• Introduction
• Study Area
• Materials and Methods
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusion
• References
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Conclusion

In Myristica swamp the perennial streams and its associated flora harbour many of the endemic and endangered fauna of the Western Ghats. The swamp and its immediate surrounding forests have a number of wild fruit bearing trees which include Garcinia, Myristica, Syzygium, Holigarna, members of Lauraceae, Meliaceae, Myrtaceae, etc. which provide food for many wild mammals and birds. Due to high watershed value and ecological value, it is necessary to conserve and document the biodiversity of these swamps in a proper way.

In the study area most swamps are presumably extinct due to human impacts of various kinds. The swamps are encroached for agricultural lands and areca plantations. The two of the studied swamps are at risk of disappearance due to areca plantations. The pressure is mounting on the last traces of the remaining swamps due to mainly ignorance about the value and evolutionary significance of these ancient patches of forests. Rich biodiversity of swamps along with the evolutionarily significance demand the immediate policy measures to conserve these Myristica swamps— fragile ecosystems in remnant forest patches of Uttara Kannada. Special efforts should be made to locate more of these swamps lying hidden in the recesses of the Western Ghats.

Acknowledgements
We thank Mr. Divakar K. Mesta, Dr. K.V. Gururaja, Mr. Karthick B., Mr. Vishnu D Mukri, and Mr. Shrikanth Naik for their assistance in fieldwork, identification and data collection.