Dry Habitats Research Articles

Dormancy, germination, and associated seed ecological traits of 25 Fabaceae species from northern India.

Fabaceae produce seeds with water-impermeable seed coats, i.e., physical dormancy (PY). We hypothesized that the proportion of PY seeds will increase with the dryness of the habitat, and some key seed ecological traits will be strongly associated with different levels of PY. Fresh seed of 25 Fabaceae species collected in northern India were used for imbibition and germination experiments to determine the proportion of seeds with PY and of nondormant (ND) seeds compared to their Sri Lankan congeners. Seed coat:seed mass ratio (SCR), 1000 seed weight, seed shape index (SSI), embryo type and median germination time of ND seeds were determined. Four imbibition and germination patterns were identified among seeds of the studied species. Seeds collected from Indian populations had a higher proportion of PY seeds than those of Sri Lankan populations. We identified a type of embryo called 'spatulate axile' that had not been identified before among the studied species. Species with ND seeds had a lower SCR and a higher SSI than those with PY. Our hypothesis was confirmed since populations from drier habitats in India produce a higher proportion of PY seeds than those from Sri Lanka. A low SCR ensures minimal resistance to germinating seeds, while seeds with a high SSI have a lower tendency to incorporate into the soil seed bank. Thus, these seed traits aid the fast germination of ND seeds, often dispersed just before the rainy season.

Origins of cryophilous lineages and the role of Beringia: evidence from the cosmopolitan angiosperm genus Stellaria L. (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract The cosmopolitan angiosperm genus Stellaria L. (Caryophyllaceae) occurs across the Arctic and is most diverse in the high southern Asian mountains, including presence at the most extreme latitudinal and elevational limits of vascular plants. Using the primary fossil record and double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data, we estimated divergence times of Stellaria and relatives across the Caryophyllaceae. We then used ancestral area and ancestral state reconstructions to interpret the biogeographical history of the group. We found that Stellaria originated in the Miocene and gave rise to repeated New World lineages, mostly from temperate Old World regions and probably via Bering Land Bridges. Circumboreal lineages were recovered of recent, Pleistocene origin and several might have originated in southerly mountains of both the Old World and the New World before subsequently colonizing the Arctic. Ancestral state reconstruction of inhabitance of cold vs. temperate climates and of wet vs. dry habitats revealed repeated evolutionary transitions across these extremes by members of the genus worldwide. Our study, which samples nearly all species within a diverse and cosmopolitan lineage of flowering plants, recovers a group characterized by niche lability and helps to support prior findings of temperate origins of many cryophilous plant lineages. Pre-adaptation to cold might have been a prerequisite for colonization of the Arctic.

Phylogeography of the small grass yellow Eurema brigitta (Stoll, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) unveils the existence of distinct taxa within the Palaeotropics

AbstractEurema brigitta (Stoll, 1780) is one of the few butterfly species distributed in most of the Old World tropics. In 2017, we documented its occurrence in Socotra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now, we clarify the origin of this specimen and further describe a phylogeographic pattern of this species by comparing Afrotropical, Malagasy and Oriental‐Australian populations using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I marker. We found a deep split between the Afrotropical and Oriental‐Australian populations of this taxon, which are separated by the Indian Ocean and dry eremic habitats on the northern coasts. A less deep but significant split also exists between E. b. brigitta (Stoll, 1780) from mainland Africa and E. b. pulchella (Boisduval, 1833) from Madagascar and surrounding islands. The individual from Socotra clearly originates from Africa. In addition, in accordance with the genetic pattern and the known morphological evidence, we propose to transfer the Oriental‐Australian populations into a separate species, Eurema drona (Horsfield, 1829) reinst. stat.

Genome size is strongly linked to carbohydrate storage and weakly linked to root sprouting ability in herbs.

Several lines of evidence indicate that carbohydrate storage in plant below-ground organs might be positively related to genome size because both these plant properties represent resource sinks and can affect cell size, cell cycle time, water-use efficiency and plant growth. However, plants adapted to disturbance, such as root sprouters, could be an exception because their strategy would require higher carbohydrate reserves to fuel biomass production but small genomes to complete their cell cycles faster. We used data from a field survey to test the relationship between genome size and the probability of root sprouting ability in 172 Central European herbaceous species. Additionally, we conducted a pot experiment with 19 herbaceous species with different sprouting ability (nine congeneric pairs plus one species), and measured root non-structural carbohydrate concentrations and pools at the end of a growing season. In the Central European flora, the probability of root sprouting ability was lower in large-genome species but this pattern was weak. In the pot experiment, both total non-structural and water-soluble carbohydrates (mainly fructans) were positively and non-linearly related to genome size, regardless of sprouting strategy. The concentrations of mono- and disaccharides and all carbohydrate pools showed no link to genome size, and starch was absent in large-genome species. The link between genome size and carbohydrate storage was less apparent at a small phylogenetic scale because we only observed a higher carbohydrate concentration in species with larger genomes for four of the species pairs. Root sprouters may have smaller genomes because of their frequent occurrence in dry and open habitats. Large-genome species with presumably large cells and vacuoles could accumulate more water-soluble carbohydrates at the end of the growing season to fuel their growth and perhaps protect vulnerable organs from freezing early in the next season.

Climate-induced hydrological fluctuations shape Arctic Alaskan peatland plant communities

Rapidly increasing temperatures in high-latitude regions are causing major changes in wetland ecosystems. To assess the impact of concomitant hydroclimatic fluctuations, mineral deposition, and autogenous succession on the rate and direction of changing arctic plant communities in Arctic Alaska, we conducted detailed palaeoecological analyses using plant macrofossil, pollen, testate amoebae, elemental analyses, and radiocarbon and lead (210Pb) dating on two replicate monoliths from a peatland that developed in a river valley on the northern foothills of the Books Range. We observed an expansion of Sphagnum populations and vascular plants preferring dry habitats, such as Sphagnum warnstorfii, Sphagnum teres/squarrosum, Polytrichum strictum, Aulacomnium palustre and Salix sp., in recent decades between 2000 and 2015 CE, triggered by an increase in temperature and deepening water tables. Deepening peatland water tables became accentuated over the last two decades, when it reached its lowest point in the last 700 years. Conversely, a higher water-table between ca. 1500 and 1950 CE led to a recession of Sphagnum communities and an expansion of sedges. The almost continuous supply of mineral matter during this time led to a dominance of minerotrophic plant communities, although with varying species composition throughout the study period. The replicate cores show similar patterns, but nuanced differences are also visible, depicting fine spatial scale differences particularly in peat-forming plant distribution and the different timings of their presence. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights into the impact of hydroclimatic fluctuations on peatland vegetation in Arctic Alaska, highlighting their tendency to dry out in recent decades. It also highlights the importance of river valley peatlands in paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

Seed germination characteristics of Polygonum longisetum (Polygonaceae) with reference to wildfire

The seed germination of Polygonum longisetum (Polygonaceae) was examined in relation to wildfire, i.e. smoke, soil surface substrates (charcoal and wood ash), litter (fresh and crushed) and water potential because this species is widely distributed as an invasive species and has the ability of smoke-induced seed germination. Previous studies confirm that this species requires light and cold stratification for high seed germination. The effects of seed density and fertilizer on seed germination and seedling growth were also examined. Seed germination was highest at a certain concentration of smoke liquid, while it was lower on woody ash and higher without litter. Since seed germination decreased more with lower water potential, low seed germination on litter and substrates should be induced by water limitation. Seed density and fertilizer did not affect germination rates but changed biomass and shoot height. In conclusion, the effects of smoke liquid on seed germination changed synchronously with the quality and quantity of litter and substrates. These seed characteristics should be advantageous for germination in dry habitats after wildfires and other disturbances.

Germination niche of a pioneer woody species (Manihot grahamii hook.): a strategy of seed heat stimulation to cope with disturbance in dry subtropical forests

AbstractLight and temperature conditions trigger germination in specific temporal windows and microhabitats, thus determining the germination niche of plant species. Manihot species grow in fire-prone ecosystems and their seeds show heat tolerance. Successful establishment in disturbed environments might be related to seed attributes that allow seeds to cope with or avoid stressful environments. We studied some characteristics of the germination niche of Manihot grahamii, a pioneer woody species present in dry subtropical forests of central Argentina, to understand its successful establishment in disturbed environments. We evaluated the germination ecology of the seeds of M. grahamii with the aims to (1) characterize seed traits (viability, mass and moisture content); (2) determine whether it has dormancy and if it is physical or physiological; (3) evaluate the effect of several pre-treatments (gibberellic acid, after ripening, dry prechilling and dry prechilling + warm) on seed dormancy; and (4) assess the effect of different environmental events of high temperatures on the germination process simulating two treatments: fire intensities (with three levels of heat shock) and a gap temperature. M. grahamii seeds have large mass (0.24 g), low moisture content (8%), physiological dormancy, negative photoblastic behaviour and high heat tolerance. Dormancy was alleviated and seeds became insensitive to light when they were exposed to pre-treatments of dry prechilling + warm and high-temperature treatments. This germination strategy promotes secure germination timing into the rainy season on undisturbed habitats as well as a cue for competition-released gaps which in turn favour recruitment in open, disturbed and dry habitats, respectively. In the context of global change, with an increasing habitat fragmentation and fire frequency, M. grahamii could become more abundant and extend its geographic distributional range in central Argentina.

Conservation of tree phylogenetic diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Dry habitats matter

Conservation assessments that aim to represent the pool of lineages that exist within a region are challenging due to incomplete knowledge of the spatial distribution and environmental preferences of distinct lineages. In this context, community-level models represent a powerful tool that can be used to predict spatial variation in phylogenetic composition. If lineages composition and habitat loss present a non-random spatial pattern within a region, we can expect that some lineages are more threatened by habitat loss than others. To test this hypothesis we combined multivariate analysis and a modelling approach to predict the phylogenetic composition of angiosperm tree/shrub communities in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil, which is regarded as a plant endemism center within the Brazilian Atlantic forest biome. Then we correlated the resulting models with maps of vegetation cover and protected areas, to identify lineages subjected to higher habitat loss and clades that receive less protection. We found that angiosperm tree/shrub lineages are highly structured across distinct vegetation types and that a gradient of deforestation and land protection parallels the phylogenetic gradient formed by the distinct vegetation types. Consequently, some vegetation types and its associated angiosperm lineages are much more threatened by habitat loss and are less protected than others. Specifically, Ericales (asterids), Caryophyllales and Santalales are the most threatened clades in this region, along with their preferred habitats, seasonal forests and coastal white-sand forests (restingas). Protecting and restoring these dry habitats is critical for the conservation of tree and shrub phylogenetic diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

A case of intercommunity lethal aggression by chimpanzees in an open and dry landscape, Issa Valley, western Tanzania

Intercommunity (lethal) aggression is a familiar component of the behavioural repertoire of many forest-dwelling chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) communities. However, until now, the absence of intercommunity attacks – including killings – in communities that live in open, mosaic environments has supported hypotheses of reduced resource competition in drier habitats, and informed referential models of early hominin social dynamics in a similar habitat. In June 2020, we observed the first instance of intercommunity lethal aggression, a male-committed infanticide, by the Issa chimpanzee community, which live in a savannah-mosaic habitat in the Issa Valley, western Tanzania. The carcass was recovered by researchers after it was abandoned by the attackers. Here, we give a detailed account of the events leading up to and including the infanticide, and contextualise our observations with what has been described for other chimpanzee communities. Notably, in contrast to the majority of reported intercommunity infanticides, the infant male victim was castrated (and not cannibalised), making this the youngest reported castration. This observation of intercommunity aggression disproves its hypothesised absence in savannah-dwelling chimpanzees, which by extension, has implications for early hominin evolution. We suggest that the near absence of observations of intercommunity aggression in savannah chimpanzee communities is most likely due to the lack of long-term study communities, and in some cases geographic isolation. We hypothesise that food-rich areas within a habitat with otherwise widely distributed food sources may select for intense intercommunity aggression despite the low population density characteristic of savannah communities. Anecdotes such as this add to the comparative database available on intercommunity killings in chimpanzee society, improving our ability to draw inferences about their evolutionary significance.

Variation in the Drought Tolerance of Tropical Understory Plant Communities across an Extreme Elevation and Precipitation Gradient.

Little is known about how differences in water availability within the "super humid" tropics can influence the physiology of understory plant species and the composition of understory plant communities. We investigated the variation in the physiological drought tolerances of hundreds of understory plants in dozens of plant communities across an extreme elevation and precipitation gradient. Specifically, we established 58 understory plots along a gradient of 400-3600 m asl elevation and 1000-6000 mm yr-1 rainfall in and around Manu National Park in southeastern Peru. Within the plots, we sampled all understory woody plants and measured three metrics of physiological leaf drought tolerance-turgor loss point (TLP), cuticular conductance (Gmin), and solute leakage (SL)-and assessed how the community-level means of these three traits related to the mean annual precipitation (MAP) and elevation (along the study gradient, the temperature decreases linearly, and the vapor pressure deficit increases monotonically with elevation). We did not find any correlations between the three metrics of leaf drought tolerance, suggesting that they represent independent strategies for coping with a low water availability. Despite being widely used metrics of leaf drought tolerance, neither the TLP nor Gmin showed any significant relationships with elevation or the MAP. In contrast, SL, which has only recently been developed for use in ecological field studies, increased significantly at higher precipitations and at lower elevations (i.e., plants in colder and drier habitats have a lower average SL, indicating greater drought tolerances). Our results illustrate that differences in water availability may affect the physiology of tropical montane plants and thus play a strong role in structuring plant communities even in the super humid tropics. Our results also highlight the potential for SL assays to be efficient and effective tools for measuring drought tolerances in the field.

Water conservation strategies in big cordgrass (Desmostachya bipinnata L.) for ecological success in hyper-arid and saline-arid environments

This study was conducted to investigate water conservation strategies in the above ground parts of Desmostachya bipinnata L., a perennial grass growing in populations of arid areas of the Punjab to identify variability in the anatomical traits that enable them to survive in water deficit conditions. Key structural modifications contributing to the ecological success and adaptation against heterogeneous environments included water conservation via development of additional water storage parenchyma, efficient conduction of solutes through wide metaxylem vessel (7947 µm2), minimization of water loss by intensive sclerification in some populations from Kallar Kahar (hyper-saline lake) and Pakka Anna (highly saline wasteland with D ratio:13.29) to avoid water loss. Populations from the most dry habitats, that is, in Cholistan (inter-dune desert flat with D ratio:43.17) had numerous small metaxylem vessels (1727 µm2). Saluwali (Cholistan Desert plain D ratio:30.4) populations showed intensive sclerification in stem vascular region and high density, wider metaxylem vessel oriented in dimensions different than other populations. A very unique feature observed in stems of Cholistan desert margin Kachakho, Pirowal plantation and Saluwali populations was the development of single-large metaxylem vessels instead of a pair usually found in plants. Another characteristic feature observed in stems, leaves and leaf sheath of some populations was differentially developed aerenchyma and bulliform cells ranging from small to large prominent and deeply inserted. In conclusion, D. bipinnata populations showed high but habitat-specific variability among the traits recorded, which provided this species a great potential to colonize arid and salt-affected areas.

Relationships between xylem embolism and tree functioning during drought, recovery, and recurring drought in Aleppo pine.

Recent findings suggest that trees can survive high levels of drought-induced xylem embolism. In many cases, the embolism is irreversible and, therefore, can potentially affect post-drought recovery and tree function under recurring droughts. We examined the development of embolism in potted Aleppo pines, a common species in hot, dry Mediterranean habitats. We asked (1) how post-drought recovery is affected by different levels of embolism and (2) what consequences this drought-induced damage has under a recurring drought scenario. Young trees were dehydrated to target water potential (Ψx ) values of -3.5, -5.2 and -9.5 MPa (which corresponded to ~6%, ~41% and ~76% embolism), and recovery of the surviving trees was measured over an 8-months period (i.e., embolism, leaf gas-exchange, Ψx ). An additional group of trees was exposed to Ψx of -6.0 MPa, either with or without preceding drought (Ψx of -5.2 MPa) to test the effect of hydraulic damage during repeated drought. Trees that reached -9.5 MPa died, but none from the other groups. Embolism levels in dying trees were on average 76% of conductive xylem and no tree was dying below 62% embolism. Stomatal recovery was negatively proportional to the level of hydraulic damage sustained during drought, for at least a month after drought relief. Trees that experienced drought for the second time took longer to reach fatal Ψx levels than first-time dehydrating trees. Decreased stomatal conductance following drought can be seen as "drought legacy," impeding recovery of tree functioning, but also as a safety mechanism during a consecutive drought.

Conductivity and water level modulate developmental plasticity and explain distribution patterns in a diverse neotropical Odonata assemblage

Abstract Developmental plasticity can help organisms to survive in temporally variable environments. However, it is not well understood how variation in life history plasticity helps species coexist in heterogeneous environments. Here, we investigate the extent to which life‐history plasticity explains species distributions in a diverse assemblage of odonates in a tropical freshwater rock pool system characterized by substantial variation in pond permanence. Some dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) can accelerate their development to leave the water before their habitat dries. However, how they sense habitat drying is poorly understood. Here, we experimentally tested the extent to which elevated concentrations of salts in water or reductions in water level can be used as cues for developmental acceleration in a neotropical Odonata assemblage from granite rock pools. Libellulidae dragonflies were found along the permanence gradient and accelerated their growth in response to elevated dissolved salts (measured as conductivity). Anax amazili (Aeshnidae) was also found in all environments and did the same in response to lower water levels. In turn, larvae of the damselfly Telebasis simulata (Coenagrionidae) were restricted to deeper long‐lived pools and did not respond to the tested cues. Differentiation in life‐history strategies can contribute to niche differentiation in this diverse predator assemblage. Developmental plasticity triggered by different cues helps odonates avoid mortality and exploit short‐lived habitats. The global acceleration of freshwater salinisation due to human activities might disrupt the delicate links between low levels of dissolved salts and life‐history responses and represent a significant threat to these ecosystems and their biodiversity.

A telemetry study shows that an endangered nocturnal avian species roosts in extremely dry habitats to avoid predation

Describing animal space use is essential for understanding their ecological needs and for planning effective conservation schemes. Notably, certain biomes and life histories are understudied due to methodological challenges in tracking animals in their natural habitats. Specifically, both arid environments and nocturnal species are not sufficiently researched compared to diurnal species and to other biomes. This knowledge gap hinders our ability to properly prioritize habitats for species protection in areas undergoing human-related development. Here, we investigate the movement ecology of the Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) in the arid Dead-sea region of Israel, the Palestinian Authority (the West Bank) and Jordan. This nocturnal insectivore is a cryptic desert-dweller and was considered locally extinct until it was rediscovered in 2016. For this work we tracked twelve individuals using GPS tags to determine how this resource-poor environment affects their home range, (predicting large areas), habitat use, and day-roost ecology. We found that the tracked Egyptian Nightjars had a much larger home range area than other Nightjar species, commuting nightly between foraging grounds and day-roosts. We found, as expected, intensive foraging activity at agricultural fields, where artificial irrigation likely supports higher resource (insect) density. Additionally, we found that individuals showed very high roosting site fidelity, often returning to the same specific site, located in extremely dry and exposed habitats, presumably for predator avoidance. This finding highlights the ecological value of these barren habitats that are often considered “lifeless” and therefore of lower priority for conservation. Consequently, our research demonstrates the importance of describing the space-use of nocturnal animals in arid habitats for conservation efforts.

Chlorine Distribution in Soil and Vegetation in Boreal Habitats along a Moisture Gradient from Upland Forest to Lake Margin Wetlands.

The assumed dominance of chloride (Cl-) in terrestrial ecosystems is challenged by observations of extensive formation of organically bound Cl (Clorg), resulting in large soil Cl storage and internal cycling. Yet, little is known about the spatial distribution of Cl in ecosystems. We quantified patterns of Cl distribution in different habitats along a boreal hillslope moisture gradient ranging from relatively dry upland coniferous forests to wet discharge areas dominated by alder. We confirmed that dry habitats are important for Cl storage but found that Cl pools tended to be larger in moist and wet habitats. The storage of Clorg was less important in wet habitats, suggesting a shift in the balance between soil chlorination and dechlorination rates. Cl concentrations in the herb layer vegetation were high in wet and moist sites attributed to a shift in plant species composition, indicating plant community-dependent ecosystem Cl cycling. Mass-balance calculations showed that internal Cl cycling increased overall ecosystem Cl residence times at all sites and that plant uptake rates of Cl- were particularly high at wet sites. Our results indicate that habitat characteristics including plant communities and hydrology are key for understanding Cl cycling in the environment.

Tackling fungal diversity in lichen symbioses: molecular and morphological data recognize new lineages in Chaetothyriales (Eurotiomycetes, Ascomycota)

Lichens have been reappraised as self-sustaining and long-living ecosystems in which a multiplicity of microorganisms are housed, in addition to the main symbiotic partners. Lichen-associated microfungi can frequently occur cryptically, and their species diversity has recently been more fully elucidated by DNA metabarcoding studies and culture isolations. These lichen-associated fungi represent a wide array of major lineages in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, including both filamentous and yeast species. Thanks to culture isolations, the morphology of a subset of the lichen-associated microfungal diversity has been studied. Metabarcoding analyses have shown high diversity of ascomycetous lichen-associated fungi in the two cosmopolitan rock-inhabiting lichens – Rhizoplaca melanophthalma and Tephromela atra – and many of these taxa were successfully isolated in culture. Based on DNA sequence data and morphological analyses, two new lineages within Chaetothyriales are here recognized. Both occur in lichens from dry habitats and are described here as the new species Cladophialophora endolichena Cometto, de Hoog, Muggia and Paracladophialophora lichenicola Cometto, de Hoog, Muggia. Other strains are placed in Pleostigmataceae, Trichomeriaceae, Pleosporales, Mycosphaerellales, Coniochaetales and Hypocreales, further filling gaps of knowledge of the high fungal diversity residing in lichen thalli.

Ecomorphological groups in oribatid mite communities shift with time after topsoil removal – Insight from multi-trait approaches during succession in restored heathlands

Restoration of nutrient-enriched heathlands and similar dry habitats via topsoil removal requires the re-assembly of above and belowground communities to attain fully functional ecosystems. Top-soil removal provides unique opportunities to study the assembly processes, but research has traditionally focused on succession of the aboveground part of the ecosystem. Oribatid mites are a dominant group of soil mesofauna in the belowground part of heathlands. They possess attributes for bioindication and have shown high sensitivity to environmental changes during succession. However, few studies have focused on changes in functional community profiles and the factors shaping them with time. We sampled heathlands of different restoration ages located in East Belgium, studied traits of oribatid mite communities of a chronosequence, and assessed the interaction between traits and abiotic variables using community weighted means (CWM) and an iterative co-correlation analysis between abiotic parameters, species trait attributes and species abundances (iterative RLQ analysis). Our study suggests that moisture preferences, concealability (i.e. defence mechanism against desiccation and predation), and body length were the dominant traits structuring the oribatid mite communities. We found that both dispersal and environmental filters shape the assembly of oribatid mite communities, but these drivers dominate different stages of succession. Moreover, trait assemblages deriving from three well-defined eco-morphological groups closely followed these constraints in time. Thus, the shifting dominance of specific groups provides valuable insight on the soil community functioning in a changing environment.

Phytochemical Analysis and Genetic Characterization of Genus Blepharis in Rajasthan, India

Nature has been a source of therapeutic agents for thousands of years and a remarkable number of modern medications have been secluded from ordinary sources. Higher plants, as sources of therapeutic compounds, have sustained to play a leading role in the conservation of human health since pre-historic times. Blepharis is an Afro-asiatic genus including 129 species, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, widely distributed in dry and semi-dry habitats. The aim of this study was to identify primary metabolites quantitatively and flavonoid compounds qualitatively using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) from the leaves of two species of the Blepharis genus, and also to investigate the genetic analysis of these species using the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). In quantitative analysis, primary metabolites such as protein, carbohydrates, lipid and phenol were found with significant values. In TLC characterization, Kaempferol and Rutin were identified as flavonoid compounds from both leaves samples. A total of 4 and 3 polymorphic bands were observed from OPA-2 primer in RAPD Profile of B. repens and B. repens var. rajasthanensis (a new varieties) leaves. The result concluded that these two different varieties of genus Blepharis can be used as an alternative to the conventional medicines due to having wide range of phytocemical activities. This study suggests that there is a need to know the possibility of using extracts and bio-active mixtures derived from Blepharis genus for the control of lasting ailments as claimed by traditional therapists.

Can protected areas and habitats preserve the vulnerable predatory bush cricket Saga pedo?

Inconspicuous species challenge conservationists when it comes to delineate long-term conservation planning or assess their status, particularly when their actual distribution is poorly known. Invertebrates in particular feature among the less represented taxa in conservation assessments. Here we follow a multidisciplinary approach for assessing the conservation coverage and address future management of the threatened orthopteran Saga pedo across Europe, shedding light on its ecological preferences and associations with protected habitats at continental and regional scales. When assessing coverage by Natura2000 and Nationally Protected Areas, we found that ca. 30% of the known populations of the species are currently not protected across Europe. However, this value is likely to be an underestimate as our species distribution models showed that ca. 70% of the potential range is not protected. At regional scale, we disclose that the species is more likely to occur in legally protected dry grassland habitat types than in non-protected grassland, yet not all protected habitats seem to represent an effective tool for the species’ conservation.Implications for insect conservationTaken together, our results provide an effective framework for addressing knowledge gaps and evaluate the conservation coverage not only of our target species, but more in general of poorly investigated species, at the same time pointing at the urgent need of transnational, coordinated, and increased efforts in monitoring and conserving insects, particularly in the case of threatened species.

Status of Biodiversity in a Protected Area of Kashmir Himalaya: Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary

The present study attempts to comprehensively study the floristic elements of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Kashmir Himalaya. During the present study 364 species of vascular plants belonging to 227 genera and 74 families were recorded from the sanctuary. A total of 18 communities (10 within forest and 8 within alpine zone) were identified. Forest zone of the sanctuary was represented by shady moist, dry, bouldery, rocky, riverine and exposed habitats; whereas the alpine zone was represented by bouldery, riverine and moist and exposed habitats. Of the total 364 reported plant species, 161 species were native to Himalayan region and the remaining i.e. 203 species were non‐natives. Out the total 161 native plant species, 82 were endemic to the Himalayan region. Further, 22 plant species were having threatened status in Jammu and Kashmir. Major threats to biodiversity within the sanctuary include overexploitation, habitat degradation, overgrazing, invasive species, human settlements, huge tourism influx and pollution. In the present study, based on the 'conservation priority index' (CPI) of the plant species, 51 plant species were assessed to be threatened in GWLS. Further, maximum CPI of dry and shady moist habitats and Aesculus indica–Pinus wallichiana mixed and Taxus wallichiana–Prunus cornuta–Aesculus indica mixed communities reveals that proper management of these prioritized habitats and communities would help in maintaining the natural ecosystems and conservation of species of the sanctuary. Present study recommends that awareness about the values of biodiversity for sustenance through organization of training workshops, awareness camps need to be created among the local inhabitants as well as visitors. Further, no in‐depth explorations for community characterization of forest and as well as alpine ecosystems of Kashmir Himalaya have been conducted; present study in the GWLS provides a template, which can be replicated in other protected as well as unprotected areas of the Kashmir Himalaya.