喀西茄抗病基因同源序列的分离与分析

本研究根据已知植物抗病基因的NBS-LRR保守结构域设计了1对简并引物,对野生茄子喀西茄(Solanum khasianum)中抗病基因的同源序列(resistance gene analogs,RGAs)进行克隆和分析.结果表明,所获得的11个抗病基因同源序列都是Non-TIR-NBS-LRR类抗病基因,聚类分析将其分为5个亚类.由其核酸序列推导的氨基酸序列与已知抗病基因(N、L6、M、Prf、Gpa2和RPM1)相应区域的相似性为21.7%～52.4%.BlastX分析发现,SkRGA4和SkRGA10与辣椒抗根结线虫基因有着很高的同源性,SkRGA3和SkRGA6与野生马铃薯的抗晚疫病基因有着很高的同源性.     

藏东南色季拉山蚂蚁物种的分布格局

为了揭示藏东南地区蚂蚁的生态学规律,采用样地调查法和搜索调查法首次研究了色季拉山蚂蚁物种的分布格局。在色季拉山记载蚁科昆虫3亚科14属31种,其中,猛蚁亚科2属3种,切叶蚁亚科7属17种,蚁亚科5属11种。在色季拉山地区,大多数蚂蚁物种（大约2/3）对高山环境的适应性较弱,仅分布于3000m以下的低海拔区域;分布于30...     

Potential impacts of non‐native fish on the threatened mahseer (Tor) species of the Indian Himalayan biodiversity hot spot

1. Mahseer (Tor) fish species are critical components of locally adapted freshwater food webs across the Indian Himalayan biodiversity hotspot; however, multiple human stressors compounded by climate change have significantly depleted their populations over recent decades.
2. Mahseer species are now considered locally vulnerable or endangered in many regions. Hydropower projects in particular have fragmented populations, impairing genetic exchange, obstructing migratory paths, and changing the structure and functioning of riverine habitats, especially of formerly fast‐flowing rivers.
3. Worryingly, a literature survey and group discussions reveal that the increasing spread of non‐native fish species further compounds threats to mahseer and overall freshwater ecology. A better understanding of the current distribution, habitat requirement, and dispersal of non‐native fish is therefore essential to manage the growing threats to mahseer in the Indian Himalayan region.

     

Diversity and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat in Garhwal Himalaya, India

We investigated the floristic composition, phytosociological and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat (community forest) in Chamoli district of Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 52 plant species of 46 genera and 26 families were recorded, which included 12 trees, 18 shrubs and 22 herb species. Quercus leucotrichophora was dominant tree species in sapling and seedling layers, followed by Lyonia ovalifolia and Rhododendron arboreum.Out of 12 tree species, 7 species in seedling stage and 8 species in sapling stage were recorded in the study area. The 44.41% species in the study area showed good regeneration status, 16.66% species were fairly regenerating,and 8.33% species showed poor regeneration status, while 33% species were not regenerating. Number of individuals from lower girth classes (0 10 cmand 10 30 cm) showed decreasing trend with the increase in size of girth class. Shannon index (H) for trees, shrubs and herbs was recorded as 1.82,2.24 and 2.41 respectively. Simpsons index (CD) was recorded as 0.21, 0.12and 0.12 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively. The forest should be divided into compartments for better management purpose and each compartment should be closed for five years to assist regeneration and enrichment planting may also be carried out for sustainable management.     

Leaf dynamics and protein content of six important fodder trees of the western Himalaya

Leaf production, leaf fall, leaf protein and net primary productivity have been reported for 4-year-old fodder trees in the mid-western Himalaya (altitude 1350 m; rainfall 1100 mm). The species include; Grewia optiva, Robinia pseudoacacia and Celtis australis growing in the open and Quercus glauca, Q. leucotrichophora and Ilex odorata growing in the forest. G. optiva, R. pseudoacacia and C. australis showed two distinct periods of leaf flush, and their leaves were short-lived (180 to 360 days) compared with the remaining three species which retained their leaves for more than two years, and had only one flush period during March–April. The open site species showed much higher leaf production, and the leaves contained a significantly (P < 0.05) higher protein content, compared with the forest group. Net primary productivity of G. optiva, C. australis and R. pseudoacacia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the forest species, which may be related to their high leaf production and rapid turnover rate of the leaves. The results are useful for management of these species in agroforestry systems.     

Cross-taxon surrogacy of biodiversity in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya

Biodiversity surveys were conducted in 13, 10×50 m² plots located between 1400 to 3700 m above mean sea level in a range of habitats in temperate mixed Oak and Coniferous forests through sub-alpine to the alpine grasslands in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal state in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya. Cross-taxon congruence in biodiversity (α-diversity and β-diversity) across macrolichens, mosses, liverworts, woody plants (shrubs and trees) and ants was investigated, so as to examine the extent to which these groups of organisms can function as surrogates for each other. Although woody plants provided a major substrate for macrolichens and mosses, there was no species-specific association between them. Woody plant species richness was highly positively correlated with mosses (r²=0.63, P<0.001), but the relationship was not particularly very strong with lichens and liverworts. While there was a significant correlation in the species turnover (β-diversity) of macrolichens with mosses (r²=0.21, P<0.005), the relationship was relatively poor with the woody plants. On the other hand, negative correlations emerged in the species richness of ants with those of macrolichens, mosses and woody plants (r²=−0.44, P<0.05), but most of the complementarity (turnover) relationships among them were positive. Since diversity between taxonomic hierarchies within the group was consistently significantly positively correlated in all these taxa, the higher taxonomic categories such as genus and family may be employed as surrogates for rapid assessment and monitoring of species diversity. Although no single group other than macrolichens has emerged as a good indicator of changes in species richness in all other groups, some concordant relationships between them conform to the hypothesis that species assemblages of certain taxonomic groups could still be used as surrogates for efficient monitoring of species diversity in other groups whose distribution may further predict the importance of conserving overall biodiversity in landscapes such as the Garhwal Himalaya.     

Empty forests: Large carnivore and prey abundance in Namdapha National Park, north-east India

Illegal hunting poses a dual threat to large carnivores through direct removal of individuals and by prey depletion. We conducted a camera-trapping survey in the Namdapha National Park, north-east India, conducted as part of a programme to evaluate carnivore and prey species abundance. Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) was the only large carnivore detected by camera-trapping. Indirect evidences indicated the presence of the wild dog (Cuon alpinus) and leopard (Panthera pardus), however, there was no evidence of tigers (Panthera tigris), suggesting their possible extinction from the lower elevation forests. Of the major ungulate prey species, sambar (Cervus unicolor) and wild pig (Sus scrofa) were the only large prey detected, while the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) was the only small prey species detected. Relative abundances of all species were appreciably lower than estimates from other tropical forests in south-east Asia. We suspect that illegal hunting may be the cause for the low carnivore and prey species abundance. An ongoing community-based conservation programme presents an opportunity to reduce local people’s dependence on hunting by addressing their socio-economic needs and for using their skills and knowledge of the landscape for wildlife conservation. However, long-term wildlife monitoring is essential to assess the efficacy of the socio-economic interventions in bringing about wildlife recovery.     

Distribution patterns of tree,understorey, and detritus biomass in coniferous and broad-leaved forests of Western Himalaya,India

Forest biomass pools are the major reservoirs of atmospheric carbon in both coniferous and broad-leaved forest ecosystems and thus play an important role in regulating the regional and global carbon cycle. In this study, we measured the biomass of trees, understorey, and detritus in temperate (coniferous and broad-leaved) forests of Kashmir Himalaya. Total ecosystem dry biomass averaged 234.2 t/ha (ranging from 99.5 to 305.2 t/ha) across all the forest stands, of which 223 t/ha (91.9–283.2 t/ha) were stored in above- and below-ground biomass of trees, 1.3 t/ha (0.18–3.3 t/ha) in understorey vegetation (shrubs and herbaceous), and 9.9 t/ha (4.8–20.9 t/ha) in detritus (including standing and fallen dead trees, and forest floor litter). Among all the forests, the highest tree, understorey, and detritus biomass were observed in mid-altitude Abies pindrow and Pinus wallichiana coniferous forests, whereas the lowest were observed in high-altitude Betula utilis broad-leaved forests. Basal area has showed significant positive relationship with biomass (R² = 0.84–0.97, P < 0.001) and density (R² = 0.49–0.87). The present study will improve our understanding of distribution of biomass (trees, understorey, and detritus) in coniferous and broad-leaved forests and can be used in forest management activities to enhance C sequestration.