Dear Readers,
You are cordially invited to attend a talk by Dr. K.S.Shashidhar (Director, IWST) on:
Conservation of orchids and climate change
Date: 24th September 2007 (Monday)
Time: 3.00 - 4.00 pm
Venue: ATREE Terrace
All are welcome
Regards
Kalpana Prasanna,
HR Officer, ATREE
Here's the abstract
Natural ecosystems have evolved over a period of time with a complex and intricate life supporting interrelationship with its components. Unabated human activities leading to overexploitation of natural resources have disrupted this sensitive balance in nature. Some of these components in the ecosystem are extremely sensitive and few are hardy and can survive the consequences of these disturbances. Epiphytes, especially orchids are known to be the suitable indicators of, the health of the ecosystem, changes in the local climate and biodiversity as they provide nutrition to other flora and fauna and are highly sensitive in nature.
Identifying such indicator species in the ecosystem and monitoring will help in taking adequate precautions for conservation of the ecosystem and forewarning the consequences of these disturbances. Orchids are unique group of flowering plants highly evolved and have developed special mechanisms to ensure pollination and survival in nature in association with insects. Apart from this, the zonation of its occurrence in the forest structure and ecosystem makes it an interesting species.
The rise in global temperature due to emission of CO2 and other green house gases such as methane and Chlorofluorocarbons have resulted in glaciers disappearing, average sea level rising, coastal areas and islands submerging. On the other side, it has played havoc on the living and vibrant Forest ecosystem resulting in loss of biodiversity, species extinction, and totally disrupting the delicate life supporting, complex interdependent activity almost to an extent of irreparable stage.
Effects of these changes on the ecosystem are being observed in the form of changes in the community structure, alteration of phenological events, migration of the species, sensitive activities like synchronized pollination through insects are few of them. Conservation approaches in such a scenario are to be in a holistic manner taking in to account the entire ecosystem rather than focusing on any particular species for both short as well as long term. Along with the known conservation practices of insitu and exsitu, assisting species to migrate to locations of better adaptability will compliment the on going programmes. A well conceived conservation programme of restoration, reintroduction and new introduction will ensure the conservation of these important indicator species.
