• DR.SYNUDEEN SAHIB.S

Myristica swamps are one of the unique ecosystems of the Western Ghats and these marshy places are dominated by the tree species of the family Myristicaceae and many other rare plant and animal species. The present study was conducted in Myristica swamp forest patches of Kulathupuzha and Anchal Forest Ranges and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary (8.75 O–9.0 ON and 76.75O–77.25OE). The dominant trees are Myristica fatua var. magnifica M.dactyloides, M. malabarica, Gymnacranthera farguhariana, Gymnacranthera canarica, Syzygium travancoricum, Hydnocarpus pentandra, Lagerstroemia hirsuta, Lophopetalum wightianum, Mastixia arborea ssp. Meziana, Knema attenuata, Glochidion zeylanicum, Calophyllum apetalum, Persea macrantha, Pandanus thwaitesii, etc. The majority of the endemic species of trees belongs to the family Rubiaceae followed by Araceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Dipterocarpaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The Myristica swampy members are also important in conservational status, 49 species belongs to various threat categories of IUCN, out of which, 12 species are endangered 5 species are critically endangered and 8 are vulnarable 19 are under least concern, 3 species are near threatened and 2 species are data deficient. These ecosystems are rich in faunal biodiversity hosting 23 percent of butterfly species, 11 percent of spiders, 8.4 percent of fish, 26.6 of percent birds, over 50 percent of amphibians, over 20 percent of reptiles and 6.6 percent of mammals. Despite the swamps comprising a mere 0.004% of the total land area of Kerala, they boast 16.3 percent of species that are endemic to the Western Ghats—notably 42 percent of fishes and 44 percent of amphibians. These swamps are under tremendous biotic pressure and their conservation is a challenging task and subjected to heavy degradation in various ways.

Myristica swamp ,Biodiversity, Conservation, Floral composition

"BIODIVERSITY OF MYRISTICA SWAMP FORESTS OF SOUTH WESTERN GHATS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 8, page no.437-443, August-2017, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1708068.pdf

"BIODIVERSITY OF MYRISTICA SWAMP FORESTS OF SOUTH WESTERN GHATS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 8, page no. pp437-443, August-2017, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1708068.pdf