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The current study aimed at genomic characterization and improved understanding of genetic diversity of two Indian mithun populations (both farm, 48 animals and field, 24 animals) using genome wide genotype data generated with Illumina BovineHD BeadChip. Eight additional populations of taurine cattle (Holstein and NDama), indicine cattle (Gir) and other evolutionarily closely related species (Bali cattle, Yak, Bison, Gaur and wild buffalo) were also included in this analysis (N = 137) for comparative purposes. Our results show that the genetic background of mithun populations was uniform with few possible signs of indicine admixture. In general, observed and expected heterozygosities were quite similar in these two populations. We also observed increased frequencies of small-sized runs of homozygosity (ROH) in the farm population compared to field mithuns. On the other hand, longer ROH were more frequent in field mithuns, which suggests recent founder effects and subsequent genetic drift due to close breeding in farmer herds. This represents the first study providing genetic evidence about the population structure and genomic diversity of Indian mithun. The information generated will be utilized for devising suitable breeding and conservation programme for mithun, an endangered bovine species in India.

Abstract. Prediction of potential landslide damming has been a difficult process owing to uncertainties related to landslide volume, resultant dam volume, entrainment, valley configuration, river discharge, material composition, friction, and turbulence associated with the material. In this study instability pattern of landslides, parametric uncertainty, geomorphic indices, post-failure run-out predictions, and spatio-temporal pattern of rainfall and earthquake is explored using Satluj valley, North-West (NW) Himalaya as a case study area to predict the potential landslide damming sites. The study area witnessed landslide damming in the past and incurred $ ~ 30 M loss and 350 lives in the last four decades due to such processes. Forty-four active landslides in the study area that cover a total ~ 4.81 ± 0.05 × 106 m2 area and ~ 34.1 ± 9.2 × 106 m3 volume are evaluated in the study to identify those that may result in potential landslide damming. Out of forty-four, five landslides covering the volume of ~ 26.3 ± 6.7 × 106 m3 are observed to form potential landslide dams. Spatio-temporal varying patterns of rainfall in recent years enhance the possibility of landslide triggering and hence potential damming. These landslides also resulted in 24.8 ± 2.7 m to 39.8 ± 4.0 m high material flow in run-out predictions.

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Abstract. Prediction of potential landslide damming has been a difficult process owing to the uncertainties related to landslide volume, resultant dam volume, entrainment, valley configuration, river discharge, material composition, friction, and turbulence associated with material. In this study, instability patterns of landslides, geomorphic indices, post-failure run-out predictions, and spatio-temporal patterns of rainfall and earthquakes are explored to predict the potential landslide damming sites. The Satluj valley, NW Himalaya, is chosen as a case study area. The study area has witnessed landslide damming in the past and incurred losses of USD ∼30 million and 350 lives in the last 4 decades due to such processes. A total of 44 active landslides that cover a total ∼4.81±0.05×106 m2 area and ∼34.1±9.2×106 m3 volume are evaluated to identify those landslides that may result in potential landslide damming. Out of these 44, a total of 5 landslides covering a total volume of ∼26.3±6.7×106 m3 are noted to form the potential landslide dams. Spatio-temporal variations in the pattern of rainfall in recent years enhanced the possibility of landslide triggering and hence of potential damming. These five landslides also revealed 24.8±2.7 to 39.8±4.0 m high debris flows in the run-out predictions.