Rapid Fire
Agroforestry's Impact to Endemic Frogs
- 09 Dec 2024
- 1 min read
A recent study by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF-India) and the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) assessed the impact of agroforestry on endemic frog species in the northern Western Ghats.
- Findings of the Study: Amphibian diversity was lowest in paddy fields; abundance was least in orchards compared to undisturbed plateaus.
- Endemic species like CEPF burrowing frog (Minervarya cepfi) and Goan fejervarya (Minervarya gomantaki) were less abundant in modified habitats.
- Generalist species like Minervarya syhadrensis were more common in paddy fields indicating habitat-driven shifts.
- Western Ghats: Western Ghats, made up of lateritic plateaus (flat-topped landscapes rich in iron and aluminum) were formed millions of years ago through volcanic activity.
- It is a biodiversity hotspot and home to around 252 amphibian species, including 226 frogs.
- However, globally, 40.7% of amphibian species (8,011 species) are threatened due to habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and diseases like chytridiomycosis.
Read More: Charles Darwin's Frog
