Report of new myristica swamp ecosystems from the Western Ghats at Pathanapuram, Kerala, India

Abstract

We present a new distributional report of myristica swamp ecosystems in the Western Ghats at Pathanapuram, Kerala, India based on several distinct field surveys from April 2022 to June 2022. From Kerala, myristica swamp has previously been reported mainly from Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kulathupuzha Reserve Forests, and adjoining regions of the Anchal forest ranges in southern Western Ghats. The present study described and illustrated the occurrence of myristica swamp from the Pathanapuram forest range in Kerala for the first time. The observed myristica swamps from the Pathanapuram forest range are seen inside the Ambanar model forest station and Punnala forest station limits. A total of 18 myristica swamp patches from Ambanar and seven myristica swamps from Punnala were reported and captured. A pilot survey from these sites suggests they are abundant with various faunal and floral wealth. Therefore, recognition and conservation of these ecosystems are essential and vital and suggest further surveys and conservation efforts.