International Journal of Conservation Science (Dec 2011)
Conservation Strategies for the Threatened Quercus Semecarpifolia Sm. A Himalayan Timberline Oak
Abstract
Quercus semecarpifolia Sm. is a temperate, timberline, multipurpose oak species. It plays an important role in the Himalayan ecosystem. Human pressure, predation, short-lived acorns, failure of good seed crop every year, poor regeneration, desiccation, frost sensitivity and climate change may lead to complete extinction of the species in a near future. Immediate attention to conservation and restoration measures of the Himalayan ecosystem, in which this species grows, is required. Thus, an experiment was designed to analyze the role of planting stock and micro-sites for the regeneration of Q. semecarpifolia in-situ. For that purpose, 16 microsites with presence/absence of litter, canopy and sunlight were identified, where seeds/propagules were planted. The presence of litter, canopy and sunlight influenced the seedling production, mainly impairing the processes, leading to the expansion in diameter of the radicle, causing shoot/root emergence. Radicle emergence took place in all the seeds immediately after shedding but only 20% of seedlings recovered; however, when the stored seeds were sown as soon as the emerging radicle attained 10-15cm in length and 2-3cm in diameter, 80% of seedlings were recovered. Surprisingly, after being detached from the seed the swollen radicle acted as a propagule and produced 80% seedlings irrespective of the microsites; however, radicles detached prior to diameter expansion failed to produce seedlings which is a crucial insight for promoting seedling production.
