‘Dragonfly, damselfly species missing in the Western Ghats’

UPSC Prelims + Mains Study Note

1. At a Glance

• A 2021–2023 field survey — one of the most extensive Odonata surveys ever conducted across the Western Ghats — documented only 143 species out of the ~220 historically recorded, revealing an alarming ~35% shortfall in known diversity. [1][2]
• Odonata (dragonflies + damselflies) are sensitive bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health; their absence signals habitat degradation, pollution, or species loss. [1]
• The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's 8 hottest biodiversity hotspots, making any recorded biodiversity gap a matter of global conservation concern. [3]
• Prelims relevance: IUCN Red List categories, endemic species counts, biodiversity hotspot geography; Mains relevance: GS-III (Environment & Biodiversity), GS-I (Geography). [1][2]

2. Why in the News

• A peer-reviewed paper — "Western Ghats Odonata Odyssey" — published in Biology Bulletin Reviews (Springer Nature, 2026) triggered widespread media coverage in May 2026. [4]
• The study's headline finding: current surveys could recover only 65% of known Odonata fauna of the Ghats, implying plausible species loss. [1][2]
• Lead researcher: Prof. Pankaj Koparde, Assistant Professor, MIT-World Peace University, Pune. [1]

3. Background & Evolution

• Odonata taxonomy in India has been compiled since the British colonial period; the Atlas of Odonata of the Western Ghats (NHBS/ZSI) represents the landmark historical reference against which current surveys are benchmarked. [5]
• The Western Ghats was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 across 39 properties spanning 6 states, recognising it as a centre of exceptional biodiversity. [3]
• Systematic freshwater biodiversity assessments for the Ghats gained momentum post-2000; IUCN conducted a Western Ghats Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment covering 1,146 freshwater species across four taxonomic groups including Odonata. [3]
• The 2021–2023 survey (the subject of this news) represents the most granular field-based Odonata documentation to date, with 144 sites across 5 states. [1]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Environmental

• Odonata are obligate freshwater insects — larvae are aquatic, adults depend on clean water bodies; their decline is a direct proxy for freshwater ecosystem degradation. [1]
• The 35% documentation gap signals potential habitat destruction (deforestation, wetland loss, stream channelisation) and possibly local extinctions. [2]
• Major threats identified: habitat loss, pollution, hydropower projects, forest fires, tourism pressure, climate change. [2]
• Three species confirmed Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; the majority remain "Data Deficient" — a systemic monitoring failure, not confirmation of safety. [1]

Scientific / Technological

• Odonata serve as indicator species — their presence/absence informs water quality assessments used in environmental impact evaluations for infrastructure projects. [1]
• The survey used citizen science integration + expert field surveys across 144 sites — a model for large-scale biodiversity monitoring. [2]
• Protosticta species (platystictid damselflies) are particularly significant — 10 of the genus's species are restricted to the Western Ghats Hotspot and represent deep evolutionary lineages. [3]
• New species of Odonata (Protosticta sexcoloratus, Phylloneura rupestris) were described from the Western Ghats as recently as 2023, underlining the region's continued taxonomic novelty. [5]

Legal / Constitutional

• The Western Ghats falls under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for several fauna; specific Odonata species are not yet listed.
• The Kasturirangan Committee Report (2013) identified ~37% of the Western Ghats (60,000 sq. km) as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) — regulatory basis for restricting developmental activities threatening biodiversity. [3]
• India's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) — committing to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030 (30×30 target) — make such surveys policy-relevant. [3]

Administrative / Governance

• Most Odonata species fall under "Data Deficient" or "Not Evaluated" on the IUCN Red List — pointing to a failure of systematic biodiversity monitoring by states and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). [1]
• Freshwater biodiversity assessments are fragmented across the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), state forest departments, and academic institutions — no unified national Odonata monitoring programme exists. [2]
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) are the domestic legal framework for biodiversity conservation, but enforcement gaps persist for non-charismatic invertebrates. [3]

Geopolitical / Strategic

• The Western Ghats spans 6 states (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat) — creating federal coordination challenges in conservation governance. [1]
• India's commitments under CBD's Kunming-Montreal Framework and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework require robust species-level data; documented gaps undermine India's reporting credibility. [3]

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• May 2026: The Hindu reports on the Western Ghats Odonata survey; study published in Biology Bulletin Reviews (Springer Nature). [1][4]
• 2026: Survey data reveals Kerala as the most important state for Odonata endemism (33 endemic species); Maharashtra (12), Karnataka (6), Goa (4). [2]
• 2023: New Odonata species Protosticta sexcoloratus and Phylloneura rupestris described from Western Ghats — confirming region's ongoing taxonomic significance. [5]
• 2022: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted (COP15, December 2022) — establishes 30×30 target and mandates species-level monitoring, adding urgency to surveys like this. [3]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. Order Odonata encompasses both dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera). [1]
2. The 2021–2023 Western Ghats Odonata survey covered 144 sites across 5 states: Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat. [1]
3. Survey recorded 143 Odonata species — 76 dragonflies and 67 damselflies. [1]
4. Only ~65% of historically known Odonata species were documented — implying a ~35% shortfall. [1]
5. 40 species recorded in the survey are endemic to the Western Ghats; historical endemic total ~95 species. [2]
6. Kerala recorded the highest number of endemic Odonata species (33) among the five states surveyed. [2]
7. Three species confirmed IUCN Vulnerable: Elattoneura souteri, Protosticta sanguinostigma, Cyclogomphus ypsilon. [1]
8. Most Western Ghats Odonata fall under "Data Deficient" or "Not Evaluated" on the IUCN Red List — not "Least Concern." [1]
9. The Western Ghats is a ~1,600 km mountain chain along India's west coast — a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot. [1]
10. The Western Ghats was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. [3]
11. Lead researcher: Prof. Pankaj Koparde, MIT-World Peace University, Pune. [1]
12. Odonata are ecological bioindicators — their larvae are aquatic, making them sensitive markers of freshwater habitat quality. [1]
13. The study was published in Biology Bulletin Reviews (Springer Nature). [4]
14. Ten species of the genus Protosticta are restricted to the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot. [3]
15. The Kasturirangan Committee (2013) designated ~60,000 sq. km (~37%) of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). [3]

8. Mains Relevance

GS Paper(s): Primarily GS-III (Environment & Ecology) | Also GS-I (Physical Geography — Biodiversity Hotspots)

Syllabus Headings:

• GS-III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment
• GS-I: Distribution of Key Natural Resources; Biodiversity and its Conservation

Plausible Mains Questions:

1. "A recent survey documented only 65% of historically known Odonata species in the Western Ghats. Discuss the significance of such biodiversity gaps and suggest measures to strengthen freshwater biodiversity monitoring in India." (GS-III, 15 marks)

2. "The Western Ghats faces overlapping developmental and ecological pressures. Critically examine the adequacy of the existing legal and institutional framework — including the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 — in protecting its biodiversity." (GS-III, 15 marks)

3. "Bioindicator species serve as early warning systems for ecosystem degradation. Using the example of Odonata in the Western Ghats, elaborate on this concept and its implications for India's obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework." (GS-III, 10 marks)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. Confusing Odonata sub-orders: Dragonflies = Anisoptera; Damselflies = Zygoptera. Do not conflate the two or assume "Odonata" refers only to dragonflies.

2. Misquoting the shortfall: The survey documented 65% of known species — meaning 35% are missing. A common trap is inverting this (claiming 35% were found or 65% are missing).

3. UNESCO vs. Hotspot designation: Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012) AND a biodiversity hotspot (Conservation International) — these are two separate designations with different criteria. Do not merge them.

4. Confusing the three Vulnerable species with the full endemic count: Only 3 species are IUCN Vulnerable; 40 species in the survey are endemic to the Ghats; historical endemic total is ~95. These three numbers are frequently mixed up.

5. Kasturirangan vs. Gadgil Committee: The Gadgil Committee (2011) recommended classifying ~64% of Western Ghats as ESA; the Kasturirangan Committee (2013) reduced this to ~37% (~60,000 sq. km). Exam questions often test which committee recommended what percentage.