Conservation of Artemisia amygdalina--a critically endangered endemic plant species of Kashmir Himalaya.

Abstract

Despite our reliance on plants for human well-being, a crisis point has been reached. Many of the world's rare plant species are edaphic endemic, whose unique soil requirements, habitats, and restricted distribution make them especially vulnerable to human activities. Artemisia amygdalina collected last in the Kashmir Himalaya, almost four decades ago, is a critically endangered endemic species, but has received little attention. Despite being a very important ethno-medicinal angiosperm species, due to many factors, it has now been restricted to small pockets of the Kashmir Himalaya. The present study attempts to collect, cultivate, restore, propagate, and reintroduce this useful species in it's known natural range. This study may prove vital to protect and conserve the germplasm of this species for future use, and at the same time serve as an impetus for its sustainable use. Our endeavour has been a grand success in conserving Artemisia amygdalina.

Resumen

A pesar de nuestra dependencia en las plantas para el bienestar humano, se ha llegado a un punto critico. Muchas de las especies raras de plantas son endemicas edaficas, cuyas caracteristicas de suelo unicas, habitats, y distribucion restringida las hacen especialmente vulnerables a la actividad humana. Artemisia amygdalina recolectada hace casi cuatro decadas del Kashmir Himalaya, es una especie endemica en peligro de extincion critico y ha recibido poca atencion en los ultimos anos. A pesar de ser una especie de angioespermas etno-medicinales muy importante, ahora esta restricta a pequenas areas del Kashmir Himalaya, debido a una agrupacion de factores multiples. Este estudio intenta recolectar, cultivar, restaurar, propagar, y reintroducir esta importante especie. Este estudio puede servir como una forma vital de proteger y conservar los germoplasmas de esta especie para uso futuro y a la misma vez servir como un Lmpetus para su uso sustentable. El presente intento ha sido un gran exito en la conservacion de dicha especie.

Introduction

Plants are a vital part of the world's biological diversity and an essential resource for human well-being. In addition to crop plants that provide our basic food and fibre, many thousands of plants have great economic and cultural importance and potential to provide food, medicine, fuel, clothing, and shelter for vast numbers of people throughout the world. Plants also play a key role in maintaining the basic ecosystem functions and are essential for the survival of the world's animal life. Yet, despite our reliance on plants, a crisis point has been reached. Although much work remains to be carried out to evaluate the status of the world's plants, it is reported that between 60,000 to 100,000 plant species are threatened worldwide. Plants are endangered by a combination of factors: habitat loss and degradation, unsustainable agriculture and forestry practices, urbanization, pollution, land use changes, spread of invasive species, and climatic changes. Even by the most conservative estimates, the rate of species loss is shocking--27,000 species disappear each year; 74 each day, and 3 every hour! (Gadagkar, 1996).

There is an implicit principle of human behaviour important to conservation: the more we know of an ecosystem, the less the chances of our destroying it. Despite the interest and efforts to collect and compile information on these species (e. g. CSIR [Council of Scientific and Industrial Research] 1989; Chaurasia and Singh 1996; Gaur 1999; Kala 2000; Dar & Naqshi 2001; Kala 2002a, 2002b, 2000c), it is because of the inaccessibility of the high-altitude areas in the Himalayas and the restricted distribution of threatened species, that a paucity of information exists on their distribution pattern, population status and indigenous use pattern. Habitat loss and degradation are believed to threaten 91% of the rare plants in the world (IUCN 2002). Many of the world's rare plant species are edaphic endemic, whose unique soil needs, habitats, and restricted distribution make them especially vulnerable to human activities (Hopper et al. 1990; Briggs and Leigh 1996, and Narendran and Cherian 2002).

The concept of endemism in biology dates back to De Candolle (1820). The topic, however, has received little attention of researchers in the field of modern biology. Nonetheless, endemism is one of the most important and interesting subjects in plant geography, and is useful in indicating antiquity, isolation, and diversification of habitats (Polunin 1960). Endemism may be particularly useful in the recognition of different floristic regions and also in determining or expressing the degrees in which floras are peculiar. Now-a-days endemism is considered to signify unique biodiversity and is of great significance to phylogenetic biographers, conservation biologists and ecologists. Endemic taxa are useful for developing conservation priorities. Twenty eight major endemic centres of plants are recognized in India, among them are some areas in the Kashmir Himalaya. Various estimates have been given for endemics in Kashmir flora, however, as per the latest information (Dar and Nasreen 2003), 152 (ca. 8%) taxa are endemic to this region, which forms just about 3% of the total Indian angiosperm endemics. Nonetheless, the extent of endemism in Kashmir can be appreciated by considering the fact that this region constitutes only 0.48% of the total landmass of India, is geologically younger and, among adjoining regions, has the least area per endemic taxon. Artemisia amygdalina is one of the critically endangered endemic plant species of this region. This species was last collected from this region in 1971 by Gurcharan Singh. Since then no specimen has been collected. The populations of this species have been restricted now to specific pockets, and in fact during present study the species was located from only one sub-alpine, relatively isolated and less disturbed area in the Kashmir Himalaya. The endemic nature, ethno-botanical uses, threat status, and medicinal importance of other species of genus Artemisia explored in other parts of the world inclined us to address this species.

Materials and Methods

The Kashmir University Herbarium (KASH) was searched for the specimens of Artemisia amygdalina in order to obtain information regarding collection, localities, altitudes, and other details. Likewise the relevant literature about the floristics of this region was also perused for the same purpose. During the present study (2004-2005) various field survey trips were conducted throughout the sub-alpine and alpine habitats of the Kashmir Himalaya, to locate and collect the species. For collection purposes, polythene bags, shears, tags, specimen bottles, and field-note books were used. The specimens were expelled from the soil along with rhizome (whole plant). The specimens collected for planting purpose were put in polythene bags and brought as quickly as possible to the already selected land plot in the Kashmir University Botanical Garden (KUBG) and planted there. A few flowering specimens of the species were collected separately for the purpose of identification. The specimens collected for herbarium use were processed in the laboratory of the Centre of Plant Taxonomy (COPT). These specimens were subjected to standard methods of pressing, drying, etc. and latter identified. The identification was confirmed by matching our specimens with those deposited in KASH.

Field Survey and Collection

Various field survey trips were organized during the present study throughout the sub-alpine and alpine habitats of the Kashmir Himalaya. Most of the trips actually failed and we returned empty handed. During one survey trip we happened to see a patch of Artemisia amygdalina in a less-disturbed, low-inhabited, and far off area. A dense patch of population was located along the slopes of the area, interspersed with Pinus wallichiana and Picea smithiana trees at lower places, and a few Betula utilis tree-higher up. We collected about 25-30 accessions with long runner type rhizomes which were planted in the experimental plot at KUBG.

Standardization of Propagule 

Almost all of the rhizomes sprouted nicely and produced many off-shoots. The rhizomes were hard, woody, and relatively resistant to water logging providing standard propagating propagule. Later, the field trials indicated that stem segments and young shoots are also capable of propagation and multiplication of this species.

Survival and acclimatization 

The collected rhizomes planted in open sunlight flourished in the experimental plot which is now densely covered due to spreading of the plants. The 25-30 accessions which were collected and planted have now multiplied to form a considerable number of individuals. From a single piece of rhizome (which at the time of collection had only one off-shoot in natural habitat) 3-6 off-shoots have been produced in the experimental plot. These off-shoots grew vigorously in the plot and attained a height of 2-3 m, and even produced inflorescence in the very first year of establishment, which is actually a rarity as much of the plants energy is used simply to survive in it's natural habitat.. Such plants usually take 1-2 years to first get established and then share resources for reproduction, even then only some species produce flowers and seeds. The acclimatization, vigorous growth, propagation, reproduction, and seed production in the very first year is thrilling. On comparing growth of the species in its natural habitat and in the experimental plot, it was found that individuals attained greater height (2-3 m) and vigorous growth in experimental plot than in the natural habitat, where height was 1-2 m, and the growth normal.

Efforts for Propagation

With a healthy and established population of plant material present in the experimental plot, we attempted to enhance the propagation of the species at a larger level. Juvenile small leafy shoots were cut carefully from the main stem and transferred to an already designed experimental setup consisting of two sets of trial pots: one set containing only simple garden soil and the second containing soil and sand mixed in 1:1 ratio. The experiment was designed to promote rooting of the off-shoots. The juvenile off-shoots were planted in these trial pots and watered, some placed in the open and some placed in the shade of the plot as well as. in the open and shaded field beds. The entire experimental setup was kept under constant observation. After about 20-25 days, several planted off-shoots in each plot were dug out carefully and checked for rooting. It was found that in each case a few thin, long, bright-white roots had developed on the underground portion. Upon comparison, the individuals in the shaded trial pots and beds showed less pace of growth as compared to those in trial pots and beds kept in open sunlight. The leaves in shaded plants were dull-colored and their stem relatively weak as compared to open-planted offshoots. The individuals in sandy soil trial depicted rapid root formation and healthy growth, while those in garden soil rooted slowly and showed relatively slower growth. Similarly, experiments were performed to make stem cuttings root and actually pace the already started mass propagation.

Reintroduction

With the success of the experiment, we now had enough material in hand to attempt reintroducing this species (in the form of various propagules) at different high altitude sites in the Kashmir Himalaya, with first reintroduction in protected sites (e,g. High Altitude Botanical Garden-Gulmarg, 2,500 m). The species is growing successfully in this site; it seems to indicate that this species will not have much trouble if transferred to natural habitat sites in the Kashmir Himalaya.

Apparent strategy of the plant

In the natural habitat of the Artemisia amygdalina, the population was observed minutely for a few months in the spring and summer seasons (2004-2005). Most of the individuals were without inflorescence, but the overall population density was higher and there appeared to be no signs of decline in the number of individuals. On further observation, it was found that the population is visited regularly by tribal people, who's cattle graze on the inflorescence of flowered individuals and no other part. The injury caused to the plant and its vital propogating parts, has continued over many years and may have led to the plant's inability to rely on propagation through seeds. To compensate, the plants have started investing more resources to their rhizomes and developed them as potential and effective means of propagation. Still propagation by seeds has not been stopped altogether, as it appears to have been kept as subsidiary means although most of the seeds produced through sexual reproduction have been found to be non viable. Perhaps the plant will stop allocating resources towards seed production if it finds that conditions are not improving.

Discussion

Artemisia amygdalina, last located in 1971, has altogether been neglected since then. This narrow endemic species may prove potentious for this region and to overall humanity as is evident from its ethno botanical importance and medicinal properties of the related species. Over the years many operational factors, such as low population size, habitat specificity, narrow distribution ranges, land-use disturbance, heavy livestock grazing, construction of dams and roads, fragmentation and degradation of populations, population bottle necks (Kala 1998, 2000; Weekly and Race 2001; Oostermeijer et al. 2003; Verger et al. 2003) have reduced the population of rare species, and A. amygdalina is no exception to this. The location and collection of this species from the Kashmir Himalaya proved like looking for needle in a heap of straw. Our most difficult, exertive, and troublesome field survey trips proved most often to be a mere failure. This may be evident that in the present study the said species was located from only one locality of the Kashmir Himalaya to date. The successful cultivation of the species in the experimental trial, resulted in standardizing methodology for mass level propagation of this species from its various organs vegetatively, which is very much unique to this species. This methodology is potentious, easy, economical, less sophisticated, adoptive and accommodative, time saving, and practical as compared to the usual modern methods (e.g. tissue culture) of propagation of RET species. It is implicative that indigenous knowledge system and traditional survival strategies should be adequately valued. The results achieved during the present study are of direct practical relevance in conservation and sustainable use of plant biodiversity of the Kashmir Himalaya. This will pave the way for the recovery, restoration and conservation of this and other economically important and critically endangered, narrow endemic angiosperms of Kashmir, thereby providing long-term backup collections for sustained use by the local populace.

Artemisia amygdalina Decne.

Perennial herb, large, glabrous; rhizome solid, hard, woody, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, blackish-brown, almost straight-slightly curved; stem erect, 2-3 m in height, 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter, leafy, prominently grooved, bears dense, small, leafy branches and branchlets. Leaves simple, rather membranous, acuminate, glabrous and bright-green above, dull-white and pubescent below, serrate, 3-9 cm in length and 0.5-1.5 cm in breadth, sub sessile-sessile. The terminal, tapering portion of stem bears a number of flowering heads; flowering heads in terminal branched raceme, ovoid, 0.5-1.5 cm in length and 0.4-0.6cm in diameter; involucre bracts oblong, obtuse, glabrous with pappery margins; outer florets female, fertile; disc florets hermaphrodite, fertile, yellow, tubular. Population restricted to a small area in lower Jhelum Valley, flowering tops browsed by cattle.

Habitat

Occurs in sandy, relatively loose and moist soil along the foothills in almost open sub-alpine situations.

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A. R. Dar (1,2)

G. H. Dar (1)

Zafar Reshi (1)

(1) Centre of Plant Taxonomy (COPT), University of Kashmir, Srinagar

(2) [e-mail]