Research Article | Published: 10 March 2023

Assessing potential habitats and populations of selected medicinal herbs in Alpine areas of Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya

Naveen Chandra, Ishwari Datt Rai, Arun Pratap Mishra, Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, Amit Kotiya, Umesh Kumar Tiwari and Gajendra Singh

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 45 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 144-155 | 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2023-ITRFNL | Cite this article

Abstract

We assessed the areas under suitable habitats and population of ten high value medicinal herbs in alpine region of Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya. Topographic, landcover, physiographic, edaphic and bioclimatic variables were used to predict the potential distribution of these plants in the alpine vegetation zone. Field surveys were conducted to collect occurrence data, and the abundance of species was assessed through rapid mapping exercises. The study found that certain habitat types, particularly Danthonia-dominated grassy slopes, herbaceous meadows, and shrubberies between 3000-4100 m elevations on specific slopes, were preferred by the MAPs. Among the threatened MAPs, Allium stracheyi had the largest potential distribution area (588 km2) with a moderate abundance of 1.7 individuals/m2, while Aconitum balfourii had the smallest potential distribution area (100 km2) with low abundance (0.2 individuals/m2). The results of the MaxEnt analysis identified several significant contributing factors for the potential distribution of threatened species, including aspect, slope, vegetation type, mean diurnal temperature, and precipitation during the wettest months. Based on the potential distribution and abundance data, specific meadows such as Valley of Flowers, Kandara, Ralam, Milam, Tungnath, Panchachuli, and Pindari were identified as priorities for in-situ conservation and management efforts.

Keywords

Alpine region, Conservation, Distribution pattern, Medicinal plants, Niche

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Adhikari, D., Barik, S.K. and Upadhaya, K., 2012. Habitat distribution modelling for reintroduction of Ilex khasiana Purk., a critically endangered tree species of northeastern India. Ecological Engineering, 40, pp.37-43.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.12.004

Google Scholar

2. Airi, S., 1997. Population studies on Podophyllum hexandrum Royle- A dwindling, medicinal plant of the Himalaya. Plant Genetic Resource Newsletter, 110, pp.29-34.

Google Scholar

3. Bachman, S.P., Nic Lughadha, E.M. and Rivers, M.C., 2018. Quantifying progress toward a conservation assessment for all plants. Conservation Biology, 32(3), pp.516-524.  https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13071

Google Scholar

4. Banerjee, A., Devi, M., Nag, A., Sharma, R.K and Kumar, A., 2017. Modelling probable distribution of Podophyllum hexandrum in North-Western Himalaya. Indian Forester, 143(12), pp.1255-1259.

Google Scholar

5. Barik, S.K., Tiwari, O.N., Adhikari, D., Singh, P.P., Tiwary, R. and Barua, S., 2018 Geographic dis-tribution pattern of threatened plants of India and step taken for their conservation. Current Science, 114(3), pp.470-503. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v114/i03/470-503

Google Scholar

6. CAMP, 2003. Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritization: For the Medicinal Plants of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Foundation for Revitalization. Foundation of Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore.

7. Chandra, N., Lingwal, S., Bisht, M.P.S., Jalal, J.S., Tewari, L.M and Singh, G., 2021a. Geospatial monitoring of threatened medicinal orchid, Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze in Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya. Journal of Global Ecology and Environment, 13(1), pp.58-65.

Google Scholar

8. Chandra, N., Singh, G., Lingwal, S., Bisht, M.P.S and Tewari, L.M., 2021b. Population assessment and habitat distribution modelling of the threatened medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. in the Kumaun Himalaya, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 13(7): 18868–18877.  https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5603.13.7.18868-18877

Google Scholar

9. Chandra, N., Singh, G., Lingwal, S., Bisht, M.P.S., Tewari, L.M and Joshi, V.C., 2021c. Ecological status of Alpine Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Western Himalaya. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 28(1), pp.73-88.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10496475.2021.1963903

Google Scholar

10. Chaurasia, O.P., Singh, B., 1996. Cold desert plants. Volume I-IV. Field Research Laboratory, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Leh.

Google Scholar

11. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 2010. Strategic plan for biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi targets. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal.

Google Scholar

12. Engler, R., Guisan, A. and Rechsteiner, L., 2004. An improved approach for predicting the distribution of rare and endangered species from occurrence and pseudo‐absence data. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41(2), pp.263-274.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0021-8901.2004.00881.x

Google Scholar

13. Fielding, A.H. and Bell, J.F., 1997. A review of methods for the assessment of prediction errors in conservation presence/absence models. Environment Conservation, 24(1), pp.38-49.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892997000088

Google Scholar

14. Jacquemyn, H., Waud, M., Merckx, V.S.F.T., Lievens, B. and Brys, R., 2015. Mycorrhizal diversity, seed germination and long‐term changes in population size across nine populations of the terrestrial orchid Neottia ovata. Molecular Ecology, 24(13), pp.3269-3280. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13236

Google Scholar

15. Kala, C.P., 2000. Status and conservation of rare and endangered medicinal plants in the Indian trans-Himalaya. Biological Conservation, 93(3), pp.371-379.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(99)00128-7

Google Scholar

16. Kala, C.P., 2003. Commercial exploitation and conservation status of high value medicinal plants across the borderline of India and Nepal in Pithoragarh. Indian Forester, 129(9), pp.80-84.

Google Scholar

17. Kala, C.P., 2004. Revitalizing traditional herbal therapy by exploring medicinal plants: A case study of Uttaranchal State in India. In Farmer, B.L., Maretzki, A. and Semali, L. (eds), Indigenous Knowledges: Transforming the Academy. Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania. pp.15-21.

Google Scholar

18. Kandari, L.S., Rao, K.S., Maikhuri, R.K., Kharkwal, G., Chauhan, K. and Kala, C.P., 2011. Distribution pattern and conservation of threatened medicinal and aromatic plants of Central Himalaya, India. Journal of Forestry Research, 22, pp.403-408.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-011-0110-y

Google Scholar

19. Körner, C., 2003. Alpine Plant Life: Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, Germany.

Google Scholar

20. Kunwar, R.M., Rimal, B., Sharma, H.P., Poudel, R.C., Pyakurel, D., Tiwari, A., Magar, S.T., Karki, G., Bhandari, G.S., Pandey, P. and Bussmann, R.W., 2021. Distribution and habitat modeling of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo, Paris polyphylla Sm. and Taxus species in Nepal Himalaya. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 20.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2020.100274

Google Scholar

21. Lomba, A., Pellissier, L., Randin, C., Vicente, J., Moreira, F., Honrado, J. and Guisan, A., 2010. Overcoming the rare species modelling paradox: A novel hierarchical framework applied to an Iberian endemic plant. Biological Conservation, 143(11), pp.2647-2657.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.07.007

Google Scholar

22. Maletha, A., Maikhuri, R.K., Bargali, S.S., Sharma, A., Negi, V.S. and Rawat, L.S., 2022. Vegetation dynamics and soil nutrient availability in a temperate forest along altitudinal gradient of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Western Himalaya, India. PloS One, 17(10).  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275051

Google Scholar

23. Mehta, P., Sekar, K.C., Bhatt, D., Tewari, A., Bisht, K., Upadhyay, S., Negi, V.S. and Soragi, B., 2020. Conservation and prioritization of threatened plants in Indian Himalayan Region. Biodiversity and Conservastion, 29, pp.1723-1745.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01959-x

Google Scholar

24. Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A.B. and Kent, J., 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403, pp.853-858.  https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501

Google Scholar

25. Menon, S., Choudhury, B.I., Khan, M.L. and Peterson, A.T., 2010. Ecological niche modelling and local knowledge predict new populations of Gymnocladus assamicus a critically endangered tree species. Endangered Species Research, 11(2), pp.175-181.  https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00275

Google Scholar

26. Nautiyal, B.P., Chauhan, R.S., Prakash, V., Purohit, H. and Nautiyal, M.C., 2003. Population studies for the evaluation of germplasm and threat status of the alpine medicinal herb, Nardostachys jatamansi. Noticiario de Recursos Fitogenéticos, 136, pp.34-39.

Google Scholar

27. Nayar, M.P. and Sastry, A.R.K., 1990. Red data book of Indian plants, Volume 3. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta.

28. Pandey, A., Sekar, K.C., Joshi, B. and Rawal, R.S., 2019. Threat assessment of high-value medicinal plants of cold desert areas in Johar valley, Kailash Sacred Landscape, India. Plant Biosystems- An International Journal dealing with all aspects of Plant Biology, 153(1), pp.39-47.  https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2018.1448010

Google Scholar

29. Phillips, S.J., 2008. Transferability, sample selection bias and background data in presence-only modelling: A response to Peterson et al. (2007). Ecography, 31(2), pp.272-278.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-7590.2008.5378.x

Google Scholar

30. Phillips, S.J., Anderson, R.P. and Schapire, R.E., 2006. Maximum entropy modeling of species geographic distributions. Ecological modelling, 190(3/4), pp.231-259.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.03.026

Google Scholar

31. Pimm, S.L., Russell, G.J., Gittleman, J.L. and Brooks, T.M., 1995. The future of biodiversity. Science, 269(5222), pp.347-530.  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.269.5222.347

Google Scholar

32. Rana, S.K. and Rawat, G.S., 2017. Database of Himalayan plants based on published floras during a century. Data, 2(4), pp.36.  https://doi.org/10.3390/data2040036

Google Scholar

33. Ranjitkar, S., Sujakhu, N.M., Lu, Y., Wang, Q., Wang, M., He, J., Mortimer, P.E., Xu, J., Kindt, R. and Zomer, R.J., 2016. Climate modelling for agroforestry species selection in Yunnan Province, China. Environmental Modelling & Software, 75, pp.263-272.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.10.027

Google Scholar

34. Rawat, G.S., Adhikari, B.S. and Chandola, S., 2004. A Manual for Rapid Inventory and Mapping of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Uttaranchal. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board, Govt. of Uttaranchal.

Google Scholar

35. Rawat, G.S., 2005. Alpine meadows of Uttaranchal: Ecology, Landuse and Status of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun.

36. Rawat, G.S. and Uniyal, V.K., 1993. Pastoralism and plant conservation: The Valley of Flowers dilemma. Environmental Conservation, 20(2), pp.164-167.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900037681

Google Scholar

37. Rawat, N., Purohit, S., Painuly, V., Negi, G.S. and Bisht, M.P.S., 2022. Habitat distribution modeling of endangered medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa (Royle ex Benth) under climate change scenarios in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Ecological Informatics, 68.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101550

Google Scholar

38. Samant, S.S. and Pal, M., 2003. Diversity and conservation status of medicinal plants in Uttaranchal State. Indian Forester, 129(9), pp.1090-1108.

Google Scholar

39. Schafhauser, T., Jahn, L., Kirchner, N., Kulik, A., Flor, A., Lang, A., Caradec, T., Fewer, D.P., Sivonen, K., van Berkel, W.J.H., Jacques, P., Weber, T., Gross, H., van Pée, K.H., Wohlleben, W. and Müller, J.L., 2019. Antitumor astins originate from the fungal endophyte Cyanodermella asteris living within the medicinal plant Aster tataricus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(52), pp.26909-26917.  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910527116

Google Scholar

40. Singh, G., Chandra, N., Lingwal, S., Bisht, M.P.S. and Tiwari, L.M., 2020. Distribution and Threat Assessment of an Endemic and Endangered Species Angelica glauca in High Ranges of Western Himalaya. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 26(4), pp.394-404.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10496475.2020.1748783

Google Scholar

41. Sletvold, N., Øien, D.I. and Moen, A., 2010. Long-term influence of mowing on population dynamics in the rare orchid Dactylorhiza lapponica: The importance of recruitment and seed production. Biological Conservation, 143(3), pp.747-755.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2009.12.017

Google Scholar

42. Suissa, J.S., Sundue, M.A. and Testo, W.L., 2021. Mountains, climate and niche heterogeneity explain global patterns of fern diversity. Journal of Biogeography, 48(6), pp.1296-1308.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14076

Google Scholar

43. Terribile, L.C., Tárraga, M.Á.O., Filho, J.A.F.D. and Rodríguez, M.A., 2009. Ecological and evolutionary components of body size: Geographic variation of venomous snakes at the global scale. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 98(1), pp.94-109.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2009.01262.x

Google Scholar

44. Tiwari, P., Bhattacharya, P., Rawat, G.S., Rai, I.D. Talukdar, G., 2021. Experimental warming increases ecosystem respiration by increasing above-ground respiration in alpine meadows of Western Himalaya. Scientific Reports, 11.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82065-y

Google Scholar

45. Uniyal, S.K., Kumar, A., Lal, B. and Singh, R.D., 2006. Quantitative assessment and traditional uses of high value medicinal plants in Chhota Bhangal area of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. Current Science, 91(9), pp.1238-1242.

Google Scholar

46. Ved, D.K., Kinhal, G.A., Ravikumar, K., Sankar, R.V. and Haridasan, K., 2005. Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritisation (CAMP) for wild medicinal plants of North-East India. Medicinal Plant Conservation, 11, pp.40-44.

Google Scholar

47. Vergeer, P., Rengelink, R., Ouborg, N.J. and Roelofs, J.G.M., 2003. Effects of population size and genetic variation on the response of Succisa pratensis to eutrophication and acidification. Journal of Ecology, 91(4), pp.600-609.  https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2745.2003.00785.x

Google Scholar

48. Wiser, S.K., Peet, R.K. and White, P.S., 1998. Prediction of rare‐plant occurrence: A southern Appalachian example. Ecological Application, 8(4), pp.909-920.  https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1998)008[0909:PORPOA]2.0.CO;2

Google Scholar

49. WorldClim-Global Climate Data. Free climate data for ecological modeling and GIS.

50. Zhang, K., Zhang, Y. and Tao, J., 2019. Predicting the potential distribution of Paeonia veitchii (Paeoniaceae) in China by incorporating climate change into a Maxent model. Forests, 10(2), pp.190.  https://doi.org/10.3390/f10020190

Google Scholar

About this article

How to cite

Chandra, N., Rai, I.D., Mishra, A.P., Dwivedi, S.K., Kotiya, A., Tiwari, U.K. and Singh, G., 2022. Assessing potential habitats and populations of selected medicinal herbs in Alpine areas of Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya. Indian Journal of Forestry, 45(3), pp.144-155. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2023-ITRFNL

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 10 February 2023

Manuscript Revised on 03 March 2023

Manuscript Accepted on 09 March 2023

Manuscript Published on 10 March 2023

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: