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<p>Pteridophytes (ferns and fern-allies) are the second-largest group of vascular plants, but their global biogeography remains poorly studied, especially in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). In this study, we present a comprehensive database of pteridophytes (1025 taxa belonging to 106 genera in 19 families) in the IHR. Among these 99 were threatened, 215 medicinal and 12 endemic to IHR. The majority of species were affiliated with wet tropical biome (418 taxa), and terrestrial habitat (770 taxa) residing in moist shaded slopes/areas and forest floors (882 taxa). Moreover, maximum number of taxa had their geographic distribution in southeast Asian region (41%, 418 taxa), thus making the region a major source of species pool to the pteridophyte flora in IHR. A total of 799 taxa distributed in 97 genera and 19 families were native to the Himalayan region. Across IHR, the number of pteridophytes was highest in Arunachal Pradesh (590 in 91 genera and 18 families) and lowest in Ladakh (91 in 29 genera and 10 families). A hierarchical cluster analysis, based on Jaccard similarity index (<i>J</i>), grouped states/UTs across into four clusters: (a) Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand; (b) Ladakh; (c) West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal and Sikkim; and (d) Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. Along the elevational belt, the richness pattern of pteridophytes exhibited a hump-shaped curve with the number of taxa continuously increasing from lower elevations and attaining maximum value in mid-elevation zone, <i>i.e.</i>, 1501-2000&#xa0;m. Moreover, based on regression analysis, we assessed the patterns of occurrence of important plant groups, such as native, endemic, medicinal and threatened, along the elevation gradient. Grid-based distribution modelling of endemic and threatened plant groups exhibited highest diversity in Arunachal Pradesh (i.e., endemic in 122 grids, critically endangered in 113 and vulnerable in 185), while grids containing endangered species were highest in Meghalaya (63). Our research presents a model biodiversity database with broad policy implications for the design and administration of environmental programs, management and restoration strategies for climate change mitigation techniques.</p>

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Diversity, distribution and conservation of Pteridophytes in the Himalaya, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月9日

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  • Neha Thapliyal,
  • K. Chandra Sekar

摘要

Pteridophytes (ferns and fern-allies) are the second-largest group of vascular plants, but their global biogeography remains poorly studied, especially in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). In this study, we present a comprehensive database of pteridophytes (1025 taxa belonging to 106 genera in 19 families) in the IHR. Among these 99 were threatened, 215 medicinal and 12 endemic to IHR. The majority of species were affiliated with wet tropical biome (418 taxa), and terrestrial habitat (770 taxa) residing in moist shaded slopes/areas and forest floors (882 taxa). Moreover, maximum number of taxa had their geographic distribution in southeast Asian region (41%, 418 taxa), thus making the region a major source of species pool to the pteridophyte flora in IHR. A total of 799 taxa distributed in 97 genera and 19 families were native to the Himalayan region. Across IHR, the number of pteridophytes was highest in Arunachal Pradesh (590 in 91 genera and 18 families) and lowest in Ladakh (91 in 29 genera and 10 families). A hierarchical cluster analysis, based on Jaccard similarity index (J), grouped states/UTs across into four clusters: (a) Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand; (b) Ladakh; (c) West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal and Sikkim; and (d) Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. Along the elevational belt, the richness pattern of pteridophytes exhibited a hump-shaped curve with the number of taxa continuously increasing from lower elevations and attaining maximum value in mid-elevation zone, i.e., 1501-2000 m. Moreover, based on regression analysis, we assessed the patterns of occurrence of important plant groups, such as native, endemic, medicinal and threatened, along the elevation gradient. Grid-based distribution modelling of endemic and threatened plant groups exhibited highest diversity in Arunachal Pradesh (i.e., endemic in 122 grids, critically endangered in 113 and vulnerable in 185), while grids containing endangered species were highest in Meghalaya (63). Our research presents a model biodiversity database with broad policy implications for the design and administration of environmental programs, management and restoration strategies for climate change mitigation techniques.