A tribute to Pralad B Yonzon

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.7110 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.33

The Himalayan wanderer: Conservationist, scholar and friend

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.7112 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.35

Dr Pralad Yonzon: Guru of field methodology

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.7111 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.34

Pralad Yonzon, colleague, friend, conservationist, student of Red Panda

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.7109 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.32-33

Dr Pralad Yonzon (1951–2011): In memoriam

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.7108 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.31-32

Trematode cercariae infections in freshwater snails of Chitwan district, central Nepal

Because Nepal has been virtually unexplored with respect to its trematode fauna, we sampled freshwater snails from grazing swamps, lakes, rivers, swamp forests, and temporary ponds in the Chitwan district of central Nepal between July and October 2008. Altogether we screened 1,448 individuals of nine freshwater snail species (Bellamya bengalensis, Gabbia orcula, Gyraulus euphraticus, Indoplanorbis exustus, Lymnaea luteola, Melanoides tuberculata, Pila globosa, Thiara granifera and Thiara lineata) for shedding cercariae. A total of 4.3% (N=62) infected snails were found, distributed among the snail species as follows (B. bengalensis - 1, G. orcula - 11, G. euphraticus - 8, I. exustus - 39, L. luteola - 2 and T. granifera - 1). Collectively, six morphologically distinguishable types of trematode cercariae were found: amphistomes, brevifurcate-apharyngeate (likely mammalian schistosomes), clinostome, gymnocephalus (likely fasciolid), longifurcate-pharyngeate and xiphidiocercaria. I. exustus had the highest prevalence of trematode infection, and harbored all the noted cercarial types except gymnocephalus cercariae. One double infection (xiphidiocercaria and longifurcate-pharyngeate cercaria) was found in this snail. Amphistome cercariae were common in G. euphraticus, G. orcula, and I. exustus. The highest prevalence of infection (38.3%) was recorded among snails collected from temporary ponds.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.2183 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.9-14

A remote sensing-based approach for water accounting in the East Rapti River Basin, Nepal

Accurate estimates of evapotranspiration across different land uses are a major challenge in the process of understanding water availability and uses in a river basin. This study demonstrated a remote sensing-based procedure for accurately generating evaporative depletion and runoff in mountainous areas using Landsat ETM+ images combined with standard hydro-meteorological data. The data was used as a key input into the International Water Management Institute (IWMI)’s water accounting procedure to understand how water is now used, and opportunities for improvements in the future. We found a higher annual actual evapotranspiration from the riparian forest than from irrigated agriculture in the East Rapti River basin of Nepal. Another important finding of our study is that simple rainfall surplus can be a good predictor of river flow at an ungagged site of the East Rapti River basin. The water accounting analysis revealed that there is the potential for further development of water resources in the East Rapti River basin as only 59% of the total available water is depleted. A critical analysis of social and ecological flow requirements downstream is necessary before any development of water resources upstream. This study successfully demonstrated that the key inputs required for evaluating and monitoring the overall water resources conditions in a mountainous river basin can be computed from satellite data with a minimal support from ground information.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.5785 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.15-30

How best to support livelihoods of blacksmiths with minimum impact on forest products

NoneDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v7i9.2338 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.7 Issue 9 2011 pp.7-8

Optimization of RAPD-PCR conditions for the study of genetic diversity in Nepal’s Swertia chirayita (Roxb. Ex Fleming) H. Karst

Of the 30 species (including five varieties) of the genus Swertia in Nepal, nine have been reported to possess medicinal properties. Among these, S. chirayita is the most valuable species, with high demand in domestic and international markets. Nepal’s S. chirayita and related species are being recklessly exploited for commercial purposes. Two problems that have emerged with this lucrative market are (a) adulteration and fraudulent labeling of S. chirayita, and (b) depletion of S. chirayita and allied species from their natural habitats. To address the problem of adulteration and conservation, we studied molecular genetic diversity in S. chirayita populations and developed a molecular diagnostic tool for the purposes of authentication. We studied intra-specific genetic diversity in S. chirayita using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. As a preliminary step, we identified optimal RAPD-PCR reaction and cycling conditions by varying PCR reaction parameters such as concentration of template DNA, MgCl2, dNTPs, primer, Taq DNA polymerase and RAPD-PCR programs. The optimized PCR reaction and cycling conditions were then used in subsequent RAPD profiling experiments for the study of genetic diversity within S. chirayita populations from various geographical locations. Genetic diversity characterization of S. chirayita populations at the molecular level would furnish information with significant applications in the conservation and sustainable utilization of S. chirayita and its allied species in Nepal. Key words: Polymerase Chain Reaction, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA, DNA fingerprinting, genetic diversity DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v6i8.2699 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.6 Issue 8 2010 pp.35-40

Regeneration of Pinus wallichiana AB Jackson in a trans-Himalayan dry valley of north-central Nepal

We studied the elevational pattern of forest composition and regeneration of the subalpine conifer tree species Pinus wallichiana in Manang, a trans-Himalayan dry valley in north-central Nepal. Thirty-five quadrats (10 m × 10 m) were laid between 3300 and 4000 masl on both north- and south-facing slopes. We measured diameter at breast height (DBH) of each mature individual of all tree species (DBH ≥10 cm), and recorded the number of seedlings (DBH <10 cm, height <30 cm) and saplings (DBH <10 cm, height >30 cm). We also measured soil moisture and soil pH, estimated canopy cover, and recorded slope and altitude in each quadrat. For all species together and for several species individually, tree density, seedling density, sapling density and tree basal area were found to decrease with elevation on both north and south aspects. This trend is largely explained by the progressively harsher environment at higher elevations. The north-facing slopes in our study area have denser forests than the south-facing slopes, the density of all size classes (seedling, sapling and mature plants) and basal area being greater on the northern aspects. These aspect-wide differences are attributable to the stark difference in soil moisture between northern and southern aspects, which is in turn due to the difference in insolation. Irrespective of elevation and aspect, all the forests studied are regenerating, as indicated by inverse J-shaped density-diameter curves. The elevational pattern of seedling and sapling abundance is explained only by elevation. Whereas other variables (e.g., canopy) are considered to have an important influence on seed germination and seedling establishment, they turn out not to be significant predictors of density of seedlings and saplings. This failure to identify a relationship is probably due to our use of non-parametric test (tree regression analysis) that we used to establish the relationship between density and its potential explanatory variables or due to our selection of 1 standard error rule yielding sub-optimal models for regression trees. Key words: density-diameter curve; regeneration; seedling; sapling; altitude; canopy; Manang Valley DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjs.v6i8.1798 Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol.6 Issue 8 2010 pp.19-26