2001) [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/aug102001/240.pdf Endemic fishes of the Western Ghats and the Satpura hypothesis]. Current Science 81(3):240-244</ref> The region shows biogeographical affinities to the [[w:Malay Peninsula\|Malayan]] region, and the Satpura hypothesis proposed by [[w:Sunder Lal Hora]] suggests that the hill chains of Central India may have once formed a connection with the forests of northeastern India and into the Indo-Malayan region. Hora used torrent stream fishes to support the theory, but it was also suggested to hold for birds.<ref>Ripley, Dillon S. (1949) [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2405549 Avian relicts and double invasions in Peninsular India and Ceylon]. Evolution 2:150-159</ref> Later studies have suggested that Hora's original model species were a demonstration of [[w:convergent evolution\|convergent evolution]] rather than speciation by isolation.<ref name="RJRD"/>
		+
		+	More recent [[w:phylogeography\|phylogeographic]] studies have attempted to study the problem using molecular approaches.<ref>Karanth, P. K. (2003) [http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/nov102003/1276.pdf Evolution of disjunct distributions among wet-zone species of the Indian subcontinent: Testing various hypotheses using a phylogenetic approach] Current Science, 85(9): 1276-1283</ref> There are also differences in taxa which are dependent on time of divergence and geological history.<ref>Biswas, S. and Pawar S. S. (2006) [http://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/mar2006/95.pdf Phylogenetic tests of distribution patterns in South Asia: towards an integrative approach]; J. Biosci. 31 95–113</ref> Along with Sri Lanka this region also shows some faunal similarities with the Madagascan region especially in the reptiles and amphibians. Examples include the ''Sibynophis'' snakes, the [w:Purple frog\|Purple Frog]] and Sri Lankan lizard genus ''[[w:Nessia\|Nessia]]'' which appears similar to the Madagascan genus ''[[w:Acontias\|Acontias]]''.<ref>[http://www.pdn.ac.lk/socs/zaup/reptiles/affinities.html affinities<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Numerous floral links to the Madagascan region also exist.<ref>[http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Madagasc/biomad1.html Biogeography of Madagascar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> An alternate hypothesis that these taxa may have originally evolved out-of-India has also been suggested.<ref>Karanth, P. 2006 [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/mar252006/789.pdf Out-of-India Gondwanan origin of some tropical Asian biota]. Current Science 90(6):789-792</ref>
		+
		+	Biogeographical quirks exist with some taxa of Malayan origin occurring in [[w:Sri Lanka\|Sri Lanka]] but absent in the [[w:Western Ghats\|Western Ghats]]. These include insects groups such as the [[w:zoraptera\|zoraptera]] and plants such as those of the genus ''[[w:Nepenthes\|Nepenthes]]''.
		+
		+	===The Eastern Himalayas===
		+	[[File:Rhinoceros unicornis fg01.JPG\|left\|thumb\|250px\|The [[w:Indian Rhinoceros\|Indian Rhinoceros]] is one of the 45 species of globally threatened mammals found in the Eastern Himalayas.]]
		+	The Eastern Himalayas is the region encompassing Bhutan, northeastern India, and
		+	southern, central, and eastern Nepal. The region is geologically young and shows high altitudinal variation. It has nearly 163 globally threatened species including the One-horned Rhinoceros (''[[w:Rhinoceros unicornis\|Rhinoceros unicornis]]''), the [[w:Wild Asian Water buffalo\|Wild Asian Water buffalo]] (''Bubalus bubalis (Arnee)'') and in all 45 mammals, 50 birds, 17 reptiles, 12 amphibians, 3 invertebrate and 36 plant species.
		+	<ref>[http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/where_we_work/eastern_himalayas/eastern_himalayas_info.xml Conservation International 2006]</ref><ref>[http://assets.panda.org/downloads/final_ehimalayas_ep.pdf Ecosystem Profile: Eastern Himalayas Region], 2005</ref> The Relict Dragonfly (''[[w:Epiophlebia laidlawi\|Epiophlebia laidlawi]]'') is an endangered species found here with the only other species in the genus being found in [[w:Japan\|Japan]]. The region is also home to the Himalayan Newt (''[[w:Tylototriton verrucosus\|Tylototriton verrucosus]]''), the only [[w:salamander\|salamander]] species found within Indian limits.<ref>[http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=27738 Amphibian Species of the World - Desmognathus imitator Dunn, 1927]</ref>
		+
		+	===Indo-Burma===
		+	[[File:Pseudoryx nghetinhensis.PNG\|right\|250pc\|thumb\|The Saola, a bovine, is one of the world's rarest mammals. It was discovered in Vietnam only in 1992]]
		+	The Indo-Burma region encompasses several countries. It is spread out from Eastern [[w:Bangladesh\|Bangladesh]] to [[w:Malaysia\|Malaysia]] and includes North-Eastern India south of Brahmaputra river, Myanmar, the southern part of China's Yunnan province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, [[w:Cambodia\|Cambodia]], Vietnam and [[w:Thailand\|Thailand]]. The Indo-Burma region is spread over 2 million sq. km of tropical Asia.
		+
		+	Much of this region is still a wilderness, but has been deteriorating rapidly in the past few decades. In recent times, six species of mammals have been discovered here: Large-antlered muntjac, Annamite muntjac, Grey-shanked douc, Annamite striped rabbit, Leaf deer, and the Saola. Many of the species, especially some freshwater turtle species, are endemic. Almost 1,300 bird species exist in this region including the threatened white-eared night-heron, the grey-crowned crocias, and the orange-necked partridge. <ref>[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/indo_burma/Pages/default.aspx Biodiversity hotspots.org] ''Accessed: Nov 15, 2010''</ref>

	==Recent extinctions==		==Recent extinctions==

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:00, 13 November 2010
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	==Biodiversity hotspots==		==Biodiversity hotspots==
		+
		+	==Recent extinctions==
		+	[[Image:Ophrysia superciliosa hm.jpg\|thumb\|Illustration of a [[Himalayan Quail]] from [[w:Allan Octavian Hume\|A. O. Hume]]'s work. Last seen in 1876]]
		+	The exploitation of land and forest resources by humans along with hunting and trapping for food and sport has led to the extinction of many species in India in recent times. These species include mammals such as the Indian / [[w:Asiatic Cheetah\|Asiatic Cheetah]], [[w:Javan Rhinoceros\|Javan Rhinoceros]] and [[w:Sumatran Rhinoceros\|Sumatran Rhinoceros]].<ref>{{Cite book\|author=Vivek Menon\|title=A field guide to Indian mammals\|publisher=Dorling Kindersley, Delhi\|year=2003\|ISBN=0143029983}}</ref> While some of these large mammal species are confirmed extinct, there have been many smaller animal and plant species whose status is harder to determine. Many species have not been seen since their description.
		+
		+	''Hubbardia heptaneuron'', a species of grass that grew in the spray zone of the [[w:Jog Falls\|Jog Falls]] prior to the construction of the Linganamakki reservoir, was thought to be extinct but a few were rediscovered near Kolhapur in [[w:Maharashtra\|Maharashtra]].<ref>IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) E-Bulletin - December 2002 [http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/news/ebulletin2002/ebulletindec02.html] Accessed October 2006</ref>
		+
		+	Some species of birds have gone extinct in recent times, including the [[w:Pink-headed Duck\|Pink-headed Duck]] (''Rhodonessa caryophyllacea'') and the [[w:Himalayan Quail\|Himalayan Quail]] (''Ophrysia superciliosa''). A species of warbler, ''[[w:Acrocephalus orinus\|Acrocephalus orinus]]'', known earlier from a single specimen collected by [[w:Allan Octavian Hume\|Allan Octavian Hume]] from near Rampur in Himachal Pradesh was rediscovered after 139 years in Thailand.<ref>Threatened birds of Asia [http://www.rdb.or.id/detailbird.php?id=693] Accessed October 2006</ref><ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/03/07/headlines/headlines_30028700.php March 6, 2007]</ref>
		+

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

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 '''''[[GEN101:Introduction | << Previous:Introduction]]'''''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''''[[GEN101:Geography and climate of India| Next: Geography and Climate of India >>]]'''''
 </div>
+India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity. This natural variation in life is also reflected in the demography of the land. Although the causes behind biodiversity and demographic diversity are different, the human population of the land has depended on the biodiversity in many ways for a long time. At the same time, today, the excessive human population of India is leading to a survival pressure on the biodiversity. Thus, it is important to know and appreciate the diversity in both - human population and flora and fauna.
 ==Demographic diversity of India==
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 Many Indian species are descendants of [[w:taxa|taxa]] originating in [[w:Gondwana|Gondwana]], to which India originally belonged. [[w:Indian Plate|Peninsular India's]] subsequent [[w:Plate tectonics|movement]] towards, and collision with, the [[w:Laurasia|Laurasian]] landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, [[w:Deccan Traps|volcanism]] and climatic change 20 million years ago caused the [[w:extinction|extinction]] of many endemic Indian forms.<ref>K. Praveen Karanth. (2006). [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/mar252006/789.pdf Out-of-India Gondwanan origin of some tropical Asian biota]</ref> Soon thereafter, mammals entered India from Asia through two [[w:Zoogeography|zoogeographical]] passes on either side of the emerging Himalaya.<ref name=tritsch>Tritsch, M.E.  2001. ''Wildlife of India'' Harper Collins, London. 192 pages. ISBN 0-00-711062-6</ref> As a result, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians.<ref name=unep>Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (IGCMC), New Delhi and the [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), World Conservation Monitoring Center], Cambridge, UK.  2001. [http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html ''Biodiversity profile for India''].</ref> Notable endemics are the [[w:Nilgiri Langur|Nilgiri leaf monkey]] and the brown and carmine [[w:Bufo beddomii|Beddome's toad]] of the Western Ghats.
 ==Biodiversity vs Human progress==

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 <div style="text-align: right;font-size: 120%;">
-'''''[[Module:GEN101:Introduction | << Previous:Introduction]]'''''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''''[[GEN101:Geography and climate of India| Next: Geography and Climate of India >>]]'''''
+'''''[[GEN101:Introduction | << Previous:Introduction]]'''''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''''[[GEN101:Geography and climate of India| Next: Geography and Climate of India >>]]'''''
 </div>
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 <div style="text-align: right;font-size: 120%;">
-'''''[[Module:GEN101:Introduction | << Previous:Introduction]]'''''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''''[[GEN101:Geography and climate of India| Next: Geography and Climate of India >>]]'''''
+'''''[[GEN101:Introduction | << Previous:Introduction]]'''''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''''[[GEN101:Geography and climate of India| Next: Geography and Climate of India >>]]'''''
 </div>

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:20, 12 November 2010
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		+	<div style="text-align: right;font-size: 120%;">
		+	'''''[[Module:GEN101:Introduction \| << Previous:Introduction]]'''''   '''''[[GEN101:Geography and climate of India\| Next: Geography and Climate of India >>]]'''''
		+	</div>
		+
		+
	==Demographic diversity of India==		==Demographic diversity of India==
	[[File:India population density map en.svg\|300px\|right\|Map showing the population density of each district in India]]		[[File:India population density map en.svg\|300px\|right\|Map showing the population density of each district in India]]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 ==Endemic species==
-==India's biodiversity compared to world biodiversity==
+==Biodiversity vs Human progress==
 ==Biodiversity hotspots==

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:16, 12 November 2010
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	==Flora and fauna of India==		==Flora and fauna of India==
		+	[[wikipedia:India\|India]] is a country rich in biological diversity. It lies within the [[wikipedia: Indomalaya ecozone\|Indomalaya ecozone]] and houses two of the 34 biodiversity hotspot in the world<ref>[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/hotspots_by_region/Pages/default.aspx Hotspots by region]</ref>.
		+
		+	{{#display_map: India \|zoom=4}}
		+
		+	There is a huge species diversity in India, with several of the species being endemic to the their native ranges in India{{fact}}.
		+	{\| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 500px; height: 15px;"
		+	\|-
		+	\| '''Group'''<br>
		+	\| '''Number'''<br>
		+	\| '''% of world species'''
		+	\|-
		+	\| Mammals<br>
		+	\| 350<br>
		+	\| 7.6%
		+	\|-
		+	\| Birds<br>
		+	\| 1224<br>
		+	\| 12.6%
		+	\|-
		+	\| Amphibians<br>
		+	\| 197<br>
		+	\| 4.4%
		+	\|-
		+	\| Reptiles<br>
		+	\| 408<br>
		+	\| 6.2%
		+	\|-
		+	\| Fishes<br>
		+	\| 2546<br>
		+	\| 11.7%
		+	\|-
		+	\| Flowering plants<br>
		+	\| 15000<br>
		+	\| 6%
		+	\|-
		+	\|}
		+	''Sources: Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (IGCMC), New Delhi <ref>Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (IGCMC), New Delhi and the [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), World Conservation Monitoring Center], Cambridge, UK. 2001.</ref> and IISc <ref>[http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html ''Biodiversity profile for India''].</ref>''
		+
		+	Many Indian species are descendants of [[w:taxa\|taxa]] originating in [[w:Gondwana\|Gondwana]], to which India originally belonged. [[w:Indian Plate\|Peninsular India's]] subsequent [[w:Plate tectonics\|movement]] towards, and collision with, the [[w:Laurasia\|Laurasian]] landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, [[w:Deccan Traps\|volcanism]] and climatic change 20 million years ago caused the [[w:extinction\|extinction]] of many endemic Indian forms.<ref>K. Praveen Karanth. (2006). [http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/mar252006/789.pdf Out-of-India Gondwanan origin of some tropical Asian biota]</ref> Soon thereafter, mammals entered India from Asia through two [[w:Zoogeography\|zoogeographical]] passes on either side of the emerging Himalaya.<ref name=tritsch>Tritsch, M.E. 2001. ''Wildlife of India'' Harper Collins, London. 192 pages. ISBN 0-00-711062-6</ref> As a result, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians.<ref name=unep>Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Centre (IGCMC), New Delhi and the [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), World Conservation Monitoring Center], Cambridge, UK. 2001. [http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/cesmg/indiabio.html ''Biodiversity profile for India''].</ref> Notable endemics are the [[w:Nilgiri Langur\|Nilgiri leaf monkey]] and the brown and carmine [[w:Bufo beddomii\|Beddome's toad]] of the Western Ghats.

	==Endemic species==		==Endemic species==