Reproductive Phenology and Germination Behavior of Some Important Tree Species of Northeast India

Upadhaya, Krishna; Mir, Aabid Hussain; Iralu, Viheno

doi:10.1007/s40011-017-0841-4

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Low seedling recruitment and sapling establishment on the forest floor is a major constraint faced by the species. The seeds (~1 mm size) mature in October-November and take nearly 45 days to germinate (Upadhaya et al 2017). Field observations revealed that the newly germinated seedlings are exposed to moisture stress and low temperatures that extend from December to February (winter season), leading to seedling mortality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abundance and habitat-suitability relationship deteriorate in fragmented forest landscapes: a case of Adinandra griffithii Dyer, a threatened endemic tree from Meghalaya in northeast India

et al. 2018

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Introduction: A strong positive 'abundance and habitat-suitability' relationship is crucial for conservation of species. Nevertheless, anthropogenic alteration of natural landscapes leading to land use and land cover change, habitat loss, and species extinctions (may) have putatively disturbed this relationship. Hence, it is important to study the nature of the relationship in such human influenced landscapes. Methods: In this study, we endeavored to understand the consistency of the relationship in the fragmented natural landscapes in the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya in northeast India, with Adinandra griffithii (an endangered endemic tree) as a model species. We reconstructed the distribution of its suitable habitats as a function of the remotely sensed vegetation phenology (i.e., EVI data), using point occurrence data and ecological niche modeling (ENM) tool. Estimation of the abundance and habitat characterization was done through field surveys following standard methods. Results: The study revealed that remotely sensed landscape-level vegetation phenology could effectively discriminate the suitable and unsuitable habitats of threatened species. Linear regression model showed a weak positive correlation between abundance and predicted habitat suitability for adult trees indicating (plausible) deterioration in the relationship. However, sapling and seedling populations did not show a precise trend in this respect. Field-based studies revealed that removal of the species from the suitable habitats because of anthropogenic disturbances possibly weakened the abundance-suitability relationship. Conclusions: The findings of the study enjoin the need for re-establishment of the species in the suitable areas for its conservation and perpetuation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). The flowering occurs during April to June, and fruiting during September to December (Balakrishnan 1981;Upadhaya et al 2017). …”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and habitat-suitability relationship deteriorate in fragmented forest landscapes: a case of Adinandra griffithii Dyer, a threatened endemic tree from Meghalaya in northeast India

et al. 2018

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“…f. & Th. and other endemic species of the region (Upadhaya et al 2007;Upadhaya et al 2017). However, uncracked seeds imbibed only a small amount of water during soaking and this was not improved by pre-cracking the seeds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed dormancy, germination and seedling characteristics of Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wall. ex Müll. Berol.: a threatened tree species of north-eastern India

Iralu

Upadhaya

2018

N.Z. j. of For. Sci.

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Background: Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wall. ex Müll. Berol. is a threatened tree species of northeastern India. The present study was undertaken to investigate the type of dormancy prevailing in seeds of E. prunifolius, explore seed dormancy breaking techniques and assess seedling fitness. Methods: Ripe fruits of E. prunifolius were harvested from Jaintia hills, and seeds were subjected to various physical, manual and chemical treatments. The effect of plant growth regulators, viz gibberellic acid (GA 3) and potassium nitrate (KNO 3), were tested. Seedling vigour and survival based on seed weight were examined. Results: Germination took 6 months to initiate after seed dispersal and natural germination percentage of fresh seeds was 24%. Physical pre-germination treatments such as surface and acid scarification failed to overcome dormancy. Cracked seeds promoted germination (46%) with a mean germination time of 146 days (time to 50% germination, T 50 = 144 days). Among the GA 3 treatments, split seeds treated with GA 3 (3000 mg/L −1) yielded the highest germination (24%) with a T 50 of 55 days whereas KNO 3 did not promote germination. A combination of GA 3 and KNO 3 , however, increased the germination to 31%. Between the seed weight classes, the highest percentage of germination was observed in heavy seeds (25%) and the lowest in light seeds (20%). There was no significant variation between seed weight and germination time (p > 0.05). Seed weight had a significant effect on the shoot height, number of leaves and dry weight of seedlings (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the seed tests, E. prunifolius seeds exhibits 'combined' dormancy (physical and physiological) as splitting seed coat and application of GA 3 effectively broke dormancy. Splitting the seed coat is a cost-effective method for accelerating germination of seeds. Heavyweight seeds produced better performing seedlings compared to their counterparts which may be viewed as an important reproductive strategy of the species.

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“…The life cycle of these species is highly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances as has been reported for several other threatened species of India ( Upadhaya et al 2018 ). The timing of a disturbance event also plays an important role by interacting with delicate phases of plant phenology such as dormancy, pollination, dispersal, seed growth and maturation ( Upadhaya et al 2018 ). In our case, the disturbances like grazing and tourist flow occur during such critical phases of these species which would have a potential effect on these species.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Ecology, distribution mapping and conservation implications of four critically endangered endemic plants of Kashmir Himalaya

Mir

Tyub

Kamili

2020

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

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During the last few decades, human-driven activities have led to indiscriminate habitat destruction and exploitation of many plant species in Kashmir Himalaya. As a result, many species have become threatened and are struggling for survival. Of particular concern are the endemic and critically endangered species which have the highest risk of the extinction, hence warranting immediate conservation actions. Therefore the current study was carried out to understand the distribution, ecology and conservation implications of the four critically endangered endemic plants of Kashmir Himalaya. Habitat distribution modelling showed that the suitable potential areas for the species occurred from subalpine to alpine meadowlands with an elevational range of 1500–4600 m asl. The output of the MaxEnt model and field surveys have revealed that their highest potential distribution is in Panchari, Khrew, Ramnagar, Pahalgam, Gurez, Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Kishtwar forest ranges. Based on the field explorations and herbarium records, Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch have 27 distribution areas, Gentiana kurroo Royle 18, Lilium polyphyllum D. Don 12 and Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf have 15. Precipitation of the driest month and annual mean temperature played an important role in the distribution of the studied species. The species started their lifecycle with the onset of the spring season, flowered in summer, fruit in autumn and senesce in the winter season. Under natural conditions, the number of days required for germination ranged from 180 to 210 where cold stratification played a pivotal role. Since last few decades, the populations of these species have been shrinking in their natural habitats due to over-exploitation for medicinal purposes and habitat destruction through amplified humanoid interferences like the expansion of agricultural land, road building, grazing and urbanization. Thus there is an urgent need to come up with positive strategies to save whatever is left and plan long term rescue measures not only to protect these species from extinction but also to reintroduce them along with framing the plans to supply sustained raw materials for medicine.

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Reproductive Phenology and Germination Behavior of Some Important Tree Species of Northeast India

Cited by 10 publications

References 37 publications

Abundance and habitat-suitability relationship deteriorate in fragmented forest landscapes: a case of Adinandra griffithii Dyer, a threatened endemic tree from Meghalaya in northeast India

Abundance and habitat-suitability relationship deteriorate in fragmented forest landscapes: a case of Adinandra griffithii Dyer, a threatened endemic tree from Meghalaya in northeast India

Seed dormancy, germination and seedling characteristics of Elaeocarpus prunifolius Wall. ex Müll. Berol.: a threatened tree species of north-eastern India

Ecology, distribution mapping and conservation implications of four critically endangered endemic plants of Kashmir Himalaya

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