Endemic Western Ghats flycatchers could lose third of their range due to climate change: Study

What is the news?

Researchers have released a study titled ‘Impact of climate change on two high-altitude restricted and endemic flycatchers of the Western Ghats, India.

About the study

The study was conducted on two species endemic to the Western Ghats, namely:

– Black and-orange Flycatcher (BOF), and

– Nilgiri Flycatcher(NIF)

The study’s aim was to determine the current potential suitability and possible responses of the species to future climate change. This was done using the MaxEntalgorithm.

Findings: The study has found that these two species could suffer a loss of 31% and 46% of their range respectively by 2050 due to climate change.

About Black-and-orange Flycatcher(BOF) and Nilgiri Flycatcher(NIF)

Black-and-orange Flycatcher and Nilgiri Flycatcher are monotypic species endemic to the southern Western Ghats and confined to higher elevations. 

BOF prefers the understorey of shola forests, especially among the stunted evergreen forest patches in the sky islands of Western Ghats.

The NIF is also found above 600 m elevation but more frequently above 1200 m.

Moreover, about 75% of the currently suitable areas of both these species lie outside the protected area network in the Western Ghats.

Conservation status:

Source: This post is based on the article “Western Ghats flycatchers could lose a third of their range due to climate change: Study” published in Down To Earth on 28th Nov 2021.