First Indian study on species discovery pattern

Cousins coming: New species li (Credit: BRIJ KISHOR GUPTA)there is little chance for a new bird or butterfly being discovered in the Western Ghats now, says a recent study. It
has, however, not ruled out the discovery of frogs and grasses.

First time in India, a team of researchers including scientists from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore have classified the patterns of
species discovery of eight important animal and plant groups in the Western Ghats. The study has analysed the factors which helped in the
discovery of these species.

The species studied included birds, butterflies, frogs, tiger beetles, grasses, ferns and orchids. The findings have been published in the June 2007
issue of the Journal of Biosciences (Vol 32, No 4).

The researchers gathered data on four animal groups (birds, butterflies, frogs and tiger beetles) and four plant groups (asters, grasses, orchids and
ferns)."The selection of species was based on the availability of relevant data and the clarity of their taxonomic status," says R Uma Shaanker,
professor at the department of crop physiology, University of Agriculture Sciences, Bangalore.
Determining factors
Many of the species recently discovered in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hot spot, were amphibians. "Species discovery in a region follows a
specific pattern. A number of factors determine the way species are discovered," says Shaanker. They include, he says, body size, colour, range of
movement and visual appeal of the species.

Many studies have linked the rate of species discovery to body size, for example, in British beetles, to body size and range of species movement in
neotropical mammals and North American butterflies. In South American oscine passerine birds, the chance of discovery was influenced by quantity,
geographic and altitudinal ranges of their movement and body size.

In the Western Ghats, say researchers, factors such as body size, colours on feathers, nature of the habitat and feeding habits determined the
discovery of birds. For butterflies, the researchers found body size (wing span), number of colours on the wings and the altitudinal range as
determining factors. On flowers like orchids, the study considered the number of flowers in inflorescence--floral arrangement in a plant--size of the
flower, length of inflorescence and the characteristics of the habitat.

The discovery pattern for birds and butterflies showed saturation which means, in all likelihood, there is little chance for further discovery among the
group.

The last bird--maroon-breasted sunbird Nectarinia lotenia--from the Western Ghats was found in 1944 and the last butterfly--small
long-branded bush brown Mycalesis igilia--was found in 1911.

Discovery pattern for ferns, tiger beetles and asters also showed that there is only marginal scope of discovery.

Chance list
There are more species yet to be discovered among frogs and grass. Locally seen--endemic--frogs have an edge over their non-endemic
counterparts, says the study. The orchids too share the same pattern. "Non-endemic species are more widespread and the chance for them being
discovered are high while endemic species are confined to a narrow range," said Shaanker.

Birds were the earliest to be discovered while the discovery of frogs occurred later, says the study. Among plants, orchids were the earliest to be
discovered while grasses were found much later.

On the evolutionary front, grasses are among the most modern taxa--group of species. Researchers, however, do not agree that the pattern of
species discovery is linked to evolutionary trends. "A few tax might have reached saturation. This does not mean that more biodiversity cannot be
uncovered," clarifies Shaanker. The advancement in the science of taxonomy like using genetic analysis can help in identifying new species, he adds.

"Despite the excellent taxonomic literature available for India, not much is known about the species discovery patterns in the country," says
Shaanker. According to researchers, the study has significant implications for strategising the species discovery process in the country and help
scientists in fixing the groups of species to be explored.