Background
The aim of this study is to elucidate the potential risk zones prone to the invasion of perennial ornamental plant Lantana camara, which is native to South America and has invasive tendency in Jharkhand, eastern India, for present (2020) and the future (2050) climatic conditions under four different Representative Concentration Pathways scenarios (RCPs). We analysed the current distribution pattern of L. camara in the plateau region of eastern India and identified potentially suitable habitats prone to its further infestation in the future under the climate change scenario.
Results
Results showed the presence of L. camara invasion in ~ 13% of the geographical area of Jharkhand, Chotanagpur plateau which may expand up to 20–26% by 2050 depending upon emission scenarios as characterised by the four RCPs. Analysis for the current scenario suggests the dominance of L. camara in sub-zone V (12.77% under high risk zones (HRZ) and 9.5% under critical risk zones (CRZ)) followed by sub-zones IV (6.7%: HRZ; 4.19%: CRZ) and VI (2.49%: HRZ; 2.14%: CRZ). Future projection (2050) indicates a possible expansion of its distribution range across all agro-climatic sub-zones with dominance in sub-zones V and IV. Variable Bio_4 (temperature seasonality) was observed as the most contributing factor for the distribution of L. camara for current and future scenarios across all RCPs. Suitable habitat for L. camara mostly occurred under natural vegetation (66.05% of CRZ and 60.71% of HRZ) and agriculture landscape (29.51% of CRZ and 34.48% of HRZ).
Conclusions
The study provides an insight of invasion of L. camara in the plateau region of eastern India, and reveals wide distribution across all the agro-climatic sub-zones of Jharkhand, mostly in open and disturbed areas under natural vegetation and agriculture landscapes. Future projections for the year 2050 suggest a continuous increase in the expansion range of invasion across Jharkhand and call for urgent initiatives to combat its further invasion.
We determined the genetic diversity and population structures of Carex breviculmis (Cyperaceae) populations in Korea, using genetic variations at 23 allozyme loci. C. brevlculmis is a long-lived herbaceous species that is widely distributed in eastern Asia. A high level of genetic variation was found in 15 populations. Twelve enzymes revealed 23 loci, of which 11 were polymorphic (47.8%). Genetic diversity at the speciesand population levels were 0.174 and 0.146, respectively. Total genetic diversity (HT = 0.363) and within-population genetic diversity (Hs = 0.346) were high, whereas the extent of the population divergence was relatively low (Gsz = 0.063). Deviation from random mating (Fis) within the 15 populations was 0.206. An indirect estimate of the number of migrants per generation (Nm = 3.69) indicated that gene flow was extensive among Korean populations of this species. Analysis of fixation indices revealed a substantial heterozygote deficiency in some populations and at some loci. Genetic identity between populations was high, exceeding 0.956.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) has wide ranging application in the study and analysis of various environmental and biodiversity conservation issues. Due to geographical variations, the accuracy of DEMs generated from different satellite sources needs to be ascertained for choosing the best suitable DEM for a particular study area. In the present study, the performance of DEM datasets of Cartosat-1 and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) has been evaluated on the basis of slope, aspect, altitude and hill-shade map generated through these DEMs for different agro-climatic zones of Jharkhand. Elevation values deduced through Cartosat-1 and SRTM datasets were compared with actual Ground Control Points (GCP) recorded using Global Positioning System (GPS) for testing their accuracy. The forest cover map was created by Landsat 7 ETM+ data and subsequently superimposed on altitude map, generated using SRTM and Cartosat-1. Further, it was visually compared with the Survey of India topo-sheet (1:50000) for analyzing undulating topography and forest cover of Jharkhand. The comparative study based on different parameters for DEM dataset from Cartosat-1 and SRTM, reveals that SRTM data performed better than Cartosat-1 for the study of forest cover in different agro-climatic zones of Jharkhand.
Invasive plant species (IPS) are considered one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss, altering ecosystem services and socio-economic conditions through different mechanisms. However, the ecological impacts of IPS are well documented, while a few benefits of alien species were also observed. Decisions need to be made on whether benefits derived from the invasive spread of an alien species outweigh the reduced value of ecosystem services, e.g., the loss of grazing land. The present study was carried out in Gutwa village near the Ranchi Smart Cities, where the encroachment of invasive plants was in accelerated due to infrastructure and other anthropogenic activity. For the enumeration of invasive plant species (IPS) research site has been classified into three groups (1) G1 (infrastructure developed area); (2) G2 (developing; infrastructure is going on) and (3) G3 (undeveloped or natural vegetation dominant area). Field data has been collected from fifteen quadrats, each of 3m x3 m. Quantitative analysis has been done with standard methods. Statistically, the variance of all quadrats emphasizes the dispersions nature of alien species within the group of all quadrats. The opportunity for the accidental invasion of alien species may increase with rapid urbanization and globalization. Because of this, the present study attempted to the documentation of harmful and beneficial uses of the invasive alien plant species in the rural-urban gradient in Gutwa village. So, it is necessary to consider actions to deal with the current problems in Gutwa village in Ranchi caused by invasive species and to reduce the magnitude of the problem in the future. Management prospects can be further strengthened through their linkage with geospatial technologies (remote sensing and GIS) by mapping and monitoring the IPS spread.
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