Pankaj: It popped up because i was searching for ecology in our forum.... and I asked some questions ...
did you read those questions? do you have answers to those? or any body else? we have 1700+ members, calling all members for those questions .... please respond, all... thanks usha di ========== On Dec 16, 7:21 am, Pankaj Kumar <sahanipan...@gmail.com> wrote: > Today a very old post by Prasad popped up on my screen through > efloraofindia so I felt like sharing my thoughts on this matter. > His topic was "LICHEN AS BIOINDICATOR > -http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix/browse_thread/thread/3a4..."; > > Just wanted to share this with all..For me what is a good indicator of > a habitat's health? > Find a plant which depends on more than one plant for its survival. > For example, Orchids. They need a particular mycorrhiza to help them > germinate whether its terrestrial or epiphytic and then a particular > host on which they prefer to live if they are epiphytic. > Lichens as suggested by you are a good example too. But according to > my perception, the best examples are mycoheterotrophic plants (earlier > known as saprophytes) are the best examples for monitoring health of a > terrestrial ecosystem. If the concerned plant is an Orchid then they > need atleast three or more associates. FIRST, a MYCORRHIZA which will > help the seed in germination. SECOND, another MYCORRHIZA that will > help it make connection with a host tree or shrub or herb to extract > its food material. THIRD is the plant from which it will extract its > food. So here FOUR different biological entities are envolved for the > survival of this orchid. Please rememebr I am not counting those > insects which will help in pollination of the orchid and at the same > time i am not counting those organisms which will help in pollination > (if required) of the host trees and also in fruit and seed dispersal. > Best wishes....Pankaj > -- > ********************************************************************** > "Taxonomists getting Extinct and Species Data Deficient !!" > > Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) > Conservation Officer > > Office: > Flora Conservation Department > Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) Corporation > Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. > > Residence: > 36c, Ng Tung Chai, Lam Tseun > Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. > > email: pku...@kbfg.org > sahanipan...@gmail.com > pankajsah...@rediffmail.com > Phone: +852 2483 7128 (office - 8:30am to 5:30pm) > +852 9436 6251 (mobile) > > PERCEPTION.jpg > 129KViewDownload
