International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 4, Issue 11, November -2015 26 ISSN 2278-7763 Status of Biodiversity in Mining Area of Kamatagi (North Karnataka, INDIA) A Case Study Dr. R.G.Konnur Department of Zoology, SVP- SSBM First Grade College, BADAMI-587201, Karnataka State, INDIA , Email : [email protected]. ABSTRACT Unchecked population growth and anthropocentric causes including mining led to devastation of habitat, loss of biodiversity, shift or change, or extinction of species of flora & fauna. One such study was conducted near Kamatagi (North Karnataka) that lies on low profile hills of Western Ghats. Quarterly survey for flora & fauna including physicochemical factors and socio-economic survey studies have suggested a shift or change in species composition in mined area in par with un-mined (natural ) habitat. There was a general trend in the dominance of natural/ wild varieties of plants in un-mined region than in the mining belt. It reflected a situation of habitat fragmentation and loss of native plants. The mined area however has prevalence of cultivable/ornamental plant species. An analyses of fauna indicated a least variability & differences in species composition. Insects among invertebrates and aves & mammals among vertebrates have dominated the rest of animal groups in mined as well as un-mined regions The reasons for sparse distribution & stunted growth of trash/wild plants in un-mined region concurrent to rich growth of cultivable plants in mining belt is discussed. Recent insights in biodiversity conservation and effective nurturing of both biodiversity as well as mining isIJOART also discussed in this paper. INTRODUCTION Human beings are traditionally dependent on plants, animals & microbes in their surroundings since ancient times for various purposes such as food, medicine, cloth, cosmetics, dyes, fiber, pesticides, building materials & house hold articles of daily use. Now it is a question how safe these plants & animals under the present trend of ecosystem exploitation. Unchecked population growth & anthropocentric causes devasted the habitat and extinction of many species of plants & animal (Sharma 1997,Subramaniyan 2007,Khan MA, 2012). Mining activities are considered to cause a serious damage to flora & fauna by way of destruction of their natural habitat. It is the general perception that mining harms our biodiversity by way of deforestation, habitat degradation, isolation, soil erosion, inundation of aquatic ecosystems etc,.(Odum, E P 1971, Gadgil M.1993, Gupta R K, Chauhan Anita 1994 ,Gupta R K 2012). Key-wards:sustainable biodiversity, deforestation,edge effect,stunted growth, conservation, a forestation, mining, habitat fragmentation, cultivable plants, trash/wild plants Copyright © 2015 SciResPub. IJOART International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 4, Issue 11, November -2015 27 ISSN 2278-7763 Studies also suggest a less stable dynamics of fauna due to increasing patchiness (Kareiva.p,1987) caused by mining, edge effect (Fisher J & David Lindenmoyer,2007) etc,. Now, because the mining occupies 2nd position in industrial sector & supports the Indian economy, science based approach & biodiversity offsets towards nurturing both mining & biodiversity are now under consideration to avoid loss due to mining ( ICMM,2005; Malik Virah et.al.,2014). Keeping this in view, research studies were carried out near Kamatagi (Bagalkot dt.-north Karnataka) for a period of one year from 2012-2013. This study aimed at reporting the effects of mining on status of biodiversity i.e., to know whether the mining has its deteriorating effects on biota at this region, if any?. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study area (mining site) is located on stretches of low profile hills of Western Ghats. It lies at a distance of 6-7km, towards east of Kamatagi (Bagalkot dt.) just beside Bagalkot-Raichur state highway at 600 msl (Map-1). Approximate coverage area of mining activity is 60-70 ha. Quarterly survey for flora & fauna, physicochemical parameters and socio-economic studies were carried out; but, the data on flora & fauna alone are chosen here to interpret the results. Quadrate method was adopted to analyze the composition of flora & fauna. The average of four study stations as one unit in the mining area and one in the non- mining (natural) habitat were the sampling sites. The index method was adopted to represent the number of individual species (Phillip E.A.1959, Misra,1968 and Sundarapandian S M 2012 ). IJOART Copyright © 2015 SciResPub. IJOART International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 4, Issue 11, November -2015 28 ISSN 2278-7763 RESULTS . The average values of quarterly survey on qualitative & quantitative aspects of flora and fauna in mining & non-mining areas are summarized in Table-I and Table-II respectively. TABLE-I. Composition and Quantitative Flora Analyzed for study stations Composition of Flora Mined area Unmined(Natural) Habitat Acacia Arabica ++ +++ A. nilotica + +++ A.catechu ++ ++ Australian acacia ++ ++ Albizia lebbeck + ++ Bauhinia vaigate + + Baugain villea ++ - Cassia auriculata +++ ++ Carissa indica + ++ C. caridosa + + Caryota daman ++ + Dalburgia sisa ++ ++ Delonix regia +++ ++ Duranta seens + - Eucalyptus longifolia ++ ++ Euphorbia antignasium + ++ IJOART Ficus sp. ++ ++ Hibiscus rosa ++ - Indigofera + ++ Jaltropha provera - ++ Neem plant + ++ Opuntia - ++ Pongamia pinnata +++ + Parthenium weed + + Protopis alba - ++ Phyllantus emblica ++ + Tectona grandis ++ + Zizypus zuzuba + +++ Thatch grass + ++ * Index for Quantity: + 1-5/10x10 sq. m, ++ 6-25/10x10 sq.m, +++ 26 & >/10x10sq.m , - No representation +*Rarely sighted The composition of plants listed in Table 1 suggests that the plant varieties- Pongamia pinnata, Cassia auriculata, Phyllanthus emblica,Caryota daman,Delonix regia etc., dominated in the mining area with index value ++ and +++; whereas, plant species-Acacia nilotica ,A.arabica, Ziziphus zuzuba,Neem plant, Jaltropha provera.dominated in the non- Copyright © 2015 SciResPub. IJOART International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 4, Issue 11, November -2015 29 ISSN 2278-7763 mining (natural) habitat. Their index value varied between ++ and +++ in the region. The non-mining region also had moderate distribution of thatch grass. The plant species –Dalburgia sisa ,Eucalyptus longifolia, Ficus sp., Australian acacia & A.catechu distributed equally in both the mining as well as non-mining regions. TABLE. II: Composition and Quantitative Fauna analyzed for study stations Composition of Fauna Mined area Un-mined/natural Habitat INVERTEBRATES Termite + +++ Solenopsis sp.(Red ant) ++ +++ Spider + ++ Butter fly ++ +++ May fly + ++ Dragon fly + ++ Lac insect - ++ Grass hopper - ++ Carausius (Stick insect) - + Mantis religosa(preying mantis) + ++ Schistocera gregaria (Locust) + ++ Vespa orientalis (red wasp) + ++ Julus terestricus (a millipede) - + Scolopendra (a centipede) + + VERTEBRATES Bufo melanosticus(terr.frog) - + Mabouia carinata(IJOART skink.-lizard) - + Calotes versicolor + ++ Varanus monitor + + Passer domesticus(house sparrow) ++ +++ Myana bird + ++ Corvus sp.(crow) + + Hoofe hoofe ++ ++ Pavo cristatus (comm..pea fowl) - + Baya bird - + Swift ++ +++ Tochus birostricus(grey hornbil) - + Langoor(black monkey) + + Macaca macaca(red monkey) + + Mangoose + ++ Manis( Pangolin-ant eater) - +* Wild pig +* +* Hystrix (spine pig) - +* * Index for Quantity: + 1-5/10x10 sq. m, ++ 6-25/10x10 sq.m, +++ 26 & >/10x10sq.m , - No representation +*Rarely sighted Copyright © 2015 SciResPub. IJOART International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 4, Issue 11, November -2015 30 ISSN 2278-7763 The composition of Invertebrate animals recorded belongs to two major groups i.e., Arthropoda & Mollusca. Insects of the group arthropoda accounted to 99% and the remaining 1% constituted by Mollusca. Termites, red ant, Dorylus sp.(winged ants) butterfly & grasshopper etc., dominated in the non- mining area. Flying insects like-may fly dragon fly recorded seasonally i.e., during rainy season in both the regions, their index value ranged between + to++( 1-5 to 6-25 indls.). Lac-insect, grasshopper, millipede, stick-insect did not show their representation in the mining area. The quantity of termite, red ant, butter-fly was significantly high in non-mining region with Index value of +++( >25 indls.) Among the Vertebrates- Birds & Mammals were dominated over the rest of animal groups. Passer domesticus, Myana, Swift, Corvus sp.(Crow), Hoofe hoofe were common with reduced index value (+/++ ). Swift & house sparrow recorded a higher index value of ++ & +++(6-25 &> 25 indls. respectively) in mining as well as non-mining areas. The composition of Mammals included Manis, Mangoose, Wild pig ,Macaca macaca, Languor,& Hystrix etc.,. Manis & Hystrix were sighted very rarely i.e., occasionally in these habitats. Among the rest of the vertebrates Bufo melanosticus ( land frog) & Mabauia carinata( skink) an amphibian and reptilian respectively recorded with a low index value +,(1-5 indls.) only in the non-mining region. DISCUSSION The status of vegetation was considered as basic measure to know the effect of mining on biodiversity. Hence, due importance was given to record the composition of flora & fauna and their quantity in both the mining as well as non-mining regions. The collectedIJOART data on flora suggest that, in general, there is a shift in the species composition of plants. The cultivable