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{{Short description|Ecoregion in South India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
|name = South Western Ghats montane rain forests
|image = Forest in Silent Valley National Park - panoramio.jpg
|image_size =
|image_alt =
|caption = View of montane rain forest in [[Silent Valley National Park]], [[Nilgiri mountains]]
|map = Ecoregion IM0151.png
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Ecoregion territory (in purple)
|ecozone = [[Indomalayan realm|Indomalayan]]
|biome = [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
|animals =
|bird_species =
|mammal_species =
|border1 = [[Malabar Coast moist forests]]
|border2 = [[North Western Ghats montane rain forests]]
|border3 = [[South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]]
|area = 22,500
|country = [[India]]
|state1 = [[Karnataka]]
|state2 = [[Kerala]]
|state3 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|region_type = States
|elevation = {{cvt|1000|to|2695|m}}
|geology =
|seas =
|rivers = [[Periyar River]]
|climate = tropical
|soil =
|conservation = critical/endangered<ref name = wwf>{{WWF ecoregion|name=South Western Ghats montane rain forests|id=im0151 |author=Rawat, G.S. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Desai, A. |author3=Somanathan, H. |author4=Wikramanayake, E.D. |year=2002}}</ref>
|global200 =
|habitat_loss =
|habitat_loss_ref =
|coordinates =
|protected = {{cvt|5998|km²}}
|protected_ref = <ref name = dinerstein>{{cite journal |author1=Dinerstein, E. |year=2017 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |pages=534–545 |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |name-list-style=amp |author2=Olson, D. |author3=Joshi, A. |author4=Vynne, C. |author5=Burgess, N.D. |author6=Wikramanayake, E. |author7=Hahn, N. |author8=Palminteri, S. |author9=Hedao, P. |author10=Noss, R. |author11=al.|pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287 }}</ref>
|embedded =
}}

The '''South Western Ghats montane rain forests''' is an [[ecoregion]] in [[South India]], covering the southern portion of the [[Western Ghats]] in [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] at elevations from {{cvt|1000|to|2695|m}}. Annual rainfall in this ecoregion exceeds {{cvt|2800|mm}}.<ref name=Wikramanayake_al2002>{{cite book |last1=Wikramanayake|first1=E. |last2=Dinerstein|first2=E. |last3=Loucks|first3=C.J. |year=2002 |name-list-style=amp |title=Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment|publisher=Island Press |isbn=978-1559-639-23-1 |location=[[Washington, DC]] |chapter=South Western Ghats montane rain forests |pages=284–287 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_VGRBWqIG2gC&pg=PA284}}</ref>

==Setting==
The [[ecoregion]] is the most species rich in peninsular [[India]], and is home to numerous [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] species. It covers an area of {{convert|22,600|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. It is estimated that two-thirds of the original forests have been cleared, and only 3,200 square kilometers, or 15% of the intact area, is protected.

The southern portion of the [[Western Ghats]] contains the highest peaks in the range, notably [[Anamudi]] in Kerala, at 2695 meters elevation. The Ghats intercept the moisture-laden [[monsoon]] winds off the [[Arabian Sea]], and the average annual precipitation exceeds 2,800 mm. The northeast monsoon from October to November supplements the June to September southwest monsoon. The South Western Ghats are the wettest portion of peninsular India, and are surrounded by drier ecoregions to the east and north.<ref name=Wikramanayake_al2002/>

==Protected areas==
As of 1997, this ecoregion encompassed the following 16 protected areas with an area of {{cvt|3250|km²}}:<ref name=Wikramanayake_al2002/>
*in Karnataka: [[Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|250|km2}}, [[Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|190|km2}}, [[Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|60|km}}
*in Kerala: [[Periyar National Park]] with {{cvt|540|km2}}, [[Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|300|km2}}, [[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|260|km2}}, [[Karimpuzha National Park]] with {{cvt|230|km2}}, [[Silent Valley National Park]] with {{cvt|110|km2}}, [[Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|80|km2}}, [[Eravikulam National Park]] with {{cvt|97|km2}}, [[Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|50|km2}}, [[Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|40|km2}}
*in Tamil Nadu: [[Anamalai Tiger Reserve]] with {{cvt|600|km2}}, [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]] with {{cvt|290|km2}}, [[Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary]] with {{cvt|120|km2}} and [[Mukurthi National Park]] with {{cvt|60|km2}}{{cn|date=October 2021}}
As of 2017, the total size of protected areas within this ecoregion amounted to {{cvt|5998|km²}}, equivalent to 27% of the ecoregion's extent. Another 62% is forested but outside protected areas.<ref name=dinerstein/>

Several of the protected areas in the northern portion are included within the [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]], and the [[Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]] covers the southern portion.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=12 April 2010 |title=Biodiversity hotspot |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/science/biodiversity-hotspot-2483632 |access-date=24 September 2024 |website=Deccan Herald |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Premkumar |first=Rohan |date=5 January 2023 |title=Endangered Asian elephant has lost most of its optimal habitat in Nilgiri Reserve: Study |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/endangered-asian-elephant-has-lost-most-of-its-optimal-habitat-in-nilgiri-reserve-study/article66343549.ece |access-date=24 September 2024 |work=The Hindu |language= |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Flora==
[[File:Satyrium nepalense-Silent Valley-2016-08-13-001.jpg|thumb|''[[Satyrium nepalense]]'' in [[Silent Valley National Park]]]]
The cool and moist climate, high rainfall, and variety of microclimates brought about by differences in elevation and exposure supports lush and diverse forests; 35% of the plant species are endemic to the ecoregion. Moist evergreen [[montane forest]]s are the predominant [[habitat]] type. The montane evergreen forests support a great diversity of species ( Animals and plants ). The trees generally form a canopy at 15 to 20 m, and the forests are multistoried and rich in [[epiphytes]], especially [[orchid]]s. Characteristic canopy trees are ''[[Cullenia exarillata]]'', ''[[Mesua ferrea]]'', ''[[Palaquium ellipticum]]'', ''[[Gluta travancorica]]'', and ''[[Nageia wallichiana]]''. ''Nageia'' is a [[podocarp]] [[conifer]] with origins in the ancient supercontinent of [[Gondwana]], of which India was formerly part, and a number of other plants in the ecoregion have Gondwana origins. Other evergreen tree species of the montane forest include ''[[Calophyllum austroindicum]]'', ''[[Garcinia rubroechinata]]'', ''[[Garcinia travancorica]]'', ''[[Diospyros barberi]]'', ''[[Memecylon subramanii]]'', ''[[Memecylon gracile]]'', ''[[Goniothalamus rhynchantherus]]'', and ''[[Monosis travancorica]]''.<ref name=Wikramanayake_al2002/>

The other major habitat type in this ecoregion is the [[shola]]-grassland complex at elevations of {{cvt|1900|to|2220|m}}. Shola is a stunted forest with small trees including ''[[Prunus ceylanica]]'', ''[[Heptapleurum racemosum]]'', ''[[Chionanthus ramiflorus]]'', ''[[Syzygium]]'' spp., [[Rhododendron arboreum|''Rhododendron arboreum'' subsp. ''nilagiricum'']], ''[[Mahonia napaulensis]]'', ''[[Elaeocarpus recurvatus]]'', ''[[Ilex denticulata]]'', ''[[Magnolia nilagirica]]'', ''[[Actinodaphne bourdillonii]]'', and ''[[Litsea wightiana]]''. The understorey consists of dense shrubs. These shola forest patches are interspersed with [[montane grassland]]s characterized by frost- and fire-resistant [[grass]] species like ''[[Chrysopogon nodulibarbis]]'', ''[[Cymbopogon flexuosus]]'', ''[[Arundinella ciliata]]'', ''[[Arundinella mesophylla]]'', ''[[Arundinella tuberculata]]'', ''[[Themeda tremula]]'', and ''[[Sehima nervosa]]''.<ref name=Wikramanayake_al2002/>

==Fauna==
{{multiple image |perrow=1 |header=Endemic fauna |image1=Nilgiri Tahr.jpg |caption1=Nilgiri tahr in [[Valparai]], [[Anaimalai Hills]] |image2=Anthus nilghiriensis 1.jpg |caption2=Nilgiri pipit in the Nilgiri mountains}}
[[Endemic]] [[fauna]] in this ecoregion include [[Nilgiri tahr]] (''Nilgiritragus hylocrius''), [[Nilgiri pipit]] (''Anthus nilghiriensis''), [[Nilgiri laughingthrush]] (''Montecincla cachinnans''), [[broad-tailed grassbird]] (''Schoenicola platyurus''), [[Nilgiri long-tailed tree mouse]] (''Vandeleuria nilagirica''), eight endemic [[reptile]] genera encompassing ''[[Brachyophidium]]'', ''[[Dravidogecko]]'', ''[[Melanophidium]]'', ''[[Plectrurus]]'', [[Ristella]], [[Salea]], ''[[Teretrurus]]'' and ''[[Xylophis]]'' with 90 species, and the six [[amphibia]]n genera ''[[Indotyphlus]]'', ''[[Melanobatrachus]]'', ''[[Nannobatrachus]]'', ''[[Nyctibatrachus]]'', ''[[Ranixalus]]'' and ''[[Uraeotyphlus]]''. The ecoregion also hosts [[Nilgiri langur]] (''Semnopithecus johnii''), [[Malabar large-spotted civet]] (''Viverra civettina''), [[brown palm civet]] (''Paradoxurus jerdoni''), [[Salim Ali's fruit bat]] (''Latidens salimalii''), [[Nilgiri striped squirrel]] (''Funambulus sublineatus'') and [[Layard's palm squirrel]] (''F. layardi'').<ref name=Wikramanayake_al2002/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commonscat-inline|South Western Ghats montane rain forests}}

{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:South Western Ghats montane rain forests| ]]
[[Category:ecoregions of India]]
[[Category:Indomalayan ecoregions]]
[[Category:Montane forests]]
[[Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
[[Category:Tropical rainforests of India]]

South Western Ghats montane rain forests - Revision history

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