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Bryophytes of Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, India

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Contribution to the bryophyte flora of India: the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats

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Manju, C.N., K.P. Rajesh2 & P.V. Madhusoodanan1

Department of Botany, Calicut University, Kerala- 673 635, India Botanical Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Circle, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102 e-mails: manjucali@gmail.com, kprajesh.botany@gmail.com,pvmadhu@gmail.com

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Abstract. The bryophyte flora of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of India is catalogued for the first time. The catalogue consists of 116 taxa (89 mosses, 27 liverworts), of which two are new for India (Plagiochila singularis, Vesicularia dubyana), 21 species are newly reported for Peninsular India (Clastobryopsis planula var. delicata, Barbella chrysonema, Brachymenium leptophyllum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Cololejeunea longifolia, Cyathodium tuberosum, Dicranella amplexans, Didymodon vinealis, Duthiella wallichi, Fabronia assamica, Haplocladium microphyllum, Himantocladium cyclophyllum, Homalia trichomanoides var. trichomanoides, Isopterygium serrulatum, Leskea perstricta, Lopholejeunea kashyapii, Leptotrichella assamica, Macromitrium turgidum, Rhynchostegium hookeri, Splachnobryum assamicum, Thamnobryum siamense) and another 14 species are new for Kerala State (Atrichum pallidum, Chionostomum rostratum, Claopodium prionophyllum, Cololejeunea lanciloba, Cyathophorum adiantum, Dicranella divaricata, Entodontopsis wightii, Fissidens pellucidus, Glossadelphus glossoides, Isopterygium lignicola, Leucodon secundus, Neckeropsis exserta, Plagiochila bischleriana, Timmiella anomala). The species Jungermannia obliquifolia has also been reported as a taxon new to India (Nair et al. in press (a) from this area. Introduction This paper is a continuation of the research initiated some years ago by the authors on the Western Ghats bryophytes and its vegetation (Nair et al. 2005a&b, 2006; Pocs et al. 2007; Madhusoodanan et al. 2007). Previous studies on the Western Ghats bryophytes were mostly random collections made in 19th and 20th century. These often consisted of incomplete floristic lists from small areas, consequently most of the protected and unprotected areas remains under explored or totally unknown bryologically. The checklist of the bryophytes of Kerala State in the Peninsular India (Nair and Madhusoodanan 2002; Easa 2003) summarized the published data from this region, but

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without any opinion about the taxonomic validity of the taxa presented. Manju et al. (2008) reported the checklist of the bryophytes of Kerala with up to date nomenclatural changes. The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is floristically poorly known, particularly its bryological diversity as compared with nearby areas. The previous reports from this area include only three bryophyte species (Heteroscyphus argutus, Cololejeunea furcilobulata, Jungermannia obliquifolia) (Pocs et al. 2007, Nair et al. in press(a) The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, with an area of 55 km2, situated between north latitude 11°50' and 11° 52' and east longitude 75° 49' and 75° 57', is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats extended to the Kannur district of the Kerala State in the Peninsular India (Fig.1). Eventhough it is comparatively a small protected area, it is notable for holding a good assemblage of some of the rare Western Ghats endemics. Administratively, the entire Protected Area is comprised of single Forest Range namely, the Aralam Range and was constituted in the year 1984. Since 1998, for management purpose the area is divided into the Core Zone and the Buffer Zone. It is contiguous with the Wayanad-Brahmagiri, Wayanad northern slopes and the protected areas of the Karnataka State namely the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and also with the forests of Coorg area of Karnataka (http://www.aralam.org). The area is highly undulating, typical of the Western Ghats, and the elevation varies from 60 m to ca. 1,500 m. One of the major peak, the Katti Betta, covered with tropical and semi- evergreen forests rises to the altitude of 1,145 m above sea level. Another major peak, the Ambalappara with an altitude of about 1500 m, is with the Southern hilltop evergreen forest, which support unique assemblage of rich biodiversity. There are about 490 ha of teak and eucalyptus plantations within the forest area. The temperature at the foothills varies from 21° C to 40°C and at the higher reaches from 8°C to 25°C. The south-west and the north-eastern monsoons bless the Sanctuary with annual rainfall in between 3,745 mm to 5,052 mm and with ca. 100-120 rainy days. In some localities in the higher reaches, the rainfall even goes as high as over 6,000 mm. The area receives regular winds during the south-west monsoon period but strong winds of dry nature blow from September to April, causing dryness in the locality. The Sanctuary land slopes from the east to the west, is drained by the Cheenkannipuzha, which flows to the west. There are three smaller rivers namely, Narikkadavuthodu, Kurukkathodu and Meenmuttithodu, and many streamlets all flow southwards to join the Cheenkannipuzha. The soil is mainly of laterite, red soils and forest and hill soils with fairly good soil depth in the lower reaches. This is the only Protected Area of west coast tropical evergreen forest where the unique Dipterocarpus-Mesua-Palaquim sub-type is seen (Nair, 1991). About 22 sq. km (34 %) of the forest is fairly undisturbed belonging to this type. The major vegetation of this Sanctuary is evergreen. However, in some areas such as Valayamchal, Narikkadavu and Paripputhode, the forest is semi-evergreen type intermixed with a small patches of moist deciduous forests. The forest from Chavachi to Ambalappara is an intact stretch of west coast tropical wet evergreen forest. On the upper reaches of the Ambalappara (at about 1,500 m above MSL), there is physiognomically distinct, stunted evergreen forest, the Southern hilltop evergreen forest. Even though, the vegetation is rich and diverse no detailed floral exploration has been carried out in this Sanctuary. A rapid biodiversity assessment survey conducted during 2004 in the Sanctuary recorded 961 flowering plants (Augustine et al. in press). The Ambalappara region (ca. 1500 m) is distinct by the presence of the Southern hilltop evergreen forest, a kind of shola-like (montane forest) forest, though the typical shola in the Western Ghats are found above 1800 m altitude only. The Ambalappara is the boundary of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, where the diversity of bryophytes is very high compared to other areas. The floristic composition of this part differs considerably. The trees of this part are stunted, usually below 20 m, and belonging to Laurales and Myrtales, and the trunks of which are heavily overgrown with epiphytic ferns, mosses, orchids and balsams.

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Bryophytes of Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, India Results

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Enumeration of species The specimens were collected by Manju C.N. and K.P. Rajesh between 2001-2005 and were identified by Manju C.N., (first author), W.R. Buck, New York Botanical Garden, Brian O' Shea of London, L.T. Ellis of Natural History Museum and T. Pócs (Eger College, Hungary) during 2003-2008. The specimens are deposited in the Calicut University Herbarium (CALI). Each species is listed with author citation followed by the observations on the substrate/s on which it was found growing in the study area, the locality, altitude, the collector's name (acronyms: KPR = K.P. Rajesh, MCN = Manju C.N.) and collection number. The comments on the distribution of species is given to new records of species only. In the distribution the term Peninsular India comprises five states, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Ndu and Gujarath and three Union territories viz., Goa, Lakshadweep and Pondicheri. Marchantiophyta Asterella khasyana (Griff.) Pandé, K.P.Srivast. & Sultan Khan "khasiana"; On rocky patches. Ambalappara (1400 m) KPR 106674. It has earlier recorded from North-eastern India (Himalaya, Darjeeling), Southern India (Kerala), Nepal and China. Cephaloziella kiaeri (Austin) S.Arnell, On bark. Ambalappara (1400 m) KPR 106678. It is distributed in Southern India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), North-eastern India (Meghalaya), Sri Lanka and China. Cololejeunea furcilobulata (Berrie & E.W. Jones) R.M. Schust., On rocks. Chavachi (180 m) MCN 87579, KPR 80377/b. Distributed in the tropical Africa and India. According to Asthana and Srivastava (2003) in India it is rare and occurs only in the Karnataka and Kerala States. Cololejeunea haskarliana (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Steph., Epiphyllous on the fern Leptochilus sp. Ambalappara (1100m) KPR 99844. ). It is distributed in India (North-east (locality unknown) and Kerala), Japan, China and Africa. It is an Indian endemic species distributed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya, Mysore and the Eastern Himalayas. The present collection is a new record for the Kerala State. Cololejeunea lanciloba Steph., Epiphyllose on Mangifera indica. Valayamchal (40 m) MCN 99709. It is an Indian endemic species distributed in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya, Mysore and the Eastern Himalayas. The present collection is a new record for Kerala State. Cololejeunea longifolia (Mitt.) Benedix, On bark. Ambalappara (1100 m) KPR 99768 (CALI). It is distributed in North-eastern India and China. The present collection is a new record for Peninsular India. It is distributed in North-eastern India and China. The present collection is a new record for the Peninsular India. Cololejeunea raduliloba Steph., Epiphyllose on Crepidomanes indicum. Valayamchal (60 m) KPR 80398. It has been reported from North-eastern India (locality unknown). Nair et al. (2005) reported this species as new record for the Peninsular India from the Wayanad district of Kerala State. It is also reported from China, Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan. Cyathodium tuberosum Kashyap, Epiphytic. Valayamchal (60 m) MCN 99723. Kashyap (1914) reported this species from the Western Himalayas. The present collection is a new record for Peninsular India. Dumortiera hirsuta (Sw.) Nees, On rocky patches where water drips regularly. Ambalappara (1400 m) KPR 106675, KPR 99741. A widely distributed species. Fossombronia japonica Schiffn., On moist land cuttings or rocks along with grasses. Ambalappara (1350 m), KPR 106676. It is a common species distributed in Southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Japan, Massachusetts, New York, North America and West Virginia. Earlier reported from Kerala as Fossombronia foveolata Lindb. var. cristula (Austin) R.M.Schust. and as F. cristula.

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Frullania acutiloba Mitt., Upper part of tree trunk and on branches in moist and shady areas. Ambalappara (1100 m) KPR 99866. Srivastava and Sharma (2000) reported this species from the Silent Valley of Palakkad district in Kerala. It is distributed in Southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Eastern India (Khasi hills, Assam), Sri Lanka, China, Java and Japan. Frullania tamarisci (L.) Dumort. subsp. moniliata (Reinw., Blume & Nees.) Kamim., Epiphytic. Ambalappara (1400 m) KPR 106679. This species is distributed in Southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Northern India (Himalaya), Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Formosa, Korea, Japan, Europe and Asia minor. Heteroscyphus argutus (Nees) Schiffn., Common species usually found on rotten logs, rocky patches, soil and exposed roots of higher plants along stream banks. Valayamchal (180 m) KPR 80388; Ambalappara (1400 m) KPR 99854. In India common in Southern India (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) and North-eastern India (Darjeeling, West Himalaya, Pachmahri, Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya). Its distribution extends to Borneo, Brazil, Myanmar, China, Java, Japan, New Guinea, New Zealand, Philippines, Sumatra and Taiwan. Jungermannia obliquifolia (Schiffn.) Vana, On land cuttings in wet evergreen forests. Chavachi (400 m), MCN & KPR 87649. It is a rare species reported from Java, Celebes, Sumatra, Philippines and Australia. Nair et al. (in press (a) reported this species as new record for India. Lejeunea flava (Sw.) Nees, On base of tree trunks along with Trichomanes sp. Ambalappara (1100 m). KPR 99845/ b. It is a widespread Pantropical species. Pócs et al. (2007) reported this species from the Wayanad district in Kerala State. Lopholejeunea kashyapii U.S.Awasthi, S.C. Srivast. & D.Sharma, On small rocks. Paripputhodu (150 m) MCN 87597/a. It is an Indian endemic species distributed in the North-eastern India (Eastern Hiamalayas, Meghalaya, Cherapunji). The present collection shows its extended distribution to the Peninsular India. Marchantia paleacea Bertol., On rocky patches. Ambalappara (1400 m) KPR 106372. It was reported from India as M. nepalensis Lehm. & Lindenb., from Central and Western Himalayas, Assam and Southern India (locality unknown). Plagiochila bischleriana Grolle & M.L.So, On rocky patches. Meenmutty (450 m), MCN 87477/a; Ambalappara (1050 m) KPR 99850. Distributed in Northern India (West Bengal, Western Himalaya), Southern India (Tamil Nadu), China and Nepal. The present collection is a new record for Kerala State. Plagiochila chinensis Steph., Epiphytic on trunk and on small twigs. Distribution mentioned in Nair et al. 2005b. Plagiochila khasiana Mitt., Corticolous. Ambalappara (1100 m) KPR 99784. It is distributed in Southern India (Kerala), Northern India (Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal), Bhutan, China, Thailand, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Plagiochila parvifolia Lindb., On rocky patch. Valayamchal (60 m) KPR 80377/a. Distribution mentioned in Nair et al. 2005b. Plagiochila singularis Schiffn., Epiphytic and on land cuttings. Ambalappara (1100 m) KPR 99827. It is distributed in China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Philippines. As commented by So (2001) the verruculose cuticle, the unusual character found in this species is the main distingiushing feature. No other species of Plagiochila shows this character. It is rare in the area and was collected only from one locality. This is the first record from India. Radula japonica Gottsche ex Steph., On branches as well as on soil and rocky patches in shola forest. Ambalappara (1000 m) KPR 99777. It is distributed in the high altitude evergreen and shola forests of Kerala State. It was earlier reported from the Northern India (Himalayas), Southern India (Kerala) China, Japan and Korea. Radula meyeri Steph., On bark. Paripputhodu (150 m) MCN 87613/a. It is distributed in Northeastern India (Eastern Himalayas, Meghalaya, Khasi hills), Southern India (no precise locality (Parihar et al. 1994)), Thailand, Sumatra and Africa.

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Bryophytes of Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, India

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Riccardia levieri Schiffn., On exposed roots of higher plants. Ambalappara (1350 m) KPR 106677. Common species in the riparian habitats. It has a wide distribution in Southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), Central India (Madhya Pradesh) Northern India (Meghalaya, Western Himalaya) and Bhutan. Riccia fluitans L., The terrestrial form occurs along the muddy margins, or in wet sandy soils in semi-evergreen forests. Ambalappara (1400 m), (Aqua.) KPR 99809. This species has a wide distribution in Southern India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Central India (Mt. Abu), North-eastern India (Assam, Himalayas, Garhwal, Kashmir, Kumaon, Pachmahri), Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Taiwan, Korea, Siberia, Java, Borneo, New Zealand, South America, North America, Europe, West Indies and Britain. Targionia hypophylla L., On land cuttings in hill top evergreen forests. Ambalappara (1100 m), KPR 99807. A widely distributed species in Southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), Central India (Mt. Abu), North-eastern India (Western Himalayas, Mussoorie, Pachmahri, Simla, Sikkim, Chirapunji, Khasi hills), Japan, Chile, Korea, Taiwan, China, Hawaii, Peru, Europe, N. & S. America and Australia. Bryophyta Aerobryum speciosum Dozy & Molk., Epiphytic. Ambalappara (1075 m) KPR 99818/a. Anomobryum filiforme var. concinatum (Spruc.) Amann, On rocky patches. Meenmutty (430 m), MCN 87483/a. An east and south-east Asiatic species, distributed in North-eastern India (Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, Khasi hills, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim) and Southern India (Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Celebes, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, New Guinea and Tonkin. Atrichum pallidum Renauld & Card., On land cuttings. Ambalappara (1000 m), KPR 99824. It is a South east Asiatic species distributed in India (Western Himalayas), Burma, Japan, Philippines and Nepal. The present collection is a new record for Kerala. Barbella chrysonema (Müll.Hal.) Broth., On rocky patches and on land cuttings. Ambalappara (1075 m), KPR 99773, Meenmutty (450 m), MCN 87486, MCN 87493. This species was earlier known only from Darjeeling in India as Floribundaria chrysonema and also reported from Bhutan. The present collection is a new record for Peninsular India. Brachymenium leptophyllum (Bruch & Schimp. ex Müll.Hal.) Bruch & Schimp. ex A.Jaeger, On rocky patches. Ambalappara (1100 m), KPR 99772; KPR 99795. It is distributed in North-eastern India (Sikkim), East Nepal, Thailand and Africa. The present collection is a new record for Peninsular India. Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw.) Schimp., On rocky patches. Ambalappara (1100 m), KPR 106368. A cosmopolitan species distributed in Northern India (Kashmir) Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Australia and America. The present collection is a new record for Peninsular India. Bryum argenteum Hedw., On land cuttings and on small rocks. Ambalappara (1050 m), KPR 99770. Widely distributed species. Bryum wightii Mitt., On rocky patches. Ambalappara (1100 m), KPR 99793. Distributed in Southern India (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Sri Lanka and Nepal. Calymperes afzelii Sw., On bark. Valayamchal (150 m) MCN 87605. A widely distributed species in tropics. Calymperes erosum Müll. Hal., On logs along with Octoblepharum albidum. Chavachi (180 m), MCN 87549/a. It is a common species known from South India (Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Africa and America. Calymperes graeffeanum Müll.Hal., On bark. Uruppukunnu (750 m) 99721. On land cuttings. It is distributed in main land of India (locality unknown), Andaman Islands, China, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Australia and Reunion.

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Calymperes tenerum Müll.Hal., On bark. Valayamchal (40 m), MCN & KPR 99705. It is distributed in Northern India (Bengal), Southern India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Sumatra, Malay, Java, Molucca, New Guinea, Philippines, New Caledonia, Hawaii, Caroline Is., Samoa and Tahiti. Campylopus ericoides (Griff.) A.Jaeger, On rocky patches. Ambalappara (1050m), KPR 99847. It is a South east Asiatic species distributed in Southern India (Kerala), North-east India (Darjeeling, Khasi hills, Manipur), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Java, East Nepal and Philippines. Campylopus flexuosus (Hedw.) Brid., On rocks and soil in grassland. Ambalappara (1450 m), KPR 106682. This is a cosmopolitan species mostly occurring in high altitude areas of grasslands. It has been reported earlier from Southern India (Kerala), Northern India (Western Himalaya), China, East Nepal, Algeria, Abyssinia, Madagascar, New Zealand, Oceania and Siberia. Chionostomum rostratum (Griff.) Müll.Hal., On small branches. Ambalappara (1050 m), KPR 99798. It is distributed in North-eastern India (Darjeeling, Khasi hills), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Southern India (Karnataka), Sri...