Hi Friends,
I agree with Rashida ji.
It requires a long observations and scientific research for concluding the
effect Climate Change on Lantana spreading.
Now, as far as my knowledge
concerned (let me tell you I am not botanist or plant specialist) Lantana
invasions are associated with habitat
disturbance and readily grows well on nutrient barren soils but requires
open canopy for sunlight. For germination
its seed requires warm and humid conditions. Once established, the plants
are heat- and drought- tolerant. Further, shoots are
frost sensitive & growth is reduced
below 5˚C and roots do not accept
waterlogged conditions.
There are ample of references
supporting these characteristics.
With reference to Abu
Hills I could only state that it was introduced in 1890s as ornamental plant by
Princely family of Alwar in their garden. Mt Abu is
Eco-fragile zone notified as Eco-Sensitive Zone recently. The conditions
(habitat & climatic) were
worsened from late 1980s (as per my knowledge/ work on Abu Hills).
Meteorological
data are there to show the changes in rainfall pattern and temperature on Abu
Hills. The waterlogging
conditions were no more to see and forget about the extreme cold conditions on
Abu which were common for residents in the past (before 1990s).
Approx. 90 species of
Bryophytes were reported from Abu Hills. One has to find out what’s the number
in the present conditions? As far as my knowledge concerned, one could only
find around 40-50 species at present.
This could be the basis of your work to start up
to work in direction of climate change and invasions of Lantana on Abu Hills.
Still, I strongly favor the scientific studies are demand of time on Abu
Hills to conclude the reasons related to climate change.
RegardsSatya Prakash Mehra
--- On Mon, 2/8/10, Rashida Atthar <atthar.rash...@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Rashida Atthar <atthar.rash...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:43179] Any research on this among the group?
To: "Marianne de Nazareth" <mde.nazar...@gmail.com>
Cc: "Satya Prakash" <spme...@yahoo.com>, "indiantreepix"
<indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>
Date: Monday, 2 August, 2010, 1:40 PM
Hi Marianne,
Marianne ji if I understood correctly you want to know if there is spread of
Lantana due to climate change.? Commensensically, I would think such a
research would at a minimum take two to five years with intensive observations
pre and post Lantana plantations, carried out by an expert team. Only than
would some conclusions, that too relevant for that particular climate zone be
possible.( All scientists have not even agreed that there is climate change !!)
If I was in your place, I would attempt a compilation of all the studies done
so far by researchers and highlight the methods used and their findings, and
also their implementation if any. This would probably give some direction for
further studies and what needs to be done and how. Perhaps take local
observations of farmers and those who are knowledgeable about nature to make it
more representative.
regards,Rashida.
On Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 9:46 AM, Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Thank you so much for this. The second example will help me a lot.
However I still have the question to answer, is there a connection with the
spread of Lantana due to Climate Change?
regds,
Marianne
On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 6:47 PM, Satya Prakash <spme...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi,
Though research studies are needed at large on the impacts of invasive species
on local/ native flora but here you could find few examples to carry out work
on this aspect.
First, Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
We all know about the world heritage site wher Prosopis juliflora was dominant
invasive species along with Water Hyacinth. In 2007, KNP Forest Department
started uprooting of this invasive species. The earlier species are well
documented in the work of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai. Today
one could see the revival of native flora specially Salvadora & Acacia spp.
You can compare the flora before invasion of Prosopis juliflora, at the time of
P. juliflora and after its removal. Research work could be referenced in your
work which is readily available with KNP Forest Department &/or BNHS.
Second, Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirohi, Rajasthan, India
Here you could find the well documented literature on plantation of exotic
species specially Eucalyptus and Lantana. Though studies on impact of
plantation of these species are lacking but on the basis of the availability of
the herbs (which are mainly collected by local people from very past) could be
assessed.
Will give you one example of the impact - Species of Carrissa, Rosa and many
aquatic species of medicinal value were now no more to see on the table land of
the Abu Hills which were once common on this part of hills. Human settlements
are mainly on this table land. Further, expansion of the Lantana is taking
place through out the hills. Seeds of Lantana are dispersed by the droppings of
Bulbul (very common bird) and Sloth Bear (common mammal) in core areas of hills.
The aquatic bodies (pictures from archives) which were once full of local
vegetation are now either dried or even lost their existence. One could easily
see monoculture Eucalyptus in those aquatic bodies.
Regards
Satya Prakash Mehra
Advisor - RSNH & Manger - Project Boond
Rajasthan, India
--- On Sun, 1/8/10, Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Marianne de Nazareth <mde.nazar...@gmail.com>
Subject: [efloraofindia:43083] Any research on this among the group?
To: "indiantreepix" <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>
Date: Sunday, 1 August, 2010, 5:18 PM
Dear all,
"Invasive plants can affect community structure and
ecosystem processes in various ways. One of the ways in which an invasive
plant can impact ecosystem functioning is by disrupting native
plant-pollinator interactions,." says a researcher from Bangalore.
Recently I have seen a massive growth of an invasive plant Lantana camara in
Hoskote on the outskirts of Bangalore. Does any one in the group have any
research findings that can bind this explosion of the Lantana to Climate
Change. I am interested in working a story on this but I do not have scientific
proof to support this phenomenon.
regds,
Marianne
--
Fellow with UNFCCC, UNEP & Robert Bosch Stiftung
Former Asst Editor- The Deccan Herald
Freelance Journalist
Adjunct faculty St. Joseph's College & COMMITS
http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/
--
Fellow with UNFCCC, UNEP & Robert Bosch Stiftung
Former Asst Editor- The Deccan Herald
Freelance Journalist
Adjunct faculty St. Joseph's College & COMMITS
http://mariannedenazareth.blogspot.com/
