Plant phenological response to microclimatic variations in an alpine zone of Garhwal Himalaya
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Abstract
The impact of microclimatic variations on the developmental stages of common alpine plant species at four primary phenology sites at Dayara meadow of Garhwal Himalayas (Uttarakhand) was studied. The study revealed that the variations in the topographical features and environmental conditions directly influenced the phenology of the alpine plant species. Site I and IV showed great variation in the timing of phenological phases whereas, site III and IV showed approximately similar phenological timings. Anemone obtusiloba and Anaphalis contorta showed early flowering whereas Aconitum heterophyllum, Bupleurum longicaule and Parnassia nubicola flowered in late August and early September. P. nubicola had a shorter flowering period whereas Tanacetum longifolium.and A. nepalensis had the longest flowering period. Taraxacum officinale and Geum elatum flowered twice in the season.
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Keywords
Alpine, Microclimatic variations, Phenology, Topographical features
References
Billings, W.D. and Bliss, L.C. (1959). An alpine snowbank environment and its effects on vegetation, plant development and productivity. Ecology, 40: 389-397.
Billings, W.D. and Mooney, H.A. (1968). The ecology of arctic and alpine plants. Biological Reviews, 43: 481-529.
Bliss, L.C. (1956). A comparision of plant development in microenvironments of arctic and alpine tundras. Ecological Monograph, 26: 303-307.
Bock, J.H. (1976). The effects of increased snowpack on the phenology and seed germinability of selected alpine species. In Ecological Impacts of Snowpack Augmentation in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Steinhoff, H.W. and Ives, J.D. (eds). Final report to the Division of Atmospheric Water Resources Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Daubenmire, R.F. (1954). Alpine timberlines in the Americas and their interpretation. Butler University Botanical Studies, 11: 119-136.
Daubenmire, R.F. (1959). A canopy cover method of vegetational analysis. Northwest Science, 33: 43-66.
Fareed, M. and Caldwell, M.M. (1975). Phenological patterns of two alpine tundra plant populations on Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Northwest Science, 49: 17-23.
Giménez-Benavides, L., Escudero, A. and Iriondo J.M. (2007). Reproductive limits of a late-flowering high-mountain Mediterranean plant along an elevational climate gradient. New Phytologist, 173: 367-382.
Holway, J.G. and Ward R.T. (1963) Snow and melt water effects in an area of Colorado alpine. Am. Midland Naturalist, 69: 189-197.
Holway, J.G. and Ward R.T. (1965). Phenology of alpine plants in Northern Colorado. Ecology, 46: 73-83.
Huelber, K., Gottfried, M., Pauli, H., Reiter, K., Winkler, M., and Grabherr, G. (2006). Phenological responses of snowbed species to snow removal dates in the Central Alps: implications for climate warming. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 38: 99-103.
Hülber, K., Winkler, M. and Grabherr, G. (2010). Intraseasonal climate and habitat-specific variability controls the flowering phenology of high alpine plant species. Functional Ecology, 24: 245-252.
Jackson, L.E. and Bliss, L.C. (1984). Phenology and water relations of three plant life forms in a dry tree-line meadow. Ecology, 65: 1302-1314.
Kala, C.P. (1999). Phenology of alpine plants in the Valley of Flowers, National Park and Hemkund, Western Himalaya. Indian Forester, 125: 581-590.
Keller, F. and Kçrner, C. (2003). The role of photoperiodism in alpine plant development. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 35:361-368.
Kudo, G. (1991). Effects of snow-free period on the phenology of alpine plants inhabiting snow patches. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 23: 436-443.
Kudo, G. (1992). Pre-flowering and fruiting periods of alpine plants inhabiting a snow-bed. J. Phytogeogr. Taxon., 40: 99-106.
Kudo, G. and Hirao, A.S. (2006). Habitat-specific responses in the flowering phenology and seed set of alpine plants to climate variation: implications for global-change impacts. Population Ecology, 48: 49-58.
Kudo, G. and Suzuki, S. (1999). Flowering phenology of alpine plant communities along a gradient of snowmelt timing. Polar Bioscience, 12: 100-113.
Kçrner, C. (1999). Alpine plant life: functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems (338 pp). Springer, Berlin.
Lindsey, A. and Newman, J. (1956). Use of official weather data in spring time-Temperature analysis of an Indiana phenological record. Ecology, 37: 812-823.
May, D.E. and Webber, P.J. (1982). Spatial and temporal variation of the vegetation and its productivity, Niwot Ridge Colorado. In Ecological Studies in the Colorado Alpine. (Ed. by J.C. Holfpenny). University of Colorado, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, 37: 35-62.
Nautiyal, M.C., Nautiyal, B.P. and Prakash, V. (2001). Phenology and growth form distribution in an alpine pasture at Tungnath, Garhwal Himalaya. Mountain Research and Development, 21(2): 177-183.
Negi, G.C.S., H.C. Rikhari and S.P. Singh. (1992). Phenological features in relation to growth forms and biomass accumulation in an alpine meadow of the Central Himalaya. Vegetatio, 101: 161-170.
Oberbauer, S.F. and Billings W.D. (1981). Drought tolerance and water use by plants along an alpine topographic gradient. Oecologia, 50: 325-331.
Owen, H.E. (1976). Phenological development of herbaceous plants in relation to snowmelt date. In Ecological impacts of snowpack augmentation in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. H.W. Steonhoff and J.D. Ives (eds). U.S. Department of Interior, Division of Atmospheric Water Resources Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., pp. 323-341.
Ram, J. and Arya, P. (1991). Plant forms and vegetation analysis of an alpine meadow of Central Himalaya, India. Proceedings of the National Science Academy, 57: 311-318.
Ram, J., Singh, S.P. and Singh, J.S. (1988). Community level phenology of grassland above treeline in Central Himalaya. Arctic and Alpine Research, 20: 325-332.
Shaver, G.R., Fetcher, N. and Chapin, F.S. III. (1986). Growth and flowering in Eriphorum vaginatum: annual and latitudinal variation. Ecology, 67: 1524-1535.
Sorenson, T. (1941). Temperature relations and phenology of the Northeast Greenland flowering plants. Meddelelser om Grønland, 125: 1- 305.
Spomer, G.G. and Salisbury, F.B. (1968). Eco-physiology of Geum turbinatum and implications concerning alpine environments. Botanical Gazette, 129: 33-49.
Stinson., K.A. (2004). Effects of snowmelt timing and neighbor density on the distribution of the high altitude plant Potentilla diversifolia. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 37(3): 379-386.
Sundriyal, R.C., Joshi, A P. and Dhasmana, R. (1987). Phenology of high altitude plants at Tungnath in the Garhwal Himalaya. Tropical Ecology, 28: 289-299.
Thórhallsdóttir, T.E. (1998). Flowering phenology in the central highland of Iceland and implications for climatic warming in the Arctic. Oecologia, 114: 43-49.
Vashistha, R.K., Rawat, N., Chaturvedi, A.K., Nautiyal, B.P., Prasad, P. and Nautiyal, M.C. (2009). An exploration on the phenology of different growth forms of an alpine expanse of North- West Himalaya, India. New York Journal, 2(6): 1554-0200.
Walker, M.D., Ingersoll, R.C. and Webber, P.J. (1995). Effects of Interannual climate variation on phenology and growth of two alpine forbs. Ecology, 76(4): 1067-1083.
Wielgolaski, F.E. (1975). Primary Productivity of alpine meadow communities. Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems. Part I: Plants and Microorganisms, edited by F. E. Wielgolaski (pp121-128), Springer-Verlag, New York.
Billings, W.D. and Mooney, H.A. (1968). The ecology of arctic and alpine plants. Biological Reviews, 43: 481-529.
Bliss, L.C. (1956). A comparision of plant development in microenvironments of arctic and alpine tundras. Ecological Monograph, 26: 303-307.
Bock, J.H. (1976). The effects of increased snowpack on the phenology and seed germinability of selected alpine species. In Ecological Impacts of Snowpack Augmentation in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Steinhoff, H.W. and Ives, J.D. (eds). Final report to the Division of Atmospheric Water Resources Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Daubenmire, R.F. (1954). Alpine timberlines in the Americas and their interpretation. Butler University Botanical Studies, 11: 119-136.
Daubenmire, R.F. (1959). A canopy cover method of vegetational analysis. Northwest Science, 33: 43-66.
Fareed, M. and Caldwell, M.M. (1975). Phenological patterns of two alpine tundra plant populations on Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Northwest Science, 49: 17-23.
Giménez-Benavides, L., Escudero, A. and Iriondo J.M. (2007). Reproductive limits of a late-flowering high-mountain Mediterranean plant along an elevational climate gradient. New Phytologist, 173: 367-382.
Holway, J.G. and Ward R.T. (1963) Snow and melt water effects in an area of Colorado alpine. Am. Midland Naturalist, 69: 189-197.
Holway, J.G. and Ward R.T. (1965). Phenology of alpine plants in Northern Colorado. Ecology, 46: 73-83.
Huelber, K., Gottfried, M., Pauli, H., Reiter, K., Winkler, M., and Grabherr, G. (2006). Phenological responses of snowbed species to snow removal dates in the Central Alps: implications for climate warming. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 38: 99-103.
Hülber, K., Winkler, M. and Grabherr, G. (2010). Intraseasonal climate and habitat-specific variability controls the flowering phenology of high alpine plant species. Functional Ecology, 24: 245-252.
Jackson, L.E. and Bliss, L.C. (1984). Phenology and water relations of three plant life forms in a dry tree-line meadow. Ecology, 65: 1302-1314.
Kala, C.P. (1999). Phenology of alpine plants in the Valley of Flowers, National Park and Hemkund, Western Himalaya. Indian Forester, 125: 581-590.
Keller, F. and Kçrner, C. (2003). The role of photoperiodism in alpine plant development. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 35:361-368.
Kudo, G. (1991). Effects of snow-free period on the phenology of alpine plants inhabiting snow patches. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 23: 436-443.
Kudo, G. (1992). Pre-flowering and fruiting periods of alpine plants inhabiting a snow-bed. J. Phytogeogr. Taxon., 40: 99-106.
Kudo, G. and Hirao, A.S. (2006). Habitat-specific responses in the flowering phenology and seed set of alpine plants to climate variation: implications for global-change impacts. Population Ecology, 48: 49-58.
Kudo, G. and Suzuki, S. (1999). Flowering phenology of alpine plant communities along a gradient of snowmelt timing. Polar Bioscience, 12: 100-113.
Kçrner, C. (1999). Alpine plant life: functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems (338 pp). Springer, Berlin.
Lindsey, A. and Newman, J. (1956). Use of official weather data in spring time-Temperature analysis of an Indiana phenological record. Ecology, 37: 812-823.
May, D.E. and Webber, P.J. (1982). Spatial and temporal variation of the vegetation and its productivity, Niwot Ridge Colorado. In Ecological Studies in the Colorado Alpine. (Ed. by J.C. Holfpenny). University of Colorado, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, 37: 35-62.
Nautiyal, M.C., Nautiyal, B.P. and Prakash, V. (2001). Phenology and growth form distribution in an alpine pasture at Tungnath, Garhwal Himalaya. Mountain Research and Development, 21(2): 177-183.
Negi, G.C.S., H.C. Rikhari and S.P. Singh. (1992). Phenological features in relation to growth forms and biomass accumulation in an alpine meadow of the Central Himalaya. Vegetatio, 101: 161-170.
Oberbauer, S.F. and Billings W.D. (1981). Drought tolerance and water use by plants along an alpine topographic gradient. Oecologia, 50: 325-331.
Owen, H.E. (1976). Phenological development of herbaceous plants in relation to snowmelt date. In Ecological impacts of snowpack augmentation in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. H.W. Steonhoff and J.D. Ives (eds). U.S. Department of Interior, Division of Atmospheric Water Resources Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., pp. 323-341.
Ram, J. and Arya, P. (1991). Plant forms and vegetation analysis of an alpine meadow of Central Himalaya, India. Proceedings of the National Science Academy, 57: 311-318.
Ram, J., Singh, S.P. and Singh, J.S. (1988). Community level phenology of grassland above treeline in Central Himalaya. Arctic and Alpine Research, 20: 325-332.
Shaver, G.R., Fetcher, N. and Chapin, F.S. III. (1986). Growth and flowering in Eriphorum vaginatum: annual and latitudinal variation. Ecology, 67: 1524-1535.
Sorenson, T. (1941). Temperature relations and phenology of the Northeast Greenland flowering plants. Meddelelser om Grønland, 125: 1- 305.
Spomer, G.G. and Salisbury, F.B. (1968). Eco-physiology of Geum turbinatum and implications concerning alpine environments. Botanical Gazette, 129: 33-49.
Stinson., K.A. (2004). Effects of snowmelt timing and neighbor density on the distribution of the high altitude plant Potentilla diversifolia. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 37(3): 379-386.
Sundriyal, R.C., Joshi, A P. and Dhasmana, R. (1987). Phenology of high altitude plants at Tungnath in the Garhwal Himalaya. Tropical Ecology, 28: 289-299.
Thórhallsdóttir, T.E. (1998). Flowering phenology in the central highland of Iceland and implications for climatic warming in the Arctic. Oecologia, 114: 43-49.
Vashistha, R.K., Rawat, N., Chaturvedi, A.K., Nautiyal, B.P., Prasad, P. and Nautiyal, M.C. (2009). An exploration on the phenology of different growth forms of an alpine expanse of North- West Himalaya, India. New York Journal, 2(6): 1554-0200.
Walker, M.D., Ingersoll, R.C. and Webber, P.J. (1995). Effects of Interannual climate variation on phenology and growth of two alpine forbs. Ecology, 76(4): 1067-1083.
Wielgolaski, F.E. (1975). Primary Productivity of alpine meadow communities. Fennoscandian Tundra Ecosystems. Part I: Plants and Microorganisms, edited by F. E. Wielgolaski (pp121-128), Springer-Verlag, New York.
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How to Cite
Plant phenological response to microclimatic variations in an alpine zone of Garhwal Himalaya. (2013). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 5(1), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v5i1.280
