Exploring Paleogene Tibet's warm temperate environments through target enrichment and phylogenetic niche modelling of Himalayan spiny frogs (Paini, Dicroglossidae).

The Cenozoic topographic development of the Himalaya-Tibet orogen (HTO) substantially affected the paleoenvironment and biodiversity patterns of High Asia. However, concepts on the evolution and paleoenvironmental history of the HTO differ massively in timing, elevational increase and sequence of surface uplift of the different elements of the orogen. Using target enrichment of a large set of transcriptome-derived markers, ancestral range estimation and paleoclimatic niche modelling, we assess a recently proposed concept of a warm temperate paleo-Tibet in Asian spiny frogs of the tribe Paini and reconstruct their historical biogeography. That concept was previously developed in invertebrates. Because of their early evolutionary origin, low dispersal capacity, high degree of local endemism, and strict dependence on temperature and humidity, the cladogenesis of spiny frogs may echo the evolution of the HTO paleoenvironment. We show that diversification of main lineages occurred during the early to Mid-Miocene, while the evolution of alpine taxa started during the late Miocene/early Pliocene. Our distribution and niche modelling results indicate range shifts and niche stability that may explain the modern disjunct distributions of spiny frogs. They probably maintained their (sub)tropical or (warm)temperate preferences and moved out of the ancestral paleo-Tibetan area into the Himalaya as the climate shifted, as opposed to adapting in situ. Based on ancestral range estimation, we assume the existence of low-elevation, climatically suitable corridors across paleo-Tibet during the Miocene along the Kunlun, Qiangtang and/or Gangdese Shan. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and processes of faunal evolution in the HTO.

Phylogenomic analyses sheds new light on the phylogeny and diversification of Corydalis DC. in Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains and adjacent regions.

The Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains (HHM), a renowned biodiversity hotspot of the world, harbors the most extensive habitats for alpine plants with extraordinary high levels of endemism. Although the general evolution pattern has been elucidated, the underlying processes driving spectacular radiations in many species-rich groups remain elusive. Corydalis DC. is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere containing more than 500 species, with high diversity in HHM and adjacent regions. Using 95 plastid genes, 3,258,640 nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and eight single-copy nuclear genes (SCNs) generated from genome skimming data, we reconstructed a robust time-calibrated phylogeny of Corydalis comprising more than 100 species that represented all subgenera and most sections. Molecular dating indicated that all main clades of Corydalis began to diverge in the Eocene, with the majority of extant species in HHM emerged from a diversification burst after the middle Miocene. Global pattern of mean divergence times indicated that species distributed in HHM were considerably younger than those in other regions, particularly for the two most species-rich clades (V and VI) of Corydalis. The early divergence and the recent diversification of Corydalis were most likely promoted by the continuous orogenesis and climate change associated with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Our study demonstrates the effectivity of phylogenomic analyses with genome skimming data on the phylogeny of species-rich taxa, and sheds lights on how the uplift of QTP has triggered the evolutionary radiations of large plant genera in HHM and adjacent regions.

The role of Pleistocene dispersal in shaping species richness of sky island wintergreens from the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains.

In addition to topography and climate, biogeographic dispersal has been considered to influence plant diversity in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains (HHM), yet, the mode and tempo of sky island dispersal and its influence on species richness has been little explored. Through phylogenetic analysis of Gaultheria ser. Trichophyllae, a sky island alpine clade within the HHM, we test the hypothesis that dispersal has affected current local species richness. We inferred the dynamics of biogeographic dispersal with correlation tests on direction, distance, occurrence time, and regional species richness. We found that G. ser. Trichophyllae originated at the end of the Miocene and mostly dispersed toward higher longitudes (eastward). In particular, shorter intra-regional eastward dispersals and longer inter-regional westward dispersals were most frequently observed. We detected a prevalence of eastward intra-region dispersals in both glacial periods and interglacials. These dispersals may have been facilitated by the reorganization of paleo-drainages and monsoon intensification through time. We suggest that the timing of dispersal corresponding to glacial periods and the prevalence of intra-region dispersal, rather than dispersal frequency, most influenced the pattern of species richness of G. ser. Trichophyllae. This study facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of biodiversity in the sky islands within the HHM.

Floral traits and their connection with Pollinators and Climate.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Floral characteristics vary significantly among plant species, and multiple underlying factors govern this diversity. Although it is widely known that spatial variation in pollinator groups can exert selection on floral traits, the relative contribution of pollinators and climate to the variation of floral traits across large geographic areas remains a little-studied area. Besides furthering our conceptual understanding of these processes, gaining insight into the topic is also of conservation relevance: understanding how climate may drive floral traits variation can serve to protect plant-pollinator interactions under global change conditions. METHODS: We used Rhododendron as a model system and collected floral traits (corolla length, nectar volume and concentrations), floral visitors, and climatic data on 21 Rhododendron species across two continents (North America-Appalachians and Asia-Himalaya). Based on this we quantified the influence of climate and pollinators to floral traits using phylogeny-informed analyses. KEY RESULTS: Our results indicate that there is substantial variation in pollinators and morphological traits across Rhododendron species and continents. We came across four pollinator groups: birds, bees, butterflies, and flies. Asian species were commonly visited by birds, bees, and flies, while bees and butterflies were the most common visitors of North American species. The visitor identity explained nectar trait variation, with flowers visited by birds presenting higher volumes of dilute nectar and those visited by insects producing concentrated nectar. Nectar concentration and corolla length exhibited a strong phylogenetic signal across the analysed set of species. We also found that nectar trait variation in the Himalaya could also be explained by climate, which presented significant interactions with pollinator identity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that both pollinators and climate contribute and interact to drive nectar trait variation, suggesting that both can affect pollination interactions and floral (and plant) evolution individually and interacting with each other.

Characterization of ectomycorrhizal fungal community of Abies Pindrow using sporocarp sampling, morphotyping, and metabarcoding through next-generation sequencing.

Abies pindrow, commonly known as the West-Himalayan Fir, holds great ecological importance as a native tree species in the Himalayas. Beyond its value as a fuel and timber source, it serves as a keystone species within the ecosystem. However, over recent years, extensive degradation and deforestation have afflicted A. pindrow forests. Utilizing ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of A. pindrow could prove pivotal in restoring these deteriorated forests. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity and composition of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community associated with A. pindrow. We employed ectomycorrhizal root tip morphotyping, sporocarp sampling, and Illumina MiSeq metabarcoding of the ITS region of fungal nrDNA. The ectomycorrhizal root tips were categorized into 10 morphotypes based on their morphological characteristics, exhibiting an average colonization rate of 74%. Sporocarp sampling revealed 22 species across 10 genera, with Russula being the most prevalent. The metabarcoding yielded 285,148 raw sequences, identifying 326 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 193 genera, 114 families, 45 orders, 22 classes, and 6 divisions. Of these, 36 OTUs across 20 genera were ectomycorrhizal, constituting 63.1% of the fungal community. Notably, Tuber was the most abundant, representing 37.42% of the fungal population, followed by Russula at 21.06%. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of mycorrhizal symbionts of A. pindrow. The findings hold significant implications for utilizing dominant ectomycorrhizal fungi in reforestation endeavors aimed at restoring this important Himalayan conifer.

Climate change-derived environmental and physical factors influencing the socioeconomic development in the Himalayan region.

Spatio-temporal fluctuation of climatic variables with the terrain characteristics and their inter-relationship is a priority for predicting flash-flood-induced landslide hazards over the fragile Himalayas. The present study addressed this anxiety by assimilating satellite data products and auxiliary datasets in the Bhagirathi River basin of the Indian Himalayas. Snow Covered Area (SCA) is a critical indicator of the ecosystem that influenced the flash flood along different terrain features such as Altitude, Hill-Gradient, and Aspect. GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA) technique is used to analyze the possible landslide zones and flood extent along the river basin, and MODIS Terra (MOD10A2) data products derived annual SCA is 4278 km2 for the year 2021, the analysis of geospatial maps at 25° intervals of Altitude, hill-gradient, and Aspect. The SCA distribution reveals that apart from the Altitude, the Aspect of the hill gradient significantly impacts snow accumulation. Hill-Gradient, ranging from 13.06 to 19.52, occupies 24.7% of the total area, and 45.3 to 51.83 are found without snow. The highest variation of SCA is along the Western direction (9.19%), followed by North-East (8.79%), while the least (3.78%) variance is in the Southwest direction. Additionally, it was found that many bridges, roads, and other properties are under threat in this study area, even with a moderate flash flood. Findings from this study provide the spatiotemporal status of SCA in various geological stress conditions during the last decades and probable landslide zones. This will be a preliminary pathway to policymakers in rehabilitation and early evacuation of human lives due to flash flood occurrence.

Acid mine drainage from coal mines in the eastern Himalayan sub-region: Hydrogeochemical processes, seasonal variations and insights from hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes.

Uncontrolled coal mining using non-scientific methods has presented a major threat to the quality of environment, particularly the water resources in eastern himalayan sub-region of India. Water bodies in the vicinity of mining areas are contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD) that is released into streams and rivers. This study attempted to assess the impact of AMD, deciphering hydrogeochemical processes, seasonal fluctuations, and stable isotope features of water bodies flowing through and around coal mining areas. Self-organizing maps (SOMs) used to separate and categorize AMD, AMD-impacted and non-AMD impacted water from the different study locations for two sampling seasons revealed four clusters (C), with C1 and C2 impacted by AMD, C3 and C4 showing negligible to no impact of AMD. AMD impacted water was SO42- - Mg2+- Ca2+ hydrochemical type with sulphide oxidation and evaporation dominating water chemistry, followed by silicate weathering during both the sampling seasons. Water with negligible-to-no AMD-impact was Mg2+- Ca2+- SO42- to Ca2+ - HCO3- to mixed hydrochemical type with rock weathering and dissolution, followed by ion exchange as major factors controlling water chemistry during both the sampling seasons. Most of physicochemical parameters of C1 and C2 exceeded the prescribed limits, whereas in C3 and C4 water samples, parameters were found within the prescribed limits. Stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) during post-monsoon (PoM) varied between -41.04 ‰ and -29.98 ‰, and -6.60 ‰ to -3.94 ‰; and during pre-monsoon (PrM) varied between -58.18 ‰ and - 33.76 ‰ and -8.60 ‰ to -5.46 ‰. Deuterium excess (d-excess) ranged between 1.57 ‰ and 12.47 ‰ during PoM and 5.70 ‰ to 15.17 ‰ during PrM season. The stable isotopes analysis revealed that evaporation, mineral dissolution and mixing with rainwater are the key factors in study area.

Drought, temperature, and moisture availability: understanding the drivers of isotopic decoupling in native pine species of the Nepalese Himalaya.

The Himalayas experienced long-term climate changes and recent extreme weather events that affected plant growth and the physiology of tree species at high-elevation sites. This study presents the first statistically robust δ18OTR chronologies for two native pine species, Pinus roxburghii, and Pinus wallichiana, in the lower Nepalese Himalaya. The isotope chronologies exhibited 0.88‰ differences in overall mean isotope values attributed to varying elevations (460-2000 m asl). Comparative analysis of climate response using data sets from different sources and resolutions revealed the superiority of the APHRODITE (Asian Precipitation - Highly-Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation) data set calibrated for the South Asian Summer Monsoon (SASM)-dominated region. Both species exhibited negative correlations with monsoon precipitation and positive correlations with temperature. However, during the peak monsoon season (July-August), daily resolved climate data disentangled statistically insignificant relationships, and revealed that δ18OTR is influenced by atmospheric moisture. Both congeneric species showed a decoupling between the chronologies after 1995. However, no significant change in air moisture origin and monsoon regime between the study sites was observed, indicating a consistent dominant moisture source during different monsoon seasons. Besides, we also observed the decreased inter-series correlation of both δ18OTR chronologies after 1995, with P. wallichiana experiencing a steeper decrease than P. roxburghii. The weakening correlations between and within the chronologies coincided with a regional drought during 1993-1995 in both sites, highlighting the strong regulation of local climate on the impact of regional extreme climate events. Our findings emphasise the importance of employing climate data with optimal spatial and temporal resolution for improved δ18OTR-climate relationships at the intra-annual scale while considering the influence of site-specific local environmental conditions. Assessing climate data sets with station data is vital for accurately interpreting climate change's impact on forest response and long-term climate reconstructions.

Exploring Cheura [Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam]: Unveiling its Ethnomedicinal Heritage, Phytochemical Composition, Pharmacological Properties, and Innovative Applications.

Diploknema butyracea (Roxb) H.J Lam, also referred as " Kalpavriksha", is commonly known as Gophal, Cheura, or Indian butter tree. It is a deciduous tree with straight trunks of 15-20m in height and white-yellow-coloured fragile flowers with fragrance, found at altitudes of 300-1500 m in the sub-Himalayan region of India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan. Diploknema have 11 taxa and 8 species, out of which 3 species are found in Uttarakhand hills, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. The tree holds significant economic importance, serving various purposes within ethnic communities. Its high lipid content makes it valuable for food, medicine, construction, and the production of various value-added products. The ethno-pharmacological applications encompass treating rheumatism, burns, asthma, and skin conditions. The plant's different components-bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruits-contain  diverse array of phytoconstituents, including alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and palmitic acid, along with essential nutrients like sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and various sugars which shows diverse pharmacological and therapeutic activities. Beyond traditional uses, Diploknema is important for diverse industrial application in pharmaceuticals, confectionery, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. Present paper is an attempt to understand comprehensive details on different aspects of this plant to explore new avenues for various value-added products.

Anti-rheumatic potential vis-à-vis aconitine and hypaconitine content analysis in different Aconitum spp. from Sikkim Himalayas (India).

Aconitum spp. are important medicinal plants mentioned in Ayurveda as Ativisa or Vatsanabha. The present study aims to evaluate anti-rheumatic potential in seven Aconitum species and correlation with aconitine and hypaconitine content. Anti-rheumatic potential was analyzed through in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibition, anti-inflammatory and ROS scavenging assays; and quantification of aconitine and hypaconitine with RP-HPLC method validated as per ICH guidelines. The findings reveal that A. palmatum possessed the most promising response (IC50 =12.68±0.15 µg/ml) followed by A. ferox (IC50 =12.912±1.87 µg/ml) for xanthin oxidase inhibition. We observed a wide variation in aconitine and hypaconitine content ranging from 0.018 %-1.37 % and 0.0051 %-0.077 % respectively on dry weight basis. Aconitine and hypaconitine showed moderate positive correlation (r=0.68 and 0.59 respectively) with anti-rheumatic potential. The study identifies potential alternative species of Aconitum that can help in sustainable availability of quality raw material.

The Sino-Himalayan flora evolved from lowland biomes dominated by tropical floristic elements.

BACKGROUND: The Sino-Himalayan flora harbors highly diverse high-elevation biotas, but our understanding of its evolutionary history in temporal and spatial dimensions is limited. In this study, we integrated a dated phylogenetic tree with comprehensive species distribution data to investigate changes over time and space in floristic elements, including the tropical, Tethys, northern temperate, and East Asian floristic elements, across the entire Sino-Himalaya and its three floristic regions: the Yunnan Plateau, Hengduan Mountains, and East Himalaya regions. RESULTS: Our results revealed that the Sino-Himalayan flora developed from lowland biomes and was predominantly characterized by tropical floristic elements before the collision between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia during the Early Cenozoic. Subsequently, from the Late Eocene onwards, the uplifts of the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains transformed the Sino-Himalayan region into a wet and cold plateau, on which harsh and diverse ecological conditions forced the rapid evolution of local angiosperms, giving birth to characteristic taxa adapted to the high altitudes and cold habitat. The percentage of temperate floristic elements increased and exceeded that of tropical floristic elements by the Late Miocene. CONCLUSIONS: The Sino-Himalayan flora underwent four significant formation periods and experienced a considerable increase in endemic genera and species in the Miocene, which remain crucial to the present-day patterns of plant diversity. Our findings support the view that the Sino-Himalayan flora is relatively young but has ancient origins. The three major shifts in the divergence of genera and species during the four formation periods were primarily influenced by the uplifts of the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains and the onset and intensification of the Asian monsoon system. Additionally, the temporal patterns of floristic elements differed among the three floristic regions of the Sino-Himalaya, indicating that the uplift of the Himalaya and surrounding areas was asynchronous. Compared to the Yunnan Plateau region, the East Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains experienced more recent and drastic uplifts, resulting in highly intricate topography with diverse habitats that promoted the rapid radiation of endemic genera and species in these regions.

Uttarakhand State Earthquake Early Warning System: A Case Study of the Himalayan Environment.

The increased seismic activity observed in the Himalayas, coupled with the expanding urbanization of the surrounding areas in northern India, poses significant risks to both human lives and property. Developing an earthquake early warning system in the region could help in alleviating these risks, especially benefiting cities and towns in mountainous and foothill regions close to potential earthquake epicenters. To address this concern, the government and the science and engineering community collaborated to establish the Uttarakhand State Earthquake Early Warning System (UEEWS). The government of Uttarakhand successfully launched this full-fledged operational system to the public on 4 August 2021. The UEEWS includes an array of 170 accelerometers installed in the seismogenic areas of the Uttarakhand. Ground motion data from these sensors are transmitted to the central server through the dedicated private telecommunication network 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This system is designed to issue warnings for moderate to high-magnitude earthquakes via a mobile app freely available for smartphone users and by blowing sirens units installed in the buildings earmarked by the government. The UEEWS has successfully issued alerts for light earthquakes that have occurred in the instrumented region and warnings for moderate earthquakes that have triggered in the vicinity of the instrumented area. This paper provides an overview of the design of the UEEWS, details of instrumentation, adaptation of attributes and their relation to earthquake parameters, operational flow of the system, and information about dissemination of warnings to the public.

Cushions serve as conservation refuges for the Himalayan alpine plant diversity: Implications for nature-based environmental management.

Globally, rapid climate and land-use changes in alpine environments are posing severe risks to their bountiful biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, nature-based solutions are fast-emerging as the preferred approach to address the challenges of environmental sustainability. In alpine environments, cushion plants owing to their unique architecture and adaptability offer a potential nature-based system to plan biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration strategies. Here, we employed an analytical framework to test whether and how the cushion plants facilitate the sustenance of alpine plant diversity in Kashmir Himalaya. We specifically aimed to answer: what are the effects of the cushion plants on the patterns of alpine species richness and phylogenetic diversity, and whether these effects vary across spatial scales (local versus landscape), cushion types, and changing elevation. We randomly selected pairs of cushion and neighbouring non-cushion plots (size 100 m2) across 34 different alpine sites in the study region. Within each plot, we randomly laid three 5 m2 quadrats for vegetation sampling, and sampled a total of 204 quadrats in 68 plots with seven cushion types along elevation ranging from 3100 to 3850 m. Our results revealed positive effects of the cushions by supporting a higher community species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). The effects were consistent both at the local (i.e., quadrat) and landscape (i.e., plot) scales, but varied significantly with the cushion type. Interestingly, SR and PD showed an increasing trend with increase in elevation in cushion communities, thereby supporting stress gradient hypothesis. Along the elevational gradient, the cushion communities showed phylogenetic overdispersion, but clustering by non-cushions. Overall, our study provides empirical evidence to reinforce the role of the cushions as conservation refugia for an imperilled alpine plant diversity in the Himalaya. Looking ahead, we highlight the far-reaching implications of our findings in guiding the nature-based environmental management of alpine ecosystems worldwide.

Radiological assessment of radon in groundwater of the northernmost Kashmir Basin, northwestern Himalaya.

This study investigates the radon concentration in groundwater in Kupwara, the northernmost district of the Kashmir valley. It further assesses the annual effective dose experienced by the district's diverse population-infants, children, and adults-attributable to both inhalation of airborne radon released from drinking water and direct ingestion. In addition to this, the calculation of gamma dose rate is also carried out at each of the sampling site of radon. A portable radon-thoron monitor and a portable gamma radiation detector were respectively employed to estimate the activity concentration of radon in water samples and to measure the gamma dose rate. The radon concentration was found to exhibit variability from a minimum of 2.9 BqL-1 to a maximum of 197.2 BqL-1, with a mean of 26.3 BqL-1 and a standard deviation of 23.3 BqL-1. From a total of 85 samples, 10.6% of the samples had radon activity concentrations exceeding the permissible limits of 40 BqL-1 set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiations as reported by UNSCEAR (Sources and effects of ionizing radiation, 2008) and only 1.2% of the samples have radon activity concentration exceeding the permissible limits of 100 BqL-1 set by the World Health Organization as reported by WHO (WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2008). The mean of the annual effective dose due to inhalation for all age groups as well as the annual ingestion dose for infants and children, surpasses the World Health Organization's limit of 100 µSv y-1 as reported by WHO (WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2008). The observed gamma radiation dose rate in the vicinity of groundwater radon sites ranged from a minimum of 138 nSv h-1 to a maximum of 250 nSv h-1. The data indicated no significant correlation between the dose rate of gamma radiation and the radon levels in the groundwater. Radon concentration of potable water in the study area presents a non-negligible exposure pathway for residents. Therefore, the judicious application of established radon mitigation techniques is pivotal to minimize public health vulnerabilities.

Bark thickness and related parameters of tree species along an elevation transect leading to treeline in Central Himalaya.

Since treelines are generally fire-free, the trees growing there are expected to have thin bark, unless adaptation to other factors than fire results in the selection of a thick bark. Related to this is also higher proportional investment in inner bark in such an environment of infrequent fire. This study has considered stem bark thickness both in absolute and relative terms and also in the frame of the composition of outer and inner bark components of 20 tree species along an elevation transect (2100-3300 m) in high ranges of the Central Himalaya leading to treelines. The study species varied from 2.1 to 16.2 mm for total bark thickness and from 1.2 to 18.85% for relative bark thickness. The average absolute total bark thickness across the tree species decreased with elevation from forest to treeline, both when trees of all diameters (10.2 ± 0.84 mm for forest and 6.9 ± 1.79 mm for treeline) and those of the same stem diameter range (18-20 m) were compared (9.10 ± 1.30 mm for forest species and 6.38 ± 1.31 mm for treeline species). Nevertheless, the treeline bark thickness was similar to those of several forest communities considered to have comparatively thick bark. Like many other biological structures, bark carries out multiple functions; therefore, its thickness could be affected by more than one environmental factor. We suggest that the requirement of mechanical resistance to the snowfall, rainstorms, wind and adaptation to a high sunlight and UV radiations or storage of water, and non-structural carbohydrates could affect total, outer and inner bark thickness. Studies on these aspects in similar ecosystems may help understand the multi-functional attributes of the bark. For trees of comparable sizes (trees with 18-20 cm diameter at breast height) treeline species also had lower relative bark thickness (< 6%) than trees of forest below it (> 7%). The median proportion of inner bark of the total bark (70.5%) for our 20 species was more than that for savannas (~ 50%), exposed to frequent fire regime and similar to those of in cool sclerophyllous forests and temperate rain forests where fire return time is > 100 years. However, it was lower than the inner bark proportion reported for tropical rain forests. To conclude, in spite of a fire-free environment, the Himalayan treeline and adjoining forest species show mixed bark characters.

NGS-Based Metagenomics Depicting Taxonomic and Functional Insights into North-Western Himalayan Hot Springs.

Hot springs have tremendous significance due to their divulging physiochemical features. In the recent past, metagenomics has emerged as a unique methodology to explore microbiota as well as new biocatalysts possessing advantageous biochemical properties from hot springs. In the present study, metagenomics has been employed for microbial diversity exploration and identification of genes involved in various metabolic pathways among two hot springs, Manikaran and Tatapani, located in Himachal Pradesh, India. Taxonomic analysis of both metagenomes revealed the dominance of the Proteobacteria phylum. Genomic signatures of other bacterial phyla such as Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Firmicutes were also found in significant abundance in both the metagenomes. The abundance of microorganisms belonging to genera, especially Nitrospira, Thauera, Meiothermus, Thiobacillus, Massilia, and Anaerolinea, was reported to be prevalent in the hot springs. A significant amount of metagenomic data remained taxonomically unclassified, which indeed emphasizes the scientific importance of these thermoaquatic niches. The functional potential analysis of both metagenomes revealed pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, followed by amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, genetic information processing, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, membrane transporter, and signal transduction. Exploration of biomass-modifying biocatalysts enumerated the presence of glycoside hydrolases, glycosyl transferases, polysaccharide lyases, and carbohydrate esterases in the metagenomic data. Together, these findings offer an in-depth understanding of the microbial inhabitants in North-Western Himalayan hot springs and their underlying potential for various biotechnological and industrial applications. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-024-01248-z.

Himalayan mountains imposing a barrier on gene flow of wheat yellow rust pathogen in the bordering regions of Pakistan and China.

The wheat yellow rust pathogen has been shown to be diverse and potentially originated in the Himalayan region. Although Himalayan populations of Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan have been previously compared, little is known about the relative divergence and diversity in Puccinia striiformis populations in the bordering regions of Pakistan and China. To assess the relative diversity and divergence in these regions of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan, Hazara and Azad Jammu Kashmir) and China (Xinjiang, Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan), a total of 1245 samples were genotyped using 17 microsatellite SSR markers. A clear divergence was observed between the bordering regions of Pakistan and China (FST = 0.28) without any resampling of genetic groups and multilocus genotypes across two sides of the Himalayan mountains. The closest subpopulations across the two countries were Xinjiang and Gilgit-Baltistan (Nei's distance = 0.147), which were close geographically. A very high diversity and recombinant population structure was observed in both populations, though slightly higher in China (Genotypic diversity = 0.970; r¯d = 0.000) than in Pakistan (Genotypic diversity = 0.902; r¯d = 0.065). The distribution of genetic groups and resampling of MLGs revealed more gene flow across Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan regions in China, while between Hazara and Azad-Jammu Kashmir in Pakistan. The lack of gene flow between Pakistan and China populations is due to geographical barriers and a large patch of land without wheat. The information on the relative diversity and divergence in different geographical zones of the pathogen center of diversity and neighboring region should be considered in resistant wheat deployment while considering the invasion potential of the pathogen at regional and global contexts.

Speciation patterns of related species under the hybrid zone: A case study of three sclerophyllous oaks in the east Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains.

Speciation is often accompanied by frequent gene exchanges, which have been gradually recognized as a common phenomenon in nature. Although gene flow may influence different reproductive isolations, the specific mechanism of the process still requires more experimental evidence, especially in hybrid populations that have no significant differentiation and isolation. To address this challenge, this study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of sympatry and parapatry in related species. Three sclerophyllous oaks (Quercus spinosa, Quercus aquifolioides and Quercus rehderiana), which are mainly distributed in the sympatry/parapatry of the East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains and adjacent regions, were used to explore the population dynamics and evolutionary history. Based on 12,420 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism datasets, gene flow detection showed that the three species did not present any obvious genetic barriers. Evolutionary analysis indicated that the three species diverged during the Tertiary Period, and no migration events occurred in the early stages of species divergence. Combined with the data of 19 ecological factors, geological movements and climatic turbulence caused the rapid radiated differentiation of the three species during the Neocene, and similar selective pressures resulted in the same evolutionary pattern based on demographic history analysis. In addition, the predicted niche occupancy profiles and Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling revealed that the three species occupied distinct niches and had significant differences in ecological adaptation, which may explain the specific morphological characteristics of the different species. Therefore, we believe that the populations of the three related species underwent adaptive evolution in different habitats during the early stages of divergence. This study provides new experimental evidence of the formation patterns of parallel speciation.

Formation of the Holarctic Fauna: Dated molecular phylogenetic and biogeographic insights from the Quedius-lineage of Ground-Dwelling Rove Beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

Although the Holarctic fauna has been explored for centuries, many questions on its formation are still unanswered. For example, i) what was the impact of the uplift of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau?, ii) what were the timings and climate of the faunal bridges connecting the Nearctic and Palearctic regions?, and iii) how did insect lineages respond to the late Paleogene global cooling and regional aridification? To answer these, we developed a phylogenetic dataset of 1229 nuclear loci for a total of 222 species of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) with emphasis in the tribe Quediini, especially Quedius-lineage and its subclade Quedius sensu stricto. Using eight fossils for calibrating molecular clock, we estimated divergence times and then analysed in BioGeoBEARS paleodistributions of the most recent common ancestor for each target lineage. For each species we generated climatic envelopes of the temperature and precipitation and mapped them across the phylogeny to explore evolutionary shifts. Our results suggest that the warm and humid Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau acted as an evolutionary cradle for the Quedius-lineage originating during the Oligocene from where, in the Early Miocene, the ancestor of the Quedius s. str. dispersed into the West Palearctic. With the climate cooling from the Mid Miocene onwards, new lineages within Quedius s. str. emerged and gradually expanded distributions across the Palearctic. In Late Miocene, a member of the group dispersed to the Nearctic region via Beringia before the closure of this land bridge 5.3 Ma. Paleogene global cooling and regional aridification largely shaped the current biogeographic pattern for Quedius s. str. species, many of them originating during the Pliocene and shifting or contracting their ranges during Pleistocene.

Contrasting sap flow characteristics between pioneer and late-successional tree species in secondary tropical montane forests of Eastern Himalaya, India.

The interactive role of life-history traits and environmental factors on plant water relations is crucial for understanding the responses of species to climate change, but it remains poorly understood in secondary tropical montane forests (TMFs). In this study, we examined differences in sap flow between the pioneer species Symplocos racemosa and Eurya acuminata, and the late-successional species Castanopsis hystrix that co-occur in a biodiverse Eastern Himalayan secondary broadleaved TMF. The fast-growing pioneers had sap flux densities that were 1.6-2.1 times higher than the late-successional species, and exhibited characteristics of long-lived pioneer species. Significant radial and azimuthal variability in sap flow (V) between species was observed and could be attributed to the life-history trait and the access of the canopy to sunlight. Nocturnal V was 13.8% of the daily total and was attributable to stem recharge during the evening period (18.00-23.00 h) and to endogenous stomatal controls during the pre-dawn period (00.00-05.00 h). The shallow-rooted pioneer species both exhibited midday depression in V that was attributable to photosensitivity and diel moisture stress responses. In contrast, the deep-rooted late-successional species showed unaffected transpiration across the dry season, indicating their access to groundwater. Thus, our results suggest that secondary broadleaved TMFs, with a dominance of shallow-rooted pioneers, are more prone to the negative impacts of drier and warmer winters than primary forests, which are dominated by deep-rooted species. Our study provides an empirical understanding of how life-history traits coupled with microclimate can modulate plant water use in the widely distributed secondary TMFs in Eastern Himalaya, and highlights their vulnerability to warmer winters and reduced winter precipitation due to climate change.