Studying the patterns of alien and native floras of some habitats in Srinagar city, Kashmir, India (original) (raw)
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In an age of Anthropocene, the urban landscapes are recognised as the 'hotspots' of human-mediated alien species introductions. As the cities provide an ideal natural experimental system to investigate the patterns of alien plant diversity in urban landscapes, the present study aimed to unravel the taxonomic, biogeographic and ecological patterns of alien flora of Srinagar-one of the largest urban centres in the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. The alien flora of Srinagar comprises 325 species, constituting ca.35% of total flora of the city. Out of the 325 alien species documented, 157 species (43%) were recorded to be under cultivation, while 168 species (57%) were growing in the wild (i.e., outside cultivation); those growing in the wild, in turn, comprised 110 cultivation escapes and 58 accidentally introduced plant species. Biogeographically, two-third of the alien plant diversity reported from Srinagar is native to Asia-Temperate. This indicates that climatic similarity between Asia-Temperate and Kashmir Himalayas facilitate in flourishing similar floristic diversity. The study highlights a relatively higher proportion of herbaceous growth form in the aliens growing in the wild (80%) than those under cultivation (43%). Similarly, 82% of the alien species under cultivation had a perennial life Communicated by Daniel Sanchez Mata.
2017
The present study was conducted to assess vascular plant diversity in a modified habitat in Shivalik region. Extensive surveys were conducted to document the species in each season and identification was done with the help of regional floras. A total of 191 species comprising 181 species of angiosperms (176 genera and 76 families), 2 species of pteridophytes (2 genera and 1 family), and 8 species of gymnosperms (7 genera and 5 families) were observed. The dominant Angiosperms families include Asteraceae (18 genera and 18 species), followed by Fabaceae (16 genera and 18 species), Lamiaceae (8 genera and 9 species), Solanaceae (5 genera and 9 species), Amaranthaceae (7 genera and 8 species), Euphorbiaceae (4 genera and 8 species) and Apocynaceae (6 genera and 7 species). In Gymnosperms, 5 families were recorded which include family Pinaceae, Cycadaceae, Zamiaceae, Araucariaceae and Cupressaceae. In pteridophytes, only two species of the family Pteridaceae were recorded. The categoriza...
International Journal of Environmental Sciences, International Science Congress Association (ISCA), 2013
This paper highlights the current status of invasive alien plant species in Andhra University Campus of Visakhapatnam district, India, with background information on habit, nativity, longevity, uses and mode of introduction. Data were collected through Phytosociological method. Altogether 21 species belonging to 15 families were documented. The highest Importance Value Index (IVI) was found for Antigonon leptopus. The data show that Wrightia tinctoria is the most frequently encroached tree species by A. leptopus. Species diversity of Invasive alien plants showed that this study area was highly disturbed. Fabaceae is the most dominant family with 3 species (14%) of contribution. About 62% of these alien species were introduced from Tropical America followed by Tropical South America (9%) and Tropical Africa (4%). Analysis of habit shows that herbs dominate (11 species) followed by shrubs (8) and climbers (2). A search in the literature indicated that several of these species have potential uses for different purposes. Similarly, only 5 Species (24%) seem to have been introduced deliberately and the rest of them unintentional through trade exchanges including grain import. However, quantitative impact of these species on the indigenous flora and invaded ecosystems is yet to be studied. There is an urgent need to develop regional data on Invasive Alien Species (IAS) diversity.
In the urban landscapes, scientific understanding of the roadside vegetation is a prerequisite for better planning and designing of sustainable cities. The Srinagar city, located in the Indian Himalayas, represents an urban biodiversity hotspot but the information about the floristic diversity especially along its roadsides is lacking. In order to fill this knowledge gap, the present study using field-based plant collection surveys was undertaken to investigate the floristic diversity growing along the roadsides of Srinagar. A total of 206 vascular plant species were recorded with the proportion of alien species relatively higher (52%) than the native species (48%). Of the 108 alien species, 24 were invasive, 44 naturalized, 12 casual and 23 were cultivated. Most of the species were herbs (165 spp.) and the majority of these were wild growing (155 spp.). Based on Raunkiaer’s lifeform characterization, therophytes (94 spp.) were the most dominant. Interestingly, the therophytes harboured the highest number of alien species (50 spp.), followed by phanerophytes (29 spp.). There was significant difference between the floristic spectrum obtained during the present study and the normal Raunkiaer’s spectrum. The present study provides policy-relevant baseline data which can guide the urban planners to develop sustainable planning in this Himalayan city.
Protected areas (PAs) hold pivotal importance as repositories of biodiversity, especially for some flagship species of high conservation priority. The growing threat of biological invasions in PAs defies the general perception that these areas are rather immune to invasions. Given the paucity of information on the status of biological invasions in the Himalayan PAs, here we developed a well-annotated inventory of alien flora in Dachigam National Park (DNP) through intensive field surveys for the period of 2 years (2019-2021) and recorded 56 alien species with majority (50 species) as neophytes and 6 archaeophyte species belonging to 48 genera and 26 families. Of these alien plant species, 43% species are naturalized, 29% invasive, 20% cultivated, 4% casual aliens and 5% either cultivated or casual. Amongst different natural habitat types investigated in DNP, the grasslands and riparian habitats were found to be most prone to invasive species. These invasions are attributed to myriad of anthropogenic pressure and growing human-footprint in and outside the DNP. The checklist of alien plant species containing useful information on invasion status, growth form, nativity, mode and purpose of introduction is an important tool with the managers of the PA for keen monitoring and effective management of invasive species in the DNP. In view of UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-30), the PA managers can use this checklist to plan their strategies well for restoration of invaded habitats and preventing further invasions in tune with the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas. So we recommend preparing such checklists for other PAs as well in view of importance this baseline information to deal with invasion-driven changes.
Invasive Alien Flora in and around an Urban Area of India
Diversity and Ecology of Invasive Plants [Working Title], 2019
Invasive alien species are non-native exotic organisms which can disperse and destroy the biodiversity and change the ecosystem. The present study deals with the comprehensive list of invasive alien plants (IAPs) of Rourkela Steel City, Sundargarh, Odisha, with background information on family, habit, and nativity. A total of 165 invasive alien species under 132 genera and 59 families have been recorded. From the nativity study, among 25 geographic regions, the majority of invasive plants reported from American continent (62%) with 103 species. While in life form analysis, the herbs (114 species) are dominant, followed by trees (23 species), shrubs (22 species), climber (5 species), and undershrub (1 species). Ageratum conyzoides, Blumea lacera, Cassia alata, Lantana camara, Cassia tora, Parthenium hysterophorus, Xanthium sp., Datura sp., Cardamine scutata, Argemone mexicana, Grangea maderaspatana, Hyptis suaveolens, and Gnaphalium polycaulon are some noxious species found during the study. Parthenium hysterophorus is the highly noxious plant which is grown everywhere after Ageratum conyzoides and Lantana camara. Most of the invasive species are locally used for medicinal purposes as well as for food, fuel, and fodder purposes. A better planning and reporting of the spread of new plants in the area are needed for early identification and control of the invasive alien plant species in different seasons. Since the flora of Sundargarh districts has not been beneficially explored, this study will help in the compilation of flora of Sundargarh district and Rourkela in particular. Further studies will reveal the allelopathic effects on different agricultural crops as well as the different ethnobotanical values.
Altitudinal distribution patterns of the native and alien woody flora in Kashmir Himalaya, India
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2011
Many studies have shown that alien species richness pattern follows that of native species richness patterns along environmental gradients, without taking the specific composition of the two groups into account.To compare species richness patterns of native and alien woody plants along an altitudinal gradient in Kashmir Himalaya, India, and to analyse the specific composition, e.g. proportion of life forms.Analysis of secondary data from published floristic inventories. The gradient (500–4800 m asl) was split into 100 m bands and presence/absence data for each species were obtained, for each band.Species richness of both native and alien species followed a hump-shaped distribution. Alien species richness dropped faster above 2000 m asl than the native did. The ratio of trees to shrubs decreased monotonically along the gradient in native species, but showed a peak at c. 2500 m asl in alien species. Alien species flowered in average earlier than native species.The change of species richness of native and alien species along altitude is similar, but the proportion of life forms is not. Most likely both climatic and socio-economic factors affect alien species richness and its specific composition in the Kashmir Himalaya.
Assessment of anthropogenic activities and exotic flora of Lolab valley, Kashmir, India.
International Journal of Bioassays Vol. 4(11): 4483-4491, 2015
The present study is an attempt to analyze and assess the anthropogenic pressure and status of exotic species in the forests of Lolab Valley, Kashmir (India). Because of continuous and heavy grazing, and illegal encroachments, the pastures and forest-areas are deteriorated to critical levels. The pressure is also developing on the most favorite and preferred fuel wood tree species that include Cedrus deodara, Pinus excelsa, and Abies pindrow. The Kashmir Himalaya, known for its indigenous and endemic flora, also provides home to a large number of exotic plants, which exhibit a wide taxonomical and distributional stretch. The inventorization and documentation of its exotics have received a little or negligible attention. The present study has revealed that the exotic flora of Lolab valley is represented by a total of 30 species belonging to 22 families. The family Salicaceae (39%) proved to be the largest family fallowed by Rosaceae (31%), Rununculaceae (15%) and Moraceae (15%). Contribution of different geographical regions in terms of nativity shows that highest number of alien species have come from the continental Europe (42%) followed by Asia (31%) and North America (13%). In contrast, European flora contributed maximum percentage of species (42%) to the alien flora of Lolab valley.
The alien flora of Kashmir Himalaya
Biological Invasions, 2007
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Alien flora of India: taxonomic composition, invasion status and biogeographic affiliations
Biological Invasions
The wide knowledge gaps in invasion biology research that exist in the developing world are crucial impediments to the scientific management and global policymaking on biological invasions. In an effort to fill such knowledge gaps, we present here an inventory of the alien flora of India, based on systematic reviews and rigorous analyses of research studies (ca. 190) published over the last 120 years (1890–2010 AD), and updated with field records of the last two decades. Currently, the inventory comprises of 1,599 species, belonging to 842 genera in 161 families, and constitutes 8.5% of the total Indian vascular flora. The three most species-rich families are Asteraceae (134 spp.), Papilionaceae (114 spp.) and Poaceae (106 spp.), and the three largest genera are Eucalyptus (25 spp.), Ipomoea (22 spp.), and Senna (21 spp.). The majority of these species (812) have no report of escaping from cultivation. Of the remaining subset of 787 species, which have either escaped from intentional cultivation, or spread after unintentional introduction, casuals are represented by 57 spp., casual/naturalised by 114 spp., naturalised by 257 spp., naturalised/invasive by 134 spp., and invasive by 225 spp. Biogeographically, more than one-third (35%) of the alien flora in India has its native ranges in South America, followed by Asia (21%), Africa (20%), Europe (11%), Australia (8%), North America (4%); and cryptogenic (1%). The inventory is expected to serve as the scientific baseline on plant invasions in India, with implications for conservation of global biodiversity.