Altitudinal Zones Research Articles

Interannual hydrological changes affect plant communities across different elevation zones in plateau lakeshores: insights from Lake Erhai

Interannual hydrological changes affect plant communities across different elevation zones in plateau lakeshores: insights from Lake Erhai

Sex-dependent shifts in body size and condition along replicated elevational gradients in a montane colonising ectotherm, the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis).

In ectothermic animals, elevational gradients, such as mountainous environments, are often associated with shifts in body size, although patterns differ across taxa and contexts. Mountain landscapes are characterised by relatively rapid shifts in biotic and abiotic conditions along an elevational gradient, commonly referred to as elevational zonation. Such zonation can reduce the geographic scale at which organisms experience the effects of climate change. The upslope range shifts will expose organisms at the colonization front to sub-optimal conditions. We can expect these challenging conditions to influence many life-history traits including growth rates and reproductive output. We tested the hypothesis that body size varies across elevational gradients in a contemporary montane colonizer, the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). Further, we assessed active body temperatures and available environmental temperatures in an attempt to discern a potential abiotic factor that might drive such a pattern. We quantified body size in lizards along four replicate transects ranging from 400 to 2400m above sea level in the Pyrenees. Male body size decreased with increasing elevation. While female body size was invariant, females at higher elevation exhibited lower body condition. These results suggest that the effects of abiotic limitations or selective pressures experienced at the high-elevation colonisation front are sex-specific. Furthermore, lizards from both sexes were able to maintain similar field active body temperatures across elevation, despite reduced ambient temperature. If available temperatures limit activity periods or necessitate higher thermoregulatory investment, as suggested by our results, then further warming may benefit lizards and favour further upslope migration.

Spatial organization of the bird communities of Central Siberia

Based on extensive information on the numbers and distribution of birds obtained during route surveys over the past 60 years, a classification of the bird communities of Central Siberia is considered at the level of its types. The specificity of this classification is determined by the predominance of latitudinal-zonal types over non-zonal ones. The main directions of territorial changes in the bird communities are determined by afforestation and watering, combined with latitudinal zonation. Less significant differences in ornithocomplexes are associated with the altitudinal zone and built-up area concerned. The main natural and anthropogenic factors and the hierarchy of their importance for the spatial differentiation of the bird populations have been established. The regional specificity of the spatial organization of the bird communities in Central Siberia in comparison with the Eastern European and West Siberian plains is reduced to the manifestation of high-altitude zonation due to differences in mountain-tundra ornithocomplexes, a greater differentiation of forest ornithocomplexes and less represented non-zonal population types.

Soil-forming factors controlling Technosol formation in historical mining and metallurgical sites in the high-alpine environment of the Tatra Mountains, southern Poland

The Tatra Mountains are a unique Central European alpine ecosystem where the non-anthropogenic soil cover and soil-forming processes are well recognized. However, the Technosols in the area’s high-mountain environment have not been studied in detail to date. Therefore the aim of this study was to identify the most important soil-forming factors controlling the properties of Technosols developed in historical mining and metallurgical sites in the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland active from the 15th Century until the end of the 19th. The present paper is one of the first attempts to study the genetic aspects of high-mountain Technosols in the temperate climatic zone. The study involved determining soil morphology and classification, soil properties, magnetic susceptibility, mineral composition, optical microscopic observations and total concentration of major elements. The studied Technosols were poorly developed soils with simple soil morphology (mainly A horizon in the topsoil and C horizons in the subsoil). There was a high content of rock fragments. The research has shown that the properties of Technosols in the Tatra Mountains were primarily determined by past human activities like mining and metallurgy as well as the type of anthropogenic parent material, which included mining wastes and metallurgical slags and determined soil properties together with mineral and chemical composition. Soil formation was significantly influenced by vegetation which was conditioned by the relief and climatic conditions dependent on altitudinal zonation. Vegetation and plant-derived soil organic matter shaped topsoil properties. The lengthy soil-forming process acting since a few centuries in some Technosols led to the formation of Bw horizons.

Desert landscape features influencing the microgeographic genetic structure of Nelson's pocket mouse Chaetodipus nelsoni.

Elucidating the factors that drive the genetic patterns of natural populations is key in evolutionary biology, ecology and conservation. Hence, it is crucial to understand the role that environmental features play in species genetic diversity and structure. Landscape genetics measures functional connectivity and evaluates the effects of landscape composition, configuration, and heterogeneity on microevolutionary processes. Deserts constitute one of the world's most widespread biomes and exhibit a striking heterogeneity of microhabitats, yet few landscape genetics studies have been performed with rodents in deserts. We evaluated the relationship between landscape and functional connectivity, at a microgeographic scale, of the Nelson's pocket mouse Chaetodipus nelsoni in the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve (Chihuahuan desert). We used single-nucleotide polymorphisms and characterized the landscape based on on-site environmental data and from Landsat satellite images. We identified two distinct genetic clusters shaped by elevation, vegetation and soil. High elevation group showed higher connectivity in the elevated zones (1250-1350 m), with scarce vegetation and predominantly rocky soils; whereas that of Low elevation group was at <1200 m, with denser vegetation and sandy soils. These genetic patterns are likely associated with the species' locomotion type, feeding strategy and building of burrows. Interestingly, we also identified morphological differences, where hind foot size was significantly smaller in individuals from High elevation compared to Low elevation, suggesting the possibility of ecomorphs associated with habitat differences and potential local adaptation processes, which should be explored further. These findings improve our understanding of the genetics and ecology of C. nelsoni and other desert rodents.

Performance Assessment of Three Living Shorelines in Cedar Key, Florida, USA

A community-driven effort in Cedar Key, Florida, USA, resulted in the construction of three living shoreline retrofits intended to bolster failing coastal infrastructure and restore habitat functions in Daughtry Bayou. A multi-year monitoring program tracked changes in elevation and vegetation communities across the entire shoreline profile from lower-intertidal to upland/transitional zones and measured wave attenuation during typical and extreme (hurricane) conditions. Overall, these living shoreline retrofits served to soften more than 30% of the bayou’s shoreline, dramatically reducing the extent of armored shoreline in direct contact with tidal influence. The extent of vegetated habitat area has increased at all three sites, despite sediment export from higher elevation zones driven largely by repeated impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms. These living shorelines reduced wave energy by 33 to 79% in typical conditions and by up to 28% in hurricane conditions, consistently outperforming armored shorelines, even during an extreme event (Hurricane Idalia). Our monitoring efforts were sufficient to capture project trajectories and assess performance relative to project goals, but our program had limitations that could have been overcome with additional resources and increased focus on capturing spillover effects. The living shoreline retrofit projects assessed here have persisted through and shown signs of recovery after multiple tropical storms and hurricanes, while providing important energy reduction services. Thus, living shoreline retrofits continue to be a cost-effective shoreline management strategy in the short term for this area. However, our analyses suggest that persistence of these shorelines could be threatened by the combination of sea-level rise (by 2040), upland armoring, and an increasing risk of more intense tropical systems. Therefore, future interventions should more carefully consider these threats in conjunction with habitat enhancement goals.

Spring water resources in the Tatra Mountains

The Tatra Mountains stand out as the wettest and most water-rich region in Poland. Despite this, limited studies addressed this issue, and current knowledge largely relies on data obtained in the mid-20th century, with a substantial lack of current estimates. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the contemporary water resources of springs in the Tatra Mountains. The study bases on the most recent hydrological mapping of 1,018 springs. The spring resources were evaluated using parameters such as the number of springs, specific runoff, and crenological index, analysed across different physiographic regions, tectonic units, and altitudinal zones. Our studies showed that the highest number of springs occurs in the Western Tatras (66%) between 1000 and 1400 m a.s.l., especially within the Sub-Tatric unit. Springs with discharges ranging from 0.1–1.0 dm3∙s−1 constitute approximately 70% of all springs but they contribute to only 8.1% of spring water resources. Total spring discharge amounted to 2726 dm3∙s−1 and was higher in the Western Tatras (1982.5 dm3∙s−1 than in the High Tatras (743.5 dm3∙s−1 . The specific runoff amounted to 12.9 dm3∙s−1 m−2 with the highest total runoff at altitudes occupied by the most abundant karst springs (1000–1100 m a.s.l.). The crenological index amounted to 4.8 springs∙km−2 and was higher in the Western Tatras (6.5 springs∙km−2) than in the High Tatras (4.9 springs∙kmup−2) . The analysis revealed that the only five largest karst springs, constituting a mere 0.5% of all springs, account for 65% of spring water resources in the Tatras.

Subfossil pollen spectra in the altitudinal belts of the Sikhote-Alin

This paper presents the characteristics and comparison of subfossil pollen spectra of modern plant communities in the altitudinal zones of the Northern Sikhote-Alin and the Southern Sikhote-Alin, using the cases of the Tordoki-Yani Mountain (absolute altitude 2090 m) and Oblachnaya Mountain (absolute altitude 1858 m). All pollen spectra from high mountains reflect the forests caused by long-distance transport of tree pollen. Due to the abundance of Picea pollen, the pollen spectra of the mountain tundra and upper part of the subalpine belts of the Northern Sikhote-Alin correspond to the most common type of vegetation at the upper forest borde r–the high-mountain spruce forest with Betula lanata, where Pinus pumila thickets can reach from the overlying belt. The largest amount of allochthonous pollen was found in the pollen spectra on the site without forest canopy. The pollen of broad-leaved trees was brought to high hypsometric levels by mountain-valley winds, rising air currents, from the underlying belts. The quantitative content of pollen of the main dominants of each altitudinal plant zone does not always accurately reflect the role of these taxa in the composition of the communities. The pollen productivity of Betula lanata exceeds the pollen productivity of the main forest forming species in all altitudinal zones, with the exception of the stone birch forests, therefore the share of its participation in the composition of the pollen spectra is overestimated. In the studied pollen spectra the content of Larix pollen is greatly underestimated compared to the role of this species in the forest stand, especially in soil samples from larch forest. It is associated with low pollen productivity, distribution and fossilization characteristics.

Research on the Spatial–Temporal Distribution and Morphological Characteristics of Ancient Settlements in the Sichuan Basin

An investigation into the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of ancient settlements and their relationship with the environment in the Sichuan Basin can enhance our understanding of the evolution of the regional human–land relationship. Utilizing kernel density analysis by GIS, this paper obtained the spatial distribution characteristics of 1100 settlements in the Neolithic, Shang–Zhou, and Qin to Southern Dynasties periods. Subsequently, a GIS spatial analysis was performed to examine the distribution of these settlements in relation to the natural environment, focusing on four aspects: elevation, slope, aspect, and water buffer zone. The results demonstrate that: (1) The distribution of settlements from the Neolithic to the Southern Dynasties has expanded from the Chengdu Plain in the west and the Xiajiang Area in the east to the hilly areas in the center. (2) The settlements in the Neolithic and Shang–Zhou periods are predominantly located at elevations between 300–600 m, slopes between 0–3°, aspects between 135–225°, distances to rivers between 0–1000 m, and soil choice on Luvisols, Cambisols, Regosols, and Anthrosols. The influence of aspect on settlements during the Qin–Southern Dynasties period was notably reduced. The settlements mainly grow in the Chengdu Plain and the smaller plains along the river from the Neolithic to the Southern Dynasties in the Sichuan Basin. (3) The emergence and advancement of primitive agriculture, the construction of early water conservancy facilities, commercial and trade exchanges, and the establishment of regimes led to a shift from a double core to a more dispersed distribution in the Sichuan Basin from the Neolithic to the Southern Dynasties periods. The evolution of settlements reflects the adaption and competition of the residents to the natural environment in the Sichuan Basin. Furthermore, it provides insights into the complex social development in the region, ranging from the formation of early states to the establishment of the Qin and Han Empires.

Effect of Different Altitudinal Zones on Growth Parameters of Garcinia indica (Choisy) in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, India

This study examines the impact of altitudinal variation on the growth of Garcinia indica in Agro-climatic Zone-9 of Karnataka, specifically in the Uttara Kannada district of the Western Ghats. Eight experimental sites, categorized into four altitudinal zones (Plains, Up-ghat, Mid-ghat, and Coastal), were analyzed for tree height, girth, and crown diameter. Results show significant growth variations, with the Up-ghat zone having the highest mean tree height (10.73 m), the Coastal zone showing the largest girth (69.67 cm), and the Mid-ghat zone exhibiting the widest crown diameter (7.08 m). Four type of canopy found viz., Pyramidal, Full-crowned, Weeping and Spreading. These growth differences are influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall, humidity, and light availability, which are more favourable in higher altitude regions. The findings have practical implications for commercial Garcinia indica cultivation, indicating plains and up-ghat as optimal for higher productivity. Understanding these growth patterns supports sustainable harvesting and improved yields for industries using kokum butter and extracts.

Local adaptation, plasticity, and evolved resistance to hypoxic cold stress in high-altitude deer mice

A fundamental question in evolutionary biology concerns the relative contributions of phenotypic plasticity vs. local adaptation (genotypic specialization) in enabling wide-ranging species to inhabit diverse environmental conditions. Here, we conduct a long-term hypoxia acclimation experiment to assess the relative roles of local adaptation and plasticity in enabling highland and lowland deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) to sustain aerobic thermogenesis at progressively increasing elevations. We assessed the relative physiological performance capacities of highland and lowland natives as they were exposed to progressive, stepwise increases in hypoxia, simulating the gradual ascent from sea level to an elevation of 6,000 m. The final elevation of 6,000 m far exceeds the highest attainable elevations within the species' range, and therefore tests the animals' ability to tolerate levels of hypoxia that surpass the prevailing conditions within their current distributional limits. Our results demonstrate that highland natives exhibit superior thermogenic capacities at the most severe levels of hypoxia, suggesting that the species' broad fundamental niche and its ability to inhabit such a broad range of elevational zones is attributable to genetically based local adaptation, including evolved changes in plasticity. Transcriptomic and physiological measurements identify evolved changes in the acclimation response to hypoxia that contribute to the enhanced thermogenic capacity of highland natives.

Investigating climatic drivers of snow phenology by considering key-substage heterogeneity

Investigating the main climatic drivers responsible for changes in snow cover phenology (SCP) is crucial for making scientific countermeasures to ensure water resources security in global mountainous regions. However, most studies have explored drivers of SCP changes using a fixed substage division scheme and correlation analysis (referred to as the traditional method), potentially limiting reliability and accuracy in mountainous areas with complex terrain and climate. Here, a novel method is developed to efficiently identify main climatic drivers of SCP changes. This method employs a flexible scheme to account for the spatial heterogeneity of the dominant sub-period (the sub-period with the major climatic effect) in combination with regression analysis. Using the arid region of China as a case study, the new method was applied to three SCP parameters including snow cover days, snow start date, and snow end date, based on a seamless snow cover dataset from 2002 to 2019. The method’s effectiveness was evaluated by comparing it with the traditional method. The results indicate significant spatial heterogeneity in the dominant sub-period(s), closely associated with local temperature and elevation. The traditional method failed to accurately identify the main drivers of SCP changes, as evidenced by sub-region and elevation zone analyses showing adjusted coefficient of determination (R2) of < 0.5 in most cases. This inadequacy is attributed to its fixed and inappropriate scheme of substage division. In contrast, the new method, with its flexible scheme, achieved much higher adjusted R2 values (mostly > 0.5) and exhibited better performances in predicting SCP changes. Thanks to the new method, climatic causes of SCP changes were successfully identified in 12 hotspots (regions with significant SCP changes), all with adjusted R2 > 0.5. The climatic causes were found to vary significantly across different hotspot regions and SCP parameters. The proposed method holds significant potential to enhance the reliability of analyses concerning main climatic drivers of SCP changes in mountainous regions globally.

Influence of Altitudinal Gradient on Human Malaria Prevalence in Plateau State, Central Nigeria: A Longitudinal Study

Study’s Excerpt The relationship between altitude and malaria transmission dynamics in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria, is assessed. The highest malaria prevalence was observed at lower altitudes and vice-versa. Environmental factors (altitude) have an influence on malaria epidemiology in the region. Full Abstract This longitudinal study assessed the prevalence of human malaria infection across different altitudinal zones in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria, aiming to identify the impact of altitude on malaria transmission dynamics. Malaria is a potentially lethal disease caused by protozoan parasites called Plasmodium. Abiotic factors are known to be the main factors influencing the epidemiology of the disease. In 2018 and 2019, blood samples were taken and examined for the presence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria using the SD-PAN Ag mRDT. After that, blood film slides were created in order to calculate the parasite density for each of the four seasons' worth of positive samples. The prevalence rates of malaria in the three locations vary significantly, with the highest rates observed at lower altitudes (Pangwasa 211m) above sea level and the lowest at the highest altitude (Vwang 1330m) above sea level. Vwang has the lowest malaria prevalence of 16.25%, Jing (663m) has a higher prevalence of 40.0%, and Pangwasa has the highest prevalence at 46.9.

Effect of different Altitudes on Leaf Parameters of Garcinia indica (Choisy) in Uttara Kannada, India

Garcinia indica is a native tree species found in the Western Ghats of India and is important for commerce, ecology and medicine. This study looks into the morphometric characteristics of G. indica leaves and how they vary in the Uttara Kannada area of Karnataka, India, across various altitude zones. Eight test locations were chosen and divided into four altitude zones (Zones A (plains), Zone B (up-ghat), Zone C (mid-ghat) and Zone D (Coastal)) each of which corresponded to a distinct elevation and rainfall level. Forty trees were used to gather leaf samples and measurements of the leaves' length, breadth, (fresh and dry leaf) weight and moisture content were noted. The findings showed that there was a considerable altitude-dependent variation in leaf characteristics, with Zone-A showing the largest mean leaf length (9.48 cm), breadth (3.68 cm) and Zone-C showing the highest leaf weight (0.85 g). Four leaf types were noted: lanceolate, elliptical, ovate and obovate. The elliptical leaf shape was found to be the most prevalent. The study emphasizes how bioclimatic factors affect the morphology of G. indica leaves and it suggests that altitude is a major factor in determining the size and weight of leaves. This study supports the conservation and widespread use of G. indica by shedding light on its variety and ability to adapt to different environments.

Bioaccumulation of natural radionuclides in edible molluscs and associated risk from the Ashtamudi Estuary, situated in a high background natural radiation zone (HBNRA), Kerala, southwest coast of India

The study investigated various natural radionuclides, including 238U, 232Th, 210Po, and 210Pb, in edible molluscan species collected from different zones of the Ashtamudi estuary. Physicochemical and sedimentological factors played crucial roles in influencing the distribution of radionuclides in water and sediments. Notably, bivalve species, particularly those from the Cyrenidae family, exhibited significant bioaccumulation of 210Po (up to 432.8 Bq kg−1) and 210Pb (up to 121.3 Bq kg−1), with Zone VI recording the highest biological concentration factor (BCF) and biological sediment accumulation factor (BSAF). The calculated effective dose for humans consuming bivalve meat was moderate, falling above the lower end of the ICRP range of 1 mSv y−1 but well below the upper limit of 20 mSv y−1 for existing elevated radiation zones. The intake of radioactivity from some bivalves corresponded to a cancer risk of approximately 3.2 × 10−2 (total mortality + morbidity), exceeding the acceptable risk threshold reported by the USEPA. However, this level of exposure indicated that immediate action might not be necessary, especially if further dose reduction proved impractical, in line with the ICRP's approach to optimizing radiation protection.

Evaluation of the Surface Downward Longwave Radiation Estimation Models over Land Surface

Surface downward longwave radiation (SDLR) is crucial for maintaining the global radiative budget balance. Due to their ease of practicality, SDLR parameterization models are widely used, making their objective evaluation essential. In this study, against comprehensive ground measurements collected from more than 300 globally distributed sites, four SDLR parameterization models, including three popular existing ones and a newly proposed model, were evaluated under clear- and cloudy-sky conditions at hourly (daytime and nighttime) and daily scales, respectively. The validation results indicated that the new model, namely the Peng model, originally proposed for SDLR estimation at the sea surface and applied for the first time to the land surface, outperformed all three existing models in nearly all cases, especially under cloudy-sky conditions. Moreover, the Peng model demonstrated robustness across various land cover types, elevation zones, and seasons. All four SDLR models outperformed the Global Land Surface Satellite product from Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer Data (GLASS-AVHRR), ERA5, and CERES_SYN1de-g_Ed4A products. The Peng model achieved the highest accuracy, with validated RMSE values of 13.552 and 14.055 W/m2 and biases of −0.25 and −0.025 W/m2 under clear- and cloudy-sky conditions at daily scale, respectively. Its superior performance can be attributed to the inclusion of two cloud parameters, total column cloud liquid water and ice water, besides the cloud fraction. However, the optimal combination of these three parameters may vary depending on specific cases. In addition, all SDLR models require improvements for wetlands, bare soil, ice-covered surfaces, and high-elevation regions. Overall, the Peng model demonstrates significant potential for widespread use in SDLR estimation for both land and sea surfaces.

Widespread homogenization in vegetation activities along the elevational gradients across the Himalaya over the past 40 years

Mountainous regions are vital biodiversity hotspots with high heterogeneity, providing essential refugia for vegetation. However, climate change threatens this diversity with the potential homogenization of the distinct environmental conditions at different elevations. Here, we used a time-series (1985–2023) of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Landsat archives (30 m) to quantify vegetation changes across an elevation gradient on Himalaya Mountain. Our analysis revealed that over the past 40 years, the Himalayas have experienced widespread greening, accompanied by homogenization of vegetation across elevations. This homogenization, characterized by a reduction in the differences between high and low elevations, can be attributed to two main factors: (1) increased warming and a higher snowmelt rate at high elevations, facilitating rapid changes in high-elevation vegetation activities; and (2) higher anthropogenic disturbance at low and mid elevations, thus inhibiting low-elevation vegetation. These factors have resulted in a reduction of habitat differentiation along the mountain slopes, homogenizing vegetation and potentially threatening the unique biodiversity adapted to specific elevational zones. Our findings emphasize the urgent need for conservation strategies that prioritize the protection of heterogeneous mountain habitats to preserve their rich biodiversity in the face of climate change.

Black-throated blue warblers (Setophaga caerulescens) exhibit diet flexibility and track seasonal changes in insect availability.

Changes in leaf phenology from warming spring and autumn temperatures have lengthened the temperate zone growing "green" season and breeding window for migratory birds in North America. However, the fitness benefits of an extended breeding season will depend, in part, on whether species have sufficient dietary flexibility to accommodate seasonal changes in prey availability. We used fecal DNA metabarcoding to test the hypothesis that seasonal changes in the diets of the insectivorous, migratory black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) track changes in the availability of arthropod prey at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA. We examined changes across the breeding season and along an elevation gradient encompassing a 2-week difference in green season length. From 98 fecal samples, we identified 395 taxa from 17 arthropod orders; 242 were identified to species, with Cecrita guttivitta (saddled prominent moth), Theridion frondeum (eastern long-legged cobweaver), and Philodromus rufus (white-striped running crab spider) occurring at the highest frequency. We found significant differences in diet composition between survey periods and weak differences among elevation zones. Variance in diet composition was highest late in the season, and diet richness and diversity were highest early in the season. Diet composition was associated with changes in prey availability surveyed over the green season. However, several taxa occurred in diets more or less than expected relative to their frequency of occurrence from survey data, suggesting that prey selection or avoidance sometimes accompanies opportunistic foraging. This study demonstrates that black-throated blue warblers exhibit diet flexibility and track seasonal changes in prey availability, which has implications for migratory bird responses to climate-induced changes in insect communities with longer green seasons.

First report of Morchella galilaea, an autumn species from Pakistan, based on multilocus DNA sequences, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analyses.

Morchella is highly prized for its distinct and delicious taste, making it one of the most sought-after and valuable macrofungi. Despite Pakistan exporting morels to various European countries, Morchella's diversity in this South Asian country has not been cataloged using multilocus DNA sequence data. Realizing the need for their scientific identity, various collections were commissioned, including those from the low and high altitudinal zones of the Charsadda, Swat, and Poonch districts of Pakistan during autumn of 2015 through 2019. Specimens were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and portions of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) loci. Multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed the autumnal collections were Morchella galilaea Masaphy & Clowez. The species was previously documented in the United States, China, Israel, and Turkey. A detailed taxonomic description, light and scanning electron microscopy, and multigene molecular phylogenetic analyses of the species are reported here for the first time from Pakistan. The study underscores the necessity for further surveys of unexplored areas of Pakistan and systematics of Morchella to augment species diversity and their geographic distribution. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Specimens of Morchella were collected from low and high altitudinal zones in Pakistan during the autumn. Specimens were assessed using multigene (ITS, RPB1, RPB2, and TEF1) molecular phylogenetic analyses for the first time in Pakistan. The specimens were identified as Morchella galilaea based on multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis. Updated taxonomic descriptions of macro- and microanatomical characters were provided for clarity and precision. Hitherto-unreported shapes of paraphyses and acroparaphyses are observed and thoroughly reported. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of an ascospore is provided.

Effect of elevation and aspect on carbon stock of bamboo stands (Bambusa nutans subsp. Cupulata) outside the forest area in Eastern Nepal

Bamboo has emerged as a promising option for climate change mitigation due to its rapid growth, versatility, and renewability. However, in Nepal, there exists a substantial knowledge gap on carbon (C) stock and the influence of aspect and elevation on C stock of bamboo species, particularly in areas outside forests where bamboo is dominant. Therefore, this research was conducted to quantify C stock and aspect-elevation influence on the C stock of Bambusa nutans subsp. cupulata outside the forest area. For this study, three elevation zones (0–400 m, 400–800 m, 800–1200 m) and two aspects (East and West) were considered. A total of 30 square plots having a 100 m2 area were established utilizing purposive sampling due to the scattered distribution of bamboo. Non-destructive methods were applied to measure bamboo culm diameters, while composite soil samples were systematically collected from 30 cm depth using soil augers and core samplers. Clump density (400 ha⁻¹), culm density (42,480 ha⁻¹) and culm diameter (6.82 ± 0.41 cm) were highest at middle elevations (p < 0.05), with no significant difference due to aspect (p > 0.05). The total mean C stock potential of B. nutans was 148.73 ± 3.43 Mg ha⁻¹. Our results indicated a significant difference in C stock among elevation zones, with middle elevation zones (161.77 ± 6.74 Mg ha-1) exhibiting notably higher C stock compared to both lower (150.26 ± 2.69 Mg ha-1) and higher (134.17 ± 4.26 Mg ha-1) elevation zones. Furthermore, East aspect was found to have significantly (p < 0.05) higher soil organic C stock (18.52 ± 1.32 Mg ha-1) compared to West aspect (11.4 ± 1.01 Mg ha-1). Further research is needed to explore other complex environmental interactions with C stock potential for better climate change strategies. Incorporating bamboo C into Nepal's REDD+ initiative can be crucial for optimizing opportunities to earn C credits.