v14i2.373

eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v14i2.373

Submitted date: 30 September 2024
Accepted date: 22 September 2025
Published date: 30 October 2025
Pp. 206–213.

DIVERSITY, SEASONALITY, AND HERBIVORE PALATABILITY OF THE GRASSES OF KAVALEDURGA FORT, WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Hanchali U. Abhijit, Hanchali U. Vishwajit, Krishna Kulkarni* & Raghavendra P. Bhat
*Corresponding author. E-mail: krishecol@gmail.com

Abstract
The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in India, face environmental changes from human activities. While various species have been studied, grass ecology remains underexplored in this region. This study reports on the diversity, seasonality, and herbivore palatability of grass species at Kavaledurga Fort in Karnataka, a tourist spot where wild small mammals and livestock graze. From 2019 to 2022, we documented 51 grass species from 33 genera, 9 tribes, and 6 subfamilies across various microhabitats. Over 80% of the grasses flower and fruit between August and December, coinciding with the late monsoon to early winter period. The dominant subfamilies were Panicoideae and Chloridoideae, accounting for 88% of species. About 47% of the species were palatable to herbivores, while 35% were not. Our study highlights the ecological importance of grass flora in the historical forts of Western Ghats, emphasizing the need for continued documentation and monitoring, as these often-neglected habitats face growing pressures.

Section Editor: Jess Rickenback