Climate change-induced range shift of the endemic epiphytic lichen Lobaria pindarensis in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiva DEVKOTA ◽  
Lyudmyla DYMYTROVA ◽  
Ram Prasad CHAUDHARY ◽  
Silke WERTH ◽  
Christoph SCHEIDEGGER
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Habitat Loss ◽  
Range Shift ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Forest Modelling ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Epiphytic Lichen ◽  
North East ◽  
Hindu Kush

AbstractThe Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region harbours some of the richest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet that are now facing substantial threats through changes in climate, land use and human population growth, with serious consequences for the biodiversity in this mountainous region. In this paper we evaluated the effects of climate change on the distribution of the tripartite epiphytic macrolichen Lobaria pindarensis, considered to be endemic to the Himalayas. To predict the current and future distribution of this species we applied the Random Forest modelling algorithm and climatic variables with a post-processing of projected distributions using a map of habitat types in the study region. We calibrated models based on 1397 species presences within an altitudinal range of 2036–4000 m and extrapolated them according to two IPCC scenarios of climate change (RCP 2·6 and RCP 8·5). Based on the results of ensemble modelling, two new localities where L. pindarensis might potentially occur were predicted. Our simulations predicted a range expansion of this epiphytic lichen to the north-east and to higher altitudes in response to climate change, although the species’ low dispersal abilities and the local availability of trees as a substratum will considerably limit latitudinal and altitudinal shifts. By contrast, assuming the species can migrate to previously unoccupied areas, and depending on different future climate scenarios, our models forecasted a habitat loss of 30–70% for L. pindarensis. The main reason for the simulated habitat loss is the expected increase in mean annual temperature (by 1·5–3·7 °C) and total annual precipitation (by 56–125 mm). Our results contribute further evidence for the high sensitivity of tripartite macrolichens, especially those from mountain areas, to climate change and particularly emphasize the vulnerability of L. pindarensis. Thus, we stress the need to develop and formulate conservation measures and strategies for the protection of this endemic species in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.

scholarly journals Trends of Hydroclimate Variables in the Upper Huai River Basin: Implications of Managing Water Resource for Climate Change Mitigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Abel Girma ◽  
Denghua Yan ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
Xinshan Song ◽  
Tianlin Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Trend Detection ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Huai River Basin ◽  
Slope Test ◽  
Huai River ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Average Annual Precipitation

The present study attempted to investigate the trends of mean annual temperature, precipitation, and streamflow changes to determine their relationships in the upper Huai river basin. The Mann–Kendall (MK), Sen’s slope test estimator, and innovative trend detection (ф) (ITA) methods were used to detect the trends. According to the findings, average annual precipitation shows a descending trend (ф = −0.17) in most stations. An increasing trend was found only in Fuyang station (ф = 1.02). In all stations, the trends of mean annual temperature (ф = 0.36) were abruptly increased. During the past 57 years, the mean air temperature has considerably increased by 12°C/10a. The river streamflow showed a dramatic declining trend in all stations for the duration of the study period (1960–2016) (ф = −4.29). The climate variability in the study region affects the quantity of the streamflow. The river streamflow exhibits decreasing trends from 1965 onwards. The main possible reason for the declining stream flow in the study area is the declining amount of precipitation on some specific months due to the occurrence of climate change. The outcomes of this study could create awareness for the policymakers and members of the scientific community, informing them about the hydroclimatic evolutions across the study basin, and become an inordinate resource for advanced scientific research.

scholarly journals Household food security in the face of climate change in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region

Food Security ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abid Hussain ◽  
Golam Rasul ◽  
Bidhubhusan Mahapatra ◽  
Sabarnee Tuladhar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Hindu Kush ◽  
The Face

scholarly journals Moringa oleifera: A Plant Critical for Food Security, Nutraceutical Values and Climate Change Adaptation in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region: A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishwanath Prasad Yadav ◽  
Tirth Raj Ghimire
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Moringa Oleifera ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Organic Fertilizers ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Hindu Kush

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as miracle tree, has been suggested to be rich in its nutritional, pharmacological and immunological values in animals and humans globally. The tree is a promising option for farmers, especially in the rural areas in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region, for the sources of food and organic fertilizers and as the tools of climate change adaptation and mitigation. The purpose of the current review is to describe the nutraceutical and immunopharmacologic values of Moringa and its critical role in food security and climate change situation in the Himalayan countries including Nepal, India, Pakistan, China and others. Besides, the article presents few recommendations to upgrade the practical and theoretical approaches of conservation of this plant in these countries.

scholarly journals The seismicity of central and north-east Himalayan region

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-281
Author(s):  
Susheel Kumar ◽  
Nitin Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Seismic Gap ◽  
Indus River ◽  
Seismic Belt ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Latitude Belt ◽  
North East ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Analysis

Abstract The Himalayan range extends upto 2400 km arc from Indus river valley in the west to Brahmaputra river valley in the east of India. Due to distinct geological structures of Himalayan seismic belt, seismicity in Himalaya is inhomogeneous. The inhomogeneity in seismicity is responsible for a number of seismic gaps in the Himalayan seismic belt. Thus Iin the present study, we proposed the study of spatial and temporal evolution of seismicity in entire central and north-east Himalayan region by using Gutenberg-Richter relationship. A detailed study on the behavior of natural seismicity in and around the seismic gap regions is carried out. The study region is segmented in four meridional regions (A) 80°E to 83.5°E, (B) 83.5°E to 87.5°E, (C) 87.5°E to 90°E and (D) 90°E to 98°E along with a fixed latitude belt. The homogeneous catalogue with 3 ≤ Mb ≤ 6.5 is used for the spatial and temporal analysis of seismicity in terms of b-value. It is find out that pockets of lower b-values are coinciding over and around stress accumulated regions. The observed low b-value before occurrence of the Nepal earthquake of 25th April, 2015 supports the argument of impending occurrence of moderate to large magnitude earthquake in Sikkim and north-east Himalayan region in future.

scholarly journals Indicator-Based Assessment of Resilience and Vulnerability in the Indian Himalayan Region: A Case Study on Socio-Economy under Different Scenarios

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6938
Author(s):  
Soumya Dasgupta ◽  
Ruchi Badola
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Good Representation ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Indian Himalayan Region ◽  
Socioeconomic Vulnerability ◽  
Change In Mean

The Indian Himalayan region is vulnerable to climate change because of its geospatial fragility. The present study gives a framework for the analysis of household and village-level resilience and vulnerability in the Bhagirathi Basin of Indian Western Himalayan region under different climate change scenarios. Villages were selected depending on different biophysical criteria to have a good representation of the study area. Household-level survey using the household economy approach was done in 646 households of 30 villages to collect information on indicators of natural, physical, financial and human capital assets and scores were generated for each category. A cumulative resilience score was obtained for each household and village. Future climate projections on mean annual temperature were also accessed under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 to estimate the change in mean temperature of the studied villages and probable change in agricultural production. The result shows that most of the villages of Tehri Garhwal are clustered in vulnerable classes in comparison to Uttarkashi villages and vulnerability scores of 11 and 8 villages changed under climate shock and future agricultural production change scenarios, respectively. The study has manifold implications on further research and policy implementation under socioeconomic vulnerability in the Himalayan region.

Using systematic review to analyse climate change impacts and adaptation associated with mountain permafrost

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Baral ◽  
Simon Allen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Sustainable Living ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Hindu Kush ◽  
Mountain Permafrost

<p>Mountain permafrost in Asia incorporates permafrost in the mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, Central Asia, Russia, Mongolia, Qinghai Tibetan plateau and other mountain ranges in China. Changes in climate variables in recent decades have considerably influenced permafrost in these regions and produced vivid impacts. While climate change impacts on mountain permafrost in the alpine regions of Europe, US and Canada are relatively well documented, records about mountain permafrost in Asia are mostly available for the Qinghai Tibetan plateau region and a few other mountain ranges in China. Considerably little information is available for the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and other mountain ranges in Asia. This systematic review analyses climate change related impacts and adaptation in mountain permafrost regions of Asia and attempts to evaluate the status of knowledge based on peer-reviewed journal publications. Impacts on hydrology, geomorphology and ecology were examined and resulting socioeconomic effects were considered. Additionally, ongoing and potential adaptation practices were explored. Warming climate has been found responsible for a gradual shift of the lower limit of mountain permafrost in the region. Increased probabilities of mass wasting events due to reduced slope stability, changes in composition and quality of fresh water resources, irregularities in seasonal flows, changes in permafrost ecosystems and contemporaneous need for the protection of engineered constructions were identified as some of the key impacts. There is a high necessity for increased understanding of mountain permafrost and well-designed response actions to evaluate processes and interactions influencing changes in the natural environment and subsequent effects on sustainable living conditions. Therefore, suitable risk management practices need to be designed with a proper consideration of the anticipated future dynamics of climate, economy and society.</p>

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