POPULATION AND RESOURCE UTILISATION BY REPTILES IN UPPER NILGIRIS, NILGIRI BIOSPHERE RESERVE, WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Abstract

Herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) are important components of both terrestrial and wetland ecosystems as they play a major role in energy flow and nutrient cycling. Both of them are also excellent indicators of environmental degradation. Being poikilotherms, reptiles tend to partition time and space more often than homeotherms as their physiology and behaviour are closely linked to environmental conditions. However, quantitative data on the population and resource use by reptiles are scanty in India. Resource use can be studied with respect to the three most often recognized niche axes: spatial (habitat use), temporal (activity period) and trophic (food). Herpetofauna of India, one of the most diverse taxa, is poorly known regarding their ecology and population characteristics. Major objectives of this study was to (1) assess the population status of reptiles and factors determining their distribution in various habitats of Upper Nilgiri plateau (2) determine the habitat use and food habits of reptiles, and (3) to understand the resource use at spatio-temporal and trophic levels by reptiles in Upper Nilgiris.