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The study reconnoitres arts-based learning by the use of sketches and photos of basic level students and science teachers. It was accompanied in the basic level public schools of Kirtipur municipality of Kathmandu district. The study explores how the use of sketches and photos promotes students science learning and also designs an appropriate strategy for engaged learning. A qualitative research design was used based on the interpretive paradigm in which data are collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The data were analysed through verbatim and thematic approaches. The study found the use of arts-based learning like sketches and photos helps to learn science that develops creativity and communication. It was also found that science teachers used sketches and photos linked to the prescribed curriculum while teaching and learning science. It is recommended that the application of sketches and photos would be beneficial for science learning. For this, science curricula and textbooks have to incorporate the techniques of arts-based concept learning in the public schools in Nepal.

This paper provides an overview of the emergent practices of arts-based science teaching and learning in public schools in Nepal. It also shares why arts-based science learning has emerged as a shift in teaching and learning from a dogmatic approach to arts-based learning as well as the opportunities and challenges amid COVID 19 pandemic. QUAN qual research method → was applied in this research. The questionnaire survey was used to collect the quantitative data whereas an in-depth interview was taken to collect the qualitative information in this study. 300 students have been selected randomly out of 1300 study population by using the Raosoft sample size calculator with a 95% level of confidence and with a 5% margin error. It is found that the use of figures, posters, soil and sand art, songs and drama promote the understanding of students’ science learning and their achievement score. The findings from this study are expected to encourage the Nepal government, local governments, and public schools to bring local practices into central level policies to transform the dogmatic approach to arts-based teaching and learning.

Higher education is the key to the overall development of a country like Nepal, whose population is ephemeral through a demographic transition. Currently, 11 universities, four health academies and 1432 higher education institutions associated (constituent and affiliated) are providing mainstream higher education in Nepal. However, providing access to higher education to the increased number of the eligible population still remains a challenge, while on the other hand, the quality of higher education and its significance to local and national primacy has been a concern. In the meantime, planners, policymakers and researchers need timely and relevant data in order to meet the challenge faced in their relevant sectors. Despite having challenges in higher education in Nepal, Tribhuvan University, the oldest and leading university, is producing more Masters, MPhil, and PhD graduates for the nation’s overall development.

Literature on school education suggests that teaching and learning science in basic level community schools in Nepal is largely theoretical. Consequently, achievement levels and the understanding o...

Background: Clinical learning environment is considered the foremost place for professional practice for nursing students. Students on clinical settings are exposed to unexpected learn­ing experiences. This study was intended to find out the level of satisfaction in nursing stu­dents with their clinical learning environment. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was carried out among 84 nursing students who were studying in Bachelor in Science of Nursing from Hamro School of Nursing, Biratnagar, Morang. Non-probability enumerative sampling was used to select sample. Standard tool Clini­cal Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher (CLES+T) evaluation scale was used to assess level of satisfaction on clinical learning environment among nursing students. Data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The findings of the study revealed that most of the students (84.5%) were satisfied with their clinical learning environment. Further, statistical significant association was found between students satisfaction level with frequency of meeting nursing teacher and use of e-communication tools during placement. Conclusions: Majority of the students are satisfied with their clinical learning environment with highest satisfaction with role of nursing teacher in clinical placement and lowest in pedagogical atmosphere. Thus, satisfaction could be utilized as a significant contributing variable towards the improvement of clinical learning situations so as to fulfill the requirements and desires for nursing students.

This study explores the perceptions involved in the healthy eating behaviour of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade students in a primary level community school in Nepal. A total, ten observations during mid-day meal and three focus group discussions were conducted among teachers and parents. Sixty students from grade one to three, five teachers and sixteen parents took part in the study. All the participating teachers and parents were engaged in dialogue conferences during focus groups and students’ eating behaviours were observed by the teachers and parents during tiffin time throughout the study. Thematic-content analysis based on the qualitative approach was used on the collected data from the field notes during a series of participant observations and focus group discussions. It is found that the family norms and feeding culture around a child’s domestic life have an active role in establishing and promoting healthy habits that persists throughout. It is also noted that parental food habits and feeding strategies are the most dominant determinants of children eating behaviour and food choices of mid-day meal during tiffin time at the school. It is recommended that parents and teachers should expose their children and students to a range of good food choices and acting as positive role models.

The present study reconnoiters the application of participatory action research (PAR) in improving the performance of students in chemistry sections. A mixed method research is employed focusing PAR as qualitative and experimental as a quantitative with equivalent groups. Two schools were purposively selected (one leader and one leader) in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts. All the students in the leader school are given intervention. Thirty students from the feeder school are in control group. Intervention was done by laboratory activities in chemistry teaching. PAR approach is used in the leader school during intervention. Pre-test and post-test were used to collect the data. Data are analyzed using inferential statistics: independent student t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The result shows that the experimental group outperformed to control group suggesting that PAR approach enhanced performance of lower and high achievers more than the lecture method of teaching.

The study explored the effect of activity-based chemistry instructional techniques on the achievement of eighth-graders in public schools of Nepal. It focuses on activity-based teaching of the topic filtration compared to traditionally practiced chalk and talk methods. In this study, a pre-test, post-test control group, a quasi-experimental design was used. A Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) was applied to eighty students of four basic level community schools located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Three research questions and three research hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while independent t- test was used to test the hypotheses. To measure the reliability coefficient of CAT, Cronbach alpha was applied which was found 0.642. Results showed that students under the experimental group facilitated by activity-based chemistry instructional techniques performed significantly better than those taught by chalk and talk methods. It also showed that activity-based chemistry learning encourages students’ independent and inquisitive learning by self-investigation and analysis of the situation. It is recommended from this study that activity-based learning is more beneficial for students’ engagement in chemistry lessons in the community schools of Nepal.

Soil fertility degradation has become a major problem for agricultural management in Nepal. A detailed soil fertility status of different VDCs of Sunsari district was investigated during 2015 and soil related crop production constraints were identified for proper utilization of agricultural land. Total 131 numbers of geo-referenced (GPS based) composite surface soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from eleven Village Development Committees of Sunsari District. The sample points were recorded with a differential global position system and mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS). Soils were analyzed for mechanical composition, pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients like Boron, Zinc, Copper and Iron. About 38.9% soils were found to be silty clay loam, 20.6% were silty clay, 19.1% were clay loam and 21.4% were of other textural classes. Most of the soils were acidic and only few were neutral and slightly alkaline in nature. Soil Organic matter varies from 3.57% to 0.28% with a mean value of 1.53 %. The mean total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium was found to be 0.08%, 44.37 kg/ha and 128.04 kg/ha respectively. The mean hot water extractable Boron, DTPA extractable Copper, Zinc and Iron was found to be 0.14, 0.06, 0.15 and 10.71 mg/kg respectively. Thematic maps were prepared for each soil parameters using ArcGis10.1 software and ordinary Kriging interpolation was used in order to predict values for not sampled locations. The fertility maps provide the readymade source of information about soil fertility status and serve as the decision making tool for successful raising and development of crops. It can be concluded from the above study that GPS and GIS based soil fertility maps helps farmers, scientists, planners and students in providing soil test based fertilizer recommendation for intensive and sustainable site specific crop production.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(2): 142-151

Understanding the responses of invasive and native populations to environmental change is crucial for reliable predictions of invasions in the face of global change. While comparisons of responses across invasive species with different life histories have been performed before, comparing functional traits of congeneric native and invasive species may help to reveal driving factors associated with invasion. Here we compared morphological functional trait patterns of an invasive species (Impatiens parviflora) with its congeneric native species (I. noli-tangere) along an approximately 1600 km European latitudinal gradient from France (49°34′N) to Norway (63°40′N). Soil nitrogen was recorded during six weeks of the growing season, and light, soil moisture, and nutrient availability were estimated for each sampled population using community weighted means of indicator values for co-occurring species. Temperature data were gathered from nearby weather stations. Both the native and invasive species are taller at higher latitudes and this response is strongest in the invasive species. Seed mass and number of seeds per capsule increase in I. noli-tangere but decrease in I. parviflora towards higher latitudes. Surprisingly, plant height in the invasive I. parviflora decreases with increasing soil nitrogen availability. The latitudinal pattern in seed mass is positively related to temperature in I. noli-tangere and negatively in I. parviflora. Leaf area of both species decreases with increasing Ellenberg indicator values for nitrogen and light but increases with increasing soil moisture. Soil nitrogen concentrations and Ellenberg indicator values for nitrogen have significant positive (I. noli-tangere) and negative (I. parviflora) effects on the number of seeds per capsule. Our results show that the native I. noli-tangere has efficient reproduction at its range edge while the invasive I. parviflora shows a marked decrease in seed size and seed number per capsule. These patterns are unrelated to the growth and obtained size of the plants: even low soil nitrogen availability in the north seemed not to limit plant growth and size. Our results suggest that the invasive I. parviflora tends to become more invasive at lower latitudes by producing heavier seeds and more seeds per capsule.

Background and Aims It remains unclear whether invasive species can maintain both high biomass and reproductive output across their invaded range. Along latitudinal gradients, allocation theory predicts that faster flowering onset at high latitudes results in maturation at smaller size and thus reduced reproductive output. For annual invasive plants, more favourable environmental conditions at low latitudes probably result in stronger competition of co-occurring species, potentially driving selection for higher investment in vegetative biomass, while harsher climatic conditions and associated reproductive uncertainty at higher latitudes could reduce selection for vegetative biomass and increased selection for high reproductive investment (stress-gradient hypothesis). Combined, these drivers could result in increased or constant reproductive allocation with increasing latitude. Methods We quantified life-history traits in the invasive annual plant Impatiens glandulifera along a latitudinal gradient in Europe. By growing two successive glasshouse generations, we assessed genetic differentiation in vegetative growth and reproductive output across six populations, and tested whether onset of flowering drives this divergence. Key Results Trait variation was mainly caused by genetic differentiation. As expected, flowering onset was progressively earlier in populations from higher latitudes. Plant height and vegetative biomass also decreased in populations from higher latitudes, as predicted by allocation theory, but their variation was independent of the variation in flowering onset. Reproductive output remained constant across latitudes, resulting in increased reproductive allocation towards higher latitudes, supporting the stress-gradient hypothesis. We also observed trait genetic differentiation among populations that was independent of latitude. Conclusions We show that an annual invasive plant evolved several life-history traits across its invaded range in ~150 years. The evolution of vegetative and reproductive traits seems unconstrained by evolution of flowering onset. This genetic decoupling between vegetative and reproductive traits possibly contributes to the invasion success of this species.

The purpose of the study was to transforming chemistry learning from the textbooks in the silent classrooms to the school garden through activity-based learning with students’ meaningful engagement in collaboration with the science teachers in the community schools in Nepal. This research also aims to clarifying the epistemological gridlocks (banking concept of education) of school science teachers through measuring pH of garden soil samples by the basic level students’ activities. The concern of this study was facilitating school science teachers to impart the practical knowledge of chemical concept (pH of soil) by simple experiments whose backup is based on the epistemologically Vedic education system in Nepal. In-depth interviews and participant observations were taken with the students and teachers about their epistemic beliefs of teaching and learning the basic chemical concepts of chemistry based on the basic level science curriculum. It is found that the science teachers’ positivist congestions were rooted in the dogmatic approach in chemistry teaching and hinders the eloquent engagement of students in the school gardening activities. Science teachers’ belief system enabled me to understand the positivist epistemology mindset and transform into play way chemistry learning in the school garden. This broader sphere of teachers’ beliefs enabled me to recognize why positivist epistemology and connected traditions linking activity-based chemistry learning superficially forceful in the community schools. It is recommended that the suggestions for the school teacher professional improvement are needed to supervise and facilitate them to clarify the reflections on their situated personal experiences.

Question Belowground processes are key determinants of aboveground plant population and community dynamics. Still, our understanding of how environmental drivers shape plant communities is mostly based on aboveground diversity patterns, bypassing belowground plant diversity stored in seed banks. As seed banks may shape aboveground plant communities, we question whether concurrently analyzing the above- and belowground species assemblages may potentially enhance our understanding of community responses to environmental variation. Location Temperate deciduous forests along a 2000 km latitudinal gradient in NW-Europe. Methods Herb layer, seed bank and local environmental data including soil pH, canopy cover, forest cover continuity and time since last canopy disturbance were collected in 129 temperate deciduous forest plots. We quantified herb layer and seed bank diversity per plot and evaluated how environmental variation structured community diversity in the herb layer, seed bank and the combined herb layer-seed bank community. Results Seed banks consistently held more plant species than the herb layer. How local plot diversity was partitioned across the herb layer and seed bank was mediated by environmental variation in drivers serving as proxies of light availability. The herb layer and seed bank contained an ever smaller and ever larger share of local diversity, respectively, as both canopy cover and time since last canopy disturbance decreased. Species richness and β-diversity of the combined herb layer-seed bank community responded distinctly different compared to the separate assemblages in response to environmental variation in, e.g., forest cover continuity and canopy cover. Conclusions The seed bank is a belowground diversity reservoir of the herbaceous forest community, which interacts with the herb layer, though constrained by environmental variation in e.g. light availability. The herb layer and seed bank coexist as a single community by means of the so-called storage effect, resulting in distinct responses to environmental variation not necessarily recorded in the individual herb layer or seed bank assemblages. Thus, concurrently analysing above- and belowground diversity will improve our ecological understanding of how understorey plant communities respond to environmental variation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This paper discusses the possibilities of student-centered and project-based learning in science, health and population subjects of community high school students in Nepal. Besides, it deals with how high school students meaningfully engaged in participatory activities and consequently acknowledge the necessity for creative and active teaching learning activities. Despite various contextual realities and identities, the study explored few contextually appropriate project methods to transform teaching learning activities in science, health and population subjects in the community high schools. The qualitative method was applied in this research. Data/information was collected from classroom observation, in-depth interviews and informal conversations. The data from all the sources were analyzed by content-thematic and conversation analysis keeping in minds to explore the possibilities of project work of learning. The study found that students’ engagement in project activities as a part of study science, health and population subjects are positive and targeted towards learning competencies. Nevertheless, to apply this method, school head teachers, teachers and local authority related to education need to play vital roles for the effective implementation of project works in the community high schools in Nepal.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the perspectives of teacher educators and policy experts on ‘Green School Guidelines’ and ‘One Garden One School’ educational policies in Nepal. This paper also examines how these educational policies help to attain sustainable development goals through education for sustainable development. It aims to explore ways for effective implementation of these policies for activity-based science learning in the school garden. The qualitative method was used to explore the perspectives of science and environment teacher educators and central level policy experts. The data were collected from semi-structured in-depth interviews and informal conversations. The data from both these sources were analyzed thematically around the concepts of education for sustainable development, its implementation strategies and challenges, and life skills development among students through school gardening activities. The study found that teacher educators and policy experts positively view the Green School Guidelines and One Garden One School implementation strategies. Nevertheless, to achieve policy aims, local organization needs to play a major role in the effective implementation of green school guidelines. The findings from this study are expected to encourage the Nepal government, local governments, and community schools to bring central level policies into local practices.

Background The observation that many alien species become invasive despite low genetic diversity has long been considered the ‘genetic paradox’ in invasion biology. This paradox is often resolved through the temporal buildup genetic diversity through multiple introduction events. These temporal dynamics in genetic diversity are especially important for annual invasive plants that lack a persistent seed bank, for which population persistence is strongly dependent on consecutive seed ‘re-establishment’ in each growing season. Theory predicts that the number of seeds during re-establishment, and the levels of among-population gene flow can strongly affect recolonization dynamics, resulting in either an erosion or build-up of population genetic diversity through time. This study focuses on temporal changes in the population genetic structure of the annual invasive plant Impatiens glandulifera across Europe. We resampled 13 populations in 6 regions along a 1600 km long latitudinal gradient from northern France to central Norway after 5 years, and assessed population genetic diversity with 9 microsatellite markers. Results Our study suggests sufficiently high numbers of genetically diverse founders during population re-establishment, which prevent the erosion of local genetic diversity. We furthermore observe that I. glandulifera experiences significant among-population gene flow, gradually resulting in higher genetic diversity and lower overall genetic differentiation through time. Nonetheless, moderate founder effects concerning population genetic composition (allele frequencies) were evident, especially for smaller populations. Despite the initially low genetic diversity, this species seems to be successful at persisting across its invaded range, and will likely continue to build up higher genetic diversity at the local scale. © The Author(s). 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

This article explores the possibilities of the use of eco-san in the school garden in the Nepalese community school, focusing on transformative pedagogical impacts on the social learning environment of the school. In particular, the use of urine as a fertilizer in the school garden through eco-san and linking pedagogical alignment to provide a pleasant experience that has a positive impact on students’ meaningful engagement, social connections, and developing confidence. The main finding for the research question came from qualitative data collected from students, parents, and teachers through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations and informal conversations. This was supported by analyses of qualitative data on students’ learning, collaborative inquiry, teachers' and parents' engagement and perceptions on the use of human urine as fertilizer from eco-san, and school gardening activities. Results showed that the gardening program attributes valued most highly by the parents and teachers included increased students' meaningful engagement, opportunities for experiential and integrated learning through dialogue conferences, collaborative inquiry, and building social skills like cooperation, sharing and argumentation. Future research should explore whether effects persist over time and if and how changes in students’ positive attitude affect learning through school gardening activities applying human. Suggestions for applying results to future studies are provided.

Invasive exotic plants often grow fast, reproduce rapidly and display considerable phenotypic plasticity in their invasive range, which may be essential characteristics for successful invasion. However, it remains unclear whether these characteristics are already present in native populations (pre-adaptation hypothesis) or evolve after introduction (genetic shift hypothesis). To test these hypotheses we compared means and phenotypic plasticity of vegetative and reproductive traits between populations of Impatiens glandulifera collected from either the invasive (Norway) or native range (India). Seeds were sown and the resulting plants were exposed to different experimental environments in a glasshouse. We also tested whether trait means and reaction norms harbored genetic variation, as this may promote fitness in the novel environment. We did not find evidence that invasive populations of I. glandulifera grew more vigorously or produced more seeds than native populations. Phenotypic plasticity did not differ between the native and invasive range, except for the number of nodes which was more plastic in the invasive range. Genetic variation in the slope of reaction norms was absent, suggesting that the lack of change in phenotypic plasticity between native and invasive populations resulted from low genetic variation in phenotypic plasticity initially harbored by this species. Post-introduction evolution of traits thus probably did not boost the invasiveness of I. glandulifera. Instead, the species seems to be pre-adapted for invasion. We suggest that differences in habitat between the native and invasive range, more specifically the higher nutrient availability observed in the new environment, are the main factor driving the invasion of this species. Indeed, plants in the more nutrient-rich invasive range had greater seed mass, likely conferring a competitive advantage, while seed mass also responded strongly to nutrients in the glasshouse. Interactions between habitat productivity and herbivore defense may explain the lack of more vigorous growth in the new range. This is a submitted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier Ltd in Acta Oecologica, 18 December 2015.

Phenotypic trait variation plays a major role in the response of plants to global environmental change, particularly in species with low migration capabilities and recruitment success. However, little is known about the variation of functional traits within populations and about differences in this variation on larger spatial scales. In a first approach, we therefore related trait expression to climate and local environmental conditions, studying two temperate forest herbs, Milium effusum and Stachys sylvatica, along a similar to 1800-2500 km latitudinal gradient. Within each of 9-10 regions in six European countries, we collected data from six populations of each species and recorded several variables in each region (temperature, precipitation) and population (light availability, soil parameters). For each plant, we measured height, leaf area, specific leaf area, seed mass and the number of seeds and examined environmental effects on within-population trait variation as well as on trait means. Most importantly, trait variation differed both between and within populations. Species, however, differed in their response. Intrapopulation variation in Milium was consistently positively affected by higher mean temperatures and precipitation as well as by more fertile local soil conditions, suggesting that more productive conditions may select for larger phenotypic variation. In Stachys, particularly light availability positively influenced trait variation, whereas local soil conditions had no consistent effects. Generally, our study emphasises that intra-population variation may differ considerably across larger scales-due to phenotypic plasticity and/or underlying genetic diversity-possibly affecting species response to global environmental change.

This study explores the situation of basic level community school boy and girl students’ science and health learning through collaborative culture. Fifth, sixth and seventh-grade students (both boys and girls) took part in this study. As per the aim of this study, a set of questionnaire was developed and administered to the sampled students. Two hundred and fifty-eight students were selected from the sampled school using the census sampling technique. All the students were involved in collaborative learning activities such as building trust and open communication, establishing group interaction, respect diversity and sharing creative ideas based on the basic level science and health curriculum aiming at promoting inquiry learning through collaboration. A quantitative analysis involving the use of the Chi-square test at 0.05 level of significance, Likelihood ratio and Somer’s symmetric was conducted to see the association between the variables. The results showed that science and health collaborative learning activities by gender were not associated significantly. There was no statistically significant difference (α=0.05) between the variables studied. The findings showed a weak association with gender and collaborative science and health learning activities in the classrooms.

Nepalese orchids are made up of 458 taxa. Despite a ban on the collection and trade of all orchid species in Nepal, numerous anthropogenic factors are leading to the rapid loss of natural stands of germplasm. Biotechnology, specifically in vitro propagation, may be the only viable solution for preserving and reintroducing endangered germplasm back into the wild. Despite the large germplasm base, only tissue culture studies have been conducted, and most have focused almost exclusively on in vitro seed germination, the bulk of which have been conducted in the past few years. No other biotechnological advances have yet been made. This brief review provides a short synopsis of the advances made thus far in the in vitro propagation of Nepalese orchids.

The Science in the Learning Home (SciLH) program was designed to address two well-documented, inter-related educational problems observed in the Community High Schools in Nepal. The first relates to the achievement of students in science in Secondary Education Examination (SEE), which is below average (33 out of 75 i.e. 44%), and the second concerns the insufficiencies of the resources and instruction to discourse their traditional and livelihood requirements through school science learning activities. Funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Nepal, as a Small Research Development and Innovation Grants (SRDIG) to the faculty member, SciLH is a title set by the researcher to provide a new and innovative concept to learn science from the home and cultural practices. The tenth-grade high school students and the community people (parents) participated in the study. Livelihood practices and activities at the home link SciLH concept aligns with the school science curriculum and textbooks with that of cultural practices. This research article offers a framework to explore factors which support the accomplishment of the ethnically different student population and parents using the outline of ethno-perspective.

Aim Seed banks are central to the regeneration strategy of many plant species. Any factor altering seed bank density thus affects plant regeneration and population dynamics. Although seed banks are ...

Background: The importance of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) is increasingly acknowledged among plant ecologists. However, our understanding of what drives ITV between individual plants (ITVBI) at the population level is still limited. Contrasting theoretical hypotheses state that ITVBI can be either suppressed (stress-reduced plasticity hypothesis) or enhanced (stress-induced variability hypothesis) under high abiotic stress. Similarly, other hypotheses predict either suppressed (niche packing hypothesis) or enhanced ITVBI (individual variation hypothesis) under high niche packing in species rich communities. In this study we assess the relative effects of both abiotic and biotic niche effects on ITVBI of four functional traits (leaf area, specific leaf area, plant height and seed mass), for three herbaceous plant species across a 2300 km long gradient in Europe. The study species were the slow colonizing Anemone nemorosa, a species with intermediate colonization rates, Milium effusum, and the fast colonizing, non-native Impatiens glandulifera. Results: Climatic stress consistently increased ITVBI across species and traits. Soil nutrient stress, on the other hand, reduced ITVBI for A. nemorosa and I. glandulifera, but had a reversed effect for M. effusum. We furthermore observed a reversed effect of high niche packing on ITVBI for the fast colonizing non-native I. glandulifera (increased ITVBI), as compared to the slow colonizing native A. nemorosa and M. effusum (reduced ITVBI). Additionally, ITVBI in the fast colonizing species tended to be highest for the vegetative traits plant height and leaf area, but lowest for the measured generative trait seed mass. Conclusions: This study shows that stress can both reduce and increase ITVBI, seemingly supporting both the stress-reduced plasticity and stress-induced variability hypotheses. Similarly, niche packing effects on ITVBI supported both the niche packing hypothesis and the individual variation hypothesis. These results clearly illustrates the importance of simultaneously evaluating both abiotic and biotic factors on ITVBI. This study adds to the growing realization that within-population trait variation should not be ignored and can provide valuable ecological insights. © The Author(s) 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Aim This study explores the relationship between orchid species richness along elevational gradients in the central and eastern Himalaya. Specifically, we aimed to test predictions of maximum richness at different elevational levels for orchid species geographically restricted to central and eastern Himalaya (endemics), and total orchid richness, including different life forms. We then compared and assessed climatic factors together with area as causal explanations for the observed patterns. Location Nepal (100–5200 m a.s.l.), Bhutan (100–5200 m a.s.l.), and adjacent regions of India, i.e. Sikkim and Darjeeling. Methods We used published data on the distribution of orchids to interpolate presence between maximum and minimum recorded elevations in 100-m elevational zones. These patterns were compared with previously published patterns for other plant groups, which were derived in the same way. Descriptive regressions with metres above sea level (m a.s.l.) as the independent variable were performed using nonparametric generalized additive models (GAMs), whereas tests of the diversity models were carried out using parametric generalized linear models (GLMs). Results A hump-shaped relationship between orchid species richness and elevation was observed in Nepal and Bhutan, with maximum richness at 1600 m a.s.l. corresponding to c. 16 °C mean annual temperature. The richness of orchid species that are endemic to central and eastern Himalaya showed a bimodal pattern. Richness of endemic epiphytes peaked at elevation zones similar to those for total richness, but the peak in numbers of endemic terrestrial species occurred at a higher elevation. Main conclusions This study shows that climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) provide a good potential explanation for orchid species richness along the Himalayan elevational gradient, even when the effect of area is considered. The principal elevational peak in richness of central and eastern Himalayan endemics was consistent with the peak in total orchid richness, but maximum terrestrial endemic richness occurred at higher elevations.

This article examines hands-on activities based on improvisation of low cost and no cost materials that have direct and indirect impacts on critical thinking practices in secondary science classrooms in Nepal. It also tries to explore the science teachers’ activities for the development of critical thinking practices in chemistry for the secondary school students. Meanwhile, the collaborative and the socio‐cultural theoretical dimensions have been taken as the conceptual bases for this study. This study has highlighted the major conceptual and methodological issues in identifying, assessing and exploring critical thinking as well as the implication of chemistry education for the exploration of children's creative and critical thinking. Based on the qualitative research approach, this study used classroom observation and an interview with the students as the tools to pursue the research objectives. There is a great role of hands-on activities to foster the critical thinking in chemistry in an informal class setting.Journal of Advanced College of Engineering and Management, Vol. 3, 2017, Page: 31-39

The present paper is an attempt to assess the skills for school gardening for inquiry-based science learning of fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade basic level students of public schools. To achieve this aim, a set of questionnaires was developed to be administered to basic level students. A sample of 404 (N=388) were selected from one action and four reference schools to take part in the present study located in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts of the Terai region of Nepal. Students from all the selected schools participated in school gardening activities as part of their science curriculum aiming at motivating inquiry-based science teaching and learning. A quantitative analysis involving the use of frequency, Chi-square test at 0.05 level of significance and phi was conducted to see the association between the variables: religion, caste, and language and gardening skills. Weighted percentages were calculated to examine the gardening skills for experiencing inquiry-based science learning. The results showed that school gardening skills were performed better (94.4%) by students belonging to Brahmin/Chhetri Hindu background than the others. The findings also showed a weak association between religious and caste/ethnicity backgrounds of the students and gardening skills. There was no statistically significant difference (α=0.05) between gardening skills of students and the religion they follow, either. Gardening enthusiasm with basic skills varies among students with different basic demographic background of students.

Background Invasive species can be a major threat to native biodiversity and the number of invasive plant species is increasing across the globe. Population genetic studies of invasive species can provide key insights into their invasion history and ensuing evolution, but also for their control. Here we genetically characterise populations of Impatiens glandulifera, an invasive plant in Europe that can have a major impact on native plant communities. We compared populations from the species’ native range in Kashmir, India, to those in its invaded range, along a latitudinal gradient in Europe. For comparison, the results from 39 other studies of genetic diversity in invasive species were collated. Results Our results suggest that I. glandulifera was established in the wild in Europe at least twice, from an area outside of our Kashmir study area. Our results further revealed that the genetic diversity in invasive populations of I. glandulifera is unusually low compared to native populations, in particular when compared to other invasive species. Genetic drift rather than mutation seems to have played a role in differentiating populations in Europe. We find evidence of limitations to local gene flow after introduction to Europe, but somewhat less restrictions in the native range. I. glandulifera populations with significant inbreeding were only found in the species’ native range and invasive species in general showed no increase in inbreeding upon leaving their native ranges. In Europe we detect cases of migration between distantly located populations. Human activities therefore seem to, at least partially, have facilitated not only introductions, but also further spread of I. glandulifera across Europe. Conclusions Although multiple introductions will facilitate the retention of genetic diversity in invasive ranges, widespread invasive species can remain genetically relatively invariant also after multiple introductions. Phenotypic plasticity may therefore be an important component of the successful spread of Impatiens glandulifera across Europe. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Spiranthes spiralis is newly recorded from the Nepal Himalaya. A detailed description and illustration is provided.

This paper aims to explore distribution pattern of orchids used for medicinal purpose and their conservation aspect. We compiled information on 82 species of orchids which are used as herbal medicine. Maximum richness of medicinal orchids was observed at an elevation of 1700 msl but, the maximum numbers of protected areas are located at an elevation of 3000 to 3500 msl. There is a negative correlation between number of protected areas and medicinal orchid species richness mentioning that the protected areas are less synchronized with medicinal orchids of Nepal.DOI: 10.3126/on.v8i1.4315

The indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants is gaining recognition worldwide because of its support in discovery of new medicines and its importance for proper conservation of biodiversity. Present study aims to explore the ethnobotanical information on medicinal plants used by Tharu community of Pahhoha VDC of Rupandehi district. The study was conducted during different periods of the year 2007. Informations on plant and plant parts uses were collected interviewing key informants using semi-structured open-ended questionnaire. Altogether 45 different plant species of plants belonging to 31 families and 42 genera were documented and majority of them are trees. In terms of plant and plant parts use, seed or fruits and leaf are in top priorities. These plants are used to treat different ailments ranging from gastro-intestinal to headache and fever, respiratory tract related problems to dermatological problems, snake bite to ophthalmic and cuts and wounds. Easy access to modern medicines and less recognition of traditional healers are the main causes leading to decrease in interest of young generation in the use of traditional medicinal practices. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Medicinal plants; Parroha VDC; Tharu. DOI: 10.3126/sw.v7i7.3832 Scientific World Vol.7(7) 2009 pp.80-84

Present study aims to explore forest composition, fuelwood harvest and regeneration status in two community forests of central Nepal. We carried out our study in different periods of 2007 and 2008. Household surveys were conducted to find the condition of fuelwood harvest and people dependency on community forest. Community forests of Nawalparasi districts are dominated by Shorea robusta whereas community forests of Syanja district are dominated by Castanopsis indica and Schima wallichii with highest IVI value. Percapita fuelwood consumption and domestic animals are higher in Nawalparasi district than in Syanja district. Grasses are the main source of fodder in Nawalparasi district whereas trees in Syanja district. Farmland is the main source for fodder in both the districts but even higher in Syanja district. For fuelwood people depend on forest than the farmland. Dominant tree species in Patapati Lulpani Community Forest (PLCF) showed reverse J-shaped size class distribution indicating sustainable regeneration whereas dominant tree species in Gamtam Community Forest (GCF), Dhuseri Community Forest (DCF) and Bhedawari Community Forest (BCF) showed poor regeneration status. Key words: Community forest; Forest composition; Fuelwood harvest; Regeneration. DOI: 10.3126/sw.v7i7.3826 Scientific World Vol.7(7) 2009 pp.53-58

This study explores patterns of medicinal plant species richness along an elevational gradient in Nepal and the effectiveness of existing protected areas for their conservation. We used published data on the distribution of medicinal plants. The number of medicinal plants and the number of protected areas present in each 100 m elevation band were collated by interpolation. We tested the number of protected areas and the number of species as the response variables against elevation as a predictor variable. To explain the relationship between the total medicinal plant richness and their different life forms with elevation and protected areas, we used generalized additive models (GAMs) and scatter plots. The elevational distribution of medicinal plants as a whole and disaggregated into different life forms revealed hump-shaped patterns. The maximum richness of medicinal plants was found at an elevation of 1100 m a.s.l. but the maximum numbers of protected areas were found at elevations between 3000-3500 m a.s.l. There was negative correlation between the altitudinal distribution of protected areas and medicinal plants in Nepal. This study suggests that the protected areas of Nepal were less concentrated where medicinal plants diversity was rich. Key words: Elevation gradient, generalized additive model, medicinal plants, species richness doi: 10.3126/banko.v19i1.2178 Banko Janakari, Vol. 19, No. 1, 16-22