Distribution mapping of five threatened medicinally important plant species of Arunachal Himalaya

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Keywords: Current distribution, Climatic factors, Eastern Himalaya, Geographic range, Potential habitat


Abstract


Eastern Himalaya, one of the major hubs of plant diversity, is home to numbers of rare, endangered, and threatened plant species in general. The present study aims to study five selected threatened plant species found in Arunachal Pradesh, India for its distribution and potential habitat identification. An extensive field survey was carried out in the various pockets of the state of Arunachal Pradesh from March 2020 to July 2022, collecting GPS locations of five selected threatened plants viz., Paris polyphylla, Coptis teeta, Gymnocladus assamicus, Taxus wallichiana, and Amentotaxus assamica. A machine learning approach was adopted for mapping the diversity and endemism of these species in the study area. A machine learning approach was adopted for predicting the potential distribution of the five threatened species and then the high potential areas were combined to create a priority conservation area for all the species together. A total of 505 individuals of the five species were found in 108 locations in four districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The highest number of individuals was recorded for the species C. teeta spread over 20 different locations and the lowest was recorded for G. assamicus (18 individuals) in only 8 locations. The current distribution of five selected threatened plants in Arunachal Pradesh reveals an overlap in the geographic range of these species. The mapping of the distribution of five different important plant species enabled us to know the overall diversity patterns of these selected plants and would be helpful in the formulations of appropriate conservation strategies.


Current distribution, Climatic factors, Eastern Himalaya, Geographic range, Potential habitat


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Acknowledgements


We sincerely acknowledge Member Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Biodiversity Board (APBB), and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, India for providing necessary permission to carry out this survey and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for providing financial support. We are also heartily thankful to the local field associates: Anoko Mega, China Umpo (Roing, Tiwari Gaon; Lower Dibang valley), D. K. Dinglaw, Rinchin Dorjee Thongdok, Dorjee Mijiji (Rupa, West Kameng), Nitam Saw, Jeensen, Dinesh Prasad, Betem Awailiang (Taflagam, Chaglagam; Anjaw), Jamba Tsering, Rinchin Nima (Dirang, West Kameng) for their helping hand during the field survey. The authors are thankful to the Head of the Department, Department of Botany, at Gauhati University for providing administrative support to carry out the research work.


Author Information


Sarma Kuladip
Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India