Research on Honavar's biodiversity

These are the sources behind our biodiversity pages. Many come from the Energy & Wetlands Research Group at the Indian Institute of Science, led by T. V. Ramachandra and M. D. Subash Chandran, which has studied Uttara Kannada for over two decades. Others come from CMFRI, SACON, the Botanical Survey of India, Karnatak University and independent researchers.

Mangroves

1. Mesta P.N., Setturu B., Subash Chandran M.D., Rajan K.S. & Ramachandra T.V. (2014). Inventorying, mapping and monitoring of mangroves towards sustainable management of west coast, India. Journal of Geophysics & Remote Sensing 3: 130.
2. Mesta P.N., Setturu B., Vishnu D.M., Subash Chandran M.D. & Ramachandra T.V. Mangroves in Honavar Forest Division, Uttara Kannada. Sahyadri E-News 40, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
3. Subash Chandran M.D., Ramachandra T.V., Joshi N.V., Mesta P.N., Settur B. & Mukri V.D. (2012). Conservation and management of mangroves in Uttara Kannada, Central Western Ghats. Sahyadri Conservation Series 20, ENVIS Technical Report 50, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
4. Subash Chandran M.D., Rao G.R., Mesta P., Vishnu D.M. & Ramachandra T.V. (2012). Green walls for Karnataka sea coast (Honavar Forest Division). Sahyadri Conservation Series 10, ENVIS Technical Report 34, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

Coast & sea

1. Arun A.B., Beena K.R., Raviraja N.S. & Sridhar K.R. (1999). Coastal sand dunes: a neglected ecosystem. Current Science 77(1): 19–21.
2. Bhatt Y.M. & Bal D.V. (1973). Zonation of intertidal organisms on the rocky shores of Bombay. Marine Biological Association of India, Special Publication 1: 306–314.
3. Chippalakatti P. et al. (2025). Marine macroalgae in the rocky shores of coastal Karnataka. Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries 13(1): 66–78.
4. D'Souza S.L., D'Souza N. & Shenoy K.B. (2022). Molluscan diversity of coastal Karnataka. Journal of Coastal Conservation 26: 2.
5. Hanamgond P.T. & Mitra D. (2007). Dynamics of the Karwar coast, India, with special reference to study of tidal inlets. Journal of Coastal Research SI 50: 842–847.
6. Haragi S. et al. (2023). Green mussel Perna viridis beds of the Karwar coast. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture 15(2): 10–20.
7. Hegde V.S. et al. (2012). Spit dynamics along the central west coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research 28(2): 505–510.
8. Hegde V.S., Shalini G., Nayak S. et al. (2009). Low-scale foreshore morphodynamic processes in the vicinity of a tropical estuary at Honnavar, central west coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research 25(2): 305–314.
9. IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force. Sindhudurg–Karwar Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA) factsheet.
10. Jadhav S.J. et al. (2025). Phenology of coastal upwelling in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Journal of Earth System Science 134: 187.
11. Kaladharan P., Zacharia P.U. & Vijayakumaran K. (2011). Coastal and marine floral biodiversity along the Karnataka coast. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India 53(1): 121–129.
12. Kankara R.S., Ramana Murthy M.V. & Rajeevan M. (2018). National assessment of shoreline changes along the Indian coast (1990–2016). National Centre for Coastal Research, Chennai.
13. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (2019). Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, G.S.R. 37(E), 18 January 2019.
14. Namboothri N. et al. (2008). Policy brief: sand dunes. ATREE / UNDP.
15. Palanisamy M. & Yadav S.K. (2022). Seaweed flora of Karnataka coast. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
16. Patra R. et al. (2026). Sea snake (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) diversity and distribution in Indian waters from fisheries bycatch. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
17. Press Information Bureau (4 December 2023). Coastal erosion: reply in Parliament with NCSCM data on eroding beaches.
18. Rodrigues R.S., Mascarenhas A. & Jagtap T.G. (2011). An evaluation of flora from coastal sand dunes of India: rationale for conservation and management. Ocean & Coastal Management 54: 181–188.
19. Rodriguez S. et al. (2008). Policy brief: sea walls. ATREE / UNDP.
20. Saravanan K.R., Chowdhury B.R. & Sivakumar K. (2013). Coastal and marine sites of India, as cited in India's CBD EBSA submission (2015).
21. Singh Y.T. (2019). Biometrics, condition index and meat yield of edible rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK 99(2): 385–392.
22. Singh Y.T., Samuel V.D., Meenakshi V.K., Siva Sankar R. & Narasimhaiah N. (2018). Intertidal biodiversity of Karnataka, south west coast of India. In: Perspectives on Biodiversity of India, Vol. III (4th Indian Biodiversity Congress).
23. Sridhar K.R. & Bhagya B. (2007). Coastal sand dune vegetation: a potential source of food, fodder and pharmaceuticals. Livestock Research for Rural Development 19(6).
24. Vaidya N.G. (2020). Stranding of Indian Ocean humpback dolphin along Uttara Kannada coast, Karnataka. Marine Fisheries Information Service, Technical & Extension Series 243: 31. CMFRI.
25. Zacharia P.U., Krishnakumar P.K., Dineshbabu A.P. et al. (2008). Species assemblage in the coral reef ecosystem of Netrani Island off Karnataka along the southwest coast of India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India 50(1): 87–97.

Birds

1. Barve S. & Warrier R. (2013). Bird diversity of the Sharavathy landscape, Karnataka. Indian BIRDS 8(3): 57–61.
2. Mudappa D. & Raman T.R.S. (2009). A conservation status survey of hornbills (Bucerotidae) in the Western Ghats, India. Indian BIRDS 5(4): 90–102.
3. Pande S. et al. (2011). Avifaunal survey of Netrani Island, Karnataka, and importance of offshore islands for bird life. Indian BIRDS 7(4): 106–108.
4. Patra R., Rana N., Frank S.J.D. & Gopi G.V. (2026). Avifaunal diversity of the central Western Ghats in Uttara Kannada. Journal of Threatened Taxa 18(8): 29401–29417.
5. Praveen J., Subramanya S. & Raj V.M. (2016). A checklist of the birds of Karnataka. Indian BIRDS 12(4&5): 89–118.
6. Ramachandra T.V. et al. (2024). Aghanashini estuary: Ramsar wetland of international significance. Sahyadri Conservation Series 87, ENVIS Technical Report 147, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
7. Ramsar Information Sheet: Aghanashini Estuary, India (site no. 2534).
8. Sneha V. & Davidar P. (2011). Status survey of the Malabar pied hornbill in the Dandeli region. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement: 45–51.

Forests & protected areas

1. Ali S., Subash Chandran M.D. & Ramachandra T.V. Myristica swamps of Uttara Kannada. Sahyadri E-News 23, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
2. Bhat S.S. & Rajanna L. (2014). Plant diversity studies in the rural homegardens of Honnavar taluk, Uttara Kannada.
3. Dandekar P. (c. 2011). Novel conservation reserves on Kali, Bedthi and Aghanashini in the Western Ghats. SANDRP.
4. Dasappa & Swaminath H. (2000). A new species of Semecarpus from the Myristica swamps of North Canara. Indian Forester 126(1): 78–82; name validated in Phytotaxa 247(4): 299–300 (2016).
5. Deccan Herald (22 December 2023). Eco-sensitive zone notified for Sharavathi Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary.
6. Energy & Wetlands Research Group (2013). Status of forest in Shimoga district. ENVIS Technical Report 53, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
7. Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership. Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (KBA 18232) factsheet.
8. Priti H., Aravind N.A., Uma Shaanker R. & Ravikanth G. (2016). Modelling impacts of future climate on the distribution of Myristicaceae species in the Western Ghats, India. Ecological Engineering 89: 14–23.
9. Ramachandra T.V., Subash Chandran M.D., Joshi N.V. & Shalini Kumar (2012). Conservation of endangered fauna in Sharavathi river basin. ENVIS Technical Report 22, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
10. Subash Chandran M.D. & Gadgil M. Sacred groves and sacred trees of Uttara Kannada. Sahyadri E-News 8, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
11. Subash Chandran M.D., Rao G.R., Gururaja K.V. & Ramachandra T.V. (2010). Ecology of the swampy relic forests of Kathalekan from Central Western Ghats, India. Bioremediation, Biodiversity and Bioavailability 4(1): 54–68.
12. Tripathy B.R., Patel I., Pai O. et al. (2024). Establishing a baseline of mammal diversity in Kali Tiger Reserve through camera trapping. Biologia.

Threats

1. Amrutha K. et al. (2023). Assessment of pollution and risks associated with microplastics in the riverine sediments of the Western Ghats. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30: 32301–32319.
2. D'Souza N. et al. (2023). Risk assessment and spatio-temporal distribution of dissolved trace metals in Swarna, Sharavati and Kali estuaries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30(4): 9914–9931.
3. Gupta A., Amulya M., Malik R. & Sharma S. (undated). Gauging the impacts of port and ancillary construction on the ecology and the fishing community in the Sharavathi River estuary. Student report (grey literature).