Rare Animals of India

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Shortsighted About the Shortwings? Conservation Biology of the Shortwings, Threatened Endemic Birds, on the Sky Islands of Southern India?

Author(s): V.V. Robin and Anindya Sinha

Pp: 145-159 (15)

DOI:10.2174/9781608054855113010010

* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

In tropical biodiversity hotspots, with diverse biota and high endemism, thereare several factors that affect existence of species. Habitat loss by deforestation,fragmentation and degradation by disturbance are some of the more commonlydocumented processes that affect species. In the unique Shola habitat on the sky islandsof Western Ghats, we examine how different aspects affect the endemic bird speciescomplex of Shortwings – White-bellied Shortwing and Rufous-bellied Shortwing. Wedescribe here the patchiness and unique distribution pattern of these species, taxonomicambiguity, genetic differences, effect of parasites across different populations of thesespecies. We also highlight conservation action required in some key populations ofthese species.

Keywords:Shola forests, Western Ghats, shortwing, Brachypteryx, sky island,birds, india, patchiness, fragmentation, white-bellied shortwing, rufous-belliedshortwing, myiomela, robin, bird song, genetics, distribution, evolution, nesting,parasites, conservation