Source: TH
Context:
A major two-year scientific survey of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) across the Western Ghats has revealed an alarming gap in biodiversity — researchers documented only about 65% of the historically known species, pointing to a potential 35% shortfall in this ecologically critical group. Conducted by a team led by Dr. Pankaj Koparde of MIT-World Peace University, Pune, the study spanned 144 sites across five states (Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat) between February 2021 and March 2023.
Key Highlights
- Study: Two-year survey of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) across the Western Ghats.
- Duration: February 2021 to March 2023.
- Sites covered: 144 sites across 5 states — Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat.
- Lead researcher: Dr. Pankaj Koparde, Assistant Professor, MIT-World Peace University, Pune.
- Key finding: Only 65% of historically known Odonata species could be recovered — suggesting a ~35% shortfall in current diversity.
- Species recorded: 143 species — 76 dragonflies + 67 damselflies.
- Endemic species: 40 endemic to the Western Ghats.
- State-wise breakdown:
- Maharashtra: 105 sites, 100 species, 12 endemics.
- Kerala: 14 sites, 33 endemics (highest concentration).
- Karnataka: 17 sites, 64 species, 6 endemics.
- Goa: 3 sites, 35 species, 4 endemics.
- Gujarat: 5 sites, 18 species, 0 endemics.
- IUCN Red List status of 143 species:
- Least Concern: 100; Data Deficient: 22; Not Evaluated: 16.
- Near Threatened (2): Phylloneura westermanni, Heliogomphus promela.
- Vulnerable (3): Elattoneura souteri, Protosticta sanguinostigma, Cyclogomphus ypsilon.
- Endemism pattern: Greater in the Southern Western Ghats (especially Kerala, south of Coorg) due to perennial streams and richer microhabitats.
- Identified threats: Linear infrastructure, hydropower, pollution, land-use change, unregulated tourism, forest fires, and climate change.
About the News
What is the central finding of the survey?
That researchers could document only about 65% of the historically known Odonata species in the Western Ghats — implying a 35% shortfall in current diversity, likely due to species loss and habitat degradation.
Who conducted the study and where?
The study was led by Dr. Pankaj Koparde, Assistant Professor at MIT-World Peace University, Pune, and covered 144 sites across five states in the Western Ghats — Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat.
Over what period was the survey carried out?
Between February 2021 and March 2023 — a two-year-plus field campaign.
How many Odonata species were recorded?
A total of 143 species — 76 dragonflies and 67 damselflies — of which 40 are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Which state showed the highest endemic diversity?
Kerala — with 33 endemic species across 14 sites, indicating its disproportionate importance for Western Ghats Odonata conservation.
What does the IUCN status breakdown look like?
Of 143 species: 100 are Least Concern, 22 Data Deficient, 16 Not Evaluated, 2 Near Threatened (Phylloneura westermanni, Heliogomphus promela), and 3 Vulnerable (Elattoneura souteri, Protosticta sanguinostigma, Cyclogomphus ypsilon).
Why is the high count of “Data Deficient” species important?
Because 22 species lack enough scientific data to even assess their conservation status — pointing to large gaps in research and the urgent need for more surveys before populations decline irreversibly.
Why are Odonata called “indicator taxa”?
Because they depend on healthy freshwater ecosystems for breeding and are highly sensitive to changes in water quality, temperature, and habitat structure. Their absence often signals deeper ecological stress — pollution, fragmentation, or climate disruption.
What are the main threats identified?
The study lists linear infrastructure development (roads, transmission lines), hydropower projects, severe pollution, large-scale land-use changes, unregulated tourism, recurring forest fires, and climate change as compounding pressures fragmenting and degrading Western Ghats ecosystems.
Why is endemism higher in the southern Western Ghats?
Because of the availability of suitable microhabitats and perennial streams, particularly south of Coorg (Karnataka) and in Kerala — providing year-round freshwater habitats critical for Odonata breeding.
What does the study recommend?
That more intensive, systematic surveys be conducted in unexplored and undersampled parts of the Western Ghats to fill knowledge gaps and accurately assess the status and distribution of Odonata species.
Background Concepts
What are Odonata?
Odonata is an order of carnivorous insects that includes dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) and damselflies (suborder Zygoptera). They have an aquatic larval stage and adult flight stage, and depend on freshwater habitats throughout their life cycle.
What is the difference between dragonflies and damselflies?
Dragonflies are larger, with broad bodies and wings held flat or open while resting; flight is fast and direct. Damselflies are slender, smaller, and hold their wings folded along their bodies at rest; flight is fluttery.
What are the Western Ghats?
The Western Ghats are a 1,600-km long mountain chain running parallel to India’s western coast through Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. They are one of the world’s eight “hottest” biodiversity hotspots, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2012), and home to thousands of plant and animal species, many of them endemic.
Why are the Western Ghats considered a biodiversity hotspot?
Because they (a) contain a significant percentage of the world’s species found nowhere else (high endemism), and (b) have lost a substantial portion of their original habitat to deforestation and development — the two defining criteria of a “hotspot” as proposed by Norman Myers.
What is an “indicator species”?
An indicator species is one whose presence, absence, or population size reflects the ecological health of an ecosystem. Odonata, lichens, frogs, and certain fish are widely used as ecological indicators.
What are the IUCN Red List categories?
From most to least threatened: Extinct (EX), Extinct in the Wild (EW), Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near Threatened (NT), Least Concern (LC), Data Deficient (DD), Not Evaluated (NE).
What is endemism?
A species is endemic to a region when it is found only in that region and nowhere else in the world. High endemism makes regions like the Western Ghats globally irreplaceable.
Why do freshwater ecosystems matter for Odonata?
Because dragonflies and damselflies lay eggs in or near water, and their larvae (called nymphs) live underwater for months to years — feeding on aquatic prey before metamorphosing into adults. Loss or pollution of streams, ponds, and wetlands devastates their populations.
What is the “Western Ghats UNESCO World Heritage Site”?
In 2012, UNESCO inscribed 39 serial sites across the Western Ghats — spanning Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra — as a natural World Heritage Site, recognising its outstanding universal value as a biodiversity hotspot.
What is the Gadgil Committee and the Kasturirangan Committee?
The Gadgil Committee (2011) and Kasturirangan Committee (2013) were set up to study and recommend protection measures for the Western Ghats. Gadgil proposed protecting about 64% of the Ghats as ecologically sensitive; Kasturirangan reduced this to about 37% ecologically sensitive areas, which became the basis for government policy.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the recent Odonata survey in the Western Ghats, consider the following statements:
- The survey recorded 143 species, including 76 dragonflies and 67 damselflies.
- About 40 of the recorded species are endemic to the Western Ghats.
- Only 65% of historically known Odonata species could be documented.
- The study was conducted exclusively in Maharashtra.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about Odonata:
- Odonata includes dragonflies and damselflies.
- Their larvae are aquatic and depend on freshwater ecosystems.
- They are considered “indicator taxa” of ecological health.
- Dragonflies and damselflies are categorised under the same suborder.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. With reference to the Western Ghats, consider the following statements:
- They run parallel to India’s western coast through six states.
- They are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.
- They are recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
- The Kasturirangan Committee recommended protecting nearly 64% of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. With reference to the IUCN Red List, consider the following statements:
- “Vulnerable” is a higher threat category than “Endangered.”
- “Data Deficient” indicates that insufficient information exists to assess a species’ status.
- “Least Concern” indicates that a species faces no significant threat of extinction.
- The Red List is maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 2, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 1 and 4 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (c) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; the study covered five states — Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat — not just Maharashtra.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera) belong to different suborders within the order Odonata.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; the Gadgil Committee recommended protecting ~64% of the Ghats. The Kasturirangan Committee reduced this to ~37%.
- (a) — Statements 2, 3, 4 are correct. Statement 1 is wrong; “Endangered” is a higher threat category than “Vulnerable” — the order from most to least threatened is Critically Endangered → Endangered → Vulnerable → Near Threatened → Least Concern.
Exam Relevance
| Exam | Relevance |
|---|---|
| UPSC Prelims | GS Paper III — Environment, Biodiversity, Conservation, IUCN, Western Ghats |
| UPSC Mains | GS Paper III — Biodiversity, Conservation, Environmental Degradation, Climate Change |
| UPSC Mains | GS Paper I — Indian Geography (Western Ghats) |
| BPSC / State PCS | Environment, Geography, Current Affairs |
| Banking (RBI Gr B, NABARD) | ESI / Environment & Sustainability |
| Forest Services (IFoS) | Core area — species, conservation status, ecological indicators |
| Geography / Zoology / Environment Optional | Biogeography, conservation biology, taxonomy |
