Flowers of the Himalaya.

Mountain ecosystems support a significant one-third of all terrestrial biodiversity, but our understanding of the spatiotemporal maintenance of this high biodiversity remains poor, or at best controversial. The Himalaya hosts a complex mountain ecosystem with high topographic and climatic heterogeneity and harbors one of the world's richest floras. The high species endemism, together with increasing anthropogenic threats, has qualified the Himalaya as one of the most significant global biodiversity hotspots. The topographic and climatic complexity of the Himalaya makes it an ideal natural laboratory for studying the mechanisms of floral exchange, diversification, and spatiotemporal distributions. Here, we review literature pertaining to the Himalaya in order to generate a concise synthesis of the origin, distribution, and climate change responses of the Himalayan flora. We found that the Himalaya supports a rich biodiversity and that the Hengduan Mountains supplied the majority of the Himalayan floral elements, which subsequently diversified from the late Miocene onward, to create today's relatively high endemicity in the Himalaya. Further, we uncover links between this Miocene diversification and the joint effect of geological and climatic upheavals in the Himalaya. There is marked variance regarding species dispersal, elevational gradients, and impact of climate change among plant species in the Himalaya, and our review highlights some of the general trends and recent advances on these aspects. Finally, we provide some recommendations for conservation planning and future research. Our work could be useful in guiding future research in this important ecosystem and will also provide new insights into the maintenance mechanisms underpinning other mountain systems.

/pdf/spatiotemporal-maintenance-of-flora-in-the-himalaya-1u0yegeno2.pdf

Spatiotemporal maintenance of flora in the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot: Current knowledge and future perspectives

Wildfires have complex impacts on forests, including changes in vegetation, threats to biodiversity, and emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which exacerbate climate change. The influence of wildfires on animal habitats is particularly noteworthy, as they can lead to significant changes in native environments. The extent of these alterations in species and habitats plays a crucial role in shaping forest ecology. Drought, disease, insect infestations, overgrazing, or their combined effects can amplify the negative effects on specific plant genera and entire ecosystems. In addition to the immediate consequences of plant mortality and altered community dynamics, forest fires have far-reaching implications. They often increase flowering and seed production, further influencing ecological communities. However, one concerning trend is the decline in the diversity of forest biological species within fire-affected areas. Beyond their ecological impacts, wildfires emit substantial quantities of greenhouse gases and fine particulates into the atmosphere, triggering profound changes in climate patterns and contributing to global warming. As vegetation burns during these fires, the carbon stored within is released, rendering large forest fires detrimental to biodiversity and the emission of CO2, a significant contributor to global warming. Measuring the global impact of wildfires on ecological communities and greenhouse gas emissions has become increasingly vital. These research endeavors shed light on the intricate relationships and feedback loops linking wildfires, ecosystem inhabitants, and the evolving climate landscape. 

Influences of wildfire on the forest ecosystem and climate change: A comprehensive study.

The Indian Himalayan Region harbor about half of the flowering plant species recorded in India, of which nearly 30% species are endemic. The state of Uttarakhand, also known as the ‘herbal state of India,’ harbors more than 5000 species of vascular plants, of which one-third species have medicinal uses. Thus, considering the immense floral, ecological, and ethno-botanical values, the current communication aims to conduct an extensive review of scientific research on such aspects in this Himalayan state, in the absence of any such previous attempt. Based on an extensive review of 276 studies in the form of scientific peer-reviewed literature on floristics, medicinal and aromatic plants, ethno-botany, and threatened species, it is revealed that among various plant groups, vascular plants including angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes are the most studied group. Angiosperms alone accounts to 15% of the studies followed by pteridophytes and gymnosperms (10% each), whereas, the lower plants are distinctly understudied with lichens (8%) and bryophytes (6%). Interestingly, the alpine, sub-alpine, and temperate regions are explored in terms of floristic studies as compared to lower elevations such as Upper Gangetic Plains and adjacent Siwalik and Sub-Himalayan tracts in the state. The present review highlights that the remote cold-arid regions along the northern frontiers such as Nilang, Niti, Girthi, Mana, Johar, Darma, and Byans valleys, to name a few are under explored or unexplored in terms of current levels of pressure or patterns of plant diversity. Further, knowledge on the available growing stock of threatened vis-à-vis high-value medicinal plants, information on agro-techniques of key threatened species-specific to their landscape, information on the quantity of raw material traded that eventually leads to decline in its natural population, regeneration, and survival are the matter of grave concern. Subsequently, addressing depleting ethno-botanical knowledge, studies pertaining to the lower plants, control over exploitation, illegal or pre-mature harvesting of economically valued threatened and medicinal species is the need of the hour. 

Plant studies in Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya: a comprehensive review

Pattern of species richness and floristic spectrum along the elevation gradient: A case study from western Himalaya, India

Tree species richness, dominance and regeneration status in Western Ramganga Valley, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India.

The present study provides comprehensive information on floristic diversity (angiosperms and gymnosperms), habitat wise distribution and management plan for conservation of higher plants in the vicinity of Srinagar hydroelectric power project in Alaknanda valley of Garhwal Himalaya, India. We recorded 526 plant species belonging to 372 genera and 94 families from the study area. Out of the documented species 329 were herbs, 74 shrubs, 73 trees and the rest 50 were climbers. Gymnosperms were represented by 2 species, 2 genera and 2 families, Dicotyledons by 432 species, 306 genera and 78 families whereas Monocotyledons by 92 species, 64 genera and 14 families. Fabaceae (50 species and 32 genera), Poaceae (49 species and 35 genera), Asteraceae (44 species and 33 genera), Lamiaceae (24 species and 19 genera), Euphorbiaceae (18 species and 7 genera), Malvaceae (18 species and 10 genera), Solanaceae (18 species and 10 genera), Cucurbitaceae (13 species and 10 genera), Amaranthaceae (12 species and 8 genera) and Cyperaceae (12 species and 6 genera) were the dominant families and showed 60% similarity with the dominant families of India. Among all the reported plant species, 231 were recorded in 3 or > 3 habitats and the remaining were restricted to 1 or 2 habitats only. The representation of species was maximum on agricultural fields/margins (267 species) followed by forest/forest edges (221 species), road/way sides (217 species), whereas minimum (30 species) on river/stream banks. The construction of hydroelectric power project may lead to reduction of plant diversity from the area. Furthermore, other anthropogenic activities like construction of hill roads, forest fire, overgrazing, lopping of trees for fodder and fuel-wood, removal of leaf and wood litter from the forest floor are also affecting the plant diversity in the area. A management plan for conservation of plant species in the vicinity of hydroelectric power project area is also suggested. The scientific information obtained from the present study will strengthen the data base and will be helpful in predicting possible changes in the ecosystem properties and forest composition in near future.

Floristic diversity in the vicinity of Srinagar hydroelectric power project in Alaknanda valley of Garhwal Himalaya, India: Needs for conservation

Pollen germination and pollen tube growth are prerequisites for fertilization in seed bearing plants. The present study deals with the morphology, production, pollen-ovule ratio, and effect of sucrose on in-vitro germination of pollen grains of Gloriosa superba L., family Colchicaceae. The G. superba L. pollen were radially symmetrical, prolate shape, 2-3 zonicolpate with striate surface. A single anther produced an average of 350,000 pollen grains. Pollen-ovule ratio was 58333.33/1. The maximum pollen germination (98.86%±0.641) along with 676.2µm pollen tube growth was observed in 5% sucrose solution, while in 20% sucrose concentration the germination percent decreased by 90% and the pollen grains’ cytoplasm also shrinked. The pollen viability was found 96.22% and 91.79% in IKI and acetocarmine stain respectively. The study is useful in determining the pollen production and potential pollination capacity of Gloriosa superba L., as it is found that the species is xenogamous (self-compatible). The findings will be useful in assessing the pollen vigour by monitoring the rate of germination over a period of time on the length of pollen tubes.

Effect of sucrose on in-vitro pollen germination of Gloriosa superba L. - a medicinal plant from the Garhwal Himalaya, India

/pdf/folk-uses-of-weeds-from-district-rudraprayag-uttarakhand-11ntjchj9r.pdf

Folk uses of weeds from district rudraprayag, uttarakhand, india

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