Konkan’s Lateritic Plateau

• 19 May 2025

Why in News? 

A study published in a Netherlands-based journal Aquatic Ecology explains how freshwater rock pool size, monsoon patterns, and predators affect tadpole presence on lateritic plateaus in Maharashtra's Konkan region. 

 Key Points 

 Konkan’s Lateritic Plateau 

• About: 
  • They are formed through the process of laterization, where intense weathering and leaching in humid, tropical climates remove soluble minerals, leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides. 
  • Found in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills, Satpura, Vindhya, and Malwa Plateau in India.  
    • Maharashtra's Konkan region features ancient lateritic plateaus, locally known as sadas, formed over millions of years. 
  • These plateaus are typically found on elevated terrains and are known for their unique biodiversity and water-holding capacity. 
• Crucial Habitats for Tadpoles and Biodiversity: 
  • These plateaus host unique freshwater rock pools, created through natural erosion and weathering processes. 
  • The rock pools act as breeding grounds and tadpole habitats for frogs living around the area. 
    • Rock pools are depressions on rocky surfaces with pan - or bucket-shaped pools that are fed by monsoon rains. 
  • Rock pools support not just tadpoles, but also phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae, aquatic plants, insects, and vertebrates—many of which are endemic. 
  • The lateritic rock pools are found only along the western coast, from northern Kerala to Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district. 
  • Tadpoles contribute to ecosystem services like nutrient cycling, sediment removal, and leaf litter breakdown. 
    • These functions are vital for soil health, water quality, and biodiversity.