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SHORT NOTE ON THREATENED AND ELUSIVE NILGIRI MARTEN MARTES GWATKINSIIHORSFIELD, 1851 (MAMMALIA: CARNIVORA: MUSTELIDAE) FROM NILGIRIS, WESTERN GHATS, INDIA
A. Samson1*, P. Santhoshkumar2, M. Palanisamy2, P. Yogeshwaran2, N. Moinudheen3, J. Leona Princy1
1 Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology of the Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam,
India
2Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, India 3Freelancer, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India e-mail: *kingvulture1786@gmail.com
Received: 20.09.2022. Revised: 16.01.2023. Accepted: 24.01.2023.
The Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii Horsfield, 1851 is a mustelid endemic to the Western Ghats (8.31667 - 21.26667° N), a range of low mountains in south-west India and a global biodiversity hotspot. It is one of the rarest and least known species of martens in the world. The present study focused on the status, distribution, altitudinal variation and habitat preferences of lesser-known Martes gwatkinsii from Nilgiris in the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India with the opportunistic observation from 2011 to 2021. Non-systematically collected, a.k.a. opportunistic, species observations are accumulating at a high rate in biodiversity databases. This is particularly the case when the species is rare and difficult to locate and baseline data are virtually non-existent. In the absence of other data, we used 165 opportunistic observations collected over 10 years and geographical information systems to predict the habitat of the threatened Nilgiri Marten in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. Based on this opportunistic observation of Martes gwatkinsii in Nilgiris showed that 67% of the records were observed in the shola forest ecosystem as well as 22% of the records in the grassland ecosystem. There is a need for more survey work, and probably more unprotected areas, in the higher altitudes of the species' range in Nilgiris. Legal protection of the reserve forests contiguous to the Mukuruthi National Park is essential for the effective conservation of the Nilgiri Marten in Nilgiris.
Key words: distribution, marten, India, threatened, Western Ghats https://dx.doi.org/10.24412/cl-31646-2686-7117-2023-32-228-232
Introduction
The Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii Horsfield, 1851 is a mustelid endemic to the Western Ghats (8.31667° N - 21.26667° N), a range of low mountains in southwest India and a global biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al., 2000). It is one of the rarest and least known species of martens in the world (Wirth & Van Rompaey, 1991; Choudhury et al., 2010) and is listed as vulnerable because its global population is plausibly below 1000 mature individuals (Mudappa et al., 2015; Choudhury et al., 2008). Martes gwatkinsii has been recorded mainly in evergreen forests and montane forest-grassland mosaics, with a few sight records from moist deciduous forests very close to the evergreen forest (Mudappa, 1999, 2002; Kumar &
Yoganand, 1999; Balakrishnan, 2005) as well as in some altered habitats such as Tea, Acacia, Coffee and Cardamom plantations (Schreiber et al., 1989; Yoganand & Kumar, 1999; Krishna & Karnad, 2010; Anoop, 2013). The species is found throughout the Western Ghats as far as north from Bisale Reserved Forest, Karnataka, 12.76667° N, 75.73333° E to the south from Kalakkad-Mundunthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, 8.53333° N, 77.38333° E (Shreehari & Nameer, 2013). Martes gwatkinsii had been recorded across a wide range of elevations from 300-2600 m. Although the species is known from a few locations, most of its distribution range still lacks exploration. In Nilgiris, very few occurrences were observed of Martes gwatkinsii (Yoganand & Kumar, 1999; Gokula & Ramachandran, 1996; Krishna & Karnad, 2010). Hence the present study focused on the status, distribution, altitudinal variation and habitat preferences of lesser-known Martes gwatkinsii from Nilgiris in the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India with the opportunistic observation from 2011 to 2021.
Matherial and Methods
Study Area
The Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu lies in 11.4916° N latitude and 76.7337° E longitude. The Nilgiris hill is a part of the Western Ghats; Doddabetta being the premier peak in South India with an altitude of 2595 m, lies in this district. The geographical area of the district is 2545 km2 and holds a natural forest that covers an area of 1425.77 km2 which adds to the natural magnificence and economic wealth of the district. The mean minimum temperature was 5 °C, and the mean maximum was 26 °C. The total rainfall during 2015-2016 was 1357.7 mm.
Methodology
Non-systematically collected, a.k.a. opportunistic, species observations are accumulating at a high rate in biodiversity databases. This is particularly the case when the species is rare and difficult to locate and baseline data are virtually nonexistent. In the absence of other data, we used 165 opportunistic observations collected over 10 years and geographical information systems to predict the habitat of the threatened Nilgiri Marten in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. During the opportunistic observation, we recorded information such as habitat, GPS locations, elevation, timing as well as the number of individuals for further analysis.
Results
A total of 165 opportunistic observations were recorded between January 2011 and December 2021 in Nilgiris (Fig.). Most of the records of Martes gwatkinsii were observed in the shola forest habitat (N = 110) followed by grassland (N = 36) and plantations (N = 19). Elevation wise Martes gwatkinsii was recorded in 2062.88 ± 53.33 m a.s.l. The highest elevation record of Martes gwatkinsii was 2583 m a.s.l. on the other hand lowest record was 857 m asl. Most of the records were done on 08.00-10.00 hr (N = 82; 09.10 ± 0.002) followed by 15.00-17.00 hr (N = 63; 04.23 ± 0.09) and 12.00-14.00 hr (N = 20; 01.21 ± 0.12). A maximum of
three individuals and a minimum of one individual were recorded during the observation period.
Discussion
Based on this opportunistic observation of Martes gwatkinsii in Nilgiris, 67% of the records were observed in the shoal forest ecosystem as well as 22% of the records in the grassland ecosystem. Anil et al. (2018) recorded 42 sightings from Pampadum Shola National Park, Kerala, Western Ghats. The present study as well as a recent study from the Pampadum Shola National Park envisaged that Martes gwatkinsii mostly preferred habitat is the shola forest and grasslands ecosystem. The remaining 11% were recorded in plantations in Nilgiris. In Nilgiris, wattles are the dominant plantations as well as a critical threat to the habitat alterations. Past studies mentioned that habitat destruction, as well as habitat alterations, are the major hindrance to the population of Martes gwatkinsii. The average elevation records of Martes gwatkinsii were 2000 m a.s.l. in Nilgiris. Krishna & Karnad (2010) reported that the average elevation record (Five records) of Martes gwatkinsii was 2020 m a.s.l. in Palani hills, Western Ghats. The 23 records in the entire Western Ghats region showed that the average elevation sighting record was 1760 m a.s.l. (Krishna & Karnad, 2010). Anil et al. (2018) recorded that Martes gwatkinsii were reported in the 1685-1909 m a.s.l. in Pampadum Shola National Park, Kerala, Western Ghats and he also mentioned that 44% of records were recorded in higher
elevation areas. Based on this evidence, Martes gwatkinsii prefers a mostly higher elevation area for their survival. The present study observed that Martes gwatkinsii was recorded mostly at dawn and dusk. Anil et al. (2018) study also confirmed that Martes gwatkinsii movement was recorded at dawn and dusk. According to the Martes gwatkinsii occurrences in the Western Ghats, it was revealed that all records were in the protected areas except Nilgiris (Krishna & Karnad, 2010, Shreehari & Nameer, 2013). However, the result of this study indicates their occurrence in unprotected areas like Nilgiris. The poaching incidents are not so frequent in the protected areas, and measures to regulate hunting in the unprotected areas, especially in the higher elevation forests are not effective. The Martes gwatkinsii is legally protected (Schedule II part II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972); is listed in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and listed as VU D1 (Mudappa et al., 2015). Hence, there is a need for more survey work, and probably more unprotected areas, in the higher altitudes of the species' range in Nilgiris. Legal protection of the reserve forests contiguous to the Mukuruthi National Park is essential for the effective conservation of the Nilgiri Marten in Nilgiris.
References
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Anil G., Kishor N., Gafoor N., Ommer N., Nameer P.O. 2018. Observations on the Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii (Mammalia: Carnivora: Mustelidae) from Pampadum Shola National Park, the southern Western Ghats, India // Journal of Threatened Taxa. Vol. 10(1). P. 11226-11230. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3446.10.L11226-11230.
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КРАТКАЯ ЗАМЕТКА О НАХОДЯЩЕЙСЯ ПОД УГРОЗОЙ ИСЧЕЗНОВЕНИЯ НИЛГИРСКОЙ ХАРЗЕ, MARTES GWATKINSII HORSFIELD, 1851 (MAMMALIA, CARNIVORA, MUSTELIDAE), В ОКРУГЕ НИЛГИРИ (ЗАПАДНЫЕ ГАТЫ, ИНДИЯ)
Арокианатан Самсон1*, Паланисами Сантошкумар2, Махендран Паланисами2, Перумал Йогешваран2, Низамудхин Мойнудхин3, Джабамалайнатан Леона Принси1
1 Кафедра зоологии и биологии дикой природы Государственного художественного
колледжа, Утхагамандалам, Индия 2Мудумалайский тигровый заповедник, Индия ъФрилансер, Нилгирис, Тамил Наду, Индия e-mail: *kingvulture1786@gmail.com
Нилгирийская харза Martes gwatkinsii Horsfield, 1851 - представитель куньих, эндемичный вид, обитающий в Западных Гатах (8.31667 - 21.26667° N), на грядах невысоких гор на юго-западе Индии, где наблюдается высокое биоразнообразие. Это один из самых редких и наименее известных видов куниц в мире. Настоящее исследование посвящено выявлению статуса, изучению распространении, высотных вариаций и предпочитаемых стаций Martes gwatkinsii из Нилгири в Западных Гатах (Тамил Наду, Индия) по наблюдениям с 2011 по 2021 гг. Несистематически собираемые, так называемые оппортунистические, наблюдения за видами накапливаются с высокой скоростью в базах данных по биоразнообразию. Это особенно актуально, когда вид редок и его трудно обнаружить, а исходных данных практически нет. В отсутствие других данных мы использовали 165 оппортунистических наблюдений, собранных за 10 лет, и географические информационные системы, чтобы предсказать среду обитания находящейся под угрозой исчезновения нилгирской харзы в Нилгири, штат Тамил Наду, Индия. На основе этих оппортунистических наблюдений за Martes gwatkinsii в Нилгири показано, что 67% встреч наблюдались в рощевых горных тропических лесах, а 22% встреч - в пастбищных экосистемах. Существует необходимость в дополнительных исследованиях и, возможно, большей частью на неохраняемых территориях на больших высотах в пределах ареала вида в Нилгири. Для эффективного сохранения нилгирской харзы в Нилгири необходима правовая защита заповедных лесов, прилегающих к национальному парку Мукурути.
Ключевые слова: распространение, харза, Индия, вид, находящийся под угрозой исчезновения, Западные Гаты
