2008-'09 - Kerala Forest Research Institute

Annual Report 2008-09
Leaf samples were collected from 136 accessions of 11 Dalbergia species from various
locations of the Western Ghats. The DNA was extracted from the leaf samples and
PCR amplified using three conserved chloroplast loci, rpoB, matK and trnH-psbA,
and sequenced PCR products at NIPGR and NCL for development of DNA bar code.
Biodiversity/ genetic conservation
Ecology and behaviour of forest owls as applied to their conservation in the
forests of Western Ghats through modeling of habitat parameters
Distribution, status and habitat use of forest owls in the southern Western Ghats of India
was studied. Intensive surveys were carried out in 276 census points, using dusk watch,
initial quiet listening, call playback and spotlighting. One hundred and thirty seven points
were surveyed from Kerala and 139 points from Tamil Nadu State. Thirteen species
of owls were recorded from the southern Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Lesser owls namely the barred jungle owlet, collared scops owl, oriental scops owl
and brown hawk owl were recorded from all the protected areas unlike the larger
owls. Of the sixteen species of owls distributed in Kerala part of the Western Ghats,
nine species were found in the forests and others in the cultivated lands and open
country. Two species were migratory and 14 species were resident. Thirteen species
of owls were recorded from the Kerala State and a new report of the short eared
owl (Asio otus), a migrant species, was obtained from the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife
Sanctuary. Oriental bay owl (Phodilus badius) was reported for the first time from
Idukki and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuaries. Southernmost distribution limit of the
brown hawk owl was identified in the southern Western Ghats. The Ceylon bay
owl, an endemic species was newly reported from two protected areas namely the
Idukki and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuaries. Southern distributional limit of seven
species of owls was reported for the first time from the Western Ghats.
Distribution pattern of owls in the southern Western Ghats was characterised using
vegetation types, topographic variables, disturbance level and status of protection.
Highest encounter rates of owls were recorded from the Nelliampathy-
Parambikulam-Vazhachal-Anamalai hill complex. Lesser owls namely barred jungle
owlet, collared scops owl, oriental scops owl and brown hawk owl were recorded
from all the protected areas unlike the large owls (forest eagle owl, brown fish owl,
mottled wood owl, brown wood owl and Indian great horned owl). Barred jungle
owlet was the predominant lesser owl and the Indian great horned owl was the
dominant in the large owl category. Maximum species richness was recorded from
the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Collared scops owl and barred jungle owlet occurred from the low altitude dry
forest to high altitude montane forest. The brown hawk owl preferred mid stratum
of the canopy, which possessed dead branches, unlike the collared scops owl which
used trees with dense foliage in teak and soft wood plantations. The rainfall had
Kerala Forest Research Institute
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