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Phytosociological and niche distribution study of Paris polyphylla smith, an important medicinal herb of Indian Himalayan region

Tropical Ecology volume 62, pages 163–173 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The prediction of species distribution is emerging as an important tool for conservation and rehabilitation planning of economically important plant species including medicinal and aromatic plants. Paris polyphylla, an economically and high valued medicinal plant of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is reported to lose its habitat area due to over-exploitation. In this study, attempts were made to understand vegetation pattern and find the potential distribution of Paris polyphylla, using MaxEnt in Pindar Valley (2000–4000 m ASL), Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand state, India. MaxEnt is a machine learning data mining technique that estimates a species distribution by finding the distribution of maximum entropy, based on existing knowledge. Phytosociological studies revealed the varying density of target species ranging from 0.50 ind/m2 (P1; 2000 m asl) to 2.00 ind/m2 (P6; 2500 m asl). Among the different geographical provinces of Uttarakhand, MaxEnt predicted wider potential distribution of P. polyphylla in temperate forest with an overall estimated area of 790.85 km2 as suitable. It was found that Precipitation, Elevation and Vegetation type were the most important variables for predicting the habitat suitability. Dwali (ca. 2500 m ASL) site was predicted as a potential distribution area of P. polyphylla with ground-based validation and further suggested this area as a potential reintroduction site. The results of this study can be used to plan protection and re-introduction of P. polyphylla in the region. MaxEnt approach is thus a very promising tool in species conservation planning and in predicting the potential distribution of other high valued medicinal plants of IHR.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to Dr. P.P. Dhyani, Former Director, GBPNIHE and Dr. R.S. Rawal, Director, GBPNIHE for providing necessary facilities. The authors wish to thank Dr. K.C Sekar, Scientist-E, GBPNIHE, Ms. Arti Joshi (GBPNIHE) and Rajkanti Kala (IIRS) for various types of help provided and continuous cooperation. Members of the Biotechnological Applications Group (GBPNIHE) are also thanked for their support and encouragement. Financial support from the Department of Biotechnology and, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India, New Delhi through a research grant No. BT/Env./BC/01/2010 and CSIR-RA Fellowship Award Letter No. 09/560 (0003) 2019, respectively is greatly acknowledged.

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Author notes

  1. Dhruval Bhavsar

    Present address: Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Punjab Agriculture University Campus, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, 263643, India

    Mohd. Tariq, S. K. Nandi & I. D. Bhatt

  2. Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, 250005, India

    Mohd. Tariq

  3. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indian Space Research Organization, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India

    Dhruval Bhavsar & Arijit Roy

  4. Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Bhimtal Campus, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, 263136, India

    Veena Pande

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Tariq, M., Nandi, S.K., Bhatt, I.D. et al. Phytosociological and niche distribution study of Paris polyphylla smith, an important medicinal herb of Indian Himalayan region. Trop Ecol 62, 163–173 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00125-2

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