On correct identification, range expansion and management implications of Myriophyllum aquaticum in Kashmir Himalaya, India

The misidentification of Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc. in the Kashmir Himalaya, India is corrected. In addition to its taxonomic description and illustration, the paper discusses the range expansion of this invasive plant species into different aquatic habitats and management implications in the region

Bromus catharticus Vahl (Poaceae): a new plant record for Kashmir Himalaya, India

Bromuscatharticus Vahl, a grass species native to South America, is newly reported here to the flora of Kashmir Himalaya, India. A detailed description and photographs of diagnostic features are provided to distinguish B. catharticus from allied species and authenticate this new record from this region

Ceratophyllum platyacanthum subsp. oryzetorum (Kom.) Les (Ceratophyllaceae): an addition to the flora of India from Kashmir Himalaya

Ceratophyllum platyacanthum Cham. subsp. oryzetorum (Kom.) Les (Ceratophyllaceae) is recorded for the first time from Kashmir Himalaya and India. The species differs from its closely related taxon, Ceratophyllum demersum, in having smaller leaves and the fruit with a facial spine. A comparison between Ceratophyllum demersum and C. platyacanthum subsp. oryzetorum, and the taxonomic description, photographs and distribution map are provided to facilitate its field identification in the region.

Floristic diversity of Kashmir Himalayan grasslands in relation to their functioning

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ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY OF PLANTS IN PROTECTED AREAS OF KASHMIR HIMALAYA: A CASE STUDY OF THE HIRPORA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

ABSTRACT: In remote Himalayan regions, ethnic communities living near protected areas are dependent on medicinal plants for their healthcare. Although several studies related to ethnomedicine are available from Kashmir Himalaya, however studies focusing on protected areas in this region are largely overlooked. In this study, we aimed to document the ethnomedicinal plant species of the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary in Kashmir Himalaya. We conducted systematic field surveys in the study area to collect primary data from 60 participants through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire approach. We recorded 56 medicinal plant species used against different human diseases. The most frequent plant species were used for the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders. Asteraceae followed by Lamiaceae and Polygonaceae were the most dominant families. The most commonly used plant parts were the leaves, and the main method of preparation was decoction. The present study provides an empirical documentation of valuable ethnic knowledge of medicinal plant species and their respective uses to treat various diseases that will be useful to the pharmaceutical industries for various drug formulations through bioprospection

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world\u27s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (−0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e., offset) between in-situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km² pixels (summarized from 8500 unique temperature sensors) across all the world’s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in-situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature.

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world's major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Pedicularis gracilis var. brunoniana (Wall. ex Pennell) T. Husain & Arti Garg: first report from Ladakh, Trans-Himalaya, India

We report Pedicularis gracilis var. brunoniana (Wall. ex Pennell) T. Husain & Arti Garg (Orobanchaceae) for the first time from Ladakh, a region of Trans-Himalaya in India. This variety is most similar to P. gracilis var. macrocarpa but differs in having out-curved galea, long calyx lobes with hairy margin. Detailed morphological notes along with photographs are provided to validate this report and facilitate the field identification of this taxon. As we observed only small populations of this variety, strategies are likely required for its conservation in this Himalayan region