Informatics Publishing Limited

Balwant Rawat , K. Chandra Sekar , Sanjay Gairola

Abstract

The Sunderdhunga valley harbors a number of medicinal plants used by the local people in different purposes. A total of 76 ethnomedicinal plants have been enumerated in the present communication with correct binomials, family, life form, local name along with detailed ethnomedicinal uses. These species belong to 27 families and 56 genera. Out of total species recorded, 82% belongs to only 11 families, on the other hand 48% of total families represented by single species. Fifteen of the recorded species are categorized under different threat category, constituting about 20% of total species. Major cause of depletion of these species is over exploitation of the wild populations and illegal trade. Important measures required to conserve the biodiversity of the valley include documentation of the traditional ecological and remedial knowledge of the locals for sustaining future generation and motivation to cultivate rare or threatened species in nearby villages.

Keywords

Critically Endangered, Ethnomedicine, Vulnerable, Western Himalaya

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Kailash S. Gaira ¹, Ranbeer S. Rawal ¹, Balwant Rawat ¹, Indra D. Bhatt ¹

Affiliations
1 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN

Abstract

Studies from different parts of the world have generated evidences of the effects of climate change on phenology and persistence of species. However, datasets or evidences are lacking for majority of the regions and species, including the climate-sensitive Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Recognizing this gap in the information and realizing wide-ranging implications of such datasets, the present study generates evidences of changes in flowering phenology of an important trees species, Rhododendron arboreum in Indian central Himalaya. Real-time field observations (2009- 2011) showed peak flowering during early February to mid-March. Analysis on long-term temperature data revealed significant (P < 0.01) increase in seasonal (winter and post-monsoon) and annual mean maximum temperature. Generalized additive model (GAM) using real-time field observations (2009-2011) and herbarium records (1893-2003) predicted 88-97 days early flowering over the last 100 years. Furthermore, GAM using long-term temperature data, real-time field observations and herbarium records depicted annual mean maximum temperature responsible for shifts in flowering dates of the target species. The study provides an important insight of species response to climate change in the Indian central Himalaya and highlights the need for further research on the subject to improve our understanding of the effects of climate change on species and consequently on ecology of the region.

Keywords

Climate Change, Flowering Phenology, Herbarium Records, Rhododendron arboreum.

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