Biodiversity Hotspots of India

Biodiversity hotspot – the term is frequently heard but less commonly understood. I would like to explain.

A Biodiversity hotspot is an area anywhere in the world, which is biologically extremely rich, characterized by a lot of plant endemism and is under threat of habitat loss due to human encroachment. Well, to be a bit more precise, these biodiversity hotspots of the world host at least 1500 species (more than 0.5% of total world’s population) of vascular plants as endemics, nearing 60% of world’s plant, bird, animals, reptiles and amphibian species (many of them being endemic ones) and are under tremendous threat having lost more than 70% of their primary habitat. Endemism refers to an ecological state of any life form being unique to a particular geographical location. Endemic life forms are the most vulnerable to become extinct due to their restricted geographical distributions.

Globally, a lot of conservation efforts have been initiated for the protection of the endangered soecies in these biodiversity hotspot regions. World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Global Wildlife Conservation, National Geographics, IUCN etc are amongst the world’s leading conservation organizations.

India has two such major biodiversity hotspots and they belong to the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats. Major threats of this enormous biodiversity is logging of the forests, conversion of forests to agricultural lands and other plantations. This amounts to severe habitat destruction. Now above all, these vulnerable regions are further threatened by a number of developmental activities such as roads, railways, dams etc.

The Himalayas stretch over an arc over 3000 kilometers across Pakistan, Nepal, Bhuan, Northwestern and Northeastern states of India and covers an enormous 750,000 km2 of area. The hotspot includes all of the world’s highest peaks (more than 8000 meters including the Everest) and also few of the deepest river gorges. Both the Eastern as well as the Western Himalayas are home to diverse ecosystems and thousands of different life forms.

Western Ghats is a 1600 km long mountain range running through the west coast of India. It covers the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharastra and Gujarat. These mountains cover approximately 1,40,000 sq km and is home to a number of endemic plants, animals, birds, amphibian and reptilian species. The Western Ghats is considered as one of the top ten global biodiversity hot-spots. The Western Ghats has over 450 species of birds (35% endemic), 140 mammal species (around 20% endemic) and 260 reptile species (over 60% endemic). The range also has a number of fresh water fishes and a number of invertebrates most of which are endemic to the region. Similarly, a number of amphibians are endemic to the Western Ghats and the area has become a hotspot of discovery of new species of frogs in the last decade. In the northern part of the Western Ghat range, which falls in Maharashtra, about one-third of the plants, almost half the reptiles, and more than three-fourths of the amphibians known in India are found in this narrow strip of rainforest just off the west coast.

After decades of research, scientists have not been able to discover even 15% of all possible forms of life on Earth. While we know about 1.7 million species on Earth, the estimated figure of possible life forms is 10 millions. Thousands of species will get extinct even before they could be discovered, identified or catalogued.

Question arises, how conservation photography can help? Conservation photography is a blend of art of wildlife photography and the science of natural history documentary photography. Conservation photography can work as a tool for the non scientist and non biologist community to contribute enormously for building up a rich database. “India’s Most Wanted” is an offshoot of this project and is now live !!! Dr Caesar Photography is inviting all photographers across India to contribute photographs of the most endangered species of the country to this platform. We also have regular expeditions being conducted in the Western Ghats and also in the North Eastern rainforests and Eastern Himalayas.

We are just facilitators for a worldwide movement, doing our little bit.

Wildlife photography as a career in India

Wildlife photography as a career in India, used to sound like a dream a couple of years back. Lucky had been those who could persuade their profession and passion simultaneously. For most, wildlife and wildlife photography remained as a childhood passion and one amongst the many lost dreams condemned by our professional pursuits.

Today the trend is visibly changing. More and more people have started thinking differently; many have started taking serious interest in learning photography and adopting wildlife photography as a full time carrier. Today, we can see endless opportunities for a wildlife photographer from print media to graphic designing, from exhibitions to stock photography, from photo tours to guided expeditions, from organized camps to sponsored projects, from natural history to conservation photography, from research to film making – options are too many.

However, building a career in wildlife photography definitely demands the photographs to stand out amongst thousands and hand holding and personalized knowledge sharing helps one to improvise and excel – and hence this effort.

In the country, there are maestros in wildlife photography who have taken Indian wildlife photographers to an international platform. These masters are making their best efforts to disseminate knowledge amongst the new comers. Budding photographers and amateurs are enthusiastic about it but limited resources and the cost of it becomes a major challenge.

www.drcaesarphotography.com is now a strong team comprising of established wildlife photographers, naturalists, conservationists, biologists and veterans in the field of digital photography. Having travelled through the same road, we understand the hurdles and challenges faced in taking this hobby to the next orbit. We, as a team, are putting our honest efforts to make photography learning available to the enthusiasts and amateurs at an affordable cost.

We have initiated a country wide chain of Wildlife Photography workshops, Photography tours and expeditions in multiple locations across Indian geography and hence we are looking for naturalists, biologists, conservationists, skilled wildlife photographers and other experts who would be interested in associating with us. We have an existing platform and a well recognized brand which has been doing exceedingly well in the field of wildlife photography and we aspire to be the best in the country. If you are interested in associating with us, do send us a mail to jobs@drcaesarphotography.com

Dr Caesar Photography - from the diaries ...

Wildlife photography as a career in India, used to sound like a dream a couple of years back. Lucky had been those who could persuade their profession and passion simultaneously. For most, wildlife and wildlife photography remained as a childhood passion and one amongst the many lost dreams condemned by our professional pursuits.

However, building a career in wildlife photography definitely demands the photographs to stand out amongst thousands and hand holding and personalized knowledge sharing helps one to improvise and excel – and hence this effort.

Today the trend is visibly changing. More and more people have started thinking differently; many have started taking serious interest in learning photography and adopting wildlife photography as a full time career.

In the country, there are maestros in wildlife photography who have taken Indian wildlife photographers to an international platform. These masters are making their best efforts to disseminate knowledge amongst the new comers. Budding photographers and amateurs are enthusiastic about it but limited resources and the cost of it becomes a major challenge.a full time carrier. Today, we can see endless opportunities for a wildlife photographer from print media to graphic designing, from exhibitions to stock photography, from photo tours to guided expeditions, from organized camps to sponsored projects, from natural history to conservation photography, from research to film making – options are too many.

www.drcaesarphotography.com is now a strong team comprising of established wildlife photographers, naturalists, conservationists, biologists of the country and veterans in the field of digital photography. Having travelled through the same road, we understand the hurdles and challenges faced in taking this hobby to the next orbit. We, as a team, are putting our honest efforts to make wildlife and wildlife photography learning available to the enthusiasts and amateurs in multiple locations of the country at an affordable cost.

We have initiated a country wide chain of Wildlife Photography workshops, Photography tours and expeditions in multiple locations across the Indian geography with a focused objective of guiding and educating wildlife enthusiasts about natural history, biodiversity and importance of conservation.

I thank all for the motivation and appreciation extended since www.drcaesarphotography.com has gone live. We aspire to achieve newer heights in the coming years towards this objective.

Lost Amphibians of India - Nationwide search !!

Life happened on earth 3.5 billion years back and human life came in much later. In spite of scientific progress, about 70% of species still remain undiscovered and nameless. We have discovered about 1.7 million species on land and in water. So what remains undiscovered is a huge portion of our biodiversity. Against the background of still unknown richness of biodiversity, this century has witnessed rapid extinctions of species. Millions of species are disappearing directly as a result of human destruction of natural habitats.

There are about 7000 species of known amphibians. Among vertebrates, they are the third largest group – after fishes and birds. Many amphibians are yet to be discovered and many aspects of the known species are unknown. On the express road to discoveries, descriptions and conservation action is an urgent need.

Amphibians were the first vertebrates to venture out onto land. The earliest amphibians resembled modern coelacanth and lungfish both of which have leg-like fins that enabled them to crawl on land. Once acquiring solid land, these animals underwent drastic adaptations that sowed the seeds for the evolution of all higher group of vertebrates. Though small in size, amphibians have successfully survived the massive upheavals on earth which wiped out the midgets as well as giants like dinosaurs. Currently, these hardy survivors of cataclysmic events are helpless to handle habitat destruction that threatens them with extinction. As agents of this massive habitat destruction, it is high time that we take action and conserve these beautiful creatures before they go extinct.

Amphibians fascinate us not only because they have lived on this earth longer than us but also because of their beauty, behaviour and biological characteristics. Many amphibian activities have human friendly results: they control pests of agriculture and vectors of diseases like malaria. They contribute to healthy ecosystems by being a vital link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Amphibians are also an asset to biomedical research; by studying the permeable skin of amphibians, scientists have made advancements towards potential painkillers, HIV and skin cancer treatments. Frogs are indicators of ecosystem health. Silence of frogs is a loud message that something is seriously wrong with our ecosystems.


SEARCH FOR THE LOST AMPHIBIANS

Teams of scientists and naturalists from India have started the lost amphibian search. This initiative is launched with the hope of rediscovering over 50 species of lost amphibians in India. These animals are feared to be extinct but there is hope that some may be holding on in a few remote places. This search, which is taking place in 15 states of India, is the first ever coordinated effort to find such a large number of lost creatures. Globally amphibian populations are on a shocking decline – with more than 30 per cent of all species threatened with extinction. Lost Amphibians of India (LAI) initiative currently has about 200 members . It has already conducted eight expeditions and is planning 25 more expeditions within two months before
monsoon ends.


ABOUT CHIEF COORDINATOR - LAI

Sathyabhama Das Biju (SD Biju) is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Biology (Systematics Lab http://www.frogindia.org/), University of Delhi. He has a PhD in Biology (Animal Science: Amphibians) from Vrije Universiteit (Brussels) with the greatest distinction, as well as a PhD in Botany from Calicut University in plant systematics. He is also Scientific Associate at the British Museum of Natural History, London and a visiting researcher/faculty at Vrije Universiteit, Brussels. SD Biju specializes in systematics of Indian amphibians, with over 25 years of field experience. He discovered over 100 new species of amphibians (46 formally described till 2011), including the description of a new family, six new genera and the smallest Indian tetrapod. SD Biju is the recipient of the prestigious IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group’s Sabin Award for the year 2008 in recognition of his amphibian research and conservation initiatives. The award carried a cash prize of 25,000 USD and a citation. Presently, he is the coordinator of Lost! Amphibians of India program, an initiative to rediscover 50 ‘lost’ amphibians which have been not reported after their original description, for a period ranging from 30 to 170 years.

http://www.lostspeciesindia.org/LAI2

For complete publication and research visit: http://www.frogindia.org

On trail of India's lost amphibians

Reproduction -

Time of India main edition, 17th July 2011

After scouring forests and marshlands across the nation trying to locate rarely sighted amphibians, wildlife researchers and naturalists, who are part of the Lost Amphibians of India (LAI) initiative, will share their findings today at a press conference in Navi Mumbai.


LAI is a search taking place simultaneously in 16 states for 67 amphibian species that have been 'missing' for a period ranging from 16 years to 169 years. Around 24 teams of researchers and nationalists are involved in the project.

Dr Caesar Sen Gupta, who is a member of the expedition teams from Mumbai, said, the aim of the project is to locate species that have not been spotted since their first sighting.

"Until now, five species of amphibians have been rediscovered in the eight expeditions, carried out mainly in the Western Ghats and the Northeast." LAI rediscovered rare frog species, including the Chalazodes bubble-nest frog, Anamalai dot frog, Dehradun stream frog, Silent Valley tropical frog, and the Elegant tropical frog. Each of these species was last seen decades ago, and had been classified 'missing'.

Dr S D Biju, the programme coordinator of LAI, said, "For a successful conservation programme, we first need to know what we have to save.

The fact that these species were rediscovered gives us hope that all is not lost. We have gathered more data on other lost species." With around 341 recorded species, India can be called a 'global hub of amphibians'. On the flip side, however, over 40% of Indian amphibians are facing extinction. LAI hopes to garner more support and spread awareness in the coming months. Monsoon is the best time for such expeditions, and the teams have planned 20 more field trips before the rainy season ends.

According to experts, amphibians are indicator species and act as environmental barometers, making them an important part of the ecosystem. The roles they play-from controlling the population of insects and the spread of disease to humans and crops-are an important part of the ecology.

Massive habitat loss is one of the main threats that amphibians in India face. "The aim of the project is not only to find our lost amphibians, but also to see how we can conserve and protect their habitats," Biju added.

India's most wanted -- frogs

Reproduction - Sunday Mid-Day, 17th July 2011

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A few weeks ago, Dr SD Biju, an eminent Indian amphibian researcher, was leading volunteers in the forests surrounding Mirik Lake in Darjeeling, West Bengal. They were on the lookout for frogs belonging to that region. Here, it's not habitat destruction that has led to the frogs' disappearance, but the fact that locals comsume them.

This is only one of the few obstacles faced by this team that functions under the umbrella organisation Lost Amphibians of India (LAI), launched in November 2010 with the plan to travel the country to rediscover India's 'lost' amphibians.



Sadly, over 50 species of amphibians in India, mostly frogs and caecilians, are thought to have gone extinct, since noone has seen them for 10 years. Some have not been seen for 18, others for 169 years. The figures are dire when one considers that about 60 per cent of Indian amphibians are not found anywhere else in the world.

Dr Biju, coordinator and brainchild, LAI, says, "They have existed for centuries and have seen many animals go extinct. But now this category is quickly disappearing too."

He thinks the reason is habitat loss. "Many might still be around but won't be for long if steps are not taken to conserve them."

The expedition team, apart from scouring the country looking for lost species and studying them, is also trying to involve the locals and forest department officials in conservation. But it's not easy. Most of these areas are marshlands, rainforests or protected areas. Plus, these animals come only at night.

But results are emerging. The LAI has already rediscovered five species of frogs that were considered extinct. These include the green Chalazodes Bubble-Nest Frog in Tamil Nadu, sighted after 136 years, the Anamalai Dot-Frog, from Kerala after 73 years, the Elegant Torrent Frog, from Karnataka after 73 years, the Stream Frog from Uttarakhand after 25 years, and the Silent Valley Tropical Frog from Kerala after 30 years.

Over 19 expeditions have already been undertaken this year. Dr Biju says, "We have found some interesting species that are being identified. Many are probably lost species, while some may be never-before-identified.

We will make an announcement about the findings in September."

While amphibians are facing extinction worldover, he says steps are being taken to conserve them in other countries. "Here, conservation activities are geared towards only certain animals," he says.

Dr Caesar Sengupta, a wildlife photographer who participated in many of LAI's expeditions, says, "Conservation activities in India focus only on the tiger and the elephant. While they are equally important, so are amphibians. Without them, there will be a major bio-diversity shift."

LOST AND FOUND - in search of Lost Amphibians of India

Search is on for finding lost amphibians. A massive combing involving over 250 members directly or indirectly in this initiative to find over 50 lost amphibians from 15 Indian states.

Dr Caesar Photography team is organizing an interactive session in Mumbai on 17th July 2011 with Dr SD Biju, the coordinator of Lost Amphibians of India. Biju is also delivering a talk on LOST and FOUND: in search of lost amphibians of India. The event is sponsored by University of Delhi, Kerala Forest Department, CEPF, IUCN/ASG.

Venue - Hotel Yogi Midtown, MIDC, Turbhe, Navi Mumbai

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Abstract of the talk - "LOST AND FOUND" is as follows:

Life happened on earth 3.5 billion years back and human life came in much later. In spite of scientific progress, about 70% of species still remain undiscovered and nameless. We have discovered about 1.7 million species on land and in water. So what remains undiscovered is a huge portion of our biodiversity. Against the background of still unknown richness of biodiversity, this century has witnessed rapid extinctions of species. Millions of species are disappearing directly as a result of human destruction of natural habitats.

There are about 7000 species of known amphibians. Among vertebrates, they are the third largest group – after fishes and birds. Many amphibians are yet to be discovered and many aspects of the known species are unknown. On the express road to discoveries, descriptions and conservation action is an urgent need.

Amphibians were the first vertebrates to venture out onto land. The earliest amphibians resembled modern coelacanth and lungfish both of which have leg-like fins that enabled them to crawl on land. Once acquiring solid land, these animals underwent drastic adaptations that sowed the seeds for the evolution of all higher group of vertebrates. Though small in size, amphibians have successfully survived the massive upheavals on earth which wiped out the midgets as well as giants like dinosaurs. Currently, these hardy survivors of cataclysmic events are helpless to handle habitat destruction that threatens them with extinction. As agents of this massive habitat destruction, it is high time that we take action and conserve these beautiful creatures before they go extinct.

Amphibians fascinate us not only because they have lived on this earth longer than us but also because of their beauty, behaviour and biological characteristics. Many amphibian activities have human friendly results: they control pests of agriculture and vectors of diseases like malaria. They contribute to healthy ecosystems by being a vital link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Amphibians are also an asset to biomedical research; by studying the permeable skin of amphibians, scientists have made advancements towards potential painkillers, HIV and skin cancer treatments. Frogs are indicators of ecosystem health. Silence of frogs is a loud message that something is seriously wrong with our ecosystems.

Search for the ‘LOST AMPHIBIANS’

Teams of scientists and naturalists from India have started the lost amphibian search. This initiative is launched with the hope of rediscovering over 50 species of "lost" amphibians in India. These animals are feared to be extinct but there is hope that some may be holding on in a few remote places. This search, which is taking place in 15 states of India, is the first ever coordinated effort to find such a large number of "lost" creatures. Globally amphibian populations are on a shocking decline – with more than 30 per cent of all species threatened with extinction. Lost Amphibians of India (LAI) initiative currently has about 200 members . It has already conducted eight expeditions and is planning 25 more expeditions within two months before

monsoon ends.

About the speaker:

Sathyabhama Das Biju (SD Biju) is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Biology (Systematics Lab http://www.frogindia.org/), University of Delhi. He has a PhD in Biology (Animal Science: Amphibians) from Vrije Universiteit (Brussels) with the greatest distinction, as well as a PhD in Botany from Calicut University in plant systematics. He is also Scientific Associate at the British Museum of Natural History, London and a visiting researcher/faculty at Vrije Universiteit, Brussels. SD Biju specializes in systematics of Indian amphibians, with over 25 years of field experience. He discovered over 100 new species of amphibians (46 formally described till 2011), including the description of a new family, six new genera and the smallest Indian tetrapod. SD Biju is the recipient of the prestigious IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group’s Sabin Award for the year 2008 in recognition of his amphibian research and conservation initiatives. The award carried a cash prize of 25,000 USD and a citation. Presently, he is the coordinator of Lost! Amphibians of India program, an initiative to rediscover 50 ‘lost’ amphibians which have been not reported after their original description, for a period ranging from 30 to 170 years.

http://www.lostspeciesindia.org/LAI2/

For complete publication and research visit: http://www.frogindia.org/