Satara Aponogeton

Aponogeton satarensis is only known from five sites in small temporary pools on the top of widely separated hill plateaus in the Western Ghats. At one of these sites, some of the temporary pools have been lost due to the construction of windmills however, secondary pools have been created and the species is has colonized these new pools. Another site is threatened by the increase of tourism (botanical amateurs) and litter disposal. Hence, the habitat quality of these sites is degrading due to increased pollution, changes in micro habitats by earth removal, littering and garbage disposal and unintended fires in summer caused by tourists and grazers. Other sites are being claimed for mining of laterite, although no pressures are active at the present except for grazing, which has been going on for several years. In the study that was conducted for three years from 2004-2006, decline was not observed although habitat modifications was observed in some of the known localities. Despite this, population decline in the next 10 years is expected due to increasing human pressures on the known sites. The species is assessed as Endangered as it has a restricted area of occupancy and extent of occurrence, and there is an ongoing a decline in habitat quality in most of the known locations.