Species Loss in the Himalayas
The Eastern Himalayas is home to an amazing array of life. The region harbours life to over 10,000 types of plant species, more than 300 mammals, a number of 977 so far, 176 reptiles, 105 amphibians, and 296 freshwater fish 37. Unfortunately 163 of these exotic are animal are considered globally threatened species, many of which in fact almost all play defining roles in their respective eco-systems and habitats.
Of these 163 threatened species, 19 of which are mammals, 28 bird, 17 reptile, and 12 amphibian species are considered priority species 44. Priorities species are animals identified in a Biodiversity Action Plan considered being the most threatened and in cases most important (for example largely contributing in the food chain) and require conservation and protection.
In order for a species to be considered a priority they must suit one of the following criteria 43.
* Species forming a key element of the food chain
* Species which help the stability or regeneration of habitats
* Species demonstrating broader conservation needs
Or for people
* Species important for the health and livelihoods of local communities
* Species exploited commercially
* Species that are important cultural icons.
Generally the fauna species of the Himalayas is mainly directly impacted by many degrading human activity. Many of these threats include the destruction, fragmentation and degradation of their habitat, caused from infrastructural movements demanded by increasing populations, the indiscriminate placement and methods of mining, hazard use of insecticides, and the frequent activity of wood and timber cutting 39.
Mammals
The Himalayas are home to most exotic mammals in the world, harbouring the inhabitants of several critically endangered species. Many of the rare animals living in the Himalayas include the tiger, Snow Leopard, Asian Elephant, Rhinos, Red Pandas, several species of bears and a selection of herbivores such as endemic such as sheep, Water Buffalo and deer 36. All species play a vital role in their corresponding habitats whether it'd be contributing to the lively hood of the food chain or obtaining spiritual connections with the respective communities.
The mammals of the Himalayas are subject to many threats. Quite possibly the most major threat includes the destruction of their habitat 48. For example, tigers 93% of their historic range due to their habitat being destroyed degraded or fragmented; caused by human activity. This significantly effects tiger populations as the Himalayan grasslands are home to the densest population of Bengal Tigers than anywhere else in the world 44.
Another main threat mammals are facing is poaching. Poaching is a serious issue in the region due to the amount of exotic animals in the areas 33. Many animals largely hunted include the Asian Elephant for their ivory tusks, the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros killed for their ivory horn, and Tigers and Snow Leopards for their covert fur.
The deaths of such endangered mammals are crucial and even one death can severely disrupt the lively hoods and populations. For example, if a mother of calves or infants is killed, it is likely the offspring will die, unable to fend and feed for themselves 41. If a male is killed, in the cases of snow leopards and tigers, more males will fight for territory disrupting breeding cycles and ultimately negatively effecting the whole environment. This is because tigers and snow leopards are apex predators at the top of food chain. By taking away the top of the food chain, almost every other species under it will be affected. Herbivore populations will begin to rise and thus plants will suffer. Eventually when plant numbers are too low, the herbivores will also begin to deteriorate and soon every species has been negatively affected 42. Other predators does not only belong to the cat family but several species of bear such as the Asiatic Black Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, and one of the largest and rarest species in the word the Tibetan Blue Bear also contribute greatly, sitting at the top of the food chain.
In just 2013, 15 of the current 28 bird species were declared critically endangered by the International Union for Conversation of Nature and present an ever more sign of rapid loss in bird populations. These species include the Great Indian Buster, Siberian Crane, the White Backed Vulture and the Red-headed Vulture. Other species such as the Chestnut-breasted Partridge and Rufous-necked Hornbill both have populations under 10,000 and are considered a vulnerable species 38.
Some of the threats many of the bird species are facing include the indiscriminate use of insecticides. Sprays and dust of the insecticides on the crops of on exposed fields to the wildlife may be eaten by birds, causing heavy mortality rates 43. The birds are especially affected through a vicious cycle as shown below.
The subject of wildlife disease is another integral part of the destruction of many bird species in the Himalayas. Unfortunately the matter has received little attention from authorities an conservation groups due to the inaccessibility, isolation and high altitudes of which these birds are living in. Such diseases include the helminthes, protozoan, bacterial, viral and rickettsial diseases, killing off many bird flocks, occurring not just in the wild, but in the Himalayan zoo captivities as well 43.
The amphibian species of the Himalayas in the most part if fairing off well, with mainly the frogs among those on the endangered list. Such frogs on the endangered list include the Gundia India Frog, Rao's Torrent Frog, Sacred Grove Bush Frog, the Charles Darwin Frog and 9 more other species. The biggest threat the frogs are facing mainly include habitat loss. Rising populations in India have taken their toll, with the destruction of these frog's habitats, caused by frequent harvesting of timber and wood, intensive livestock production, infrastructure movements namely road construction, as well as the development of tourism facilities.
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The table to the left conveys 41 Herpeto-fauna (a branch of the amphibian family) studied in the Margalla Hills National Park situated in the Himalayas. The information provided portrays the distribution of the species on the basis their preferred habitat or their zone. The table gives us a comparison of all 41 species and can be used to show which species are doing well, while others may be in danger. Examples of species that may be struggling include the number 10 and 11, Pangshura smithii smithii and Nilssonia gangeticus. The amphibians are only be found or recognised within only one of the nine zones provided. Meanwhile it can be assumed that Ptyas mucosus (number 34) is thriving, having been recognised in all zones except 7. Further more the table may show us the situation of the zones. It can be assumed that zone 9 has been least effected by human activity and may be the most isolated as many species have been noted in that area, while zone 7 may be close to human populations and have been subject to degrading activities. |
Through turtles are not the only species that have been influenced, but both the lizards and snake population as whole have produced interesting results that have been unexpected as shown in the graphs below. The following data has been recorded Teesta Valley of Sikkim.
The graph to the left conveys the species richness of both the lizard and snake populations in consideration of altitudes ranging from 300 metres to 2700 metres. Take note that species richness is simply the count of count of species and does not take in to account the abundances or relative abundance distributions of the species. The thin lines convey 95% predictions curves (generated from a mid-domain null model) of species richness while the bold lines are the results themselves. The results convey a rather steady trend that is both reasonable and not too drastic at all. Both the lizards and the snakes follow the decline of species as the altitude rises. Though both graphs convey differing results compared against their respective prediction curves, especially amongst the lower altitudes of the Teesta Valley. This may point out disruption that have been occurring during the middle and higher altitudes, though ultimately convey significant decreases in richness amongst the higher altitudes while the richness is high in the lowers. Given the high richness and narrow range of species in low
elevation, these areas need to be protected for the conservation of reptiles in
Eastern Himalayas.
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Plants
The plant species of the Himalayas have been severely affected up to the point of which the omnivores and herbivores that often feed upon them have been forced and enticed to raid nearby farmer's crops 50. These animals include monkeys, langures, wild boar, and hare that are often sighted on crops and farm properties. One of the major threats to plants not only include the deforestation of habitats, but the damaging activities of mining, invasive alien species and soil erosion in eco-sensitive areas.
The Lambidhar region particularly is under close watch for the increasing mining activities being conducted 42. The plants and shrub species are particularly under threat.
The graph on the left conveys the different types of species of Shrubs in the Lambidhar region in the form of IVI (Importance Value Index). The Importance Value Index essentially conveys a species sum of relative frequency, relative dominance and relative frequency. The larger the importance value, the more dominant the species is in a particular community. The graph compares the twelve of the most prominent species of shrubs in Lambidhar and effectively conveys rather low numbers and high standards of deviation amongst them. This information depicts that only a select few shrubs have been able to deal with the increase of mining activity throughout the Lambidhar region.
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