Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has ...Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has been framed to document the patterns of species richness and diversity in the state of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.A total of six treeline sites(three disturbed and three undisturbed)were identified for vegetation sampling.Trees,shrubs,and herbs were sampled at each site using nested plots of 10 m^(2),5 m^(2),and 1 m^(2),respectively.The study exhibits the rich diversity of treeline communities,the patterns of which varied between treeline sites.Altogether,221 species of vascular plants belonging to 47 families and 140 genera were recorded from the area.Amongst families,Asteraceae was the dominant family followed by Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae.The study also revealed the presence of threatened species like Aconitum heterophyllum,Angelica glauca,Bergenia stracheyi,Dactylorhiza hatagirea,Picrorhiza kurroa,and Trillium govanianum etc.at treeline.Moreover,species composition revealed high densities of Betula utilis followed by the under canopy of Rhododendron campanulatum and R.anthopogon at treeline sites.Overall,species richness of herbs,shrubs,and trees were higher at undisturbed site as compared to disturbed one.The diversity indices of herbs and shrubs varied significantly between treeline sites while that of trees was non-significant.At the same time,soil properties showed distinct patterns wherein pH and available nitrogen significantly varied between treeline sites.Present study provides detailed insights into the floristic and ecological aspects of treeline communities from the unexplored ecoregion of western Himalaya.The treelines in the area are anthropogenically depressed and continued land-use activities might result in habitat fragmentation and displacement of plant communities in the near future.展开更多
Chemometric techniques and pollution assessment indices were applied to determine the source and intensity of pollution in the Sirsa River, Himachal Pradesh,India. Results show EC, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni were above the pe...Chemometric techniques and pollution assessment indices were applied to determine the source and intensity of pollution in the Sirsa River, Himachal Pradesh,India. Results show EC, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni were above the permissible limit as per the Bureau of Indian Standards.The heavy metal pollution index(HPI) and contamination index(Cd) provided contrasting outcome and poor correlation was observed. A heavy metal evaluation index(HEI)method was developed using a multiple of the mean and correlation coefficient values to provide an alternative pollution classification. The criteria of HEI adopted for reclassification of HPI and Cdproduced comparable results; 40 % samples were labeled as low contamination,50 % as medium contamination, and 10 % as high contamination for all indices. Principal component analysis along with cluster analysis was used to identify the main factors responsible for degradation of water quality,namely discharge of industrial effluent, river bed mining,agricultural runoff, and minor natural or geogenic input.The methods and chemometric study proposed here can be used as effective tools to gather information about water quality and water resource management.展开更多
Of the various strategies adopted by an invasive plant species for expanding its niche breadth,phenotypic differentiation(either due to plasticity and/or adaptive evolution) is proven to be the most successful.Lately,...Of the various strategies adopted by an invasive plant species for expanding its niche breadth,phenotypic differentiation(either due to plasticity and/or adaptive evolution) is proven to be the most successful.Lately,we studied the persistence of substantial morpho-functional variations within the individuals of alien invasive plant,Parthenium hysterophorus in Chandigarh,India,through field surveys.Based on observed differences,the individuals were categorized into two morphotypes,PAand PB.PAhad higher leaf area,leaf biomass,and chlorophyll content as compared with PB.However,PBhad a higher stem circumference,stem specific density,twig dry matter content,profuse branching,bigger canopy,and better reproductive output than PA.To substantiate the persistence of intraspecific variations in P. hysterophorus and to deduce the possible genesis of these variations,we propagated both the morphotypes under experimental conditions in winter and summer.Apart from the key morpho-functional differences observed during the field studies,protein and carbohydrate metabolism were studied in leaves and roots of the propagated plants.Differences in plant metabolism were observed only during the early growth period,whereas the morpho-functional traits varied in the mature flowering plants.The effect of growth season was highly significant on all the studied morpho-functional and biochemical parameters(p ≤0.05).Parent morphotypes(P) and interactions between morphotypes and seasons significantly affected several growth parameters(p ≤0.05).The analyses revealed that the contrasting growth conditions at the time of transplantation and early growth may regulate the phenotype of P. hysterophorus.The pattern of intraspecific variations observed during the study is justified to consider morphotype PAas winter biotype and morphotype PBas summer biotype of P. hysterophorus.The study points towards the role of plasticity or a combination of genetic and environmental(G×E) factors in producing the phenotypic variability observed in the population of P. hysterophorus.展开更多
Climate change and variability have been singled out as one of the modern challenges that affect economies of several countries leading to food scarcity and food insecurity in various parts of the world and represent ...Climate change and variability have been singled out as one of the modern challenges that affect economies of several countries leading to food scarcity and food insecurity in various parts of the world and represent a fundamental contemporary environmental shock. Kenya is no exception. This research was conducted in Kisii County, a perceived Kenyan national bread basket and investigated the trend in climate variability between the years 1983-2013. The objective of the study was to examine the precipitation and temperature trend in Kisii County. The research question was to find out whether there was any significant trend and pattern of rainfall and temperature as indicators of climate variability. The study examined climate variability for thirty one years (1983 to 2013). Data was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department and their annual means were computed. Mann Kendall statistic test was applied to establish whether the observed trend of precipitation and temperature was significant. From the analysis, rainfall did not show any significant trend in Kisii County whilst temperature revealed a significantly upward trend over the years, at 95% confidence level. The study recommends a need to incorporate weather prediction and early warning systems by the Ministry of Agriculture in Kisii County and also promote afforestation programmes to protect water catchments. To build resilient systems to climate shocks, introduction of high temperature tolerant food crops as well as adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) should also be explored.展开更多
Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans an...Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans and wildlife have emerged as predominant issues globally. The present study deals with human and elephant conflicts (HEC) in the Polpitigama Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Kahalla-Pallekele elephant corridor and connects Wilpattu and Kaudulla wildlife sanctuaries. The research objectives are identifying spatial patterns of elephant habitat suitability and probable risk zones for HEC. The elephant habitat suitability and HEC risk zones were identified on spatial and temporal scales using Geographic Information System integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Different factors, including habitat suitability, distance to roads, distance to croplands, distance to forests and protected areas, settlements, and population density, were considered to determine HEC risk zones in the area. Topography, water, and vegetation criteria are considered when determining elephant habitat suitability. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process run the spatially explicit model. The results revealed that of the total area, 15.3% is very highly suitable for elephant habitats, while the least suitable areas contribute only 4%. About 33.8% of the area is moderately suitable for elephants. The risk map indicates that 23.7% of the total area is under very high risk for HEC, and the least risk areas only account for 5.4%. About 26.2% of the area falls under the moderate risk zone for HEC. Since the model considered three aspects of HEC, it will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to avoid and minimize the HEC.展开更多
This comprehensive review participates in the use of three different non-invasive surface scanning techniques directed in scientific research of medical, anthropology, archaeology forensic science, and product designi...This comprehensive review participates in the use of three different non-invasive surface scanning techniques directed in scientific research of medical, anthropology, archaeology forensic science, and product designing. 3D surface examining tools speak to a promising technique to provide reproducible data such as map the facial soft or hard tissues of a subject document skeletal remains, and trauma, generating 3D imitations of the components for documented and illustrative purposes while simultaneously holding exactness and unwavering quality. Three-dimensional imaging is rapidly turning into a vital tool for reconstruction and examination in scientific research. The final 3D mesh can be 3D printed or the digital version can be shared online with scientific researchers. This review manuscript highlights several studies utilizing non-invasive scanning techniques, depicts the pro and cons of the 3D scanning techniques, and different features of the scanners irrespective of the cost which would be helpful for future research work. A resourceful review was conducted using 7 databases;PubMed, CENTRAL, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and IEEE Xplore from 2002 to 2020. Search terms were;“3D Laser scanning”, “Photogrammetry”, “Skeleton preservation”, “Documentation”, “Surface Scanning”, etc. Papers with quality work and related to the field of forensic science, anthropometry, 3D facial scanning, and product development were selected. From all the studies, 71 studies met the eligibility criteria, and other articles were excluded which were non-relevant, had duplicate records, and did not meet search criteria. This review provides in-depth understanding and discussions into methods, restrictions, and inferences from respective research publications.展开更多
基金the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment for providing financial assistance through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (GAP-0199)
文摘Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has been framed to document the patterns of species richness and diversity in the state of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.A total of six treeline sites(three disturbed and three undisturbed)were identified for vegetation sampling.Trees,shrubs,and herbs were sampled at each site using nested plots of 10 m^(2),5 m^(2),and 1 m^(2),respectively.The study exhibits the rich diversity of treeline communities,the patterns of which varied between treeline sites.Altogether,221 species of vascular plants belonging to 47 families and 140 genera were recorded from the area.Amongst families,Asteraceae was the dominant family followed by Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae.The study also revealed the presence of threatened species like Aconitum heterophyllum,Angelica glauca,Bergenia stracheyi,Dactylorhiza hatagirea,Picrorhiza kurroa,and Trillium govanianum etc.at treeline.Moreover,species composition revealed high densities of Betula utilis followed by the under canopy of Rhododendron campanulatum and R.anthopogon at treeline sites.Overall,species richness of herbs,shrubs,and trees were higher at undisturbed site as compared to disturbed one.The diversity indices of herbs and shrubs varied significantly between treeline sites while that of trees was non-significant.At the same time,soil properties showed distinct patterns wherein pH and available nitrogen significantly varied between treeline sites.Present study provides detailed insights into the floristic and ecological aspects of treeline communities from the unexplored ecoregion of western Himalaya.The treelines in the area are anthropogenically depressed and continued land-use activities might result in habitat fragmentation and displacement of plant communities in the near future.
文摘Chemometric techniques and pollution assessment indices were applied to determine the source and intensity of pollution in the Sirsa River, Himachal Pradesh,India. Results show EC, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni were above the permissible limit as per the Bureau of Indian Standards.The heavy metal pollution index(HPI) and contamination index(Cd) provided contrasting outcome and poor correlation was observed. A heavy metal evaluation index(HEI)method was developed using a multiple of the mean and correlation coefficient values to provide an alternative pollution classification. The criteria of HEI adopted for reclassification of HPI and Cdproduced comparable results; 40 % samples were labeled as low contamination,50 % as medium contamination, and 10 % as high contamination for all indices. Principal component analysis along with cluster analysis was used to identify the main factors responsible for degradation of water quality,namely discharge of industrial effluent, river bed mining,agricultural runoff, and minor natural or geogenic input.The methods and chemometric study proposed here can be used as effective tools to gather information about water quality and water resource management.
文摘Of the various strategies adopted by an invasive plant species for expanding its niche breadth,phenotypic differentiation(either due to plasticity and/or adaptive evolution) is proven to be the most successful.Lately,we studied the persistence of substantial morpho-functional variations within the individuals of alien invasive plant,Parthenium hysterophorus in Chandigarh,India,through field surveys.Based on observed differences,the individuals were categorized into two morphotypes,PAand PB.PAhad higher leaf area,leaf biomass,and chlorophyll content as compared with PB.However,PBhad a higher stem circumference,stem specific density,twig dry matter content,profuse branching,bigger canopy,and better reproductive output than PA.To substantiate the persistence of intraspecific variations in P. hysterophorus and to deduce the possible genesis of these variations,we propagated both the morphotypes under experimental conditions in winter and summer.Apart from the key morpho-functional differences observed during the field studies,protein and carbohydrate metabolism were studied in leaves and roots of the propagated plants.Differences in plant metabolism were observed only during the early growth period,whereas the morpho-functional traits varied in the mature flowering plants.The effect of growth season was highly significant on all the studied morpho-functional and biochemical parameters(p ≤0.05).Parent morphotypes(P) and interactions between morphotypes and seasons significantly affected several growth parameters(p ≤0.05).The analyses revealed that the contrasting growth conditions at the time of transplantation and early growth may regulate the phenotype of P. hysterophorus.The pattern of intraspecific variations observed during the study is justified to consider morphotype PAas winter biotype and morphotype PBas summer biotype of P. hysterophorus.The study points towards the role of plasticity or a combination of genetic and environmental(G×E) factors in producing the phenotypic variability observed in the population of P. hysterophorus.
文摘Climate change and variability have been singled out as one of the modern challenges that affect economies of several countries leading to food scarcity and food insecurity in various parts of the world and represent a fundamental contemporary environmental shock. Kenya is no exception. This research was conducted in Kisii County, a perceived Kenyan national bread basket and investigated the trend in climate variability between the years 1983-2013. The objective of the study was to examine the precipitation and temperature trend in Kisii County. The research question was to find out whether there was any significant trend and pattern of rainfall and temperature as indicators of climate variability. The study examined climate variability for thirty one years (1983 to 2013). Data was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department and their annual means were computed. Mann Kendall statistic test was applied to establish whether the observed trend of precipitation and temperature was significant. From the analysis, rainfall did not show any significant trend in Kisii County whilst temperature revealed a significantly upward trend over the years, at 95% confidence level. The study recommends a need to incorporate weather prediction and early warning systems by the Ministry of Agriculture in Kisii County and also promote afforestation programmes to protect water catchments. To build resilient systems to climate shocks, introduction of high temperature tolerant food crops as well as adoption of climate smart agriculture (CSA) should also be explored.
文摘Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans and wildlife have emerged as predominant issues globally. The present study deals with human and elephant conflicts (HEC) in the Polpitigama Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Kahalla-Pallekele elephant corridor and connects Wilpattu and Kaudulla wildlife sanctuaries. The research objectives are identifying spatial patterns of elephant habitat suitability and probable risk zones for HEC. The elephant habitat suitability and HEC risk zones were identified on spatial and temporal scales using Geographic Information System integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Different factors, including habitat suitability, distance to roads, distance to croplands, distance to forests and protected areas, settlements, and population density, were considered to determine HEC risk zones in the area. Topography, water, and vegetation criteria are considered when determining elephant habitat suitability. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process run the spatially explicit model. The results revealed that of the total area, 15.3% is very highly suitable for elephant habitats, while the least suitable areas contribute only 4%. About 33.8% of the area is moderately suitable for elephants. The risk map indicates that 23.7% of the total area is under very high risk for HEC, and the least risk areas only account for 5.4%. About 26.2% of the area falls under the moderate risk zone for HEC. Since the model considered three aspects of HEC, it will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to avoid and minimize the HEC.
文摘This comprehensive review participates in the use of three different non-invasive surface scanning techniques directed in scientific research of medical, anthropology, archaeology forensic science, and product designing. 3D surface examining tools speak to a promising technique to provide reproducible data such as map the facial soft or hard tissues of a subject document skeletal remains, and trauma, generating 3D imitations of the components for documented and illustrative purposes while simultaneously holding exactness and unwavering quality. Three-dimensional imaging is rapidly turning into a vital tool for reconstruction and examination in scientific research. The final 3D mesh can be 3D printed or the digital version can be shared online with scientific researchers. This review manuscript highlights several studies utilizing non-invasive scanning techniques, depicts the pro and cons of the 3D scanning techniques, and different features of the scanners irrespective of the cost which would be helpful for future research work. A resourceful review was conducted using 7 databases;PubMed, CENTRAL, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and IEEE Xplore from 2002 to 2020. Search terms were;“3D Laser scanning”, “Photogrammetry”, “Skeleton preservation”, “Documentation”, “Surface Scanning”, etc. Papers with quality work and related to the field of forensic science, anthropometry, 3D facial scanning, and product development were selected. From all the studies, 71 studies met the eligibility criteria, and other articles were excluded which were non-relevant, had duplicate records, and did not meet search criteria. This review provides in-depth understanding and discussions into methods, restrictions, and inferences from respective research publications.
