title: Contributions of vulnerable hydrogeomorphic habitats to endemic plant diversity on the Kas Plateau, Western Ghats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Western Ghats of India are known to be a major biological hotspot that supports plant diversity and endemism. On the Kas Plateau, a lateritic plateau of the northern Western Ghats, we examined mesoscale distributions of endemic, rare, or locally significant plant species in forest habitats or on the plateau and its escarpments, and assessed the edaphic and hydrological parameters of seasonal plateau microhabitats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost two thirds of over 100 phytogeographically significant species occur on the plateau top; these represent 26 plant families and 43 genera. About 80% of the species are restricted to the upper plateau and its escarpments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since botanically critical plateau habitats are generally small, dependent on seasonal monsoon moisture, and determined by drainage-related parameters that can be altered by anthropogenic activities, they are highly vulnerable. Maintenance of appropriate microhabitats should be a key consideration for conservation of regionally significant plant biota.
authors: Department of Biology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 USA.
authors: Utsarga
authors: U
authors: Bhattarai
authors: Pundarikakshudu
authors: P
authors: Tetali
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Kelso
keywords: Biological hotspots; Endemism; Lateritic plateau; Microhabitats; Seasonal habitats
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