Biodiversity Seminar: What Animals Can Tell Us About Ecosystems: A Scientific Journey Through the Western Ghats, India

This is a joint seminar between the Forest Health and Biotic Interactions Research Unit and the WSL Biodiversity Center.

The Western Ghats is internationally recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and is classified as one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. This presentation will explore the unique flora and fauna of the Western Ghats and demonstrate how different taxonomic groups can provide insights into ecological questions and processes.

The talk will focus on the Silent Valley National Park (SVNP) in Kerala, India, to explore how different forest types reflect faunal composition, highlighting their ecological significance. One key area of investigation is the relationship between altitude and bird communities within SVNP. We will examine how species richness, diversity, habitat preferences, and nesting requirements vary with elevation, offering a detailed understanding of avian ecology in this region.

In addition to birds, we will test the hypothesis that forest gaps harbor higher butterfly diversity compared to dense, closed-canopy forests. Moreover, we will evaluate whether butterfly assemblages in these gaps more closely resemble those in the canopy, as opposed to those in dense understorey habitats. These findings will provide insights into how microhabitat variations influence biodiversity.

Another unique aspect of the Western Ghats' ecosystems is the role of water-filled tree holes, which serve as refugia for various species. We will explore how these microhabitats contribute to the overall ecological stability across different forest types and altitudinal gradients.

The talk will also address the socio-ecological challenges in the region, including human-wildlife conflicts. The coexistence of humans and wildlife is crucial for sustainable conservation, and we will discuss mitigation measures aimed at reducing conflicts in the Western Ghats.

Finally, the research findings discussed here are contributing to the integration of vertebrate and invertebrate conservation principles into the management plans of the area. The next step is translating these scientific insights into actionable conservation strategies that can be implemented by practitioners and policymakers. One of the key challenges in environmental management is the mismatch between human institutions and natural ecosystems, and adopting an ecosystem-based approach may offer a more effective solution to this issue.  

Our seminars are hybrid. Please send an email to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch if you would like to get access to the live stream.

The Biodiversity Seminar Series are organized by the WSL Biodiversity Center. Every two weeks, we aim to host a seminar speaker that presents research or outreach on topics relevant to the biodiversity community at WSL. The seminars are public and are usually broadcasted online.

To find out more about the WSL Biodiversity Center and a complete list of events, please visit our website. 

Please send an email to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch if you would like to be updated on the activities of the WSL Biodiversity Center.