New Distributional Records of the Himalayan Yew in North Western Himalaya, India-A Consequence of Climate Change

Abstract

Biological and ecological responses are apparent throughout the globe on plants and animals. In Himalaya, climate change greatly affected distribution and abundance of plants along latitude and elevation because temperature increased 2-5 times more than global average rate. Many treeline, ecotone and community studies are evidence to it, climatic conditions shape the ranges and distribution of species in Himalaya. The Himalayan Yew ( Taxus wallichiana Zucc.) is an endangered native high value medicinal plant, also shows the biological and ecological responses in the Himalayan region in context to global warming. The present study, investigated the distribution and abundance of Himalayan Yew in the Lahaul valley of the cold region.