MYRISTICA SWAMP

Source: TimesofIndia

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Context

A group of researchers from Dodamarg, have discovered a sacred grove— a Myristica swamp forest in Kumbral, which is protected by the local community.

Details

About Myristica Swamps

• Myristica swamps are rare, freshwater swamp forests located primarily in the Western Ghats.
• They are ancient ecosystems, referred to as "relic forests."
• They preserve species that date back to the time of the Gondwanaland supercontinent.

Key Characteristics

• They are found in isolated pockets primarily in Kerala and Karnataka.
• The dominant tree species belong to the Myristicaceaefamily, known for producing a red resinous sap.
• These swamps host a wide variety of fauna, including 630 species, ranging from flatworms to large mammals.
• Amphibians, such as the Kumbara Night Frog and fish species like Dawkinsia arulius, are commonly found here.
• Species of Myristica has stilt roots/ knee rootsto breathe.
• These are believed to be the Home to various endemic plantsof the Western Ghats.
• For instance Myristica malabaricais closely associated with nutmeg. Myristica fatue, is a rare plant, which have a population of less than 20 trees in Kerala.
• They support a vulnerable species, as listed in IUCN Red Data book, Syzygium travencuricum.

Ecological Importance

• These swamp forests act as natural sponges, absorbing excess rainwater and releasing it slowly, thus playing a critical role in maintaining the hydrology of the Western Ghats.
• Myristica swamps store large amounts of carbon, helping to regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
• With their unique mix of flora and fauna, these swamps are critical for conserving biodiversity in the Western Ghats​.

Threats

• Human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and logging have led to the degradation of many Myristica swamps.
• They are often drained for cultivation or converted into plantations.
• Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns threaten these ecosystems, which rely on specific water conditions to thrive​.

About Myristica magnifica

• Myristica magnifica is a species of plant in the family Myristicaceae.
• It is native to Karnataka and Kerala.
• It is classified as an endangered species according to the IUCN Red List.
• The plant grows in terrestrial but swampy habitats along streams in evergreen forests.
• The tree grows upto 20 m tall.
• It is seen to have stilt roots that support the main trunk of the tree.

Read about sacred groves:  https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/sacred-groves

Read about Western Ghats:  https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/new-plant-species-found-in-western-ghats

Read about degradation of Myristica swamps: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/myristica-swamp#:~:text=Myristica%20swamps%20are%20a%20type,oldest%20flowering%20plants%20on%20earth.

Sources:TimesofIndia