Effect of abiotic factors on understory community structures in moist deciduous forests of northern India

Understory vegetation controls, in a significant way, the regeneration of overstory trees, carbon sequestration and nutrient retention in tropical forests. Development and organization of understory vegetation depend on climate, edaphic and biotic factors which are not well correlated with plant community structures. This study aimed to explore the relationships between understory vegetation and abiotic factors in natural and planted forest ecosystems. A non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMS) ordination technique was applied to represent forest understory vegetation among five forest communities, i.e., a dry miscellaneous forest(DMF), a sal mixed forest(SMF), a teak plantation(TP), a low-land miscellaneous forest(LMF) and a savanna area(SAV) of the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, located in northern India. Microclimatic variables, such as photosynthetically active radiation(PAR), air temperature(AT), soil temperature(ST), ambient atmospheric CO 2 concentration, absolute air humidity(AH), physical and chemical soil properties as well as biological properties were measured. Understory species were assessed via 100 random quadrats(5 m × 5 m) in each of the five forests in which a total of 75 species were recorded encompassing 67 genera from 37 families, consisting of 32 shrubs and 43 plant saplings. DMF was the most dense forest with 34,068 understory individuals per ha of different species, whereas the lowest understory population(13,900 per ha) was observed in the savanna. Ordination and correlation revealed that microclimate factors are most important in their effect compared to edaphic factors, on the development of understory vegetation in the various forest communities in the north of India.

New records of Graphidaceae(lichenized fungi)from the Western Ghats of Kerala state,India

In the present paper,15 lichenized fungal species belonging to family Graphidaceae are described,of which Ocellularia albomaculata,O.ascidioidea,O.kanneliyensis,O.monosporoides,O.pertusariiformis and O.rhicnopora are new records to Indian lichen biota and Pallidogramme chrysenteron is new to Peninsular India,whereas Asteristion alboolivaceum,Chapsa hiata,Diploschistes rampoddensis,Fissurina rubiginosa,Pseudochapsa phlyctidioides,Thelotrema canarense,T.piluliferum and T.subtile are new to lichen biota of Kerala state.

Larvicidal potential of selected indigenous lichens against three mosquito species–Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi

Objective：Mosquitoes are the major transmitting vectors of serious human diseases,causing millions of deaths every year with undesirable effects,including toxicity to non-target organisms.Some plants with insecticidal properties have been used in recent years for the control of a variety of pest insects and vectors.In the quest for alternative natural biological control agents against mosquito larvae lichens were selected.Method：Larvicidal activity was assessed with methanolic extracts of Parmotrema reticulatum,Parmotrema kamatti,Parmotrema tinctorum,Parmelia erumpens,Leptogium papilosum,and Roccella montagnei against Aedes aegypti,Anopheles stephensi,and Culex quinquefasciatus.The standard WHO protocols with minor modifications were adopted and the bioassay was evaluated at the concentrations of 100–500μg/m L for each lichen.Since all the lichen extracts showed complete mortality against C.quinquefasciatus in100μg/m L,the concentrations were decreased to 100,50,25,12.5,and 6.25μg/m L for C.quinquefasciatus.Larval mortality was observed for 24 h after treatment.Results：All the lichen extracts exhibited activity against third instar larvae of A.aegypti and A.stephensi at 100μg/m L,and 100%mortality was observed against the vector C.quinquefasciatus at 100μg/m L.The highest larvicidal activity was found with L.papilosum against A.aegypti（81.127μg/m L）and A.stephensi（89.10μg/m L）.Similarly,P.tinctorum and R.montagnei when tested against C.quinquefasciatus with minimum concentration〈100μg/m L exhibited significant activity withof 5.32and 6.97μg/m L.Conclusion：The bioassay results revealed larvicidal potential of lichens especially against C.quinquefasciatus with high mortality even at lower concentration.Hence,lichens can be used as an ideal sustainable approach for the control of lymphatic filariasis caused by vector C.quinquefasciatus.