Traditional conservation practices, such as nature worship, have played an important role in protecting biodiversity in India. Sacred forests are well-preserved areas with high biodiversity. However, these forests vary in area and traditional significance, and hold special spiritual importance for people and communities. The present study focuses on investigating forest vegetation attributes (plant species richness and diversity, resource-use patterns, and medicinal plant diversity) of the Thal Kedar sacred forest, Pithoragarh, Western Himalaya, India. A total of 73 plant species (herbs 30, shrubs 19, and tree species 24) belonging to 63 genera and 42 families were documented. Quercus leucotricophora exhibited dominant tree species, followed by Rhododendron arboreum, and seedlings showed maximum density (2680 ind/ha), followed by tree (1200 ind/ha) and sapling (1060 ind/ha). Furthermore, 27 medicinal plants (herbs 15, shrubs 5, trees 7) belonging to 19 families, 16 fuelwood species (trees 15, shrubs 1), 15 wild edible fruit species (trees 7, shrubs 8), and 8 fodder species (trees 6, shrubs 2) were found. Outcomes of the present study were compared with the previous report (2005), and a significant (p<0.05) increase was found in tree density (4.35
Freshwater fishes are very sensitive to changes in their environment, especially in fragile ecosystems of the Himalayas in their reproductive patterns. This is a comparative study of reproductive biology of three sympatric snowtrout species, Schizothorax plagiostomus, S. esocinus and S. curvifrons of River Jhelum (lotic) and Dal Lake (lentic), Kashmir, during the period October 2023 to September 2025. To analyse gonadosomatic index (GSI), sex ratio, gonadal maturity stages, fecundity, egg diameter and length at first maturity, 793 specimens were examined. The three species showed unimodal spawning patterns with maximum GSI values in late spring and early summer, suggesting synchronised seasonal spawnings. There was a significant difference in reproductive investment (p < 0.05), with S. esocinus having the greatest mean fecundity, S. plagiostomus the next greatest, and S. curvifrons the lowest, but with larger ova. There is allometric reproductive scaling of fecundity with respect to total length and body weight. The reproductive allocation (GSI and fecundity) was slightly higher in the population from Dal Lake than in the population from River Jhelum, indicating a difference in reproductive allocation between the two sites. Dissolved oxygen and water temperatures revealed a strong positive correlation with reproductive traits, indicating the effect of habitat conditions on the reproductive success. The species-specific reproductive strategies observed can be an adaptive response to ecological variation and serve as a baseline for stock assessment, habitat conservation and sustainable fisheries management for Himalayan snowtrouts.
This study investigated how PEG-induced osmotic stress affects germination, growth, morphology, physio-biochemical traits, and stress index parameters in 14 foxtail millet genotypes during early seedling stages. Twenty-five qualitative parameters were analysed using multivariate techniques at a 20
Scirpophaga incertulas, commonly referred to as the yellow stem borer (YSB), is a notorious rice pest that has a detrimental impact on rice harvests worldwide. This insect, distinguishable by its yellow body, scaled wings, and elongated antenna. The goal was to observe the infestation pattern of YSB in the Purulia district, allowing for the adoption of a suitable management approach. This study was carried out on paddy variety MTU 7029 (Swarna), in three representative blocks [Purulia 1 block, Jhalda block (Jhalda 1 and Jhalda 2), and Arsha block] of Purulia district. The study used survey methodology that included visual observations and data collection from representative rice fields. The pest was found to be ubiquitous in the Purulia district without any considerable differences. Infestation levels varied from 3.88
This is a comprehensive study on foliar epidermal micromorphology of eight epiphytic asclepiads belonging to the genera Dischidia and Hoya. Significant variations were documented in foliar epidermal traits including types and distribution of stomata, epidermal cell numbers, anticlinal wall patterns, laticifers, epidermal papillae, and occurrences of oil droplets. The study reports the occurrence of anomocytic, isotricytic, and tetracytic types of stomata among the studied taxa. Highest Stomatal Index (SI) was recorded on the abaxial surface of Hoya verticillata (7.2
