-- With regards, J. M. Garg ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: D.S Rawat <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 22 Aug, 2021, 9:24 pm Subject: Re: [itpmods:15944] Fwd: What is the secret behind so many endemic species in Kerala ? To: itpmods <[email protected]> Cc: J.M. Garg <[email protected]>
Garg Ji I really appreciate your knowledge on Indian flora and its distribution. It was a fine and apt observation based inquiry on endemism in flora of Kerala. See the number of taxa (mainly species) endemic to different states of India based on the document by Botanical Survey of India (*Endemic Vascular Plants of India* by Singh *et al*. 2015) below: *State* *Narrow endemic Taxa (No)* *State* *Narrow endemic Taxa (No)* *Tamil Nadu * *410* *Himachal Pradesh* *28* *Kerala** (38,683 km2) * *1 species/108 km2* *357* *Uttar Pradesh* *26* *Maharashtra * *278* *West Bengal * *23* *Andaman Islands * *201* *Odisha* *20* *Arunachal Pradesh * *183* *Mizoram* *16* *Sikkim** (8586 km2) 1sp/54km2* *160* *Goa* *14* *Meghalaya * *134* *Rajasthan* *14* *Karnataka * *130* *Madhya Pradesh* *12* *Assam * *87* *Bihar* *6* *Jammu & Kashmir * *82* *Gujarat* *6* *Uttarakhand * *81* *Jharkhand* *3* *Nicobar Islands * *77* *Chattisgarh* 1 *Andhra Pradesh (undivided) * *64* *Punjab* 1 *Manipur * *45* *Tripura* 1 *Nagaland * *35* Kerala state is located very close to the equator and lies in a tropical zone (zone located between 23.50 north and south of equator) which is considered the richest zone for biodiversity. It is believed that in tropical zones life originated on earth and had maximum time to evolve and diversify with less catastrophic natural disturbances as compared to subtropical, temperate or arctic zones on earth. Here the temperature remains similar throughout the year so it is not a seasonal abundance of plants (as we see in subtropical or temperate zones where high diversity of plants can be seen in summer & rainy season), rather plants flourish throughout the year. In addition, tropics receive a higher amount of solar radiation which is the energy pool driving life on earth. More energy available leads to more productivity and more diversity. A large part of international biodiversity hot-spot “Western Ghats” lies in Kerala where we have a range of mountains clothed with rainforests and blessed with high rainfall. Wherever we have mountains, due to great variability of microhabitats, the diversity of life is high. The species which evolved in tropics were not able to spread in adjacent subtropics due to lack of their climatic requirements in subtropics. The species which evolved in a specific set of microhabitats in tropical mountains remained there as such microhabitats were not available in subtropical mountains. However, the answer is not so simple and phytogeographers (scientists who study distribution of plants) or ecologists have proposed many theories for richness of biodiversity in world tropics. This is a useful reading- https://www.ecologycenter.us/tropical-forests/theories-to-explain-high-diversity-in-the-tropics.html In my opinion (off-course with over-simplification) being located in the tropics, having Western Ghat mountains, a lot of rainfall throughout the year and ample exploratory work Kerala has a high number of species and endemic elements. New species described may get merged into older species with revisionary works but still there will be a large number of species and endemics in flora of Kerala as compared to many Indian states. In India, as per the information in the above table, Sikkim with just 8586 km2 area has high endemisms- one endemic species for every 54 km2 while Kerala has one endemic species for every 108 km2. The last word- answer is not simple and there are many known (and also unknown) reasons behind high diversity and endemism in Kerala. DSRawat, Pantnagar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr D.S. Rawat Department of Biological Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar-263 145 Uttarakhand, INDIA *eflorapantnagar* <https://sites.google.com/site/eflorapantnagar/home> displaying wild flora of Pantnagar On Sun, Aug 22, 2021 at 8:39 PM Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > For me things are not that straightforward, comparing new species with > endemics. A newly described species over a period of time may be discovered > in neighbouring areas also, or merged with already known species from > surrounding areas, it is only that author first describes it from a > particular region. An endemic on the other hand may have arisen recently > (through mutations, or crossing followed by duplication of chromosomes, > since hybrids of most diploid species are sterile and perish very soon, > unless maintained by vegetative means) and did not get get enough time to > spread to similar surrounding areas (neoendemics), or widely spread once > but getting restricted due to shrinking of their habitats > (Palaeoendemics). > > > > > Dr. Gurcharan Singh > Retired Associate Professor > SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 > Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. > https://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ > > > On Sun, Aug 22, 2021 at 8:10 PM Tapas Chakrabarty <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> The amount of complicated montane forest ecosystems are probably higher >> there and they receive more rains also...Some other climatic and other >> factors may be responsible for this such as extensive explorations. >> However, some recent mergers suggest that the actual number of taxa might >> be somewhat inflated! >> Thanking you. >> Tapas. >> >> On Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 20:00 J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Thanks, Tapas ji, >>> Your are most experienced among us. What do you think? >>> -- >>> With regards, >>> J. M. Garg >>> >>> On Sun, 22 Aug, 2021, 5:08 pm Tapas Chakrabarty, <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Enjoying the discussion! >>>> >>>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2021, 14:20 Pankaj Kumar, <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Please also remember that this issue is not just in Indian plants. I >>>>> see more in Chinese plants actually !!! >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2021 at 16:43, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, Pankaj ji. >>>>>> I also think that is much more important. >>>>>> Revisionary studies with deep study of a genus with thousands of >>>>>> specimens and hundreds of original literatures/ publications, are much >>>>>> more >>>>>> important. >>>>>> It may certainly involve many many years of ones' productive life. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2021 at 14:05, Pankaj Kumar <[email protected]> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> In the past 10 years in Hong Kong, I have merged around 35 new and >>>>>>> old species names into existing ones. Imagine, so much work to do. I >>>>>>> already have a new list for my next publication. Achievement of a >>>>>>> taxonomist is not just publishing new species but also correcting the >>>>>>> existing ones. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2021 at 16:30, Dr E S Santhosh Kumar < >>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Yes GargJi, this is what I too felt nowadays 🤣 >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 13:10 J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I somehow have the feeling that only one out of the 10 species >>>>>>>>> published currently, may stand the scrutiny of time and remain as a >>>>>>>>> valid >>>>>>>>> species and not relegated as a synonym. >>>>>>>>> I do not know how others feel about it. Hard core taxonomists may >>>>>>>>> give a better estimate. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2021 at 13:03, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thanks a lot, Santhosh ji. >>>>>>>>>> You have explained the things so well. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Sun, 22 Aug 2021 at 13:00, Dr E S Santhosh Kumar < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Dear friends, >>>>>>>>>>> The question " What is the secret behind so many endemic species >>>>>>>>>>> in Kerala? " raised by Gargji has several answers. The first reason >>>>>>>>>>> has >>>>>>>>>>> been very well explained by SanthanJi. Secondly, the flora of >>>>>>>>>>> Kerala has >>>>>>>>>>> been well explored and documented and every part of the state has >>>>>>>>>>> been >>>>>>>>>>> thoroughly explored and the important findings were published in >>>>>>>>>>> time. >>>>>>>>>>> There are certain exceptions that a few new gen botanists >>>>>>>>>>> described the >>>>>>>>>>> already known species in many foreign journals as new species >>>>>>>>>>> again. Sadly >>>>>>>>>>> in several cases the reviewers never known about it. In the recent >>>>>>>>>>> climatic >>>>>>>>>>> change scenario, several ephemerals become annuals or biennials or >>>>>>>>>>> even >>>>>>>>>>> perennials through several perennating mechanism. Such species often >>>>>>>>>>> mistakenly described new during recent times from Kerala. Genera >>>>>>>>>>> such as >>>>>>>>>>> Impatiens, Sonerila, Strobilanthes etc are having several species >>>>>>>>>>> grow >>>>>>>>>>> together in a biome often have a chance of exchange genes by >>>>>>>>>>> interbreeding >>>>>>>>>>> between them. The F1 generation often having characters of both >>>>>>>>>>> parents and >>>>>>>>>>> also possessing certain unique characters of themselves. It is >>>>>>>>>>> called >>>>>>>>>>> Nothospecies. Such characters never having a chance of continue over >>>>>>>>>>> generations. Some of the new gen botanists described such taxa as >>>>>>>>>>> novelties >>>>>>>>>>> to science. There are several hidden agenda behind it. Certain >>>>>>>>>>> exotic >>>>>>>>>>> species naturalized in Kerala years ago show several ecological >>>>>>>>>>> traits also >>>>>>>>>>> described novelties recently. Unnecessary addition of fictitious >>>>>>>>>>> novelties increased the number of endemics in Kerala. I have >>>>>>>>>>> prepared a >>>>>>>>>>> list of such 'paper species', but wont like to publish in such a >>>>>>>>>>> public >>>>>>>>>>> forum. Let some experts in respective fields should tackle the >>>>>>>>>>> issue. >>>>>>>>>>> Thanks >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 22, 2021, 12:25 J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message --------- >>>>>>>>>>>> From: J.M. Garg <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>>>> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2021 at 11:25 >>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: What is the secret behind so many endemic species in >>>>>>>>>>>> Kerala ? >>>>>>>>>>>> To: efloraofindia <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Dear members, >>>>>>>>>>>> While browsing through Flora of Peninsular India, I >>>>>>>>>>>> generally found that Kerala is having so many endmics (including >>>>>>>>>>>> narrow >>>>>>>>>>>> endemics with distribution shown in only one place or district) >>>>>>>>>>>> compared to >>>>>>>>>>>> other states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka etc. >>>>>>>>>>>> What can be the reason behind it ? >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> With regards, >>>>>>>>>>>> J.M.Garg >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> With regards, >>>>>>>>>>>> J.M.Garg >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>>>>>>>>>>> it, send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BiuSFDuUnUNfXhf%3Dd7xtrbMTwVrGAKg-wNjUCKfnfMkQeZ%2BDQ%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BiuSFDuUnUNfXhf%3Dd7xtrbMTwVrGAKg-wNjUCKfnfMkQeZ%2BDQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>>>>>>>>>> it, send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BBiB1LEQ6CEUHZOShWZdqe8vrtArwpkzuQRAv95j27s5PJwqA%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BBiB1LEQ6CEUHZOShWZdqe8vrtArwpkzuQRAv95j27s5PJwqA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> With regards, >>>>>>>>>> J.M.Garg >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> With regards, >>>>>>>>> J.M.Garg >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>> Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BiuSFBxq%2BvJa2e66i5PcXSMkHg%3DjwvjfyRQaO175zsr%2BsfKRw%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BiuSFBxq%2BvJa2e66i5PcXSMkHg%3DjwvjfyRQaO175zsr%2BsfKRw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>> Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BBiB1JJbuAEKQ0xUJxSor7Nx1KrCAtWT00sY0kzKb-aarcMcw%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BBiB1JJbuAEKQ0xUJxSor7Nx1KrCAtWT00sY0kzKb-aarcMcw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> >>>>>>> *Pankaj Kumar*, Ph.D. >>>>>>> *IUCN-SSC Orchid Specialist Group Asia* >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 32, 2nd Floor, Shui Wo Tsuen, Lam Tsuen, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., China >>>>>>> >>>>>>> *email*: [email protected] >>>>>>> *Phone*: +852 9436 6251 (mobile) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CABpo8%3D0RXL3p%2B%2BxeOtc_5kT7rHHamxSB840DY8QiRmzWwsbG8A%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CABpo8%3D0RXL3p%2B%2BxeOtc_5kT7rHHamxSB840DY8QiRmzWwsbG8A%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>>> . >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> With regards, >>>>>> J.M.Garg >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BiuSFB1vTbA87TuPc3Sh0gCo_VCS1HHPOWVhmoNojAjs%2BNg%2Bg%40mail.gmail.com >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CA%2BiuSFB1vTbA87TuPc3Sh0gCo_VCS1HHPOWVhmoNojAjs%2BNg%2Bg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>>> *Pankaj Kumar*, Ph.D. >>>>> *IUCN-SSC Orchid Specialist Group Asia* >>>>> >>>>> 32, 2nd Floor, Shui Wo Tsuen, Lam Tsuen, >>>>> >>>>> Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong S.A.R., China >>>>> >>>>> *email*: [email protected] >>>>> *Phone*: +852 9436 6251 (mobile) >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CABpo8%3D3e7txahjT4nCCcczC%3DF_Uv4kpLQFCMyt7awAQ3VEz%3DCQ%40mail.gmail.com >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CABpo8%3D3e7txahjT4nCCcczC%3DF_Uv4kpLQFCMyt7awAQ3VEz%3DCQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "ITPmods" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CAKFjQVTjK-2eusXvgggKBDda4ebM7KTNcLJUQm%3DX8y0D9DSadw%40mail.gmail.com >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CAKFjQVTjK-2eusXvgggKBDda4ebM7KTNcLJUQm%3DX8y0D9DSadw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "ITPmods" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CAKFjQVSvSWByPzNP8b7Nq_82iaNAR1cZOJEFEYUx5w%3DgdmoG4w%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CAKFjQVSvSWByPzNP8b7Nq_82iaNAR1cZOJEFEYUx5w%3DgdmoG4w%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "ITPmods" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CAHiXKpUEyKYNM8ot9cN323FtKOcWBR54pm7zZw55qdj5R4-OeA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/itpmods/CAHiXKpUEyKYNM8ot9cN323FtKOcWBR54pm7zZw55qdj5R4-OeA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. 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