Maling bamboo (Yushania maling) overdominance alters forest structure and composition in Khangchendzonga landscape, Eastern Himalaya.

The Khangchendzonga Landscape (KL), a part of 'Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot', is known for its unique biodiversity assemblage. In recent years, the KL is experiencing threats to biodiversity due to the biological overdominance of native Maling bamboo (Yushania maling). In the present study, we investigated the impacts of the overdominance of Y. maling on the forest composition of Singalila National Park (SNP), Eastern Himalaya, India. Elevational habitats 2400 to 3400 m asl were sampled by laying 69 (10 m × 10 m) forest plots including 51 bamboo plots and 18 non-bamboo plots. Bamboo plots showed significantly (p < 0.05) low species richness and density in both shrub and herb layers which further manifested the low seedling density. Generalized Additive Model (GAM) estimated a significant (p < 0.0001) decline in species richness and density with increasing bamboo density in SNP. Our study projects the overdominance of Y. maling has a significant negative impact on forest structure and composition. Therefore, management of invasiveness of Y. maling is essential through its optimized removal from the protected areas and utilization in making handicrafts, paper industries etc. to create ecological and economic benefits. Further long-term studies assessing the impacts of Y. maling overdominance on forest ecosystems and soil dynamics are recommended.

Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas.

Biocultural knowledge provides valuable insight into ecological processes, and can guide conservation practitioners in local contexts. In many regions, however, such knowledge is underutilized due to its often-fragmented record in disparate sources. In this article, we review and apply ethnobiological knowledge to biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas. Using Sikkim, India as a case study, we: (i) traced the history and trends of ethnobiological documentation; (ii) identified priority species and habitat types; and, (iii) analyzed within and among community differences pertaining to species use and management. Our results revealed that Sikkim is a biocultural hotspot, where six ethnic communities and 1128 species engage in biocultural relationships. Since the mid-1800s, the number of ethnobiological publications from Sikkim has exponentially increased; however, our results also indicate that much of this knowledge is both unwritten and partitioned within an aging, gendered, and caste or ethnic group-specific stratum of society. Reviewed species were primarily wild or wild cultivated, native to subtropical and temperate forests, and pend IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessment. Our results demonstrate the value of engaging local knowledge holders as active participants in conservation, and suggest the need for further ethnobiological research in the Eastern Himalayas. Our interdisciplinary approach, which included rank indices and geospatial modelling, can help integrate diverse datasets into evidence-based policy.

Effect of Processing and Storage Methods on the Nutritional, Anti-nutritional, and Anti-oxidant Properties of Paeonia emodi, Wall. ex. Royle.

Nutritional, anti-nutritional, and anti-mutagenic activities of the fresh and boiled Paeonia emodi leaves were analyzed. Significantly higher vitamin A (64.19 ± 0.18 mg/100 g), C (160.50 ± 1.85 mg/100 g), and E (1.25 ± 0.00 µg/g) contents were recorded in boiled as compared to fresh and dried juvenile leaves. Similarly, significantly higher protein content (329.63 ± 0.33 mg/100 g) was found in boiled budding leaves, carbohydrate content in fresh juvenile (0.353 ± 0.02) and mature leaves (0.353±0.10 mg/g) , methionine content (47.75 ± 0.09 mg/g) in dried budding stage leaves, and proline content (1.23 ± 0.12 µM/g) in dried mature leaves. Anti-nutritional attributes like phytic acid (250.17 ± 0.19 mg/100 g; p < 0.05) and total tannins (48.41 ± 0.09 mg/g) were significantly higher in dried and fresh budding leaves, respectively; however, trypsin inhibition activity (91.90 ± 0.34 %) was observed in dried juvenile leaves. Significantly higher 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity (71.13 ± 0.09 mM AAE/100 g) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity (3.39 ± 0.01 mM AAE/100 g) were recorded higher in dried budding leaves. On the other hand, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay (3.55 ± 0.017 mM AAE/100 g) and OH ions (1.69 ± 0.01 mM AAE/100 g) were significantly higher in boiled juvenile leaves and dried mature leaves, respectively. Anti-mutagenic activity of P. emodi extract revealed varying levels of protection against DNA damaging agents. The aqueous extract of P. emodi at budding leaves (500 µg dried) showed comparatively better protective activity as compared to other growth stages. Results of this investigation indicated that the species have nutritional and medicinal value and therefore can be a potential source for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.