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In the hilly terrain of Nepal, springs are the main source of drinking water. With the increasing population, rapid urbanization, and unabated climate change, springs are under the risk of survival. There is increasing evidence that springs in the mid-hills of Nepal are drying up, or are reducing in discharge, or are deteriorating by water quality. As a result, local communities are facing unprecedented water stress. On this background scenario, assessment of water quality of the springs in the Marin Watershed of Sindhuli district of Nepal was carried out in this study. Spring water samples were collected during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon of 2020 and their hydrochemistry was analyzed. Further, springs' discharge was measured in situ and their criticality and sustainability were studied through community interaction. Results have revealed seasonal variation in spring discharge and spring water quality. Out of 39 flowing springs, water quality of 13, 8, and 6 springs, respectively, was very poor, poor, and unsuitable for drinking in the pre-monsoon. The count of springs with very poor, poor, and unsuitable drinking water quality during the post-monsoon was 8, 3, and 1, respectively. Occurrence of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli) was identified in five spring samples which makes the spring water unsafe for drinking. Again, out of 51 springs studied, 12 are already dried up, and another 12 of the 39 flowing springs have become seasonal with very low discharge (0.03–0.07 L/s). The study highlights and emphasizes the need to protect the flowing springs and rejuvenate the dying springs of the Himalaya and of other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planctomycetes are common inhabitants of northern wetland ecosystems. In this study, a new planctomycete of the genus Paludisphaera, strain Pla2T, was isolated from a boreal fen in Russia. The novel isolate was represented by nonmotile, pink-pigmented, spherical cells that multiplied by budding and occurred singly or were assembled in small aggregates. Strain Pla2T was a chemoorganotrophic, psychrotolerant mesophile with a growth optimum at pH 5.5‒6 and 15‒20°C. The preferred growth substrates were polysaccharides, including xylan, xanthan gum, and phytagel, as well as some sugars. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain Pla2T displayed the highest similarity (97.9%) to that of 'Paludisphaera soli' JC670T isolated from highland soil of the western Himalayas. With other members of the genus Paludisphaera, 'P. rhizosphaerae' JC665T and P. borealis PX4T, this similarity was 97.0 and 93.8%, respectively. The genome of strain Pla2T was 8.21 Mb in size and contained about 6500 protein-coding genes and 3 copies of the rRNA operon. The DNA G + C content was 67 mol %. The average nucleotide identity between the genome sequence of strain Pla2T and those of previously described members of the genus Paludisphaera was between 79.4 and 82.6%. This genotypic distance as well as several phenotypic differences allowed classifying the new planctomycete from a fen as representing a novel species of the genus Paludisphaera, Paludisphaera mucosa sp. nov. with the type strain Pla2T (=KCTC92668T = VKM B-3698T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain soils have received significant attention due to their profound influence on ecological processes and environmental factors. However, mapping these soils in digital soil mapping technique encounters several challenges, including high local variability, non-linear relationships between environmental covariates and soil properties, limited accessibility in complex topographical settings, and the absence of universally applicable covariates for soil formation. To address these issues, this study integrates soil-forming factors of the scorpan model to map soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil texture in the mid-Himalayas. By considering over 100 environmental covariates, with a focus on terrain parameters relevant to mountainous environments, the study aims to enhance the accuracy of ML regression models through augmentation techniques that overcome data insufficiency. Using augmented soil observations and covariates, a non-parametric random forest regression model is trained and applied to predict soil variables across the study area, generating a continuous fine-resolution map. The model's performance, evaluated against an unknown dataset, was significant with an R-square of 0.80, 0.79, 0.72, and 0.84 for clay, sand, silt, and SOC, respectively. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis of the environmental covariates and their impact on the model revealed that all the soil-forming factors make a significant contribution to the model's effectiveness. The insights gained from this research contribute to a better understanding of mountain soils and facilitate the development of effective conservation and sustainable management strategies for mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dachigam National Park (DNP), in Zabarwan mountains of north-western Himalaya constitutes a region of high biodiversity with greater endemism. DNP is known for its unique micro-climate together with distinct vegetational zones providing home to variety of threatened and endemic plant, animal, and bird species. However, studies on soil microbial diversity in fragile ecosystems of north-western Himalaya in general and DNP in particular are lacking. This was thus a maiden attempt to study variations in soil bacterial diversity of DNP with respect to changing soil physico-chemical properties, vegetation, and altitude. Soil parameters depicted significant variations among different sites with highest values for temperature, OC, OM and TN being 22.2 ± 0.75 °C, 6.53 ± 0.32%, 11.25 ± 0.54%, 0.545 ± 0.04% from site-2 (low altitudinal grassland site) in summer and lowest of 5.1 ± 0.65 °C, 1.24 ± 0.26%, 2.14 ± 0.45% and 0.132 ± 0.04% at site-9 (high altitudinal mixed pine site) in winter. Bacterial CFU showed significant correlations with soil physico-chemical attributes. This study led to the isolation and identification of 92 morphologically varied bacteria with the highest (15) from site-2 and lowest (04) from site-9 which post BLAST analysis (via 16S rRNA analysis) depicted presence of only 57 distinct bacterial species under taxonomic phylum, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Nine species were widely spread (i.e., isolated from > 3 sites), however, most bacteria (37) were restricted to a particular site. Diversity indices ranged between 1.380 to 2.631 (Shannon–Weiner's index); 0.747 to 0.923 (Simpson's index) with highest values for site-2 and lowest for site-9. Index of similarity was highest (47.1%) between riverine sites (site-3 and site-4) whereas two mixed pine sites (site-9 and site-10) showed no similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient necessary for a variety of physiological processes in plants, available in numerous fractions, each of which has direct relationship with the area's environmental circumstances since it causes the formation of these fractions. Seasonal and altitudinal variations in nitrogen concentration were found to have a significant impact. The soil of the western Himalaya is rich in a variety of nutrients, notably nitrogen, which was a current source of worry. The study was conducted in north western Himalaya, and different fractions of nitrogen, viz., available nitrogen, total nitrogen, ammonical nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen, were estimated with reference to different parameters. Annual retention potential was evaluated among various fractions, which yielded positive results, with Site 1 demonstrating the highest retention potential across all seasons. At various depths and seasons of the year, ammonical and nitrate nitrogen levels fluctuated. The findings revealed that the soil is rich in nitrogen fractions with variation directly related to changes in carbon dioxide concentration. Site 1 had the highest values of all the fractions and Site 4 the lowest, whereas the C/N ratio varied between sites. The study determined that nitrogen fractions were present in sufficient quantities and play an important role in the maintenance and growth of natural forests as well as in the reduction of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Primula is an important floristic element of the Western Himalayan flora as an indicator of mountain wetlands and glacial foreland habitats vital for the ecosystem functioning. Current study was designed to investigate the diversity and distribution of the Primula species in the Kashmir Himalayas. The primary ecological data was collected from 22 wetland and glacial sites in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Pakistan. Data was subsequently analyzed through diversity indices and multivariate ordination analyses. Five Primula species were recorded from the region including P. macrophylla, P. denticulata, P. rosea, P. elliptica and P. stuartii 1st time reported from the region. The flora associated with the genus Primula consist of 304 plant belonging to 61 botanical families recorded from 880 quadrates (1 m2) at the Primula habitats. The frequencies of the Primula species were in order of P. denticulata (54.5%) > P. macrophylla (36.3%) > P. rosea (36.3%) > P. elliptica (13%) > P. stuartii (4.54%). The flora was dominated by the Hemicryptophytic and Geophytic life forms whereas microphylls were the dominant leaf size class. The vegetation communities were characterized with moderate levels of diversity with low maturity index. Ordination significantly explained the species distribution pattern correlated with the geographic attributes and microclimates. P. elliptica and P. stuartii were the rarest Primroses whereas 61 plants were found to be threatened having low (< 0.2) IVI values requiring immediate conservation efforts. Results provide valuable scientific information to monitor the conservation status of the Primula genus and ensure the sustainability of wetland and Glacial fore land habitats in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variation in fine root biomass (FRB) and turnover rate (TOR) were examined in four land use systems at two altitudes by using ingrowth core method. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of altitude, depth and distance from tree stem on FRB and TOR. Significant variations (p < 0.05) were observed among land use systems, over seasons, depth and distances from the tree stem. The FRB varied between 47.09 and 528.59 kg ha–1. It was maximum in agri-horticulture (AH) system in bhabhar region and in homegarden (HG) system in hill region. In each land use system at both the altitudes FRB was maximum at uppermost layer (0‒20 cm) during rainy season at 50 cm distance from tree stem while, TOR did not showed any particular trend with soil depth and distance from the tree bole. FRB and turnover rate showed significance correlation with distance from tree bole at both the altitudes i.e. (r2 = 0.898 for low and r2 = 0.899 for high altitude). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayas are assumed to experience rapid climate change, with serious environmental, social and economic consequences for people living in and around the mountain area. However, the extent of climate change and its impact on the region are underexplored, especially on northern slope of the mountains. Based on local knowledge, we report perceived changes in climate and consequences of such changes for natural and social systems. The respondents in this study were distributed at a continuous elevation gradient of 3570–4646 m above sea level in the northern Himalayas. Therefore, it is possible to analyze the process of the shift of bioclimate zones under climate change and the differences in climate change effects cross altitudes. Among those in the pastoral area (Zhegu town) with an altitude of 4600 m, 91.2% (n=114) of the respondents believe that the climate is obviously changing; the ratio of reporting rainfall decreasing is 77.2% (n=114); those who perceive delayed rainy season, and increased climate change-related natural disasters account for 38.9% (n=113), 72.8% (n=103), respectively; more than two thirds (70.3%) (n=111) view drought as the biggest challenge to address climate change, and more than half (59.3%) (n=113) of the respondents believe that the impact of climate change is mainly negative. All these data rank first among the four survey areas (Zhegu town/pastoral region, Nedong County/crop growing regions, Zhanang County/crop growing region and Nagarze County/farming-pastoral region). Due to climate warming, Labidura riparia spreads to a higher altitude in the basins in Nedong County (Shannan City, Tibet) and Zhanang County (Shannan City, Tibet) at the rate of 31.1 ± 6.4 m/a and 46.7 ± 8.8 m/a, respectively in elevation. Most of the respondents view the natural variability as the main cause of climate changes, only 10.7%–29.0% among them view human activities as the main reason. Key challenges for local people to address climate change include droughts and economic hardship. Most local perceptions conform to scientific data. Comparative analysis of people's perception of climate change impacts in different regions of the Himalayas will enhance the understanding of climate change effects on the whole region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon stored as soil organic carbon (SOC) and tree biomass is typically the highest carbon pool of the forest and is impacted by degradation and deforestation. The impact of "C" stocks on climate change at different altitudes can have vital implications for the conservation and management of "C" sinks. This study was undertaken in subtropical belt of Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India, to understand the carbon-storing potential of Anogeissus latifolia tree and its soil properties in three altitudes, i.e., lower (LA: 790–824 m), middle (MA: 825–960 m), and upper (UA: 1168–1212 m), which provide fuel, fodder, and small timber for life support purposes. Results of the study suggested that soil moisture and pH increase with increasing depth and altitude, whereas SOC and soil nitrogen show reverse patterns. Moreover, bulk density (BD) does not follow any trend (i.e., BD increases with soil depth and altitude until 960 m and further decreases with an increase in altitude). Tree density, biomass, and carbon stock reported highest in MA compared with UA and LA because of dense forest and greater tree diameter. Looking into the soil carbon stock, nitrogen, C/N ratio (C/N: < 10), and climatic drivers supportive to microbial degradation, it is concluded that A. latifolia forest has played an important role in carbon reduction and mitigating climate change at regional and global levels. The study will help environmentalists, foresters, and policy-makers to stimulate the combined effect of degradation of forest species on climate change and socioeconomic development at regional and global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]