Biodiversity

The present study is an attempt to explore endemic taxa occurring in the Ranipuram hills in the Southern Western Ghats region of Kasaragod district and to identify habitat preference and diversity of life form type and current threat status of the plants. A total of 46 endemic taxa were culled out of 302 taxa eneumerated from the study area. The maximum number of endemic taxa belongs to Acanthaceae (13%) followed by Lauraceae and Gesneriaceae (8% each). Analysis of the habit reveals that among the endemics 35% (16 Spp.) of plant species were herbs, 30% (14 Spp.) were trees, 26% (Spp.) were shrubs and 9% (4 Spp.) were Climbers. Present study also identifies two near threatened and one vulnerable species. The Identification of endemic taxa is important in the biodiversity conservation and they have specific ecological niche.

Chambal river is the only perennial river of Rajasthan which is used for drinking, irrigation and power generation. The river hosts excellent flora and fauna of which freshwater flora is of much importance because of its basic position in the food chain. Only few research reports are available on cyanobacteria of Chambal River in Rajasthan. In present scenario some more documentation of cyanobacterial biodiversity is required for further research.