Search

In the current communication, we assessed the current spread and invasion pattern of a new invasive alien plant Wigandia urens along National Highway 58 in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The population status of this species was assessed using systematic vegetation sampling. Ecological niche modelling was performed using maxent to predict the future spread. The study revealed that W.urens is rapidly invading along the road on rocky eroded slopes. The actual distribution of this species is 30 km. Spatial analysis revealed that a 202 km2 area along river valleys is vulnerable in the near future. It is submitted that the low-lying areas along river catchments between 300 and 1000 m elevations might be the potential niche. Therefore, mechanical removal by uprooting the whole plant at regular intervals and monitoring of invaded sites would be the practical solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although alpine regions of the Himalaya are characterized by low-temperature and short-growing periods, yet these harbour a high richness of plant species including a greater proportion of partly-endemic flora. Climate warming has drastically influenced the composition of alpine vegetation globally leading to threats of biodiversity loss. Himalaya, a rich biodiversity hotspot, have also been experiencing such warming effects in the recent decades. However, its impact on the Himalayan ecosystem especially on the alpine vegetation is not yet studied in detail. Therefore, we established permanent monitoring plots (PMPs) on three summits of Indian north-western Himalayan region in 2014 at one of the benchmark sites identified and selected under the aegis of Himalayan Alpine Dynamics Research Initiative (HIMADRI) network for long-term monitoring of alpine vegetation following Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) multi-summit protocols. These summits are along an elevation gradient from 3600 to 3900 m. Data from PMPs were recorded in the years 2015 and 2020. Over the period of these years, mean annual soil temperature has been found to increase significantly with more increase observed in the summer mean temperature of upper alpine (3900 m) summit. Increase in species richness and plant cover percentage were also observed. The changes in beta and zeta diversity indices revealed Homogenization of biotic communities. Thermophilization was found more pronounced in the lower alpine summits. The study provides the baseline scientific data of alpine communities of the region in response to climate. Thus, this study will serve as an effort towards filling the knowledge gaps in the less explored regions of Indian north-western Himalaya. Continued studies in the present site and further explorations in other parts of alpine eco-regions of Himalaya are necessary, which has greater implications for conservation of vulnerable flora of alpine regions of the Himalaya, in the changing climate scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fire is one of the main issues of forest ecosystems around the world which has resulted in loss of biodiversity, forest degradation, soil erosion, and greenhouse gas emission. Ironically, the information on the forest fire regime and its pattern are still lacking in the Himalayan region. In this study, Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer active fire data products from 2001 to 2020 have been analysed for understanding the forest fire trends and its hotspots patterns during the active fire season (February to June). About 1347 average fire counts/year were recorded in six natural vegetations with the highest number of fires observed during the year 2012 (n = 3096) and minimum in 2011 (n = 210). Mann–Kendall trends analysis for the spatial and temporal pattern of fires indicated that there is a significant increase of forest fires towards higher elevation. Forest fire hotspot analysis using fire radiative power, fire frequency, and fire density showed that Uttarakhand is the most forest fire-prone state as compared to other north-western Himalayan states. It is also revealed that the May month has a higher number of fire counts and the evergreen needle forests have higher fire frequencies amongst the forest types. The forest fires were found to be more influenced by land surface temperature as compared to rainfall. The outcomes in this study on the temporal and spatial patterns for forest fire can be used for forest fire modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface wave dispersion data is used to infer the shear wave velocity structure variation in the north‐east Himalaya and Indo‐Burmese arc regions. We have used 25 earthquakes data from four groups with a magnitude range of 5.0–6.7, epicentral distance range 368–800 km, and focal depth less than 50 km. Ray paths from the earthquake location to the seismic station are transversely passing different geotectonic units of the Himalayas, Indo‐Gangetic plains, and Indo‐Burma collision zones. The weighted average dispersion curve and the path averaged shear wave velocity models are computed for the four groups located at different azimuths around Shillong seismic station. Non‐linear least‐square inversion is performed to obtain the shear wave velocity structure of the crust and uppermost mantle from joint inversion of Rayleigh and Love waves group velocities. Subsequently, Rayleigh and Love waves group velocities are inverted separately to obtain vertical and horizontal components of S‐wave velocity. Next, using these components anisotropy coefficient values at different depths for each path are also estimated. A high variation of dispersion curves and the shear wave velocity models from one group to another indicates that the region is geotectonically very complex. An approximately 80 km‐thick zone beneath the study region has shear wave velocity as low as 1.7 km/s in the uppermost crust in the southern part and ~4.7 km in the uppermost mantle beneath the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS). Inferred velocity is also lower than that of PREM and AK135 global models with a much thicker crust beneath the study region. Radial anisotropy varies even within the northern part from the Indo‐Eurasian collision zone to EHS and northern to southern Indo‐Burma ranges. Anisotropy is comparatively stronger in the deeper part below ~40 km for the three paths, except for the EHS, where the result is contrary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii, Sarg.) forests are dominant in the Indian Himalayan region and act as a huge carbon (C) sink. However, measuring the C sink in soil is complex and time‐intensive, and therefore the present study attempts to estimate the soil organic carbon (SOC) through a remote sensing (RS) approach. We estimated SOC stock of chir pine forests along an altitudinal gradient at three soil depths (0–30, 30–60 and 60–100 cm) in the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Fourteen forest stands at four altitudes, viz., <1000 m above sea level (m asl), 1001–1400 m asl, 1401–1800 m asl and >1801 m asl were surveyed and served for data collection. A model for predicting SOC was developed through stepwise regression analysis based on vegetation information and altitude as independent variables with the field data on SOC. For vegetation information, we used the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) measured through remote sensing (RS). The mean SOC stock up to 100 cm depth was increased with increasing altitude and were in the order of 69.66 ± 19.86, 85.27 ± 17.53, 95.68 ± 7.90 and 148.41 ± 71.39 million g ha−1 (million gram per hectare) for <1000, 1001–1400, 1401–1800 and >1801 m_asl, respectively. The result showed that NDVI was a good predictor for SOC estimation. The model predicted SOC stock between 57 and 152 million g ha−1 with a mean of 93 million g ha−1, which was close to the SOCs from field inventory. Therefore, RS could be used to precisely map the SOC stock in the chir pine forests of the Himalayas through NDVI and provide information to policymakers for forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uttarakhand, a state in the northern region of India which is traversed by the Himalayas, grows a variety of horticultural crops (e.g., fruits, vegetables, spices, and flowers) and is experienced with large-scale horticulture production at the national and/or international levels. Due to the wide variation in the climatic conditions and growing patterns, its pattern varies from harvest to harvest and from one province to another in terms of range, production, and yield. One of the most lucrative industries in Uttarakhand's hilly areas is horticultural cultivation. It substitutes for the neighborhood economy and helps farmers make a living. According to the literature, no work on the supply chain management of fruits in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand has yet been documented to analyze the growth of horticulture cultivation. Thus, the primary objective of this paper is to focus on the supply chain management of kiwi fruit, a type of major growing fruit in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar area. Additionally, this paper will offer a business plan for small-scale farmers to boost employment, economic development, and benefits. This study contributes to the discussion of the problems with the Himalayan fruit supply chain that is specific to the kiwi fruit and how a sustainable business model like horti-tourism can enable greater revenue generation for farmers while also resolving the problems with the Himalayan produce supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Chumathang and Puga fields offer excellent potential for geothermal resources connected with deep sources in the active tectonic environment. • The faults (Zildat Fault, Mahe Fault and Kiagor Tso Fault) and suture (Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone) are identified. • A massive reservoir of low resistivity in the Tso Morari dome is identified. • The high conductivity beneath the Ladakh batholiths is attributed to the partial melt of the rocks. The geothermal resources and their connectivity with the deep tectonic are meaningful to understand through their structural geometry in the NW Himalayas. Therefore, over the NW-SE profiles, 23 audio Magnetotelluric (AMT) sites and over the SW-NE profile, 15 broadband Magnetotelluric (BBMT) sites were carefully chosen to provide the detailed structure. The electrical models were produced from a 2-D inversion algorithm based on the non-linear conjugate gradient method. The Chumathang-Mahe and Puga-Sumdo regions offer excellent geothermal potential as heat/fluid passes through the Mahe Fault (MF), Zildat Fault (ZF) and Kiagor Tso Fault (KTF). These faults are well revealed in the electrical models beneath the subsurface. The Puga Valley has an excellent geothermal resource at shallow depth. A ∼1000 m thick sulfide mineral body is defined with high conductivity (∼1 Ω-m). The crustal structure shows a highly conductive mid-crust beneath the Ladakh batholiths with no manifestation roots. The signs of the Indus-Tsangpo Suture Zone (ITSZ) and Shyok Suture Zone (SSZ) are well represented in the crustal model and are associated with the steep-dipping faults. The Chumathang-Mahe and Puga-Sumdo geothermal regions are connected with low resistivity body (C1) at shallow depths in the crustal model along the SW-NE profile and offer a path for deep fluid flow. The frictional heat generated in the process of the Indian plate subducting beneath the Tibetan plateau and the collision zone between India and Asia carried to melt. The high heat surface flow indicates the thermal origin of low resistivity. Thus, a ∼10 sq. km low resistivity reservoir is identified beneath the Tso Morari dome in the crustal model that overlies a resistivity feature. The high conductivity at mid-crust determined at active tectonic fabric may be potential geothermal resources yielding high well-productivity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien plant species have captured attention of the scientific community, ecologists, and environmentalists throughout the world. Like other regions, the Himalayan region is also grappling with the disrupting impacts of plant invasions. Based on an extensive review of studies conducted on alien plant species in the Indian Himalayan region, we report 728 alien plant species belonging to 450 genera under 108 families in the state of Uttarakhand, which represents 15% of the state's flora. Fabaceae (89 species under 49 genera) followed by Asteraceae (63 species under 43 genera) and Poaceae (50 species under 35 genera) were the most diverse families amid alien species. Eucalyptus (15 species) followed by Ipomoea and Euphorbia (12 species each) and Pinus (11 species) were the most diverse genera. The maximum numbers of aliens (mostly herbs) in the state were introduced from America, followed by Europe. Owing to relatively high number of alien plant species in Uttarakhand, it is submitted that serious ecological and socio-economic consequences are likely to escalate in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current era of global warming, the Himalayan forests are under tremendous pressure due to intensified anthropogenic activity, resulting in the loss of forest diversity. However, the potential of carbon (C) sinks for increasing carbon storage and/or sequestration is still uncertain. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the C‐sequestration and mitigation potential of eight different tree plantations, namely: Pinus roxburghii, Quercus leucotrichophora, Acacia mollissima, Acacia catechu, Alnus nitida, Albizia procera, Ulmus villosa, and Eucalyptus tereticornis in the mid‐hills of the Indian Himalayas. The soil samples used in our study (humus, 0–20cm, 20–40cm, and 40–100 cm) were used to determine the soil and ecosystem C‐density. The analysis revealed that the maximum tree biomass (300.19 Mg ha−1), vegetation biomass (305.43 Mg ha−1), vegetation carbon (153.59 Mg ha−1), and total ecosystem C density (369.93 Mg ha−1) occurred under U. villosa plantation. Similarly, P. roxburghii plantations had the maximum detritus C‐density (7.25 Mg ha−1), whereas A. nitida (224.71 Mg ha−1) had the maximum soil C‐density. The highest C‐sequestration was recorded under U. villosa (183.0 Mg ha−1). A significantly higher and lower rate of C‐sequestration and CO2 mitigation was observed in Ulmus villosa (5.9 and 21.64 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and Eucalyptus tereticornis (3.9 and 14.3 Mg ha−1 yr−1). Our study found that indigenous tree species such as U. villosa, A. procera, A. nitida, and Q. leucotrichophora should be encouraged for afforestation on degraded lands to support climate change mitigation strategies in the sub‐temperate forest ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxobacteria have emerged as a rich manufacturer of a wide array of natural products captivating both the academic and drug discovery communities. Attempts to unearth novel bioactive, myxobacteria from unexploited habitats are far from exhaustion. This study reports the isolation of myxobacteria from dung pellets collected from various regions of northwestern Himalayas. The isolated myxobacteria were functionally characterized to evaluate their bioactive capability. Of all the isolates, ST/P/71 exhibited broad range activities such as anticancer against all the four human cancer cell lines with IC50 in range of 2.03–9.65 µg/ml, antimicrobial against all the tested human pathogens, also exhibiting biofilm inhibition with MBIC50 at 10.4 µg/ml against Salmonella typhimurium. Consequently, ST/P/71 was chosen for fermentation and isolation of bioactive secondary metabolite through semi‐preparative HPLC. It yielded compound 1, characterized as di‐isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass data. DiBP exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against the lung cancer cell line (A549) at an IC50 values 3.09 µg/ml and biofilm inhibition activity against Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhimurium with MBIC50 2.703 and 9.263 µg/ml, respectively. ST/P/71 was identified as Myxococcus fulvus. Thus, M. fulvus ST/P/71 isolated from northwestern Himalayas is a new source of DiBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemical mapping is frequently used to identify the regions of the Planet with critical chemical elements and their natural or anthropogenic sources. In order to understand elements' geochemistry and to identify the area's potentially harmful associations, high‐resolution maps of chemical elements, physico‐chemical parameters, a noncarcinogenic hazard index, and a potential ecological risk index were modelled with soil samples collected in the Himalaya region. It is the first environmental and geochemical atlas for this region. It was found that natural processes are determining the distribution of the variable in this area. The granulometric features seem to be strongly influenced by land use, with coarser grain sizes in forest soils, contrasting with the finer grain sizes in agricultural soils. The map distribution of the noncarcinogenic hazard index showed that there is an expected hazard for some variables for both children and adults. Potential ecological risk is revealed to be low to moderate. Remediation of contaminated soils is necessary to reduce the associated risks, make the land resource available for agricultural production, enhance food security, and scale down land tenure problems arising from changes in the land use pattern. This study is subsequent implementation of natural‐based approaches to system stability in largely unspoilt area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) is the most important tree species used for afforestation programs in the Himalayan regions. In the present study, fourteen forest stands were selected in four different altitudes, i.e., < 1000, 1001–1400, 1401–1800, and > 1801 masl in Garhwal Himalayan of Uttarakhand, India, to assess carbon stock potential of the forest. The study was conducted during 2013–2015. Among the study sites, the maximum tree density (575 ± 90.14 ind. ha−1) was reported in New Tehri (altitude: > 1801 masl) and minimum (135 ± 5.00 ind. ha−1) in Daddi (altitude: 1001–1400 masl). The highest (96 ± 18.36 t ha−1) above-ground carbon stock was estimated in Kandikhal where bole, branch, and foliage contribute 89.93 ± 19.47, 5.17 ± 1.04 and 0.90 ± 0.14 t ha−1, respectively, while lowest (26.68 ± 9.48 t ha−1) was in Gumkhal, and contribution from the same component was found as 20.72 ± 7.84, 4.50 ± 1.58, and 1.47 ± 0.11 t ha−1, respectively. Further, highest value of below-ground carbon was in Kandikhal (28.58 ± 4.81 t ha−1) with an altitude range between 1001 and 1400 masl and the lowest in Gumkhal (9.19 ± 2.87 t ha−1) between 1401 and 1800 masl. Besides, litter production was found higher in the summer season followed by winter and rainy seasons. The study concluded that the density, height, basal area, and volume of Pinus roxburgii varied with altitude, but it was not directional. However, growth patterns and tree density were the key factors in estimating total carbon stocks and further to know the behavior of carbon dynamics (source/sink). Litter production had an inverse relation with altitude; however, increase in litter biomass at > 1801 masl was observed due to new plantations of pine. This study will be highly helpful to the forester and policy-makers in planning carbon mitigation strategies (e.g., catchment area treatment, afforestation activities) at regional and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to a predicted rise in temperature, increase in precipitation and the escalating anthropogenic stresses, the Himalayan ecosystems are the most threatened non-polar regions of the world. In the past, there have been racing extinctions and range shifts of several life forms in this region, particularly of the plant species. Therefore, consistent qualitative and quantitative records on botanical baseline data on a regular basis are indispensable. The current communication attempts to provide a detailed account on the current state of knowledge and research gaps in floristic studies of Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya. Based on an extensive review of more than 140 studies in the form of scientific peer reviewed literature on floristics, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), rare, endangered, threatened and endemic species and ethno-botany, it is revealed that the number of floristic studies in Himachal Pradesh have surged in the past years but studies pertaining to the lower plants remain meagre. Unfortunately, the remote valleys including micro-watersheds lying in the cold-arid regions are relatively less studied in terms of available growing stock and population status of MAPs. Depleting traditional ethno-botanical knowledge has been the major concern and, many threatened MAPs need to be accessed globally following IUCN standards. Thus, documentation of the conservation status of key MAPs, setting aside conservation areas around viable populations of threatened species, developing germplasm banks of the priority MAPs and monitoring the impacts of climate change has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to numerous emerging threats to biodiversity, its conservation has been of paramount importance in today's world. Interestingly, many modern practices have been followed globally for the conservation of natural resources, yet traditional conservation practices that could set an excellent example need to be explored worldwide. Keeping this in view, the current communication aims to highlight a unique conservation method that has been practiced in the remote and cold-arid region of the state of Himachal Pradesh in the western Himalaya. Locally known as 'Praja Mandal', this indigenous system of conservation needs to be addressed and adopted nationwide with an eye towards a sustainable ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ground-based and heliborne survey was conducted immediately after the disaster that took place on 7th February, 2021 in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Based on these observations and freely available Google Earth imagery, we have arrived at plausible causes of this catastrophe as detachment of a sizeable rock mass and overlying hanging glacier in the Raunthi catchment that dammed the Rishiganga River and led to the devastation of roads, bridges and hydropower projects in downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an expensive spice crop cultivated successfully in Iran, Afghanistan, India, Greece, Morocco, Spain, and Italy. The present study was conducted during the periods 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 to evaluate the morphological, yield and quality parameters of saffron in six different regions of non-traditional areas of the western Himalayas. The two experimental factors were "year" and "location." The experiment was conducted using a factorial randomized block design with three replications. Yield attributes, viz. , number of flowers, fresh flower yield, fresh stigma yield and dry stigma yield were significantly higher in location L3 compared to other geographical locations. Dry stigma yield in location L3 was higher by 50.0, 41.2, 33.3, 14.3, and 9.1% compared to locations L6, L5, L1, L4, and L2, respectively. These were characterized by the appropriate climatic conditions, viz. , high altitude, sandy-loam texture of the soil, optimum temperature, lesser relative humidity and total rainfall, demonstrating that it is possible to cultivate this spice even in non-traditional areas of the western Himalaya. Positive correlations were established for stigma yield with increased altitude and lesser rainfall. Secondary metabolites viz. , crocin and picrocrocin increased significantly with the increase in altitude; however, a reverse trend was recorded for safranal content. Total phenolics and flavonoids were significantly higher in the geographical location of Kinnaur, H.P. (L1) and Bharmour, H.P. (L4). In conclusion, the assessment of different geographical locations and soil types is particularly necessary to encourage saffron production and its qualitative traits. Based on current findings, saffron can be grown successfully in some non-traditional locations of the western Himalayan regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous-oxide emission and nitrate addition from agriculture to earth's environment are two main agriculture related anthropogenic causes of environmental degradation that needs greater attention. For addressing the aforesaid issue, new techniques/practices need to be developed and implemented. The present investigation, which was focused on this issue, resulted in developing a new mode of nitrogen (N) placement, i.e. 'mid rib placement upper to corms in two splits (MRPU-2S)', that could reduce nitrous oxide N emission by around 70.11% and, nitrate N leaching and runoff by around 68.26 and 67.09%, respectively, over conventional method, in saffron growing soils of northwest Himalayas. Besides plummeting environmental degradation, MRPU-2S further resulted in enhancing saffron yield by 33.33% over conventional method. The findings of the present investigation were used to develop new empirical models for predicting saffron yield, nitrate N leaching and nitrous-oxide N emission. The threshold limits of nitrate N leaching and nitrous oxide N emission have also been reported exclusively in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes the water quality scenario of some freshwater springs of South Kashmir during the two-year period (2013–2015) because of rising pollution risks endangering water resources globally. The accessibility to quality drinking water has become a challenge and is receiving renewed attention. A total of 96 samples from twelve springs were collected and analyzed for major drinking water quality parameters. Piper trilinear and Durov diagram depicted dominance of Ca–Mg–HCO3 hydrochemical facies and simple dissolution and mixing process. Water quality was falling in very good to excellent class and well within the desirable limits of WHO thereby indicating huge potential for meeting rising drinking water demand. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the generation of three components (PC1, PC2, and PC3) with higher eigenvalues of 3 or more (3–6) explaining 40, 21, and 17% of the overall variance in water quality data sets, respectively. The components obtained from PCA indicate that the parameters responsible for variations are mainly related to discharge, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (natural), nutrients (agriculture), and cation and anions (lithology). The results suggest that the hydrochemistry of springs is jointly controlled by lithology and anthropogenic inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern era, due to the rapid increase in urbanization and industrialization in the vicinity of the Himalayas, heavy metals contamination in soil has become a key priority for researchers working globally; however, evaluation of the human and ecological risks mainly in hilly areas remains limited. In this study, we analyzed indices like the contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (DC), enrichment factor (EF), geochemical index (Igeo), pollution ecological risk index (PERI), and pollution load index (PLI), along with cancer risk (CR) and hazard indices (HI), to ascertain the eco-environmental and human risks of using heavy metals in datasets collected from 168 sampling locations in Uttarakhand, India. The evaluation calculated of Igeo, EF, and CF suggests that represented soil samples were moderately contaminated and highly augmented with Rb, while PERI (75.56) advocates a low ecological risk. Further, PLI and DC (PLI: 1.26; DC: 36.66) show a possible health risk for the native population in the vicinity of the studied catchment. The hazard index (HI) is estimated greater than 1 (HI > 1) for Cr and Mn, representing a possible risk for cancer. However, adults are free from cancer risk, and other studied elements have been reported as noncarcinogenic. This assessment gives important information to policymakers, environmentalists, and foresters for taking mitigation measures in advance to mitigate the potential future risk of soil pollution on humans, ecology, and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing vehicle counts have resulted in a significant increase in air pollution impacting human and natural ecosystems including trees, and physical properties. Roadside plantations often act as a first defense line against the vehicular emissions to mitigate the impacts of pollutants. However, they are themselves vulnerable to these pollutants with varying levels of tolerance capacity. This demands a scientific investigation to assess the role of roadside plantation for better management and planning for urban sprawl where selected trees could be grown to mitigate the impacts of harmful pollutants. The present study assesses the impacts of vehicular emissions on the adaptation and mitigation potential of two important roadside tree species i.e. Grevillea robusta and Mangifera indica planted along roadsides in the capital city of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is one of the Indian Western Himalayan State and its capital city is situated on the foothills of Himalaya. The adaptation and mitigation potential were evaluated by studying the response of pollutants on the functional traits which drive the physiology of the trees. The CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency (WUE), air pollution tolerance index (APTI), copper and proline accumulation, dust removal efficiency (DRE), leaf thickness and cooling created by plantation were studied to evaluate the response of trees exposed to roadside traffics. To compare the influence of pollutants, traits of trees grown in a control site with few or absence of vehicular movement were compared with the roadside trees. The control site represented part of a reserve forest where human interference is controlled and human-induced activities are prohibited. The vehicular frequency was found to modulate tree characteristics. The tree characteristics representing WUE, APTI, proline and copper accumulation, leaf thickness, cooling impact, and DRE were enhanced significantly, while the decreased CO2 assimilation rate was observed near roadside trees compared to the control site. We found both of the species to perform well to be used as one of the potential species for roadside and urban greening. However, there is a need to assess the potential of other species in reference to the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C. ambrosioides var. ambrosioides essential oil has been commercialized to control greenhouse insects and mites and the aerial parts of this plant have been used as condiment; traditional purgative for intestinal worms and acesodyne and in the Chinese traditional medicine, this herb can expel wind and treat rheumatism. Further the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides showed the antimicrobial activity against several microbial species. Our investigations therefore, reveal presence of another chemotype in this region with α-terpinene and p-cymene as chemical markers of this chemotypes and its antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of a landslide prediction model for the North-West Himalayas region, discussing the geological conditions, triggers, and correlations between rainfall and landslides, with potential applications in assessing landslide risk and early warning systems in the area.

Sediments released from high altitude glaciers exhibit varying evacuation patterns and transport characteristics owing to the presence of thick debris cover over the glacier. Despite the recent needs for integrated hydrometeorological studies in the Himalaya, little is known about the impacts of suspended sediment on hydropower generation, reservoir sedimentation, and abrasion of turbine components. Present study involves analysis of particle size distribution of suspended sediments to understand sediment evacuation patterns and transport characteristics in variable energy conditions during the ablation season. Peak suspended sediments were evacuated during extreme rainfall events. The estimated seasonal modern sediment erosion rate varies from 0.6 to 2.3 mm y − 1 for the study period (2009–2012). The analysis shows dominance of medium silt-sized to fine sand-sized particles having sediment size of 0.0156–0.25 mm corresponding to 70–80% without any significant seasonal variation. These transported sediments show that they are poorly sorted, coarser in nature with a nearly symmetrical to coarse skewed texture and kurtosis analysis suggesting mesokurtic distribution of sediments. The particle size fraction ranges between 4.65 and 5.23 ϕ , which is dominantly medium to coarse silty in texture. Results indicate that suspended sediments are evacuated in highly variable energy conditions through subglacial transport pathways because of increase in availability of meltwater with the progressive ablation season. Bulk geochemical characterization has been carried out to differentiate the source of suspended sediments and intensity of weathering. Chemical Index of Alterations (CIA) values of sediment flux range from 54.68 to 55.18 compared to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC) ~ 50, indicating moderate intensity of weathering. Mean seasonal (2009–2012) elemental fluxes and their contribution to the suspended sediment flux reflect that Si and Al are responsible for about 85% of the total detrital elemental flux. Trace elements show high concentrations of radioactive elements like U, Th, Pb, and Rb that suggest their high anomalous presence in the catchment lithology. An overall study indicates that the hydroclimatic conditions over the debris-covered glacier play a dominant controlling factor in erosion, transportation, and evacuation of suspended sediments during the ablation season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the new phytogeographically plants in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).

Soil loss due to water erosion was estimated in Kangra region of western Himalaya using revised universal soil loss equation modelling (RUSLE) in conjunction with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The various parameters such as rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topographic factor (LS), crop management factor (C) and support practice factor (P) were derived using standard techniques. The study revealed that forest cover, crop land and scrub/grass land constitute 87.4 % of soil erosion susceptible area. The rate of depletion of soil was estimated at 25.63 t/ha/yr. It was highest in stony/barren land (60.3 t/ha/yr) and lowest in case of tea garden (16.09 t/ha/yr). It was felt that there is a need of implementation of soil and water conservation measures in the region to curb the soil loss. The undulating nature of terrain was observed as the main contributing factor for soil erosion. It was concluded that RS and GIS based RUSLE model can be efficiently used in mountainous regions to determine the status and extent of soil erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Himalayas, most of the glaciers are covered by thick debris, especially in the ablation zone. Supraglacial debris cover might play an important role for sediment budget of the glaciated area or for the ablation of ice masses mantled in debris. During summer season, proglacial meltwater carries considerable amount of suspended sediment. The deglaciated area provides a ready source of sediment during Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). The heavy sediment load from the glaciers affects the hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. Therefore, to understand the sediment delivery from glaciated basins, characteristics and variation of the suspended sediment concentrations in the proglacial meltwater stream, Dokriani Glacier, have been monitored during the ablation season (May-September). Suspended sediment samples were collected near the snout of Dokriani Glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, in 2010 and 2011. Results show that mean monthly suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) were 1499, 2303, 3845 and 1649 mg/l for the months June, July, August, and September, respectively, indicating highest concentration in August followed by July. Over the period of recording, daily mean suspended concentration in the melt stream varied from 13-9798.2 mg/l, which is very high, caused due to a flash flood event during the monitoring period. The mean daily suspended sediment concentration was computed to be 2196 mg/l. The suspended sediment concentration begins to increase with discharge from May and reduces in September. Present study provides TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) derived and field based hydro-meteorological insight about severe rainstorms during the years 2010 and 2011 in the study area, which transported large amounts of sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacierised basins are significant sources of sediments generated by glacial retreat. Estimation of suspended sediment transfer from glacierised basins is very important in reservoir planning for hydropower projects in Himalaya. The present study indicates that storage and release of sediment in proglacial streams may categorise the pattern of suspended sediment transfer from these basins. Assessment of suspended sediment concentration (SSC), suspended sediment load (SSL) and yield has been undertaken for Dunagiri Glacier basin located in Garhwal Himalaya (30o33'20'N, 79o53'36'E), and its results are compared with the Gangotri and Dokriani glaciers sharing close proximity. Out of the total drainage basin area, about 14.3 % of the area is glacierised. Data were collected for five ablation seasons (1984-1989, barring 1986). The mean daily SSCs for July, August and September were 333.9, 286.0 and 147.15 mg/l, respectively, indicating highest concentration of mean daily suspended sediment in July followed by August. SSL trends were estimated to be 93.0, 57.0 and 21.3 tonnes. About 59% of the total SSL of the melt period was transported during the months of August and September. Sediment yield for the study basin was computed to be 296.3 t km−2 yr −1. It is observed that the cumulative proportion of SSC precedes the discharge throughout the melt season except in the year 1987. Release of SSL in terms of total load is less in the early part of melt season than in the later stage as compared to that of discharge. Diurnal variations in SSC reach their maximum at 2400 h, and therefore, SSC was found to be high during night (2000-0400 h). There was a good relationship between SSC and SSL with discharge for the ablation seasons (1988 and 1989). Mean monthly SSC and mean monthly SSL provide a good exponentional relationship with mean monthly temperature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Himalayan basins have considerable snow- and glacier-covered areas, which are an important source of water, particularly during summer season. In the Himalayan region, in general, the glacier melt season is considered to be from May to October. Changes in hydrological characteristics of the runoff over the melt season can be understood by studying the variation in time to peak and time lag between melt generation and its emergence as runoff. In the present study, the runoff-delaying characteristics of Gangotri Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Indian Himalayas, have been studied. For this purpose, hourly discharge and temperature data were collected near the snout of the glacier (4000 m) for three ablation seasons (2004-2006). The diurnal variations in discharge and temperature provided useful information on water storage and runoff characteristics of the glacier. In the early stages of the ablation period, poor drainage network and stronger storage characteristics of the glaciers due to the presence of seasonal snow cover resulted in a much delayed response of melt water, providing a higher time lag and time to peak as compared to the peak melt season. A comparison of runoff-delaying parameters with the discharge ratio clearly indicated that changes in time lag and time to peak are inversely correlated with variations in discharge. Impact of such meltwater storage and delaying characteristics of glaciers on hydropower projects being planned/developed on glacier-fed streams in India has been discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Proglacial meltwater streams draining out of the Himalayan glaciers carry considerable amounts of suspended sediment, with a variety of particle sizes, because of the supraglacial, englacial, and subglacial debris, as well as formation of sediments from erosion by the movement of the ice. This paper examines particle size transported in the proglacial meltwater stream of Gangotri Glacier for seven consecutive melt seasons (May–October, 2000–2006) in order to provide information on (i) temporal variations in the particle size distribution, (ii) texture and mineralogy of the sediments, and (iii) origin and evacuation pattern of the sediments. Our results indicate dominance of silt size (0.002–0.06mm) particles (71%) followed by sand size (0.06–0.6mm) particles (24%) and clay size (<0.002mm) particles (5%) during the melt season, with increased variation as melt season progresses. The sediment contains quartz, feldspar, mica, illite, and kaolinite minerals, which represent a poor to poorly sorted fraction with a coarse to fine skewed textural distribution. Overall, this study indicates a subglacial evacuation pattern of the suspended sediment based on (i) size classification, (ii) higher percentage of coarser particles toward the end of the melting season, (iii) symmetrical to positively skewed with a kurtosis of mesokurtic to platykurtic texture, and (iv) a less-rounded shape of particle size. Our result on the evolution of meltwater pathways indicates a progressively better interconnected drainage system with advancing melt season. The evolution of meltwater pathways also demonstrates complex behavior of the glacial system and the need for a better understanding of sediment availability and contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The soil stoichiometric ratios (C:N:P) were invariant in lower Himalaya. • The studied region has low C:N ratio indicating prospect for N 2 O emission. • Abies species have a higher C sequestration potential and carbon credit. • The findings are helpful to understand nutrient dynamics in forest. Understating of forest functioning is crucial for ensuring the sustainable flow of forest ecosystem services. Climate regulation service of a forest ecosystem can be ensured through emission reduction by increasing carbon sequestration in forests. However, understanding about the functioning of forests for carbon sequestration is constrained due to lack of information on nutrient stocks and stoichiometry of soils of forests of India. Present study focuses to examine the stoichiometry of major nutrients; nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), carbon (C) of forest soil to understand the dynamics of the forests of Uttarakhand, India. The study also attempted to supplement the information about the soil carbon sequestration potential of important tree species of the forest. Soil samples were collected randomly for the evaluation of physico-chemical characteristics and stoichiometry of forest soil at four altitudinal ranges i.e., <1000, 1000–1500, 1500–2000, and >2000 m a.s.l in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. The analysis shows that total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and soil organic carbon contents in forest soil were 0.35 ± 0.11%, 0.10 ± 0.04% and 3.36 ± 0.84%, respectively, which increases with altitude. The stoichiometric ratios viz., C:N:P, N:P, C:N, and C:P, and N:P were reported of 51.6:5.4:1, 4.30 ± 2.39, 9.60 ± 1.48, and 41.94 ± 23.35, respectively which were invariant with altitude. The low C:N ratio may be attributed to either increase in the nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions with an increase in nitrogen, or low in carbon stock leading to decrease in carbon dioxide (CO 2) and methane (CH 4) emissions. Moreover, the soil C sequestration potential in the forest tree species follow the order of Abies pindrow > Cedrus deodara > Quercus leucotrichophora > Pinus roxburghii. The information of the study would facilitate for broadening the understanding about the soil properties and stoichiometry of forest ecosystem and would provide an aid to forest management besides contributing to the mitigations strategies of the forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is major challenge in modern era and requires key attention to the researcher, globally. Carbon ('C') sequestering through agroforestry is one of the ways to mitigate the carbon reduction and provide safeguards to the environment for livelihood. The present study was conducted on Grewia optiva tree which is dominated in agroforestry systems of Tehri Garhwal Himalaya (Uttarakhand) in different villages at three altitudes, i.e., upper altitudes (UA), middle altitude (MA), and lower altitude (LA) ranged from 500 to 1500 m amsl. Soil moisture, water holding capacity (WHC), bulk density (BD), and soil organic carbon (SOC) reported highest in LA compared to MA and UA, which might be because of all eroded material deposited in LA. Further, nitrogen storage in UA is higher due to comparatively low temperature significantly lower the microbial activities for N2O emission than MA and LA. The low nitogen in LA might be due to higher nitrification and/or denitrification rate. The same also supported by low carbon content (energy sources to microbial activity) in LA. The density of Grewia optiva in agroforestry was high in LA; however, total tree carbon was highest in MA (20.8 t/ha) followed by UA (20.4 t/ha) and LA (19.1 t/ha) while annual shoot carbon was highest in LA (2.43 t/ha) followed by MA (1.08 t/ha) and UA (0.77 t/ha). Further, carbon credit likely to be earned from the agroforestry under G. optiva is estimated as 553,702 Euro. Therefore, Grewia optiva is strongly recommending for agroforestry which will further help in socioeconomic development and carbon-reducing strategies in mitigating future climate. [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]

The article presents information on biogeographic delineation of the Indian Himalayan Region for configuring, locating and maintaining the protected natural areas . Topics include the recognition of three hierarchical regions which include biogeographic zone, the biotic province and sub-regions, its vegetation being sparse and treeless, and tits fauna including wild species as snow leopard, Himalayan marmot, ans Tibetan woolly hare.

• Field surveys were undertaken for five years, from 2018 to 2022, to decipher the distribution of Fritillaria roylei in seven districts of Himachal Pradesh. • The collected plant specimens (capsules with seeds and bulbs) from each site were studied for agro-morphological variability and phytosociological attributes. • Soil samples were collected to understand the nutrient status optimal for the growth of F. roylei. • Population attributes and ecological niche modelling showed potential future distribution area and cultivation hotspots for restoring this high-value endangered herb. • Conservationists can use the current findings to mitigate biodiversity losses by developing informed strategies for the conservation of this species with specific habitat priorities. In the Anthropocene epoch, there is a growing global conservation concern for rare, endangered, and threatened species owing to their increased vulnerability resulting in small population numbers and reliance on specialized habitats. To monitor and restore the waning populations of these species, predicting potential habitat maps is a valid strategy. Using population attributes and an ecological niche modelling approach, the current study aims to investigate potential distribution and cultivation hotspots for restoring the high-value and critically endangered medicinal herb, Fritillaria roylei (syn. Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don), in the alpine region of Himachal Pradesh, India. Various populations from eighteen sites exhibited a significant change in phytosociological attributes as a result of various anthropogenic threats. The current potential habitats correspond with actual distribution data, and the mean Area Under Curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistic values were 0.876 ± 0.158 and 0.650 ± 0.008, which emerged as satisfactory results. The Jackknife tests indicated bio 6 (Min Temperature of Coldest Period) as the most contributing climatic variable along with bio 15 (Precipitation Seasonality (Coefficient of Variation) contributing 26.2% to the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modelling algorithm model in governing the distribution of F. roylei. The model output showed that 48.47% area of Himachal Pradesh is suitable for F. roylei and 17.75% constitutes high and very high probability regions, suitable for the reintroduction of the species. Therefore, effective management strategies, based on scientific evidence, are urgently needed to conserve the remaining populations of this species. Conservationists can use the current findings to mitigate biodiversity losses and explore new populations of F. roylei , whilst policymakers can use the findings to implement the policy for the conservation of species with specific habitat priorities through the inclusion of species recovery programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 7 February 2021 at 10:30 am, a huge amount of slurry material flooded the Rishiganga catchment, resulting in excessive flow along the valley. The main cause of this flood was the dislocation of a huge rock mass approximately 540 m wide and 720 m long from the main rock body, which slipped down towards the Raunthi Gadera valley floor, causing massive devastation in the areas such as Raini, Tapovan, and Vishnuprayag. This event was not expected and was the first event in history when a flash flood occurred in winter. In this study, we tried to answer two major questions which are not been explained so far that are related to this disaster. These questions are (i) why did this event occur in winters? (ii) where did so much debris and water come from?. This study clearly answers these questions based on field observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discuss the need of strategic environmental assessment of hydropower projects in India, to meet the demand and supply of energy. It mentions needs of harnessing hydropower projects in Indian Himalayan Region for maximum economic development. It discusses strategic plan for the future development of hydropower projects.

Identifying the new tree crop combinations plays an important function in transforming the low input agriculture into land units with high economic returns, increasing carbon (C) sink and nutrients storage capacity, and acting as a panacea to achieve Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). The present study aims to evaluate various tree-crop combinations for (i) biomass production, (ii) carbon accumulation, and (iii) soil nutrient enrichment of traditional and commercially evolved eight agroforestry systems (AFSs), including agri-silvi-horticulture system, agri-silviculture system, silvi-pasture, fruit tree, fodder tree, bamboo, melia and poplar based AFSs with sole cropping system in the mid-hill zone of the north-western Himalaya. The results demonstrated that poplar based AFS accumulated a higher amount of biomass (130.87 Mg ha−1) and carbon (65.44 Mg ha−1) closely followed by melia-based AFS. The C stored in leaf litter was higher (0.66 Mg ha−1) in poplar-based AFS, however, soil C stock was maximum (114.69 Mg ha−1) under bamboo-based AFS. Overall, the Melia based AFS exhibited a higher rate of carbon dioxide mitigation (19.30 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and C-sequestration (5.26 Mg ha−1 yr−1) than other studied AFSs. Moreover, soil macro-nutrients (available N, P, K, S and Ca) were maximum under bamboo-based AFS, on the other hand, the fruit-based AFS had the higher concentrations of micro-nutrients i.e., Cu (3.05), Fe (31.10 mg g−1) and Mn (17.31 mg g−1). The soil microbial counts were higher in poplar-based AFS, whereas, the soil quality index improved significantly under bamboo based and fruit tree based AFSs. Hence, it can be concluded that the experimentally evolved AFSs represent an effective approach for boosting C-sequestration, soil fertility, regenerating the soil and sustainability of hill agriculture in the north-western Himalayas over traditional AFSs and sole cropping. • Agroforestry systems (AFSs) contribute significantly to biomass production & carbon storage. • Poplar- and bamboo based AFSs accumulated maximum biomass & soil C stock, respectively. • Melia based AFSs exhibited highest rate of C-sequestration. • Bamboo based AFSs maintained the highest soil quality index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agroforestry forms an explicit part of the hill farming systems. • Mostly all the dominant agroforestry systems were prevalent in the study area. • Silvopastoral and agrohortosilviculture have the highest CO 2 mitigation potential. • Along elevation, the highest total carbon stock was recorded in Zone III. The estimation of carbon stock in agroforestry is crucial for curbing the global climate crisis. In this study, biomass production and carbon storage potential of the prevalent agroforestry systems along an altitudinal gradient in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh was carried out during 2019–2021. Agroforestry practices were categorized into eight land use systems viz., agrisilviculture, agrihorticulture, agrosilvohorticulture, agrohortisilviculture, hortiagriculture, silvopastoral, pastoralsilviculture and hortipastoral systems and were divided into four altitudinal ranges viz., <1000 m above sea level (m asl; Z-I), 1000–1500 m asl (Z-II), 1500–2500 m asl (Z-III) and > 2500 m asl (Z-IV). Results revealed that biomass production and total carbon storage (vegetation + soil) were significantly affected by the land use type along the altitudinal gradient. Among the different agroforestry systems, maximum aboveground biomass (47.48 Mg ha−1) and belowground biomass (12.20 Mg ha−1) were recorded for agrohortisilviculture. Biomass production was positively correlated with altitudes and increased with an increase in altitudes. Soil carbon density was the maximum (35.77 Mg ha−1) under silvopastoral showing a decreasing trend along the altitudinal gradient. The total carbon storage potential was observed the maximum (59.76 Mg ha−1) under silvopastoral system followed by agrohortisilvicuture > agrosilvohorticulture > agrisilviculture > pastoralsilviculture > hortiagriculture > hortipastoral > agrihorticulture. Along the elevation gradient, total carbon stock ranged from 43.99 to 51.13 Mg ha−1 with the maximum carbon stock corresponding to Z-III and the minimum for Z-IV. This study offers a useful approach for selecting different land use systems and vegetation patterns to maximize thecarbon stocks in a cost-effective manner, which will further help to mitigate global warming issues in other fragile Himalayan catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosynthesis of bisaryl preanthraquinone antibiotics by various microorganisms differs in monomeric subunits as well as their dimerization positions leading to different configurations. The present study relates to the production of rare bisaryl anthraquinone antibiotics by a new Streptomyces strain isolated from Shivalik region of NW Himalayas. In vitro anticancer and anti-migratory effects of Setomimycin (9,9′ bisanthraquinone antibiotic) was seen with a significant reduction in the expression of both MEK as well as ERK pathways in a dose dependent manner at 6.5 μM & 8 μM concentration in HCT-116 and 5.5 μM & 7 μM concentration in MCF-7 cells. In vivo studies in aggressive orthotopic mouse mammary carcinoma model (4T1) demonstrated about 76% reduction of primary tumor weight and 90.5% reduction in the tumor volume within two weeks. In vivo pharmacokinetics study of setomimycin revealed that it can be rapidly absorbed with an adequate plasma exposure and half-life which can be linked to its in vivo efficacy. [Display omitted] • Setomimycin, a rare bisaryl anthraquinones isolated from novel Streptomyces sp. strain from NW Himalayas. • An optima increase of par-4 was observed at 8 μM in HCT-116 cells and 7 μM in MCF-7 cells. • In-vivo studies in 4T1 mice model resulted in 90.5% reduction in the tumor volume within two weeks. • Setomimycin could absorbe rapidly (T max < 20 min) with a maximum plasma concentration level (C max >1 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate characterisation of isotope signatures (δ18O and δD) of groundwater, glaciers, and surface water in the Himalayan catchment are important for refining the sources of moisture and developing a modern isotope–elevation relationship for paleoelevation reconstructions. The Indus River located in Western Himalaya is previously unexplored in respect of the variation in water isotopic composition with elevation. In this study, water samples (n = 96) were collected from mainstream, tributaries, streams, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, hot springs, and pond water during the summer season. Results showed that δ18O signatures of the mainstream, tributaries and groundwater range from −15.1‰ to −12.3‰, −16.5‰ to −12‰, −13.8‰ to −12‰, with a mean value of −13.6‰, −14.7‰, −12.8‰, respectively. There was a northward rise in δ18O by 1.30‰ per degree of latitude in the tributary waters. The d -excess and δ18O values suggested that the key source of moisture in the studied river basin was mainly from westerlies and southwest monsoons. Thus, regional moisture recycling and subcloud evaporation contributed little in supplying moisture to the precipitation. The isotopic signature (δ18O) of the tributary stream and its surrounding regions conformed to a best-fit second-order polynomial relationship between δ18O and elevation over 3500 masl. Moreover, an δ18O elevation slope of −2‰/km is also established in this study area. This isotope–elevation relationship will be highly useful and can be applied to the Indus River and other Himalayan rivers for paleoelevation reconstruction. • Stable isotopes of surface water and groundwater in the UIRB are analyzed. • Surface waters showed variable isotopic spatial pattern in the upper Indus River. • Moisture sources in the UIRB mainly from southwest monsoons and westerlies. • Isotope-elevation link explored in the UIRB for paleo-elevation reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IPCC in its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) described the Himalayan Region as data-deficient in terms of climate monitoring. This is a serious impediment to global research initiatives and thus necessitates long-term ecological monitoring (LTEM) across the Himalaya. Being governed by low temperature conditions, the high-altitude regions in Himalaya are more responsive to changing environmental conditions and hence serve as better indicators. We identified few Protected Areas (PAs) and selected forest core area and ecotones along the temperate, sub-alpine, alpine and cold desert ecosystems in Himachal Pradesh to establish a network of permanent monitoring plots (PMPs). Land and vegetation cover map of three selected PAs has been prepared using Landsat TM satellite data. Among the 10 PMPs, the temperate and tree line forests in the GHNP were found to have the highest tree diversity with Taxus wallichiana showing good stand density and regeneration. The soil pH was found to be higher for cold desert and lower for tree line forests and alpine meadows. Soil total carbon and nitrogen contents ranged from 1.08% to 13.37% and 0.094% to 1.14% respectively. It was observed that the herbs diversity showed a positive trend with increasing soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations. Satellite remote sensing proves to be a useful tool in an LTEM study, including biodiversity assessment and climate change research in complex terrains such as the Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]