The Eastern Ghats: India's Overlooked Biodiversity Powerhouse

The Eastern Ghats, a discontinuous chain of hills stretching over 1,750 kilometers along India's eastern coast from Odisha to Tamil Nadu, represent one of the country's most ecologically significant yet understudied landscapes. Unlike the more famous Western Ghats, which earn global hotspot status for their continuous rainforests, the Eastern Ghats form a fragmented mosaic of dry deciduous forests, scrublands, grasslands, and wetlands. This unique topography fosters extraordinary biodiversity, harboring around 2,500 flowering plant species—13% of India's total—and numerous endemic animals, including rare primates like the Madras sambar and elusive reptiles such as the Eastern Ghats gliding lizard. Over 450 plant species are endemic here, underscoring the region's irreplaceable natural heritage. However, rapid urbanization, mining, agriculture expansion, and climate change threaten this fragile ecosystem, with habitat loss exceeding 20% in key areas over recent decades.

Threats Imperiling Eastern Ghats Wildlife and Habitats

Habitat fragmentation poses the gravest danger, isolating populations and eroding genetic diversity essential for species survival. Invasive species, such as the armored sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys sp.), disrupt aquatic food webs, while overexploitation for timber and non-timber forest products depletes flora. Climate models predict shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures could reduce suitable habitats for endemic species by up to 22% by mid-century. Human-wildlife conflicts, particularly with elephants and leopards, further complicate conservation. Traditional surveys struggle to capture cryptic species or monitor vast landscapes, highlighting the urgent need for innovative, scalable tools like genomics.

Genomics Enters the Conservation Arena

Conservation genomics integrates high-throughput DNA sequencing with ecological data to reveal evolutionary histories, population structures, and adaptive potentials. Environmental DNA (eDNA), shed by organisms into soil, water, or air, allows non-invasive detection of species presence without direct observation. Genome-wide studies identify inbreeding risks, migration corridors, and adaptive genes, informing targeted interventions like habitat corridors or captive breeding. In India, where 62% of fauna are endemic, these tools bridge knowledge gaps in under-resourced regions like the Eastern Ghats.

CCMB and LaCONES: Leading India's Wildlife Genomics Charge

The CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, alongside its Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), stands at the forefront. Established to apply molecular biology to wildlife, LaCONES pioneers assisted reproduction, genetic monitoring, and eDNA for species recovery, forensics, and disease diagnostics. Groups led by researchers like Dr. G. Umapathy and Dr. Karthikeyan Vasudevan specialize in eDNA for aquatic ecosystems and amphibian ecology, respectively. Their toolkit includes Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing for rapid genome assembly and annotation.

The Landmark Symposium: Discerning the Eastern Ghats from Genes to Landscapes

In February 2026, CCMB-LaCONES hosted the symposium "Discerning the Eastern Ghats: From Genes to Landscapes" (February 18-21), drawing researchers, NGOs, and policymakers. Preceded by a hands-on genomics workshop (February 18-19), it featured talks on ecology, biogeography, landscape restoration, and conservation policy. Organized by Dr. Siddharth Kulkarni and Dr. Gopi Krishnan, the event synthesized five years of CCMB-LaCONES data into a pioneering genomic-based conservation roadmap.

The roadmap advocates integrating eDNA surveys with landscape genetics to prioritize protected areas, restore connectivity, and monitor invasives.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Breakthrough eDNA Studies Revolutionizing Aquatic Monitoring

LaCONES' eDNA efforts detected invasive sailfin catfish across Eastern Ghats water bodies, confirming their spread via reservoirs—a first for the region. A 2025 study mapped bacterial communities in 40 lakes and reservoirs, revealing spatially structured assemblages influenced by protection status, hydrology, and human impact. Rare taxa proved ecologically vital, with pathogens more prevalent in disturbed sites.

• Protected lakes showed 30% higher microbial diversity.
• eDNA outperformed traditional sampling by detecting 2x more species.
• Rare bacteria linked to nutrient cycling, underscoring conservation needs.

Unveiling Microbial Diversity and Its Conservation Implications

The Global Ecology and Conservation paper detailed how Eastern Ghats lakes host unique microbes shaped by altitude, pH, and land use. Cyanobacteria dominated eutrophic sites, posing bloom risks, while endemic bacteria highlighted biogeographic patterns. This baseline informs water quality management and ecosystem health, vital as reservoirs supply 40% of regional water. For aspiring researchers, such projects exemplify research jobs blending fieldwork and bioinformatics.

The Eastern Ghats Genomic Roadmap: A Step-by-Step Blueprint

The roadmap proposes a phased approach:

1. Baseline Genomics: Genome sequencing of 100+ endemic species over five years.
2. eDNA Networks: Deploy 200 monitoring stations across hill ranges.
3. Landscape Modeling: Use GIS and population genomics to map corridors.
4. Policy Integration: Partner with state forest departments for adaptive management.
5. Capacity Building: Train 500 scientists via workshops like LaGenomics.

Projected outcomes include 20% habitat restoration and 15% invasive control by 2030.

Stakeholder Perspectives: From Labs to Forests

Forest officials praised eDNA's cost-effectiveness—₹50,000 per survey vs. ₹2 lakhs traditional—while NGOs like WWF-India emphasized community involvement. Dr. Umapathy noted, "Genomics reveals invisible threats, enabling proactive conservation." Academics from IITs and IISERs called for funding boosts, aligning with India's National Biodiversity Action Plan.

Challenges and Solutions in Implementing the Roadmap

• Challenge: Data Gaps – Solution: Open-access eDNA databases.
• Challenge: Funding – Solution: DBT-CCMB grants, CSR partnerships.
• Challenge: Tech Access – Solution: Mobile sequencing labs.

Real-world case: eDNA halted catfish spread in Papikonda National Park, saving native fish stocks.

Photo by Artyom Korshunov on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Genomics-Powered Resilience

By 2035, the roadmap could safeguard 30% more endemic species amid climate shifts. International collaborations, like with Earth BioGenome Project, promise whole-genome data for adaptive breeding. For students, crafting an academic CV highlighting genomics skills opens doors in this booming field.

Careers in Conservation Genomics: Join the Movement

India's genomics sector grows 25% annually, with research assistant jobs at CCMB offering hands-on eDNA experience. Postdocs in biodiversity earn ₹80,000+ monthly. Explore university jobs in India or faculty positions to contribute. Check Rate My Professor for mentors.