Farida Begum

Influence of slope aspect on soil physico-chemical and biological properties in the mid hills of central Nepal.

This study assessed the influence of slope aspect and land use on soil physio-chemical and biological properties (soil quality indicators) on contiguous south- and north-facing slopes of the mid hills in central Nepal, having the same climate, vegetation and parent material. In each aspect, two treatments (agriculture and forest) were chosen and four replicates taken for each treatment. Soil sample collection and microarthropod extraction was done according to the standard methodology: soil core samples (10 × 10 × 5 cm) and extraction with the modified Berlese–Tullgren funnel. The investigated soil variables were temperature, moisture, faunal abundance and diversity, organic matter, organic carbon, bulk density and pH. Except in a few cases, all considered soil properties showed significant differences between aspects and land use. Soils of the north-facing slope had higher SOC content, moisture, faunal abundance and diversity, and lower temperature and pH. Variations due to topographic aspect induced varied microclimates, causing differences in faunal abundance and diversity; soil moisture, temperature and organic matter trends affected soil fertility and ultimately soil quality. Further studies are required to clarify the complex interactions between soil properties (physio-chemical and biological), vegetation and slope aspect in Nepal, as well as to develop soil biological indicators as a tool to assist in sustainable land management.

Seasonal dynamics, slope aspect and land use effects on soil mesofauna density in the mid-hills of Nepal

This study addressed the integrated effects of season, slope aspect and land use on faunal population density, diversity and Soil Biological Quality (QBS-ar index) in the mid-hills of the central Nepal Himalaya. It also examined the relationship among these soil quality indicators. Faunal density and QBS-ar were significantly higher during the post-monsoon season when compared with the pre-monsoon season. Faunal population density during both the seasons was higher on the northern rather than southern slope aspects. Faunal density was significantly higher in the forest when compared with agricultural land in both the seasons. Soil moisture was positively correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC) and population density, but negatively correlated with soil temperature during the pre-monsoon period. In the post-monsoon season, bulk density was negatively correlated with QBS-ar and population density. Season, slope aspect and land use all had significant effects on the soil quality indicators. This study suggests that high SOC, moisture content and low bulk density lead to increases in population density of soil mesofauna and the QBS-ar index. Therefore, management practices that enhance SOC contents through plant residue retention on farm land, such as farmyard manure application, crop residue mulching and reduced tillage, could increase the numbers and diversity of soil organisms while improving the fertility and productivity of the land.

Variation in soil organic carbon stock in different land uses and altitudes in Bagrot Valley, Northern Karakoram

ABSTRACT Soil organic carbon tends to respond more sensitively to climate change and land use intensification in ecologically fragile and economically marginal regions of mountainous areas. This study aims to evaluate the soil organic carbon stock dynamic across various land uses at different altitudes in the Bagrot valley, Northern Karakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Soil samples from 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm depth were collected from three land uses: pasture, forest, and adjacently located arable land at different altitude (ranging from 2100–4163 m). The variables investigated were soil bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon concentration (SOC), soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) and pH. A significant variation in all tested variables were found across the land uses and altitudes. Likewise, soil under forest had significantly higher values of SOCS (59.35 Mg ha−1) than pasture (42.48 Mg ha−1) and arable land (23.63 Mg ha−1). Similarly, SOCS increased with increasing altitude and decreased with soil depth in all land uses. In addition, SOCS had a negative relationship with BD and pH. Overall results indicated that the land use intensification and climate change (increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation) were associated with declining SOCS. These results suggest restoration of degraded agricultural land to the forest, especially at higher altitude, and decrease in intensity of land use could increase SOCS in the study area as well as other similar mountainous regions.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY: A SPECIAL REFERENCE TO GILGIT-BALTISTAN OF PAKISTAN

T study was to determine if MaxEnt is useful for establishing the most suitable areas for the reintroduction of a wildlife species, the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). This method uses partial data (presence-only); thus, its reliability can be doubtful compared to models that use presence-absence data (general linearized model). This paper seeks to compare these models from their graphical representations (spatial correlation) instead of using the traditional comparisons of the statistics that they generate. We determined the potentiality of the territory via binomial logistic regression (GLM) and the graphical representation of the territory suitability with presence data only (MaxEnt). To compare both results, correlation analyses were performed. The most suitable areas for the species are similar although they were extended in GLM Model. In both cases, the variables of altitude, anthropogenic influence, and vegetation/stoniness are relevant for the presence of the species. The correlation analyses performed showed a strong relationship between both models. These results suggest that the use of the species’ presence-only distribution modelling employing MaxEnt is useful for defining the preferred locations of the species and can replace the absence-presence methods when information on the absence of the species is lacking.Climate Change is not a stationary phenomenon; it moves from time to time, it represents a major threat to mountainous biodiversity and to ecosystem integrity. The present study is an attempt to identify the current knowledge gap and the effects of climate change on mountainous biodiversity, a special reference to the Gilgit-Baltistan is briefly reviewed. Measuring the impact of climate change on mountain biodiversity is quite challenging, because climate change interacts with every phenomenon of ecosystem. The scale of this change is so large and very adverse so strongly connected to ecosystem services, and all communities who use natural resources. This study aims to provide the evidences on the basis of previous literature, in particular context to mountain biodiversity of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan have most fragile ecosystem and are more vulnerable to climate change. These mountains host variety of wild fauna and flora, with many endangered species of the world. There are still many gaps in our knowledge of literature we studied because very little research has been conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan about climate change particular to biodiversity. Recommendations are made for increased research efforts in future this including jointly monitoring programs, climate change models and ecological research. Understanding the impact of climate change particular to biodiversity of GB is very important for sustainable management of these natural resources. The Government organizations, NGOs and the research agencies must fill the knowledge gap, so that it will help them for policy making, which will be based on scientific findings and research based.M Zoanthid taxonomy is typically based on polyp structure and coenenchyme characteristics. Their morphological identification is still understudied. Zoanthids were seen to increase in the past decade and covered almost entire intertidal zone, however their diversity was unknown and extensive work was then carried out. The coastal area of entire Gujarat state was studied. Rocky intertidal zone was surveyed monthly and Zoanthids were recorded. Morphological diversity was studied for the colour of oral disc and the polyp structure and colony morphology. Colour card technique was utilized for Zoanthids, which proves to be an effective tool for the assessment of zoanthid and their colour morphs. 25 colour morphs of Zoanthus sansibaricus, 5 of Z. aff. sociatus, 5 of Z. vietnamensis, 2 of Z. kuroshio, 4 of Palythoa mutuki, 2 of P. heliodidscus, 3 of P. tuberculosa. Site wise distribution showed that Zoanthids from Marine National Park exhibited more of Fluorescent colour morphs and rest showed more of different colour patterns. Rocky intertidal zone of Sutrapada showed maximum diversity and Okha showed least diversity. Colony patterns taken as attributes for the study of diversity resulted in understanding the utilization of the substratum. Flat and bulbous colonies of Palythoa tuberculosa and stoloniferous colonies of Zoanthus spp. and Palythoa mutuki and P. heliodiscus were recorded. It was concluded that substratum played a major role in understanding the colony pattern and showed that there was species wise change in colony pattern. The paper will describe about the morphology of both the polyp and colony.M Zoanthid taxonomy is typically based on polyp structure and coenenchyme characteristics. Their morphological identification is still understudied. Zoanthids were seen to increase in the past decade and covered almost entire intertidal zone, however their diversity was unknown and extensive work was then carried out. The coastal area of entire Gujarat state was studied. Rocky intertidal zone was surveyed monthly and Zoanthids were recorded. Morphological diversity was studied for the colour of oral disc and the polyp structure and colony morphology. Colour card technique was utilized for Zoanthids, which proves to be an effective tool for the assessment of zoanthid and their colour morphs. 25 colour morphs of Zoanthus sansibaricus, 5 of Z. aff. sociatus, 5 of Z. vietnamensis, 2 of Z. kuroshio, 4 of Palythoa mutuki, 2 of P. heliodidscus, 3 of P. tuberculosa. Site wise distribution showed that Zoanthids from Marine National Park exhibited more of Fluorescent colour morphs and rest showed more of different colour patterns. Rocky intertidal zone of Sutrapada showed maximum diversity and Okha showed least diversity. Colony patterns taken as attributes for the study of diversity resulted in understanding the utilization of the substratum. Flat and bulbous colonies of Palythoa tuberculosa and stoloniferous colonies of Zoanthus spp. and Palythoa mutuki and P. heliodiscus were recorded. It was concluded that substratum played a major role in understanding the colony pattern and showed that there was species wise change in colony pattern. The paper will describe about the morphology of both the polyp and colony.