1st Edition
Biodiversity Hotspot of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
Biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic activities around the world. This book is the first volume in the new series Biodiversity Hotspots of the World, which highlights the 36 hotspot regions of the world, regions that were designated as reaping maximum benefit from preservation efforts. This series is our humble attempt to document these hotspots as a conservation and preservation measure.
This first volume in the series focuses on the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, construed as forming a community of species because of their shared biogeographical history. The volume explores the diversity and conservation efforts of the extraordinarily rich species found here, including plants, many of which are found nowhere else in the world; forests, which face tremendous population pressure and have been dramatically impacted by demands for timber and agricultural land; as well as the hotspot’s diverse mammals, birds, insects, and amphibian species, and more.
The volumes in this series will be essential resources for researchers and practitioners in the fields of conservation biology, ecology, and evolution.
1. Biodiversity Hotspots
T. Pullaiah
2. Physiography and Climatology of the Western Ghats
S. Karuppusamy
3. Vegetation and Forest Types of the Western Ghats
S. Karuppusamy
4. Bacterial Diversity of the Western Ghats as a Rich Source for Biotechnological Applications
M. Arun Padmakumar and Kesavan Madhavan Nampoothiri
5. Diversity of Cyanobacteria in the Western Ghats
Kodandoor Sharathchandra and Kandikere R. Sridhar
6. Lichen-Forming and Lichenicolous Fungi of the Western Ghats, India
Sanjeeva Nayaka and Biju Haridas
7. Bryophytes of the Western Ghats: A Gentle Look into the Distribution Pattern
C. N. Manju, K. P. Rajesh, K. M. Manjula, B. Mufeed, and V. K. Chandini
8. Pteridophytes of the Western Ghats of India: A Look into the Patterns
K. P. Rajesh
9. Spermatophytes of the Western Ghats
S. Karuppusamy
10. Genetic Diversity of Crop Plants of the Western Ghats
Maya Peringottillam and Alagu Manickavelu
11. Plant Biodiversity of Silent Valley, Core Zone of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Kerala
R. Balaji, M. V. Anju, R. Prasanna, R. Kuralarasan, S. Arun Kumar, and C. Kunhikannan
12. Status of Ichthyofauna in the Western Ghats
Ramakrishna
13. Status of Amphibian Diversity in the Western Ghats
Ramakrishna, P. Deepak, and K. P. Dinesh
14. Reptile Distribution in the Western Ghats
Ramakrishna
15. Butterflies as Ecosystem Engineers in the Western Ghats: A Brief Review with a Systems Perspective
Paulraj Selva Singh Richard, Hopeland P., Umesh Pavukandy, and Nithya Basith
16. Status of Avian Diversity in the Western Ghats
Ramakrishna
17. Status of Mammals in the Western Ghats
Ramakrishna
18. Phytoplankton Diversity of the Western Ghats of India
Seetharamaiah Thippeswamy
19. Zooplankton Diversity in the Western Ghats
Ramakrishna
20. Prudent Management of Protected Areas in India through a Virtual Spatial Decision Support System
Ramachandra T. V. and Bharath Setturu
21. Factors Affecting Diversity and Distribution of Animals in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot
Ramakrishna, K. P. Dinesh, and P. Deepak
22. Spatial Conservation Prioritization of Landscapes in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats
K. V. Satish, S. Vazeed Pasha, and C. Sudhakar Reddy
23. Physiography, Climate, and Historical Biogeography of Sri Lanka in Making a Biodiversity Hotspot
Sandun J. Perera and R. H. S. Suranjan Fernando
24. Overview of Sri Lankan Fungi and Lichen Research
Mahesh C. A. Galappaththi, Samantha C. Karunarathna, Chandrika M. Nanayakkara, Steven L. Stephenson, Lucas Dauner, Nalin Wijayawardene, and Udeni Jayalal
25. Angiosperms and Gymnosperms of Sri Lanka
Sudheera M. W. Ranwala
26. Sri Lankan Insects with an Overview of Diversity and Biogeography
Amila P. Sumanapala
27. Diversity of Honeybees in Sri Lanka
R. W. K. Punchihewa
28. Status of Freshwater Fishes of Sri Lanka
Smpath De Alwis Goonatilake
29. Diversity of Amphibians of Sri Lanka
Peter Janzen
30. Diversity, Distribution and Biogeography of Sri Lankan Birds
Salindra K. Dayananda, Sandun J. Perera, Sampath S. Senevirathne, and Sarath W. Kotagama
31. Threats and Conservation of Biodiversity in Sri Lanka
Sudheera M. W. Ranwala
Biography
T. Pullaiah, PhD, a former Professor in the Department of Botany at Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India, where he has taught for more than 35 years. He has held several positions at the university, including Dean, Faculty of Biosciences; Head of the Department of Botany; Head of the Department of Biotechnology; and member of the Academic Senate. Under his guidance, over 50 students earned their doctoral degrees. Dr. Pullaiah was a member of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as President of the Indian Botanical Society (2014), President of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (2013), and Fellow of Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences. A prolific author and editor, he has published over 110 books and over 340 research papers. His books with AAP include Ethnobotany of India (5 volumes) and Global Biodiversity (4 volumes).
