Checklist of floristic diversity of Mahadare Conservation Reserve, Satara, Maharashtra, India

Authors

  • Sunil H. Bhoite Mahadare Ecological Research Institute (MERI), Satara, Maharashtra 415002, India.
  • Shweta R. Sutar Mahadare Ecological Research Institute (MERI), Satara, Maharashtra 415002, India.
  • Jaykumar J. Chavan Department of Botany, Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara, Maharashtra 41500, India.
  • Swapnaja M. Deshpande Department of Botany, D.P. Bhosale College, Koregaon, Maharashtra 415501, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9023.17.10.27688-27704

Keywords:

Biodiversity, butterfly larval host plants, conservation reserve, endemism, floristics, frugivores, Western Ghats, wild edible

Abstract

Conservation reserves are protected areas that serve as buffer zones, connectors, and migratory corridors, safeguarding biodiversity by protecting critical habitats, wildlife pathways, and ecosystems. The documentation of floral diversity in such habitats is an important aspect to determine conservation priorities. The present paper enumerates flowering plants along with the faunal diversity of Mahadare Conservation Reserve in Satara District of Maharashtra and represents 392 plant taxa, belonging to 293 genera, and 87 families. Amongst these, 127 taxa are listed under IUCN Red List Category, 70 endemic, and two monotypic taxa were recorded. Though the area is a conservation reserve human interference for various natural products, agriculture, and many more, along with biological invasion of alien species, are current threats to the area. The present study will help to prioritize the conservation of plant species which lead to protecting the butterflies, mammals, birds, and other fauna in the Mahadare Conservation Reserve.

Author Biographies

Sunil H. Bhoite, Mahadare Ecological Research Institute (MERI), Satara, Maharashtra 415002, India.

.

Shweta R. Sutar, Mahadare Ecological Research Institute (MERI), Satara, Maharashtra 415002, India.

.

Jaykumar J. Chavan, Department of Botany, Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara, Maharashtra 41500, India.

.

Swapnaja M. Deshpande, Department of Botany, D.P. Bhosale College, Koregaon, Maharashtra 415501, India.

.

References

Abdar, M.R. (2013). Diversity and richness of bird species in newly formed habitats of Chandoli National Park in Western Ghats, Maharashtra State, India. Biodiversity Journal 4(1): 235–242.

Avibase (2025). The World Bird Database. Denis Lepage, National Data Center, Bird Studies Canada. https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase.jsp?lang=EN

Bhattarai, U., P. Tetali & S. Kelso (2012). Contributions of vulnerable hydrogeomorphic habitats to endemic plant diversity on the Kas Plateau, Western Ghats. Springer Plus 1: 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-1-25

Cooke, T. (1901–1908). The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay,Reprinted edition, 1958, Vol 1 & 2. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, 660 pp.

Deshpande, S. (1993). Flora of Mahabaleshwar and Adjoinings, Maharashtra. Botanical Survey of India, 776 pp.

Deshpande, S.M. U.S. Pawar & R.R. Kumbhar (2019a). Exploration and documentation of wild food plants from Satara district, Maharashtra (India). International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 4(1): 95–101.

Deshpande, S.M., U.S. Pawar, S.H. Bhoite & J.J. Chavan (2019b). Floristic study of Kalbhairavnath sacred grove, Bharsakale, Satara, Maharashtra. Species 20: 155–162.

Dhale, O.S., G.N. Pawar, N.N. Bendre & S.H. Bhoite (2024). Diversity of amphibians and reptiles in mahadare conservation reserve, Satara district (MS), Western Ghats, India. African Journal of biological Sciences 6(9): 4896–4801.

Dhore, M.A. & P.A. Joshi (1988). Flora of Melghat Tiger Reserve. Directorate, Project Tiger Melghat Parat wada, Dist. Amravati Maharashtra.

Fraixedas, S., A. Linden, M. Piha, M. Cabeza, R. Gregory & A. Lehikoinen (2020). A state of the art review on birds as indicators of Biodiversity: Advances, Challenges and Future directions. Ecological Indicators 118(1): 106728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106728

IPNI (2025). International Plant Names Index. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries, and Australian National Herbarium. http://www.ipni.org .

Lekhak, M.M. & S.R. Yadav (2012). Herbaceous vegetation of threatened high altitude lateritic plateau ecosystems of Western Ghats, southwestern Maharashtra, India. Rheedea 22(1): 39–61. https://doi.org/10.22244/rheedea.2012.22.01

Malhotra, S.K. & K.M. Rao (1981). The vegetation of Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, India and its Environs Maharashtra State. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 78(3): 475–486.

Malhotra, S.K. & S. Moorthy (1992). A Floristic Account of Taroba National Park and its Environs, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra State. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

POWO (2025). Plants of the World Online. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/ Accessed on 27.i.2025.

Ravikanthachari, N., V.C. Balakrishnan, V.C. Paresh, S. Kalesh, S. Prakash & K. Kunte (2018). Larval host plants of the butterflies of the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(4): 11495–11550. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3104.10.4.11495-11550

Singh, N.P., P. Lakshminarasimhan, S. Karthikeyan & P.V. Prasanna (2001). Flora of Maharashtra State, Dicotyledones, Vol. II. BSI, Calcutta.

Tosh, J., V.D. Vartak & M.S. Kumbhojkar (1988). Floristic and ecological studies on legumes from hilly regions of Pune and Satara districts of Maharashtra state India. Journal of The Bombay Natural History Society 85(3): 585–591.

Wilson, D.E. & D.M. Reeder (eds.) (2005). Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed). Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 pp. https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/

Yadav, S.R. & M. Lekhak (2010). Plateaus in northern Western Ghats - paradise of flowers. ENVIS Newsletter 14(1): 2–3.

Yadav S.R. & M.M. Sardesai (2002). Flora of Kolhapur District. Shivaji University Press, 679 pp.

Downloads

Published

26-10-2025

Issue

Section

Articles