Biodiversity

The present study was conducted to collect, identify and document the flora of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jaipur district of Rajasthan, India. The Survey of plants of Sanctuary was carried out during 2022 to 2024. The different species collected during the surveys were identified with the help of various flora of Rajasthan taxonomic literature, taxonomy expert and Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. A total of 506 plants species belonging to 90 families have been found in the investigation. Poaceae was the dominant family, followed by Fabaceae and Asteraceae.

The present study is an attempt to explore endemic taxa occurring in the Ranipuram hills in the Southern Western Ghats region of Kasaragod district and to identify habitat preference and diversity of life form type and current threat status of the plants. A total of 46 endemic taxa were culled out of 302 taxa eneumerated from the study area. The maximum number of endemic taxa belongs to Acanthaceae (13%) followed by Lauraceae and Gesneriaceae (8% each). Analysis of the habit reveals that among the endemics 35% (16 Spp.) of plant species were herbs, 30% (14 Spp.) were trees, 26% (Spp.) were shrubs and 9% (4 Spp.) were Climbers. Present study also identifies two near threatened and one vulnerable species. The Identification of endemic taxa is important in the biodiversity conservation and they have specific ecological niche.

Chambal river is the only perennial river of Rajasthan which is used for drinking, irrigation and power generation. The river hosts excellent flora and fauna of which freshwater flora is of much importance because of its basic position in the food chain. Only few research reports are available on cyanobacteria of Chambal River in Rajasthan. In present scenario some more documentation of cyanobacterial biodiversity is required for further research.