9.STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF THREATENED AND ENDEMIC HELICHRYSUM CUTCHICUM (ASTERACEAE) IN ARID ECOSYSTEM OF KACHCHH_ GUJARAT_ INDIA By P. N. JOSHI1_ H. B. SONI 2_ S.F. WESLEY SUNDERRAJ3 AND
Abstract
Helichrysum cutchicum (Family: Asteraceae) is a threatened herbaceous plant species endemic to Indian plains and confined to arid and semi arid regions. This species was surveyed in arid ecosystems of Kachchh, Gujarat State, north-western part of India. An opportunistic survey was carried out in different major ecosystems like forests (plains and hilly tracts), grasslands, agro-ecosystem, wastelands and plantations by adopting belt transect and species center quadrate methods. In addition to species enumeration, information on micro habitat, terrain, slope, substratum, soil type and depth, and associated plant species were also recorded. This paper highlights the abundance, distribution, habitat preference, threats and conservation strategies at broader levels. Since H. cutchicum is a species of arid and semi-arid regions, it showed wider distribution in Kachchh. The 42 localities where the species was reported spread across all the seven talukas. Abundance status varied from less than one plant per hectare to 552 per hectare. Though, it showed wider distribution, population abundance restricted to very few localities. Outof 42, only four localities (9.52%) were represented by the density of more than 200 plants per hectare,
and only three (7.14%) provinces were found to harbour the density of 65 to 75 plants hectare. Habitat
specific density showed that H. cutchicum preferred grassland ecosystem interspersed dense grass patches,
soil substratum with deep soil, predominately clay and sandy in nature. Over grazing and conversion of
grasslands for dryland agriculture seems to be the major threats. Intensive survey of grasslands, ecological
understanding on seed viability, dispersal mechanism, and regeneration potential is prerequisite.
Restoration of potential grasslands with high density of H. cutchicum and plantations in botanical gardens
are the immediate conservation strategies.
KEY WORD: Helichrysum cutchicum, Population Dynamics, Conservation, Management, Kachchh
Desert Island, Gujarat State, India.
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