A preliminary diversity study of Odonates on a waterlogged landscape under Thiruvananthapuram Corporation limit

Abstract

Odonates has been recognized as bio-indicators that have implications for the state of the environment as a whole. They serve as a crucial instrument for many types of evaluations and monitoring, including the measurement of biodiversity, the health and integrity of wetlands or biological effects of climate change. The purpose of the current study was to examine the diversity of odonates that can be found living in urban areas.

Full text

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EKAA July 2022
Volume - 2, Issue - 7
Biodiversity study
Preliminary diversity study of Odonates on a waterlogged landscape
Jaiva Vaividhya Special GramaSabha
Perumanna Grama Panchayath in Kozhikode, along
with the panchayath Biodiversity Management
Committee (BMC) organised a JaivaVaividhya
special Gramasabha named “Prakruthikoppam”
on July 8th. e programme emphasized the
relevance of biodiversity conservation aer the
Kerala oods and the severe pandemic scenario.
Kerala State Biodiversity Board Chairman
Dr. C. George omas inaugurated the function
at Payyadimeethal Chirakkal Balakrishnan
Memorial hall. Dr. K. Kishore Kumar, Head of
the Botany department at Farook College, gave
the Keynote address on the topic “Biodiversity
and agricultural sector, and the role of BMCs in
biodiversity conservation”. e BMC member
P.P Vijayakumar spoke on “Naadan pashuvum,
naatukrishiyum-Naadin Nanmaykku”. Kerala
State Biodiversity Board, Kozhikode district
co-ordinator K.P. Manju delivered a speech on
the role of BMC members in local biodiversity
conservation and management. BMC convenor
Mallissery Mohanan, Panchayath President Shaji
Puthalath, other panchayath members and block
members participated in the event. Around
150 participants comprising native farmers,
dairy farmers, kudumbashree CDS members,
Harithakarma sena members, representatives
from sacred groves with forts, School PTA
presidents, Representatives from Mampuzha
protection committee, representatives from
Shasthra Sahithya Parishad, Panchayath Planning
board members, politicians, social servants,
MATs from ozhilurappu padhathi and the
BMC members attended the event.
KSBB Chairman Dr.C.George omas inaugurating
the JaivaVaividhya Gramasabha
Paragomphus lineatus
BMC Member Mr. P.P Vijayakumar delivering a talk on “Naadan
pashuvum, naatukrishiyum-Naadin Nanmaykku”
Odonates has been recognised as bio-indicators that
have implications for the state of the environment as
a whole. ey serve as a crucial instrument for many
types of evaluations and monitoring, including the
measurement of biodiversity, the health and integrity
of wetlands or biological eects of climate change.
e purpose of the current study was to examine the
diversity of odonates that can be found living in urban
areas.
e investigation was conducted in the centre of
ampanoor city in an abandoned, water-logged
landscape (8°29’32”N 76°56’57” E). It has a large range

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EKAA July 2022
Volume - 2, Issue - 7
of shrub species and only a few tree species,
covering an area of roughly 60 to 70 cents.
Passiora species, Calotropis species and Moringa
oleifera were a few prominent orae.
Investigation location at ampanoor city
e current investigation was conducted in
September 2021. All of the eld trips were
conducted in the forenoon when odonate
activity was at its peak. Odonates were identied
using Visual Encounter Survey (VES) and
photographed using a Nikon D5600 DSLR camera
with a 70-300mm lens. Species identication was
conrmed using taxonomic monographs of Fraser
(1933,1934,1936) and eld guides (Subramanian
2009; Nair 2011; Kiran & Raju 2013).
short-term study period has encompassed 22
species of odonates spread across 6 families and
two suborders. e highest number of odonates
recorded belonged to the family Libellulidae
(13 species) followed by Coenagrionidae (4
species), Chlorocyphidae (2 species), Aeshnidae,
Gomphidae and Lestidae (one species each).
e most dominant species was Pantala avescens
(Fabricius, 1798) which belongs to Libellulidae
family. is could be due to the mass emergence
of the species aer the monsoon and their yearly
aggregation before migration to Eastern Africa
(Anderson 2009). Some of the other notable
odonates which we found out were Lestes elatus,
Ischnura senegalensis, Pseudagrion rubriceps
and Paragomphus lineatus. All of the reported
odonate species are staged under the IUCN Red
List’s Least Concern category, with the exception
of Gynacantha dravida Lieinck, 1960, which is
categorised as Data Decient.
Only 12% of Kerala’s total odonate species are
represented in the current list of odonates due
Pantala avescens
Crocothemis servilia
Lestes elatus

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EKAA July 2022
Volume - 2, Issue - 7
to the search’s restricted geographic scope. e
study nevertheless emphasises the signicance of
regional biodiversity documentation. Due to their
amphibious life history, relatively short generation
time, high trophic position and diversity, order
Odonata are considered an important component
of freshwater ecosystems as well as good indicators
of ecosystem health. is reiterates the fact that
more systematic exploration of biodiversity should
be carried out in urban landscapes, especially
in light of increasing anthropogenic inuences
and habitat transformations. Major changes
in the degradation of the quality of available
habitats of the urban regions could result in the
loss of regional odonate diversity. ese changes
could also have a cascading eect on terrestrial
biodiversity. As with the current study, frequent
surveys are needed to further understand this
connection, and citizen science initiatives should
be encouraged.
CHAIRPERSON
Dr. C. George Thomas
MEMBER SECRETARY
Dr. SanthoshKumar A.V.
KSBB MEMBERS
1. Addl.Chief Secretary,
Environment Department
2. Agriculture Production
Commissioner
3. Principal Secretary ,
Fisheries Department
4. Principal Secretary, Forest &
Wildlife Department
5. Executive Vice President,
KSCSTE
6. Dr. K Satheesh Kumar
7. Sri. K.V Govindan
8. Dr. T.S Swapna
9. Dr. K.T Chandramohanan
EDITOR
Dr. Yamuna S, Principal Scientific Officer
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Praveen.KP
Extension Education Awareness Activities
At Kasaragode, Biodiversity Club of Holy
Family School, Kumbla observed International
Mangrove Day on July 26th. Club members visited
the Mangrove Reserve Forest at Kanchikatte near
Kumbla. Local expert and retired Grameen Bank
Divisional Manager Raj Ram Kamath discussed
and shared his views on the Mangrove forest. He
explained how this ever-green forest helps the
ecosystem and expressed concern about waste
dumping in the region hindering conservation
measures. Students observed birds like Lesser
whistling ducks, Stork Billed King Fisher, Little
Cormorants, and
White-cheeked
barbets. Many
butteries and
Odonates were
also noticed in
the morning eld
trip. Biodiversity
club coordinator
Raju Kidoor was
lead the eld trip.
International Mangrove Day Celebration
Biodiversity club members visting Mangrove Reserve Forest at
Kanchikatte
Krishnanunni T S
B.Sc. (Hons.) Forestry
College of Forestry
Kerala Agricultural University
Vellanikkara, rissur, Kerala, India
• An article in Keralakarshakan e-journal, pages 22-27, July 2022 -
Biodiversity cools Earth’s ambience - Dr Yamuna.S (Principal Scientic
Ocer)
https://www.keralabiodiversity.org/images/2022/newsletter/KKE_
JULY_2022.pdf