The montane grasslands of the Western Ghats, India: Community ecology and conservation

Abstract

The montane (shola) grasslands of Western Ghats, South India are a component of a landscape mosaic including the better-studied shola forests. The conservation of the grasslands depends upon understanding their ecology. This review compiles available information and aims to evaluate the conservation potential of these grasslands. Most studies on these grasslands are descriptive in nature. There is little information regarding habitat heterogeneity, landscape configuration, natural disturbance, grazing and productivity in maintaining the grasslands. Succession is poorly understood because of the short-term nature of most studies. Human activities have historically influenced these grasslands and will continue to do so in more intensive manner. Threats to these grasslands include habitat loss, fragmentation, fires, and invasive species.

‘Foresting’ the grassland: Historical management legacies in forest-grassland mosaics in southern India, and lessons for the conservation of tropical grassy biomes

“…2 animal species, many of which are endemic to these landscapes. These include such examples as the Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius; the only mountain goat in peninsular India), the Rhododendron tree (Rhododendron nilagiricum), and the white-bellied short-wing bird (Brachypteryx major), the closest relatives of which appear again only in the temperate Himalayas, more than 2000 km to the north (Schaller, 1971;Robin et al, 2002;Thomas and Palmer, 2007;Mohandass and Davidar, 2009). Importantly, of 306 recorded plant species occurring in grasslands at one of these mosaics, 51 are endemic (Karunakaran et al, 1998), attesting to the ancient assembly of the grassland communities.…”

A Case for Assessing Allocasuarina and Casuarina Spp. For Use in Agroecosystem Improvement in Semi-Arid Areas With a Focus on Central Anatolia, Turkey

“…In fact, the vast majority of global ecosystems are anthropogenically modified [58] and this process is predicted to continue with historical ecosystems going through transition to novel ecosystems. Even valued anthropogenic landscapes are subject to this change and can become the focus of conservation efforts (e.g., Thomas and Palmer [59] ). So there exists a tension between preserving the existing and ensuring that the inevitablynovel agroecosystems of the future will provide the needed services.…”

The Shola (Tropical Montane Forest)-Grassland Ecosystem Mosaic of Peninsular India: A Review

“…Since Thomas and Palmer [15] have provided a comprehensive review of current research on grasslands in the shola-grassland ecosystem mosaic, we will restrict this section to reviewing work on the shola vegetation only. Shola fragments contain species of both tropical and temperate affinities.…”