ENVIS Technical Report: 29 October 2008

Ecological Status of Kali River Flood Plain


5.0 Results and Discussion


Hill tops, slopes and many of the Karwar valleys were covered with a more or less dense forest growth (Bombay gazetteer, 1883). The best forests were on the slopes and in the valleys facing the Kali River. The study area (flood plains of Kali) falls within 25 km from the boundary of Anshi Dandeli Tiger reserve (which is the third for the state of Karnataka). Anshi Dandeli Tiger reserve is spread over an area of approximately 825 sq. km and encloses Anshi National park (250 sq. km) and Dandeli Wild Life Sanctuary. Black Panther a melanistic variety of leopard (Panthera Pardus) has also been reported from this region (Unpublished record).  A group of  Hanuman Langur (Semnopitheaus entellus) was observed near to the Hankon Village.

The different types of vegetation covered during the study include Coastal interior vegetation belt, tropical moist deciduous forests, tropical semi evergreen forests, tropical evergreen forest, scrub land, grass land, wetlands, and wasteland and open fields. Now large areas of coastal forests have vanished with remnants of scrub lands. Little interior hills are covered with highly disturbed stunted deciduous forests revealing their massive exploitation for fuel wood, grazing and timber. Huge mangrove areas which had earlier covered the Kali estuary and backwaters up till Kadra or even further are now isolated in small patches except in some areas such as Kanasgeri, Asnoti and Hankon. Hankon has one of the finest and large mangrove vegetation with good population of large trees such as Avicinnia officinalis and Sonneratia ceseolaris reaching to a height of 15 m.


5.1 Vegetation

From the opportunistic study of vegetation from the area, one species of fern, 78 species of herbs belonging to 23 families, 26 species of shrubs belonging to 15 families,  11 species belonging to 8 families of climbers, and 67 species of tree from 33 families were recorded (tables 4,5,6,7 and 8).  Table 4 lists shrubs, Table5 lists herbs, Table 6 lists trees, Table 7 lists climbers and Table 8 lists fern found during the sampling. Some of the rare and threatened plants from the study area are listed in Table 9.

Table 4 : Shrubs  of Kali flood plains

Sr. no.

Family

Genus

Species

1

Acanthaceae

Acanthus 

ilicifolius

2

Acanthaceae

Strobilanthus

heyneanus

3

Annonaceae

Artabotrys

zeylanica

4

Apocynaceae

Carissa

carandas

5

Apocynaceae

Rauvolfia       

serpetina

6

Asteraceae

Eupatorium

odoratum

7

Campanulaceae

Lobelia

nicotianifolia

8

Euphorbiaceae

Breynia

retusa

9

Euphorbiceae

Bridelia

scandens

10

Faboideae

Desmodium              

laxiflorum

11

Faboideae

Tephrosia

pulcherrima

12

Flacourtiaceae

Flacourtia

indica

13

Moraceae

Ficus

tinctoria

14

Myrsinaceae

Aegiceras

corniculatum

15

Myrsinaceae

Embelia

ribes

16

Papilionaceae

Crotalaria

retusa

17

Papilionaceae

Crotalaria

lutescens

18

Papilionaceae

Crotalaria

lutescens

19

Rhamnaceae

Ziziphus

oenoplia

20

Rubiaceae

Canthium

parviflorum

21

Rubiaceae

Ixora

coccinea

22

Rubiaceae

Ixora

coccinea

23

Tiliaceae

Grewia

microcos

24

Tiliaceae

Triumfetta

rhomboidea  

25

Verbenaceae

Clerodendrum

inerme

26

Verbenaceae

Clerodendrum

paniculatum



Table 5 : Herbs of Kali flood plains

Sr. No.

Family

Genus

Species

1

Acanthaceae

Justica

simplex

2

Alismataceae

Weisneria

triandra

3

Araceae

Theriophonum

dalzellii

4

Asteraceae

Epaltes

divaricata

5

Asteraceae

Spaeranthus

indicus

6

Asteraceae

Tricholepis

glaberrima

7

Asteraceae

Vernonia

divergens

8

Caesalpinieae

Cassia

tora

9

Campanulaceae

Lobelia

alsinoides

10

Cyperaceae

Fimbristylis

ferruginea

11

Cyperaceae

Rhynchospora

wightiana

12

Cyperaceae

Rhynchospora

wightiana

13

Cyperaceae

Cyperus

iria

14

Cyperaceae

Cyperus

compressus

15

Cyperaceae

Cyperus

malaccensis

16

Cyperaceae

Cyperus

halpan

17

Cyperaceae

Cyperus

difformis

18

Cyperaceae

Eleocharis

acutangula

19

Cyperaceae

Fimbristylis

bisumbellata

20

Cyperaceae

Fimbristylis

tetragona

21

Cyperaceae

Fimbristylis 

dichotoma

22

Cyperaceae

Fuirena

ciliaris

23

Cyperaceae

Kyllinga

melanosperma

24

Cyperaceae

Mariscus

javanicus

25

Cyperaceae

Pycreus

stramineus

26

Cyperaceae

Pycreus

pumilus

27

Cyperaceae

Pycreus

sanguinolentus

28

Cyperaceae

Pycreus 

polystachyos

29

Cyperaceae

Schoenoplectus

lateriflorus

30

Euphorbiaceae

Phyllanthus

urinaria

31

Euphorbiaceae

Phyllanthus

simplex

32

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia

notoptera

33

Euphorbiaceae

Phyllanthus

urinaria

34

Euphorbiaceae

Phyllanthus

emblica

35

Fabiodeae

Smithia

hirsuta

36

Faboideae

Alysicarpus

vaginalis

37

Faboideae

Desmodium

triflorum

38

Faboideae

Mimosa

pudica

39

Faboideae

Zornia

gibbosa

40

Gentianaceae

Canscora

decurrens

41

Gentianaceae

Hoppea

dichotoma

42

Hydrocharitaceae

Blyxa

aubertii

43

Lamiaceae

Leucas

lavandulifolia

44

Lamiaceae

Ocimum

canum

45

Lentibulariaceae

Utricularia

reticulata

46

Malvaceae

Sida

acuta

47

Malvaceae

Urena

lobata

48

Nymphaceae

Nymphaea

nouchali

49

Nymphaceae

Nymphaea

nouchali

50

Onagraceae

Ludwigia

perennis

51

Orchidaceae

Rhynchostylis 

retusa

52

Papilionaceae

Geissaspis

cristata

53

Papilionaceae

Crotalaria

filipes

54

Papilionaceae

Geissaspis

cristata

55

Poaceae

Arundinella

metzii

56

Poaceae

Dactyloctenium

aegyptium

57

Poaceae

Dimeria

ornithopoda

58

Poaceae

Eragrostis

uniloides

59

Poaceae

Ischaemum 

indicum

60

Poaceae

Oplismenus

burmanii

61

Poaceae

Paspalum 

scrobiculatum

62

Poaceae

Porteresia

coarctata

63

Poaceae

Pseudanthistiria

umbellata

64

Poaceae

Zoysia

matrella

65

Poaceae

Dimeria

hohenackeri

66

Poaceae

Glyphochloa

acuminata var. acuminata

67

Poaceae

Isacne

globosa

68

Poaceae

Sporobolus

virginicus

69

Portulacaceae

Portulaca

oleracea

70

Rubiaceae

Hedyotis

herbacea

71

Rubiaceae

Spermacoce

articularis

72

Rubiaceae

Spermacoce

verticillata

73

Scrophulariaceae

Bacopa

monnieri

74

Scrophulariaceae

Centranthera 

indica

75

Scrophulariaceae

Lindernia

tenuifolia

76

Scrophulariaceae

Lindernia

crustacea

77

Scrophulariaceae

Striga

lutea

78

Sphenocleaceae

Sphenoclea

Zeylanica



Table 6 :  Tree species of Kali flood plains

Sr. No.

Family

Genus

Species

1

Anacardiaceae

Buchanania

lanzan

2

Anacardiaceae

Lannea

coromandelica

3

Anacardiaceae

Holigarna

arnotiana

4

Anacardiaceae

Mangifera

indica

5

Annonaceae

Polyalthia

fragrans

6

Apocynaceae

Alstonia

scholaris

7

Apocynaceae

Holarrhena

antidysenterica

8

Arecaceae

Caryota

urens

9

Bignoniaceae

Dolichondrone

spathaceae

10

Bombacaceae

Bombax

ceiba

11

Boraginaceae

Cordia

myxa

12

Clusiaceae

Calophyllum

inophyllum

13

Clusiaceae

Garcinia

indica

14

Clusiaceae

Mammea

suriga

15

Combretaceae

Terminalia

bellirica

16

Combretaceae

Terminalia

alata

17

Combretaceae

Terminalia

paniculata

18

Dillleniaceae

Dillenia

pentagyna

19

Dipterocarpaceae

Hopea

ponga

20

Ebenaceae

Diospyros

montana

21

Elaeocarpaceae

Elaeocarpus

serratus

22

Euphorbiaceae

Excoecaria

agallocha

23

Euphorbiaceae

Sapium

 insigne

24

Euphorbiaceae

Trewia

nudiflora

25

Euphorbiaceae

Aporosa

lindleyana

26

Euphorbiaceae

Bridelia

crenulata

27

Euphorbiaceae

Macaranga

 peltata

28

Euphorbiaceae

Mallotus

philippensis

29

Faboideae

Pongamia

pinnata

30

Faboideae

Cassia

fistula

31

Faboideae

Xylia

xylocarpa

32

Flacourtiaceae

Flacourtia

montana

33

Flacourtiaceae

Casearia

rubescens

34

Flacourtiaceae

Hydnocarpus

laurifolia

35

Icacinaceae

Nothapodytes 

foetida

36

Lauraceae

Litsea

laevigata

37

Lecythidaceae

Barringtonia

acutangula

38

Lecythidaceae

Careya

arborea

39

Leeaceae

Leea

indica

40

Loganiaceae

Strychnos

nux-vomica

41

Lythraceae

Lagerstroemia 

microcarapa

42

Melastomataceae

Memecylon

talbotianum

43

Moraceae

Ficus

hisda

44

Moraceae

Ficus

drupacea

45

Moraceae

Artocarpus

heterophyllus

46

Moraceae

Artocarpus

hirsuta

47

Moraceae

Ficus

arnottiana

48

Moraceae

Streblus

asper

49

Myristicaceae

Myristica

malabarica

50

Myrtaceae

Avicinnia

officinalis

51

Myrtaceae

Syzygium

cumini

52

Myrtaceae

Syzygium

caryophyllatum

53

Oleaceae

Olea

dioica

54

Rhizophoraceae

Kandelia

candel

55

Rhizophoraceae

Rhizophora

mucronata

56

Rhizophoraceae

Rhizophora

apiculata

57

Rhizophoraceae

Carallia

brachiata

58

Rubiaceae

Randia

dumetorum

59

Rubiaceae

Ixora

arborea

60

Rubiaceae

Ixora

brachiata

61

Sapindaceae

Sapindus

 laurifolia

62

Sapindaceae

Schleichera

oleosa

63

Sapotaceae

Madhuca

neriifolia

64

Sapotaceae

Mimusops

elengi

65

Sonneratiaceae

Sonneratia

caseolaris

66

Tiliaceae

Grewia

tiliaefolia

67

Verbenaceae

Vitex

altissima



Table 7 : Climbers in Kali flood plains

Sr. No.

Family

Genus

Speies

1

Apocynaceae

Ichnocarpus

frutescens

2

Aristolochiaceae

Aristalochia

 indica

3

Asclepiadaceae

Gymnema

sylvestre

4

Asclepiadaceae

Hemidesmus

 indicus

5

Caesalpiniaceae

Moullava

spicata

6

Faboideae

Derris

scandens

7

Faboideae

Derris                

trifoliate    

8

Faboideae

Dalbergia

horrida

9

Liliaceae

Gloriosa

 superba

10

Piperaceae

Piper

 nigrum

11

Smilacaceae

Smilax

zeylanica



Table 8 :  Ferns of Kali flood plains

Sr. No

Family

Genus

Species

1

Pteridophytes

Acrosticum

aureum



Table 9 : Some of the rare and threatened plants: (R-Rare, TH- Threatened, R-Rare, VU- Vulnerable, EN-Endangered (Red data list, FRLHT priority list)

 Species

Status

Buchania lanzan

R

Clitoria ternatea

TH

Curculigo orchioides

VU

Embelia ribes

R

Garcinia indica

VU

Gloriosa superba

R

Gymnema sylvestre

VU

Myristica malabarica

EN

Nothopodytes nimmoniana

VU

Piper nigrum

VU

Rauvolfia serpentina      

EN


Nearly 45 endemic to Western Ghats and 73 endemic plants to both Western Ghats and Sri Lanka were recorded from the study area. Plants such as Aristalochia indica (Figure 8),  Arundinella metzii,  Canthium parviflorum, Smithia hirsuta, Flacourtia Montana, Geissaspis cristata, Crotalaria lutescens. Rhynchospora wightiana, Trees such as Artocarpus heterophyllus, Artocarpus hirsute, Caryota urens,  Garcinia indica, Holigarna arnotiana, Hopea ponga, Hydnocarpus laurifolia, Ixora brachiata, Lagerstroemia  microcarapa, Litsea laevigata, Mammea suriga, Mangifera indica, Memecylon talbotianum, Myristica malabarica, Polyalthia fragrans etc., are endemic to Western Ghats. Many of the plants such as Hemidesmus indicus, Cassia fistula, Pongamia pinnata, Nothopodytes nimmoniana, Embelia ribes, Rauvolfia serpentina etc., are medicinal plants.


Figure 8: Aristalochia indica-Important medicinal plant (Photo:GRR)

5.2 Mangrove destruction

A large scale removal of mangroves in swampy area (74.18767° N, 14.88362° E) near Hankon jog was noticed. The area is a marshy land as can be seen and is well within 100 meters from the flow of river. The remote sensing image (Figure 9), toposheet  (Figure 10) given below indicate the location and the scale of destruction. Authorities need to intervene immediately considering the ecological importance of mangroves (nesting site for fishes, flood prevention, protection from cyclones, tsunami, etc.). A recently chopped down tree of Avicinia of around 15 meter height (figure 11 and 12) were seen at the place. This activity is a violation of CRZ 1991 (amended in 2001) as the region falls within the prohibited activities. As per the Clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, rules 5(3)(d) of the environment (protection) rules, 1986 and also CRZ 1991, the coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) up to 500 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL) and the land between the Low Tide Line (LTL) and the HTL are mandated as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). CRZ 1991 (amended in 2001) prohibits  land reclamation, bunding or disturbing the natural course of sea water or dumping of ash or any wastes from thermal power stations.



Figure 9: Location of mangrove destruction (http:// earth.google.com)




Figure 10: Location where rampant destruction of mangroves is in progress




Figure 11: Mangrove destruction near the village Hankon (Photo GRR)




Figure 12 : A Mangrove tree (Avicinnia officinalis) being cut


5.3 Water Quality

The water quality of the streams in the Kali flood plain region is in pristine condition. Tables 10 and 11 provide the water quality values for the monthly samples collected from two different locations in the basin. The Salinity level decreases gradually from the downstream to upstream in these streams. In terms of organic pollution the stream water quality was found to be good for the whole stretch. The total dissolved solids increases during the November month; it may be attributed by the excess water discharged from the paddy field during the cultivation. The phosphate and nitrate levels are recorded in very meager level. The freshwater zone of these streams supports unique stream flora and fauna, among which most odonates are endemic to Western Ghats like Euphaea fraseri, Euphaea dispar. The existing water quality also supports lot of unique aquatic organisms ranging diatoms, aquatic insects, reptiles and birds.

Table 10:  The water quality values for each month during the study period (2007) in Naithihole.
 [All the values are in mg/L except pH, EC (µS/cm), T (°C)]

NAITHIHOLE

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

Oct 07

Nov 07

Dec07

Jan 08

pH

7.64

7.77

7.43

7.32

8.57

8.13

7.93

7.48

7.68

7.72

7.09

7.01

Water Temperature

32.70

32.50

32.70

32.53

33.50

28.35

28.60

27.80

27.80

28.20

27.20

27.90

Conductivity

102.87

101.67

102.87

662.00

459.00

89.30

91.70

105.20

157.00

688.00

113.80

131.20

Dissolved Solids

71.93

71.10

71.93

461.67

358.00

126.75

132.40

150.60

227.00

984.00

165.40

189.50

Free
Carbon -di oxide

7.63

12.32

9.97

3.52

7.04

4.11

3.52

3.52

7.04

7.04

5.28

5.28

Alkalinity

36.00

48.00

47.20

44.00

44.53

26.67

26.00

32.00

24.00

140.00

32.00

28.00

Chlorides

24.03

20.02

12.21

22.36

50.06

16.42

13.01

18.02

14.02

13.88

12.28

12.01

Total Hardness

31.33

32.00

32.67

42.67

35.33

21.33

16.00

24.00

24.00

26.00

24.00

28.00

Calcium Hardness

4.81

4.81

7.48

7.21

8.02

4.01

3.21

4.28

4.01

3.21

4.01

3.21

Magnesium
Hardness

6.47

6.63

6.15

8.65

6.67

4.23

3.12

4.81

4.88

5.56

4.88

6.05

Dissolved Oxygen

6.19

6.68

4.38

6.87

8.11

8.11

7.71

7.30

6.90

5.73

8.11

7.30

Phosphate

0.01

0.02

0.12

0.02

0.04

0.02

0.00

0.01

0.21

0.14

0.02

0.11

Sulphate

4.18

3.81

5.39

3.74

3.61

1.76

27.45

10.57

18.77

31.06

25.50

2.55

Sodium

7.39

8.72

9.33

14.80

18.33

14.93

10.49

7.82

7.43

11.30

4.58

7.49

Potassium

0.28

0.59

2.17

4.20

5.19

0.50

0.80

0.29

0.39

1.30

0.41

0.21

Nitrate

0.22

0.18

1.84

0.92

0.25

2.40

1.49

1.93

1.93

1.33

1.46

1.94



Table 11: The water quality values for each month during the study period (2007) in Sakthihalla.  [All the values are in mg/L except pH, EC (µS/cm), T (°C)]

SAKATIHALLA

February

March - June

 July

August

September

October

November

December

January 2008

pH

8.19



D
R
Y

S
T
R
E
A
M
S

8.24

7.88

7.75

8.10

7.59

7.60

6.83

Water Temperature

29.93

26.90

28.60

26.10

29.00

27.30

27.90

29.30

Conductivity

249.33

50.70

91.70

112.60

109.90

623.00

108.20

98.20

Dissolved Solids

124.00

74.00

132.70

155.30

157.30

893.00

153.00

140.50

Free Carbon -di oxide

7.04

7.04

3.52

5.28

7.04

8.80

3.52

3.52

Alkalinity

31.47

30.00

21.33

23.47

28.00

120.00

20.00

20.00

Chlorides

17.49

14.35

10.14

14.02

16.42

11.82

12.41

16.02

Total Hardness

20.00

16.00

16.00

20.00

16.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

Calcium Hardness

3.21

4.81

2.94

3.21

3.21

3.21

4.01

6.41

Magnesium Hardness

4.10

2.73

3.19

4.10

3.12

4.10

3.90

3.32

Dissolved Oxygen

6.19

9.68

7.30

7.30

6.65

5.84

7.71

7.30

Phosphate

0.03

0.00

0.01

0.00

0.28

0.12

0.02

0.11

Sulphate

5.54

0.00

0.00

4.74

28.88

7.46

57.64

6.42

Sodium

13.92

10.60

7.35

4.95

5.45

9.50

12.27

14.35

Potassium

0.32

0.21

0.50

0.20

0.29

1.20

0.52

0.52


5.4 Amphibian diversity

In the present study, 20 species represented by seven families were recorded in the study area. Dicroglossidae represented highest number of species (7) followed by Microhylidae (3) and Rhacophoridae (3). Table 11 depicts the species diversity in the catchment with their Global Amphibian Assessment status (GAA).  Similar studies in Bedthi (33 species), Aghanashini (28 species) and Sharavathi (45 species) show higher species diversity in this region, highlighting the need for appropriate management strategies to conserve these biodiversity rich ecosystems in central Western Ghats.

Among the 20 species recorded, nearly 45% of them are endemic to the Western Ghats. The place records the presence of once thought to be extinct species of frog (Philautus cf.leucorhinus) while one of the recorded species of frog belongs to vulnerable (Philautus tuberohumerus) and three belong to near threatened category (Ramanella montana, Clinotarsus curtipes, Sylvirana temporalis). It is interesting note that 13 species are least concerned, while only one vulnerable and three are near threatened. This could be due to prevailing dominant vegetation cover (dry-moist deciduous) providing suitable habitat for more common and generalist species. Figure 12 provides some of amphibians recorded from the area.

Table 12:  Amphibian species recorded from Kali River Catchment.

Species

Endemic to Western Ghats

GAA

Family: Bufonidae

Duttaphrynus melanostictus

 

LC

Duttaphrynus stomaticus

 

LC

Family: Microhylidae

Sub-family: Microhylinae

Microhyla ornate

 

LC

Microhyla rubra

 

LC

Ramanella Montana

+

NT

Family: Ranixalidae

Indirana beddomii

+

LC

Indirana semipalmatus

+

LC

Family: Dicroglossidae

Sub-family: Dicroglossinae

Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

 

LC

Fejervarya sahyadris

+

LC

Fejervarya rufescens

+

LC

Fejervarya sp.

 

 

Hoplobatrachus tigerinus

 

LC

Sphaerotheca breviceps

 

LC

Sphaerotheca leucorhynchus

+

DD

Family: Rhacophoridae

Sub-family: Rhacophorinae

Philautus cf.leucorhinus

+

EX

Philautus tuberohumerus

+

VU

Polypedates maculates

 

LC

Family: Nyctibatrachidae

Nyctibatrachus cf. petraeus

+

LC

Family: Ranidae

Clinotarsus curtipes

 

NT

Sylvirana temporalis

 

NT

Note : GAA – Global amphibian assessment, EX- Extinct, VU- Vulnerable, NT- Near threatened, LC- Least concerned, DD- Data deficient.

 

Castle rock wrinkled frog Nyctibatrachus petraeus Cricket frog Fejervarya caprata
Bull frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus montana Jerdon’s narrow mouthed frog Ramanella

Figure 13 : Anurans recorded from the study area (Photo: KVG).

5.5 Avian Diversity

The survey recorded 50 birds belonging to 13 different orders and 31 different families (Table 13). Order Passeriformes dominated with 18 species followed by order Ciconiiformes and order Coraciiformes with each of them being represented by 6 species. One of the near threatened birds which is endemic to Western Ghats – the Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) was observed in the region. Indian peafowl (Pavo Cristatus) which belongs to the Scheduled I of protected animals according to the Wild life protection act 1972 was observed in the region.

Table 13: Birds of Kali river flood plains

Sr. No.

Common Name

Scientific Name

Family

Order:

Accipitridae

 

 

1

Crected Serpant Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Falconiformes

 

 

 

 

Order:

Anseriformes

 

 

1

Lesser whistling duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Anatidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Apodiformes

 

 

1

House swift

Apus nipalensis

Apodidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Charadriiformes

 

 

1

Oriental Plover

Charadrius veredus

Charadriidae

2

Red wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

Charadriidae

3

Indian river tern

Sterna aurantia

Laridae

4

Wood sandpiper

Tringa glareola

Scolopacidae

5

Curlew (Unidentified)

 

Scolopacidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Ciconiiformes

 

 

1

Cattle egret

Bubulcus ibis

Ardeidae

2

Great egret

Casmerodius albus

Ardeidae

3

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Ardeidae

4

Indian pond heron

Ardeola grayii

Ardeidae

5

Little egret

Egretta garzetta

Ardeidae

6

Malaysian Night Heron

Gorsachius melanolophus

Ardeidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Columbiformes

 

 

1

Rock pigeon

Columba livia

Columbidae

2

Spotted dove

Streptopelia chinensis

Columbidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Coraciiformes

 

 

1

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Alcedinidae

2

White-breasted kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Alcedinidae

3

Malabar pied Hornbill ***

Anthracoceros coronatus

Bucerotidae

4

Blue tailed Bee-eater **

Merops philippinus

Meropidae

5

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Merops leschenaulti

Meropidae

6

Green bee-eater

Merops Orientalis

Meropidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Cuculiformes

 

 

1

Asian koel

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Cuculidae

2

Greater Coucal

Centropus sinensis

Cuculidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Falconiformes

 

 

1

Black kite

Milvus migrans

Accipitridae

2

Brahminy Kite

Haliastur indus

Accipitridae

3

Eurasian marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Accipitridae

 

 

 

 

Order

Gruiformes

 

 

1

White Breasted Water hen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Rallidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Passeriformes

 

 

1

Common Iora

Aegithina tiphia

Aegithinidae

2

Ashy prinia

Prinia Socialis

Cisticolidae

3

House Crow

Corvus splendens

Corvidae

4

Jungle Crow

Corvus levaillantii

Corvidae

5

Black Drongo

Dicrurus macrocercus

Dicruridae

6

White-rumped Munia

Lonchura striata

Estrildidae

7

Common Swallow ( unidentified)

Hirundinidae

8

Long tailed Shrike

Lanius schach

Laniidae

9

Pipit

 

Motacillidae

10

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularis

Muscicapidae

11

Pied bushchat

Saxicola caprata

Muscicapidae

12

Puple rumped Sunbird

Nectarinia zeylonica

Nectariniidae

13

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Oriolidae

14

Red vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

Pycnonotidae

15

Common Myna

Acridotheres tristis

Sturnidae

16

Rosy Starling

Sturnus roseus

Sturnidae

17

Reed Warbler ( Un id.)

 

 

18

Wagtail ( unidentified)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order:

Pelecaniformes

 

 

1

Indian cormorant

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Phalacrocoracidae

2

Little Cormorant

Phalacrocorax niger

Phalacrocoracidae

 

 

 

 

Order:

Psittaciformes

 

 

1

Plum headed parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Psittacidae

2

Rose ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Psittacidae

* Birds of Indian Subcontinent. Richard Grimmit, Carol Inskipp, Tom Inskipp, Oxfprd University Press, 2001., **- Data not available , ***- Near Threatened , # International Union for Conservation of Nature-Red Data List -  http://www.iucnredlist.org/


Review of literature shows that a thorough survey of bird diversity of Uttar Kannada has been done earlier by Sir Davidson (from 1890- 1895), Koelz from (1983) and Daniels (1983-1988). Biogeographically Uttar Kannada belongs to the southern Malabar of Malabar province of Oriental region. A total of 419 bird species have been recorded by Daniels et al (1990) including the contribution of Campbell, Davidson, Koelz, skin collection at BNHS and amateur bird watchers. The avifauna of Uttar Kannada represents 70 families under 18 orders. 25% of the bird taxa of the district are water birds, of which a little more are winter visitors. The major sources of water that these birds utilize are the sea, estuaries, backwaters, and the associated salt water marshes, salt pans, larger irrigation reservoirs and seasonal, vegetation covered ponds and tanks. The district also records the presence of the endangered and endemic bird from Malabar- Nilgiri wood piegeon (Columba elphinstonii) (Vulnerable   C2a (ii) - IUCN). Daniels (1989) records the presence of Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis) at Karwar which is an exceptional record from this part of country.  He has also reported 133 water birds from Uttar Kannada (including the records of Davidson) belonging to 20 different families which inhabit estuaries, marsh land, rivers or lakes/ponds (Table 14). The lower basin of Kali River covers all these habitats suitable for these bird species.

Table 14:  Water birds in the study area (Daniels, 1989)

Sr.no.

Common Name

Scientific Name

Family

Ardeidae

 

1

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

2

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

3

Little Green Heron

Butorides striatus

 

Pond Heron

Ardeola grayii

4

Cattle Egret

Bulbulcus ibis

5

Large Egret

Ardea alba

6

Small Egret

Egretta intermediata

7

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

8

Indian Reef Heron

Egretta gularis

9

Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

10

Tiger Bittern

Gorsachius melanolophus

11

Chestnut Bittern

Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

12

Black Bittern

Ixobrychus flavicollis

13

Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Family

Ciconidae

 

14

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephalus

15

Openbill Stork

Anastomus oscitans

16

Whitenecked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

17

Black Stork

Ciconia nigra

18

Lesser adjuvant stork

Leptoptilos javanicus

Family

Threskiornithidae

 

19

White Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephala

20

Black Ibis

Pseudibis papilosa

21

Glossy Ibis

Plegadis falcinnellus

22

Spoon Bill

Platalea leucorodia

Family

Anatidae

 

23

Lesser whistling teal

Dendrocygna javanica

24

Brahminy teal

Tadorna ferruginea

25

Pintail

Anus acuta

26

Common teal

Anas creca

27

Spotbilled duck

Anas poecilorhynca

28

Gadwall

Anas Strepera

29

Wigeon

Anas penelope

30

Bluewinged teal

Anas querquedula

31

Shoveller

Ans clypeata

32

White eyed pochard

Aythya nyroca

33

Cotton teal

Nattapus coromandelicus

34

Nakta / Comb duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Family

Phoenicopteridae

 

35

Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Family

Gruidae

 

36

Demoiselle crane

Anthropoides virgo

Family

Rallidae

 

37

Blue breasted banded rail

Rallus striatus

38

Indian banded crake

Rallina eurizonoides

39

Little crake

Porzona parva

40

Baillon's crake

Porzona pusilla

41

Ruddy crake

Amaurornis fusca

42

Whitebreasted waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

43

Water cock

Gallicrex cinerea

44

Indian moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

45

Purple moorhen

Porphyrio porphyrio

46

Coot

Fulica atra

Family

Otididae

 

47

Lesser florican

sypheotides indicus

Family

Jacanidae

 

48

Pheasant-tailed jacana

 Hydrophasianus chirurgus

49

Bronzedwinged jacana

Metopidius indicus

Family

Haematopodidae

 

50

Oystercatcher

Haematopus ostralegus

Family

Charadriidae

 

51

Greyheaded lapwing

Vanellus cinereus

52

Redwattled lapwing

Venellus indicus

53

Yellow Wattled lapwing

Vanellus malabaricus

54

Grey plover

Pluvialis squatarola

55

Golden plover

Pluvialis dominica

56

Large Sandplover

Charadrius leschenaultii

57

Europen little ringed plover

Charadrius dubius

58

Litlle ringed plover

Charadrius d. jerdoni

59

Kentish plover

Charadrius alexandrinus

60

Pamirs lesser sandplover

Charadrius mongolus

Family

Scolopacidae

 

61

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

62

Eastern curlew

Numenius arquata

63

Blacktailed godwit

Limosa Limosa

64

Spotted redshank

Tringa erythropus

65

Common  redshank

Tringa totanus

66

Marsh sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

67

Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

68

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

69

Spotted sandpiper

Tringa glareola

70

Terek Sandpiper

Tringa terek

71

Common Sandpiper

Tringa hypoleucos

72

Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

73

Pintal snipe

Gallinago stenura

74

Fantail /common snipe

Gallinago gallinago

75

Jack Spine

Gallinago minima

76

Little stint

Calidris minuta

77

Temminck's stint

Calidris temnickii

78

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

79

Curlew sandpiper

Calidris testacea

80

Broadbilled sandpiper

Limicola falcinellus

81

Ruff

Philomachus pugnax

Family

Rostratulidae

 

82

Greater Painted Snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Family

Recurvirostridae

 

83

Indian blackwinged stilt

Himantopus himantopus

84

Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

Family

Burnhinidae

 

85

Indian Stone curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus

86

Great stone plover

Esacus magniristris

Family

Glareolidae

 

87

Indian curser

Cursorius coromandelicus

88

Small indian pratincole

Glareola lactea

Family

Laridae

 

89

Great blackheaded gull

Larus icthyaetus

90

Brownheaded gull

Larus brunnicephalus

91

blackheaded gull

Larus ridibundus

92

Slenderbilled gull

Larus genei

93

Indian Whiskered tern

Chliodinas hybridus

94

Gull billed tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

95

Caspian tern

Hydroprogne caspia

96

River tern

Sterna aurantia

97

Blackbellied tern

Sterna acuricauda

98

Brownwinged tern

Sterna anaethetus

99

Sooty tern

Sterna fuscuta

100

Large crested tern

Sterna bergii

101

Indian lesser crested tern

Sterna bengalensis

102

Sandwich tern

Sterna Sandvicensis

103

Indian Skimmer

Rhynchops albicollis

Family

Alcedinidae

 

104

Indian Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

105

Small blue Kingfisher

Alcedo athis

106

blue eared kingfisher

Alcedo meninting

107

Three toed forest kingfisher

Ceyx erithacus

108

Brownheaded storkbilled kigfisher

pelargopsis capensis

109

Black capped kigfisher

Halcyon pileata

110

Malabar whitecollared kingfisher

Halycon Chloris

Famliy

Phalacrocoracidae

 

111

Indian Shag

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

112

Little cormorant

Phalacrocorax niger

113

Darter

Anhinga rufa


5.6 Landscape based conservation :

Daniels (1991,1994) have emphasized on the landscape based conservation of bird diversity in the Uttar Kannada district. The study done by Devdar et al. (2001) also highlights the need of conserving key stone habitats which maintain regional biodiversity on a priority basis for the conservation of species and management of the tropical biodiversity. As the demand for land is ever increasing conservation of large areas becomes difficult. However small patches for land representing different kinds of habitat (given the name as nodes) can be preserved to facilitate conservation of maximum bird taxa. The condition being that each node must differ significantly from other with respect to habitat type and must represent large number of bird taxa. Based on his study Daniels (1994) suggested 14 localities which can be maintained as nodes for conserving almost 80 % of the bird taxa. They are as follows-
Doddukere (L), Gundoli (L), Supa (L), Patololi (C) Kolikeri (X), Salgaum-Chigalli (L), Suremane (C) , Bharatnalli (L), Karwar (P), Saniketa-Madanagiri (R), Saniketta (R), Kumta (Z), Bidralli (C)  and Madurahalli-Coodnapur (L).

[Note: the letter in parenthesis denote the habitat type of the region: C- Ever-green, L-Freshwater marsh, P- beach, R- Estuary, X- Moist deciduous forest, Z- Urban}.

The minimum area of each node is suggested to be 25 sq km for effective conservation of the habitat. Karwar showing the maximum number of water birds is the place suggested as the node for their effective conservation. Figure 14 shows the 14 nodal points identified for bird conservation .in the district (Daniels, 1994)



Figure 14 : Uttar Kannada District showing the 14 nodal points for conserving maximum bird diversity of the district. The circle highlights the area with maximum bird diversity.


The six major dams across the river, a nuclear power plant and the paper and sugar industries on its bank have already caused tremendous loss to the biodiversity of the region. Any further development be it a hydro electricity project, any thermal power plant in this river basin is likely to cause a lot of damage to the left over biodiversity as well as it will harm the fish production capacity of the region.

The Uttar Kannada district with 144 km of Coast line has around 5 fishing harbors and 16- fishing centre which are famous for catching Mackerels, Sardines, Prawns and other fishes having high demand in the international market thus creating revenue for the state. The average fish catching in the district is 47800 km with inland fishing contributing an additional of 79%. Shrimp culture is also very famous activity in the coastal area. River Kali basin contributes in a major way to this fish harvest. Deterioration of in physical, chemical or biological way will certainly hamper the fish production of the place and will thus affect the lively hood of the people dependent on it.

Major projects like thermal power projects should not be implemented in the region as it would affect the forests, which in turn affect the water yield in river catchment and biodiversity of terrestrial, rivers and coastal ecosystems

The power plants, particularly those fueled by fossil or nuclear fuels, can have the most profound and wide ranging negative impacts on water quality. According to a study by Pace University, New York (2000), the following procedures occur during routine operations and maintenance of power plants and each can significantly impact water quality:

  • 1. Boiler blowdown : This waste stream results from periodic purging of the impurities that become concentrated in steam boiler systems. These pollutants include metals such as copper, iron and nickel, as well as chemicals added to prevent scaling and corrosion of steam generator components.
  • 2. Coal pile run-off : This waste stream is created when water comes in contact with coal storage piles maintained on the power plant site. While most piles are kept covered, active piles used to meet the power plants immediate needs are often open to the elements. Metals and other naturally occurring contaminants contained in coal leach out with the rainfall and are deposited in nearby water bodies.
  • 3. Cooling process wastes : Water used for power plant cooling is chemically altered for purposes of extending the useful life of equipment and to ensure efficient operation. Cooling tower blowdown contains chemicals added to prevent biological growth in the towers and to prevent corrosion in condensers.
  • 4. Boiler cleaning wastes : These wastes derive from the chemical additives intended to remove scale and other byproducts of combustion.
  • 5. Thermal pollution : The water used for cooling the thermal plants typically comes from adjacent water bodies or groundwater sources and is discharged back into the water body at significantly higher temperatures. The discharged heat can affect the aquatic organisms in either direct way by affecting their metabolism ( as most of them are cold blooded animals) or indirectly by decreasing the solubility of oxygen in the water therby depleting the amount of dissolved oxygen in water.  

Impact of acid rain on vegetation: The forest soils are mostly acidic in reaction, as is characteristic of heavy rainfall tropics. The impact of release of particularly SO2  and NOX,  during the rainy season, could be defoliation and forest death apart from the  impact of increased acidity on soil biota, and also on crop plants.


Increased air temperature : Release of waste heat into the atmosphere is common feature of all thermal power plants. This matter is much relevant in Uttara Kannada where there are just four months of heavy rainfall and two months of light rains. The evergreen-semi-evergreen forests use the water stored in the soil for the rest of the year, and almost behave like a rain forest. In fact these forests are very sensitive to any temperature increase, as desiccation could set in and chances increase of devastating forest fires.

Flyash pollution : Flyash is the major particulate matter released into the air from coal based power plants. The surge in energy demand in south Asia, characterized by the region's dependence on coal (particularly in India), has manifest itself in major increases in airborne pollution. Urban air quality has deteriorated largely on account of growth in industrial activity, transportation needs, and energy production. Fly ash, combined with emissions from the increased use of coal, has emerged as a major environmental concern. It is also estimated that about 30-40 million tons of fly ash, (100 million according to some other studies) is generated by thermal power plants each year in India, of which a mere 2%-3% is recycled. In 1990, areas with acid loads in excess of the critical levels were in parts of northern India and Bangladesh. Recent evidence from atmospheric studies of the Indian Ocean shows high concentrations of small particles, known as aerosols, consisting primarily of soot, sulfates, nitrates, organic particles, fly ash, and mineral dust suspended over a very large area of the northern Indian Ocean, including the Arabian Sea and much of the Bay of Bengal. The studies indicate that the long-term impact of air pollution on climate through radical changes in the hydrological cycle will be widely felt throughout the region (Chatterjee et al., 2000).

Flyash impact on leaf chemistry : A study conducted on the impact of flyash generated from Shaktinagar (UP) Thermal Power Plant on leaf chemistry of Ipomea cornes, Cassia tora and Acacia nilotica, naturally growing on flyash dyke, shows that flyash severely affects the plants by changing the chemical and biochemical compositions. Protein, carbohydrates, chlorophyll and ascorbic acid decrease significantly with a significant increase of phenols (Banerjee et al., 2003). Coarse particles of fly ash affects the composition of mangrove soils and mudflats, which are indeed centres of biological productivity.

Disturbances on the mangroves : Mangroves are rated among the top ecosystems of the world in terms of productivity, ranking at par with coral reefs. Humans do not make any inputs into the mangrove ecosystem, but make heavy harvests of fish, shellfish, prawns, oysters, crabs etc from it. The minerals of the sea and the silt-laden alluvial soils brought by the rivers mingle in the mangrove swamp and make it very fertile. Constant churning of the shallow water by the tidal currents oxygenate the water, making it ideal for aquatic animals. Mangrove detritus itself forms the food for various benthic animals, which play important role in the food-web of the estuary and the coastal sea.

The key to the success of the mangroves seem to be the fine, soft and silty mud in which they grow. Mangroves grow on predominantly silty soils. A study in Taiwan shows that silt constitutes 54 to 72% of mangrove soils, and sand constitutes only less than 20% (Hseu & Chen, 1999). A greater mixture of sand or other coarse particles can alter mangrove soils and most mangroves disappear from sandy soils or from soils having rough elements in it. Mangroves grow in shallow and peaceful part of the estuaries. The mangrove soils are exposed during low tides. Therefore the key to the success of the mangroves and therefore the richness of the ecosystem lies in the nature of the soil.

Estuary mangroves in Uttara Kannada suffered in the recent times when permanent bunds were built to protect the gazni rice fields. These permanent bunds replaced the earlier earthen embankments, fortified alongside by planting of mangroves. The mangroves suffered heavily when they were totally eliminated from the very vicinity of shrimp farms. Intensive shrimp culturing began in the estuary in the late 1980’s.

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