FAUNAL DIVERSITY

INTRODUCTION India is one of the twelve mega-diverse nations of the World and is a land of varied fauna. It shows a notable diversity of habitats, with significant variations in rainfall, altitude, topography, and latitude.  It has a great diversity of natural ecosystems from cold and high Himalayan ranges to seacoasts, from wet northeastern green forests to dry northwestern arid deserts, different types of forests, wetlands, islands, estuaries and oceans.

TYPES OF DIVERSITY Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity Genetic Diversity

FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF INDIA The country has 10 different bio geographic zones. Every ecosystem has its own unique representation of species.

FAUNA OF TAMIL NADU Tamil Nadu is endowed with a rich biodiversity. The main natural habitat types are Forest, Mountains, Rivers, Wetlands, Mangroves and Beaches. Faunal diversity of Tamil Nadu is spread over the 3 major ecosystems - freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Dr. K. Venkataraman, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai has published about 595 species of freshwater fauna, 2247 species of marine fauna and 1898 species of terrestrial fauna in Tamil Nadu.

TAMIL NADU'S FAUNAL DIVERSITY The faunal diversity of Tamil Nadu includes 165 species of fresh water Pisces of which 126 are red listed, 76 species of Amphibians of which 56 are red listed, 177 species of Reptiles of which 77 are red listed, 454 species of Birds of which 32 are red listed 187 species of Mammals of which 40 are red listed. Source: Tamilnadu Forest Department

FRESHWATER FAUNAL DIVERSITY The major groups of freshwater fauna occurring in Tamil Nadu is represented in freshwater wetlands. In general, insects dominate the freshwater fauna. The Western Ghats exhibits a rich diversity of freshwater fish fauna. Of the 446 primary freshwater fishes known from India 230 species are found in the Western Ghats, of which 118 are endemic. A total of 116 species are reported from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of which 11 species are endemic.

MARINE FAUNAL DIVERSITY The marine fauna of Tamil Nadu is rich and varied. 313 species of sponges and 131 species of echinoderms are recorded. Free swimmers or nekton are important components of marine biodiversity and constitute important fisheries of the world. The dominant taxa in the nekton of Tamil Nadu are fish (527) others being crustaceans (419), molluscs (336), reptiles (15) and mammals (29). Majority of the nektonic species are found in the coastal waters.

TERRESTRIAL FAUNAL DIVERSITY The terrestrial fauna of Tamil Nadu includes phylum Annelida, Mollusca, Chordata and Arthropoda. Among invertebrates, insects dominate the terrestrial fauna. NEW FAUNAL RECORDS During 2014, 176 new species and 61 new records of animals discovered, described and reported from India (Animal Discoveries, ZSI, 2014).

MOST ENDANGERED FAUNAS OF INDIA Indian Tiger Indian Dolphin Gharial Indian Bustard Indian Rhinoceros Black Buck

Indian Wild Dog Indian Wild Ass Nilgiri Langur Red Panda

THREATS TO FAUNAL DIVERSITY Anthropogenic causes: Habitat modification Overexploitation Innovation by exotic species Pollution Hunting Global warming and climate change Natural causes: Low population Low breeding rate Natural disasters

BIOSPHERE RESERVES OF TAMIL NADU The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) is the first Biosphere Reserve established in India, in the year 1986. It is located in the Western Ghats and encompasses two of the ten bio-geographical zones of India. The fauna of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles and amphibians, 300 species of butterflies and innumerable invertebrates.

Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (GOMMBRE), situated in the southeastern coast of India extending from Rameswaram in the north to Toothukudi in the south along with its marine environment has been declared as India's first Marine Biosphere Reserve. It is rich in fin and shellfish resources and number of endemic and endangered species including the Dugong dugong commonly referred to as the sea cow.

C0NSERVATION OF FAUNAL DIVERSITY Imparting Environmental Education Conservation through Biotechnology Promoting Eco-tourism Implementing Project Tiger and Project Elephant Man and Biosphere Programme 'Eco-development' for in situ conservation Biosphere Reserves

C0NCLUSION In the last few decades we have seen a steady increase in the extinction rate of fauna all over world including India and so now, conservation of faunal diversity is of importance. Biodiversity conservation serves as an insurance policy for the future. 

Presented by S.Priya M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Research Scholar, Department of Zoology, Queen Mary’s College