BK CORRESPONDENT

Srinagar, July 5: In a groundbreaking study, scientists from the University of Kashmir have, for the first time, mapped how fern species grow and evolve across the elevational gradients of the western Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. The research sheds new light on how biodiversity patterns are shifting in response to climate change.
The team, from the university’s Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy, documented 225 pteridophyte species—including Dryopteris, Asplenium, and Polystichum—across elevations ranging from 300 to 4700 meters above sea level. The highest species richness was observed between 1901–2000 meters, with 135 species.
Published under the title "Elevational patterns and drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of pteridophytes: A case study from the Himalaya", the study found that precipitation, particularly during dry months, was a major driver of species richness, more so than temperature. However, evolutionary diversity patterns were more temperature-dependent.
The research also highlighted that niche conservatism and environmental filtering play significant roles in shaping fern communities along elevation bands. Mid-altitude zones were found to be biodiversity hotspots, with clear phylogenetic clustering at mid and high elevations, and overdispersion at lower altitudes, indicating evolutionary divergence.
Lead researcher Sajad Ahmad Wani, along with colleagues Shabir Ahmad Zargar, Firdous Ahmad Dar, Aadil Abdullah Khoja, Akhtar Hussain Malik, Irfan Rashid, and Anzar Ahmad Khuroo, emphasized the study’s relevance for conservation efforts. Ferns, due to their moisture dependence and limited stomatal control, are particularly sensitive to climate variability and serve as vital bioindicators of environmental change.
Funded by the University Grants Commission and supported by the University of Kashmir’s Department of Botany, this is the first comprehensive fern diversity assessment in the region. The findings serve as a critical baseline for future biodiversity and climate research, particularly in mountainous ecosystems facing ecological stress.