Annual Report 2011-2012 - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

EBIRBAL SAHNI INSTITUT
Project 9.5:
Annual Report 2011-2012
Studies on Quaternary vegetation and Climate from Himalaya
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OF PALAEOBOTANY
Compiled the geochemical and pollen analyses data
of sedimentary profiles from various Tals of Kumaun
Himalaya, which has revealed the knowledge of total
organic matter and corresponding climate existed at the
region during late Quaternary. Palaeontological data has
revealed molluscan shells from the younger portions;
supporting humid conditions during late Holocene.
Asha Gupta (superannuated w.e.f. 31.08.2011)
Project 9.6
Proxy climatic signals from lacustrine lake sediments of Upper Assam Basin and
adjoining foot-hill forests of Arunachal Pradesh (Subansiri District) during Holocene:
A comparative palaeoecological assessment
Studied pollen morphology of 30 major tree taxa
belonging to semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forest
of Arunachal Pradesh for precise identification of subfossil
pollen to reconstruct palaeovegetation and climate
of the area. Pollen/vegetation relationship is established
from Hapoli-Ziro Valley. Study showing the existence of
tropical mixed deciduous forest comprising Schima
wallichii, Magnoliaceae, Bauhinia and Cinnamomum
under warm and humid climatic condition. Also studied
the air catches support air borne pollen dispersal with
surface sample data. A 2.5 m road cutting soil exposure
section from Tarin-Hapoli road has also been pollen
analyzed. Palynoassemblage reveal five climatic phases
under cool and dry to warm and humid climatic condition.
Carbon date is in progress.
Pollen analyzed 25 subsurface samples from
different sites of Itanagar wildlife sanctuary. The pollen
assemblage depicts predominance of the non-arboreals
(55-60%) over arboreals (30-40%) which do not fully
cohere with extant vegetation. Incidence of Arecaceae
pollen probably belongs to Arenga and Caryota is
significant which is not growing in and around the
sanctuary, needs further investigation. An urgent need is
Dendrochronology Group
Palynoassemblage from Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary
required for immediate steps under a well-planned strategy
to conserve the rich plant diversity in the sanctuary to
trace palaeoclimate of pristine sanctuary in relation to
global context.
S.K. Bera & S.K. Basumatary
Project 10.1:
Development of long-term high resolution proxy climate record from the Himalayan region
Analysed tree-ring chronologies of Pinus
gerardiana and Cedrus deodara from Kinnaur,
Himachal Pradesh to develop climate reconstructions. In
addition, the tree ring samples of Pinus roxburghii, Pinus
Project 10.2:
wallichiana and Cedrus deodara have been collected
from various sites around Chamoli, Joshimath and Malari,
Uttarakhand. The ring-width sequences in 60 samples of
Pinus wallichiana are crossdated and measured.
R.R. Yadav
Analysis of climatic changes based on multi-proxy data during Holocene from Peninsular
and Himalayan regions
Spatio-temporal growth variability of 3 Pinus
species, viz. Pinus kesiya (Khasi pine), Pinus merkusii
(Merkus pine) and Pinus wallichiana (Blue pine) along
with the existence of species differentiation among the
taxa in northeast India has been carried out. Several
statistical analyses are used namely Pearson correlation
and multivariate approaches involving UPGMA Cluster
Analysis; ordination methods by Principal Component
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