Nameer, Prof. PO

Kerala Agricultural University · Department of Wildlife Science

Substantial global attention is focused on how to reduce the risk of future pandemics. Reducing this risk requires investment in prevention, preparedness, and response. Although preparedness and response have received significant focus, prevention, especially the prevention of zoonotic spillover, remains largely absent from global conversations. Th...

We report a recent record of the elusive Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra from Kerala, through a direct observation in the higher reaches of the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary within the Western Ghats, southern India. Field observation involved the sighting of two Eurasian Otters in a rocky-torrential stream in March 2020. The otters displayed a hyperactive...

Protected areas are the cornerstone of conservation and have been shown to support a high density of conservation-dependent species. Effectiveness of protected areas is conventionally measured in terms of species diversity, while the effects of protection on the functional diversity of species assemblages remain poorly explored. We utilised data fr...

Animal dietary choices help us understand a species' feeding behaviour and are particularly relevant in conservation management. The aim of this study was to gather knowledge on dietary choices and the foraging behaviour of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel ( Ratufa macroura ) in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. The obje...

The land use/land cover change is a local driver of environmental change having cascading impacts and implications at the global level, and therefore requires appreciable consideration when perceived from sustainability perspectives. Kerala, the southernmost state of India, has undergone a dramatic transition from a traditional agrarian economy to...

Animal dietary choices help understand a species’ feeding niche and are particularly relevant in conservation management. In this study, we aimed to gather knowledge on food niche and the foraging ecology of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel ( Ratufa macroura ) in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Specifically, the object...

Extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones strongly influence marine fishery landings along the Indian coast. This paper assessed tropical cyclone Ockhi's impacts on the marine fishery resource assemblages along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts. Apart from this, variation in environmental variables during the cyclone and their association wit...

A study was conducted at Munnar Forest Division (MFD) Idukki district, Kerala, to assess the diversity of birds. The study highlights the importance of biodiversity documentation at high altitudes in the Western Ghats and focused on understanding information regarding the diversity, distribution, and habitat preference of the recorded bird species...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007393.].

The presentation is about the adaptation strategies preferred by female and male-headed agricultural households. The study was conducted in the agricultural households of Mala and Vellangallur blocks of the Thrissur district. Both primary as well as secondary data were used. Primary data was collected from the respondents using pretested structured...

Coral reefs are undergoing deterioration worldwide due to climate and anthropogenic stressors, notwithstanding the enormous support they provide to marine biodiversity and the essential services to humans. Knowledge about the extent of hard coral distribution is a key requirement for designing conservation strategies such as Marine Protected Areas(...

Serratia marcescens is a big emerging concern for human health and coral biodiversity. Spatial ecology and the infuencing factors on pathogen ecology, however, remain unknown. The study forms the frst global risk assessment of S. marcescens. MaxEnt niche modeling was applied using two biotic and sixteen abiotic variables. The world was classifed...

The Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) is an important tool for urban planning and urgent decision-making related to flood risk reduction. They help prioritize mitigation efforts, direct resources where needed, and develop strategies to build resilience in flood-prone areas. The Flood Vulnerability Index-FVI is prepared by taking into account the Phys...

The Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) is an important tool for urban planning and urgent decision-making related to flood risk reduction. They help prioritize mitigation efforts, direct resources where needed, and develop strategies to build resilience in flood-prone areas. The Flood Vulnerability Index-FVI is prepared by taking into account the Phys...

The Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) is an important tool for urban planning and urgent decision-making related to flood risk reduction. They help prioritize mitigation efforts, direct resources where needed, and develop strategies to build resilience in flood-prone areas. The Flood Vulnerability Index-FVI is prepared by taking into account the Phys...

Carbon Footprint assessment of the State Seed Farm, Aluva, Ernakulam dt,. Kerala, India, following IPCC guidelines.

Kerala experienced floods during August 2018 which caused loss to both human lives as well as property. The households which were dependent on agriculture for their livelihood were badly affected by this extreme weather event. The female-headed households are likely to be more vulnerable to climate change. Their livelihood is derived chiefly from i...

The land use/land cover change is a local driver of environmental change having cascading impacts and implications at the global level and therefore requires appreciable consideration when perceived from sustainability perspectives. Kerala, the southernmost state of India has undergone a dramatic transition from a traditional agrarian economy to a...

Species distribution models are popular statistical tools for inferring potential distribution range of species across space and time and are extensively used in conservation planning. Models based on presence-only data (e.g., MaxEnt) are widely used; however, these models assume perfect species detectability. Occupancy modelling is considered a be...

This article discusses current distribution, abundance, historical data and future predictions of 8 species of Pheasants found in Kerala namely, Indian Peafowl, Grey Junglefowl, Red Spurfowl, Painted Spurfowl, Rain Quail, Jungle Bush Quail, Painted Bush Quail, and Grey Francolin.

Each species is uniquely influenced by anthropogenic climate change. Change in temperature and precipitation due to climate change may lead to species adaptation or extinction, or in some cases, a range shift. To know the influence of climate change on a restricted and endemic bird species of the Western Ghats (WG), White-bellied Sholakili (WBS) Sh...

Humans engage in observing birds in their natural surroundings for leisure, an activity known as ‘birdwatching’. In recent years, practice of birdwatching has gained popularity among Indians; thanks to India’s unparalleled avian biodiversity, eco-tourism facilities offering bird tours, and local birding communities. Besides these, availability of...

Citizen-science driven exercises (e.g., bird surveys) and online platforms (e.g., eBird) provide voluminous data on bird occurrence but the data quality is often compromised. Bird atlases are based on standardized surveys and describe the distribution of bird species over a predefined region and have less biases, and thus are better suited for use...

The article discusses the Kerala Bird Atlas (KBA), Asia's largest bird atlas, which systematically surveyed bird species distribution across the state of Kerala, India. The KBA dataset provides valuable information on bird occurrence, species richness, and conservation priorities, making it a valuable resource for ecological research and science-ba...

Climate change has been influencing bird species in different ways. Some documented changes include reduction in geographic range, decline in abundance and changes in the seasonality of migratory bird species in spring after overwintering in the tropics. We undertook a study on two species of high-elevation dependant, restricted-range flycatchers:...

Women constitute a disproportionate share of the poor and hence are likely to be extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This study aims to analyse the economic vulnerability of women to extreme weather events and its determinants. It was carried out in the agricultural households of Mala and Vellangallur blocks of Thrissur district...

Women constitute a disproportionate share of the poor and hence are likely to be extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Therefore, more intensive research is needed to illuminate the interaction between climate change and gender inequalities. To study the livelihood vulnerability of women to extreme weather events. 150 random BPL ho...

A study was conducted to assess the impact of heat stress on various carcass traits, meat quality variables and gene expression patterns which governs meat quality in indigenous female Kodi Aadu breed. The study was conducted for 45 days in climate chamber with 12 animals randomly allocated into two groups of six animals each, KC (n=6; Female; Cont...

The diel activity pattern of small carnivores was studied using the camera trap technique at Nelliampathy Reserve Forest, Kerala, India. Six species of small carnivores were recorded during the study. These include Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni, Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Brown Mongoo...

The amphibian database of the Centre for Wildlife Studies of Kerala Agricultural University has the data that are either available as voucher specimens with the Kerala Agricultural University Natural History Museum (KAUNHM) or as photo vouchers and other opportunistic records from Kerala part of the southern Western Ghats between 2008 and 2020. Thi...

Thermal environment and structural characteristics of cattle shelters have profound influence on the overall welfare of dairy animals. A field study was conducted to examine the structural characteristics of dairy farms in four THI zones of Kerala during the summer months of February and March in 2020. Total 100 farms were selected from different T...

In the agriculture sector, livestock are considered extremely resilient to climate change and are tipped to play a significant role in ensuring food security to meet the increased demands of growing human population by 2050. Compared to other domestic species, goats are considered the ideal animal model for climate change due to its high thermal an...

The Grizzled Giant Squirrel (GGS) Ratufa macroura (Pennant, 1769) is a ‘Near Threatened’ and endemic giant squirrel distributed in southern India and Sri Lanka. In India, the species is distributed in more than 10 locations between Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka in the north and Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil...

A one-year study was conducted at Vakkom Grama Panchayath, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, to assess the diversity of odonates. We report 49 species, which include 31 species of Anisoptera (dragon ies) and 18 species of Zygoptera (damsel ies). Among dragon ies, the family Libellulidae dominated with 26 species, while Coenagrionidae with 10 spe...

A critical review on the article on "Mammals of Darjeeling-Sikkim" that was published in a previous issue of JoTT is presented here..

We report a new photographic record of Rusty-spotted Cat from Walayar, Kerala, south India.

A critical review on the article published in the Auguts 2020 issue of JoTT, "“A checklist of mammals with historical records from Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya landscape, India” is presented.

Various vulnerability assessment studies have revealed the effect of climate change and related extreme weather events on the small-scale fisheries households of coastal regions. However, hardly any study assesses the economic vulnerability of the poorest coastal households to extreme climatic events. The present study attempts to fill this gap by...

The tropical cyclone Ockhi which hit the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts of the Indian subcontinent in December 2017, was an unusual cyclone, with its rapid intensification and unpredictable path. An analysis of the impact of Ockhi on the losses in man-days, catch, and revenue indicated that in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the estimated revenue losses due t...

The marine waters of Kerala state along the southwest coast of India are among the most productive upwelling regions in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Analyses were made to assess the impact of environmental changes on the marine fish catch using motorized and non-motorized craft operating off the coast. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) of total lan...

Rapid biodiversity assessment report, Marayoor Sandal Division

The Atlas of Birds of Kerala is Asia’s largest bird atlas in terms of geographical extent, sampling effort and species coverage. The entire state of Kerala was systematically surveyed twice a year during 2015–2020 and over 0.3 million records of 380 species from 25,000 checklists were aggregated. The dataset was filtered and various metrics were es...

Globally, climatic and anthropogenic forcings are causing the catastrophic decline of coral reef ecosystems, which sustain a plethora of marine life and support the livelihoods of several millions of people. Lakshadweep- Maldives-Chagos archipelago (LMC) forms one of the largest chains of atoll systems in the world, and due to remoteness from the m...

The marine waters of Kerala state along the southwest coast of India are among the most productive upwelling regions in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Analyses were made to assess the impact of environmental changes on the marine fish catch using motorized and non-motorized craft operating off the coast. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) of total lan...

A study was conducted during 2018-19 to document the species diversity of Odonata of the Mankulam forest division, Idukki, Kerala, southern India. A total of 54 species including 33 species of Anisoptera (Dragonflies) and 21 species of Zygoptera (Damselflies) were recorded during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The relative abundance of speci...

The reproductive phase of coconut is extremely sensitive to high temperature, manifesting as button (female flower) shedding and poor nut set. The progamic phase, which elapses from pollination to fertilization, is one of the most critical phases during the sexual reproduction processes in annuals and fruit trees and is extremely vulnerable to high...

Globally, ocean climate is changing at unprecedented rates. Shifts of species distribution towards the northern latitudes are evident in many seas. The Northern Indian Ocean is warming at an alarming rate as compared to the other oceans. The increased rate of warming will cause substantial responses in the distribution of the pelagic fish species....

Avian species can be regarded as a bioindicator of environmental change. However, limited analysis are available on the effect of climate change on the distribution of birds in India. During recent years the distribution of the Indian Peafowl, (Pavo cristatus), a dryland species was observed to be expanding in Kerala, southern India, a region falli...

A checklist of mammals of Tamil Nadu State is presented in this online version. Accepted English names, scientific binomen, prevalent vernacular names in Tamil, IUCN Red List conservation status, Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act schedules, the appendices in the CITES, endemism, the distribution of species in India, the Western Ghats & plains of Tam...

An attempt has been made to find out the relationship between environmental variables and the biomass of IOS

Data on the Checklist of the mammals of the Western Ghats are given in excel format

Checklist of the Mammals of Kerala State, India is given in excel format

Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticolis at Periyar Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats was was found feeding on invertebrates, including beetles and grubs, from among the fresh dung piles of Asian Elephants.

Avian species can be regarded as a bioindicator of environmental change. However, limited analysis are available on the effect of climate change on the distribution of birds in India. During recent years the distribution of the Indian Peafowl, (Pavo cristatus), a dryland species was observed to be expanding in Kerala, southern India, a region falli...

The 2018 outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, India, highlights the need for global surveillance of henipaviruses in bats, which are the reservoir hosts for this and other viruses. Nipah virus, an emerging paramyxovirus in the genus Henipavirus, causes severe disease and stuttering chains of transmission in humans and is considered a potential pandem...

A checklist of mammals of Tamil Nadu State is presented in this paper. Accepted English names, scientific binomen, prevalent vernacular names in Tamil, IUCN conservation status, Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act schedules, the appendices in the CITES, endemism, the distribution of species in India, the Western Ghats & plains of Tamil Nadu, and the c...

Flood Map of Chalakudy river basin, Post 2018 flood

Flood Map of Chalakudy river basin Kerala, post-2018 flood

Flood Map of Chalakudy river basin Kerala, India: post-2018 flood

Flood Map of Chalakudy river basin Kerala, post-2018 flood

Flood Map of Chalakudy river basin Kerala, post-2018 flood

Flood Map of Chalakudy river basin Kerala, India: post-2018 flood

Here is an attempt to document Biodiversity and socio-economic status of the 'block no. 1' Area of Anakulam range in Mankulam forest division of Kerala Forest Department and a Proposal for its restoration

Result of bird survey in and around Malampuzha reservoir, Palakkad

Bird survey report in and around Pothundy reservoir, Palakkad, Kerala

We report a possible instance of hybridization between the Ratufa indica and Ratufa macroura from Western Ghats. The details on the coat of the hybrid individuals, location map where the hybrids where sighted and the conservation challenges have been discussed in the paper.

There is only a single record of the Miniopterus fuliginosus from Kerala, which is from Silent Valley National Park (Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu 2017). The present finding of the Eastern Bent-wing Bat from the WWS is the second report of this species from Kerala. Both these records however, are from the north of the Palghat Gap, Kerala. The previous...

The study shows that traditional farming methods in rural landscapes have an influence on the conservation of native biodiversity. The findings of the present study also recommend a revision on the IUCN status of the Pseudophilautus wynaadensis considering facts that the species has been sighted from newer locations and lower elevations than previo...

This study was carried out to assess the population of Ratufa macroura in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Kerala part of the southern Western Ghats. The population density of Ratufa macroura was estimated to be 15.26 squirrels/km2. The total count method, however, gave the population range between 11 to 14 squirrels. The current populatio...

Species composition and abundance of reptiles in selected agroecosystems in Thrissur plains, near Palghat Gap, southern Western Ghats in India, was studied from January 2017 to May 2017. The agroecosystems surveyed were coconut, cashew & rubber plantations, home garden, paddy field, and botanical garden. Time-constrained visual encounter surveys of...

The present study highlights the significance of this human-modified landscape, sandwiched between natural forests, such as Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Nemmara Reserved Forests. We report seven species of anurans that are endemic to the Western Ghats from the study area. This includes three Critically Endangered and two Endangered species. One o...

The diversity of anurans of Nelliyampathy Hills, southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India was evaluated during March – April 2018 using Visual Encounter Survey. A total of 12 species were found of which seven species are endemic to the Western Ghats and five species comes under the various threatened category of IUCN. The study also reported, Raorches...

In a study on the diversity and abundance of butterflies of montane forests of Eravikulam National Park in the Western Ghats, southern India, 85 species of butterflies belonging to six families were recorded. This include eight species of butterflies that are endemic to the Western Ghats and one Near-Threatened species according to IUCN Red List of...

A study on the small carnivores in Silent Valley National Park (SVNP), southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India was conducted from September 2015 to April 2016, using the camera trap technique. Seven species of small carnivores were recorded during the study. The most common species of small carnivore of SVNP was Viverricula indica (44%) followed by P...