Faunal Ecology and Conservation of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

This edited book brings out a comprehensive account of the faunal diversity in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve which is part of the Sundaland Biodiversity hotspot. The main focus of this volume is to address the ecological and economic significance of the biodiversity of this region. The book provides latest information on the faunal diversity of Great Nicobar Biosphere. It focuses on various faunal communities of this regions such as Floral diversity, Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies, Termites, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Scorpion, Spiders, Turtle, Nicobar megapode. Chapters in this volume also covers Reptiles & Amphibians, Fishes, Mammals, Land and freshwater Mollusca. Marine animals such as Opisthobranchs, Sponges, Scleractinian Corals and Soft corals, Sea Anemones, Polyclads, Marine Molluscs, Echinoderms are also discussed. It is of interest for the researchers, teachers, scientists, capacity builders, policy makers. Also serve as reading materials for graduate and post graduate students e.g., Wildlife Biology, Forestry, Environmental Science, Wildlife Ecology, Zoology, Life sciences, Parks/Sanctuaries managers, National and International scientists, policy makers will also find this to be a useful document. Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Contents About the Editors Part I: Terrestrial Ecosystem 1: Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve: An Overview Introduction Definition Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve Characteristics of Biosphere Reserve Functions of Biosphere Reserves The Lima Action Plan for UNESCO ́s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and Its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (2016-2025) Vision and Mission of the MAB Programme Strategic Objectives Biosphere Reserves in India National Biosphere Reserve Programme Aims of the Scheme Objectives of the Scheme Criteria for the Selection of Biosphere Reserves Structure and Design of Biosphere Reserves Core Zone Buffer Zone Transition Zone Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve UNESCO-MAB Net Programme and GNBR Zonation Details Land Use History Reserve Inhabitants, Demographic Trends, and Dependence Human Activities Floral Diversity Faunal Diversity Significance for Biological Diversity Conservation Progression of Conservation and Management Issues and Concerns References 2: Floral Diversity of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India Introduction Methods Study Area Data Collection Results and Discussion References 3: Odonata of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Classification of Odonata of the Great Nicobar Islands (Table 3.1) Systematic Account References 4: Butterfly Diversity of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Study Area Methods Results Occurrence of the Species Abundance of Butterflies in Different Habitats and Families Overall Diversity Indices Diversity Indices of Butterflies in Different Locations Similarity Indices Discussion References 5: Aquatic Beetles of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (Coleoptera: Noteridae, Dytiscidae and Hydrophilidae) Introduction Methods Taxonomic Account Results and Discussion References 6: Moths (Lepidoptera) of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Diversity Endemism Summary of the Diversity Systematic Account Checklist References 7: Termite Fauna of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, India Introduction Historical Resume Systematic Accounts References 8: Scorpion and Amblypygi Diversity of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Results and Discussion Conclusion References 9: Diversity and Species Abundance of Spiders of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction International Studies Taxonomy Studies on Indian Spiders Studies on Spiders of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Study Area Methods Study Period Sampling Treatment of Specimens Statistical Analysis Results Occurrence of Species Species Composition Species Diversity and Distribution Discussion Conservation References 10: Non-Marine Molluscs of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India Introduction Malacological History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Methods Results and Discussion Species Diversity and Composition: An Overview Terrestrial Gastropods Freshwater Molluscs Systematic Account List of Freshwater Molluscs Found in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (GNBR) List of Terrestrial Gastropods Found in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (GNBR) Malacofauna with Restricted Distribution Treats Conservation Issues and Implications Conclusions References 11: Reptiles of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Results and Discussion Taxonomic Remarks and Gap Areas Conservation Status Conclusion References 12: Freshwater and Estuarine Fishes of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Results Discussion References 13: Diversity and Species Abundance of Bird Communities in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, India Introduction Study Area Methods Results Occurrence of Bird Species Taxonomic Composition of Bird Species Species Abundance and Dominance Order- and Family-Wise Species Richness and Abundance Overall Diversity Indices Order-Wise Diversity Indices Family-Wise Diversity Indices Density Distribution Model Discussions Conclusions References 14: Present Status and Distribution of Nicobar Megapode Megapodius nicobariensis in Nicobar Islands Introduction Study Area Methods Transect Surveys Camera Trap Survey Results and Discussion Threats References 15: Mammalian Fauna of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Diversity Bats Rodents Shrews Medium-Sized Mammals Review of Literature Endemism Threats Threatened Species References 16: Status and Distribution of Long-Tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis umbrosa Miller, 1902, in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserv... Introduction Study Area Methods Primate Monitoring Study Period Population Structure and Demography Results and Discussion References 17: Conservation Perspectives of Dugongs and Sea Turtles in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Introduction Dugong Conservation Status of Dugongs Conservation Strategies Future Actions Sea Turtles Status of Marine Turtles Nesting in Andaman and Nicobar Islands Great Nicobar Island Existing Conservation and Management Measures Undertaken by the Forest Department, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Conservation Strategy and Action Plan References Part II: Marine Ecosystem 18: Mesozooplankton Diversity in the Marine Waters of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago Introduction Review of Literature Methods Literature Survey Collection and Analysis of Mesozooplankton Samples Results and Discussion Conclusions References 19: Current Status of Diversity of Marine Microplankton from Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago Introduction Methods Results and Discussion Conclusions References 20: Marine Sponges of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Study Area Review of Literature Sampling Results and Discussion Sponge Species Reported in Earlier Studies Sponge Species Recorded in the Present Study Sponge Species Distribution Among the Survey Localities in Great Nicobar Among-Site Variability Conclusion References 21: Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve: A Biological Treasure Trove for Scleractinian Corals Introduction Methods Results Discussion References 22: Hydrozoan Diversity and Distribution in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Study Area Sampling and Identification Species Distribution Substrate Analysis Similarity Measure Results Species Occurrence Species Distribution Abundance Substrate-Wise Distribution of Species Similarity Measure Locality-Based Substrate-Based Discussion References 23: Diversity and Distribution of Octocorals (Octocorallia) in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Study Area Specimen Collection Fixation and Preservation Sclerite Preparation and Identification Sørensen ́s Similarity Index Results and Discussion Substrates and Associates Species Abundance Sørensen ́s Similarity Index References 24: Status and Distribution of Sea Anemone in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Study Area Methods Specimen Collection Species Identification Survey Methods Results External Morphology Boloceroides mcmurrichi (Kwietniewski, 1898) Calliactis polypus (Forsskål, 1775) Telmatactis decora (Hemprich & Ehrenberg in Ehrenberg, 1834) Entacmaea quadricolor (Leuckart in Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828) Heteractis magnifica (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833) Heteractis crispa (Hemprich & Ehrenberg in Ehrenberg, 1834) Heteractis aurora (Quoy and Gaimard, 1833) Stichodactyla mertensii Brandt, 1835 Stichodactyla tapetum (Hemprich & Ehrenberg in Ehrenberg, 1834) Cryptodendrum adhaesivum (Klunzinger, 1877) Species Diversity Discussion References 25: Polyclads of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Results Pseudobiceros bedfordi (Laidlaw, 1903) Pseudobiceros gratus (Kato, 1937) Pseudobiceros murinus (Newman and Cannon, 1997) Pseudoceros bifurcus (Prudhoe, 1989) Pseudoceros bolool (Newman and Cannon, 1994) Pseudoceros concinnus (Collingwood, 1876) Pseudoceros galatheensis (Dixit, Raghunathan & Chandra, 2017) Pseudoceros gamblei (Laidlaw, 1902) Pseudoceros imitatus (Newman, Cannon & Brunckhorst, 1994) Pseudoceros meenae (Dixit, Sivaperuman & Chandra, 2018) Pseudoceros stimpsoni (Newman & Cannon, 1998) Acanthozoon fuscobulbosum (Dixit Sivaperuman & Raghunathan, 2018) Discussion References 26: Decapods (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Study Area Collection, Preservation and Identification Species Richness and Abundance Sørensen Similarity Index Results Species Occurrence Species Distribution Species Abundance Sørensen Similarity Index Family-Wise Species Abundance Discussion References 27: Current Status of the Marine Polychaete (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Nicobar Islands Introduction Review of Literature Methods Results Discussion References 28: Diversity and Distribution of Intertidal Molluscan Fauna of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Introduction Methods Results Class-Wise Composition Order-Wise Composition Family-Wise Composition Sørensen ́s Similarity Index Molluscan Fauna of Great Nicobar Island Discussion References 29: Status and Distribution of Opisthobranchs of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, India Introduction Methods Sørensen Similarity Index Ordination Analysis Distribution Mapping Results Description of Identified Species from Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Systematics Family Haminoeidae Pilsbry, 1895 Order Aplysiidae Family Aplysiidae (Lamarck, 1809) Suborder Sacoglossa Family Plakobranchidae Gray, 1840 Order Nudibranchia Cuvier, 1817 Family Arminidae Iredale and O ́Donoghue, 1923 (1841) Family Samlidae Korshunova et al., 2017 Family Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891 Family Dendrodorididae O ́Donoghue, 1924 (1864) Family Discodorididae Bergh, 1891 Family Phyllidiidae Rafinesque, 1814 Family Flabellinidae Bergh, 1889 Family Polyceridae Alder and Hancock, 1845 Order Pleurobranchida Family Pleurobranchidae Gray, 1827 Diversity and Distribution Order-Wise Composition Family-Wise Composition Similarity Index List of Opisthobranch Fauna from Great Nicobar Island Discussion References 30: Diversity and Distribution of Echinoderms of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Introduction Methods Results Discussion References 31: Marine Ichthyofaunal Diversity in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve: India Introduction Methods Results and Discussion References 32: Marine Mammals of the Nicobar Group of Islands: India Introduction Literature Review Methodology Study Area: The Nicobar Group of Islands Results Discussion References