A floral wealth and diversity: An outstanding status in Puducherry Union Territory – A review

• Authors: Muthulingam Muthukumaran
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The Puducherry Union Territory has greater floral cover percentiles (0.43%) at different locations in both aquatic and terrestrial regions. Octa Floral Diversity Region (OFDR) is the collective name for the eight distinct floral diversity regions that were examined for this review from the union territory of Puducherry. Review on previous studies around 2278 species, 1523 genera, 561 families, and 25 endangered species have been found in Puducherry's diverse ecosystems (Bahour Lake, Ousteri wetland and restoration, Pondicherry University campus, estuary, terrestrial grassland, Sacred grooves, and coastal flora). Sacred grooves had the greatest percentage of significant vegetative status across species, genera, and families when compared to the floral diversity status on OFDR. The estuarine floral exploration had the lowest percentage compared with TDEF of the Pondicherry University campus (PU), Sacred Groves, Ousteri wetland, Restoration, and terrestrial flora, which are arranged in descending order of percentage. The country-level analysis of floral diversity (%) revealed a descending order in which India, China, Africa, Russia, the Arctic, the OFDR, Europe, and Antarctica were included. Different results were obtained from quantitative research conducted at the national, state, and union territory levels on species and diversity strata in terrestrial and aquatic biomes. Quantitative floral data will help manage and conserve wetland forests. The findings indicate that the floral status of OFDR across a range of ecosystems falls into a significantly rich diversity and wealth category. Hence, the author reviewed OFDR's floral status under the outstanding status. There are a few recommendations that could be proposed to protect Puducherry's wealth: 1. Stop indiscriminate logging, 2. An in-depth analysis of the multi-decade inventory is required for the OFDR regions in Puducherry, 3. Both terrestrial and aquatic environments reported threatened flora, and actions can be conducted to save them.

Keywords

EN

Puducherry flora; Union territory; diverse ecosystems; south India

Discipline

• BOTANY: BOTANY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2024
• Volume: 52
• Pages: 139-150

Contributors

author

Muthulingam Muthukumaran

• Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Puducherry Technological University, Karaikal, Puducherry, India

References

• [1] Kamelin, R.V., The flora of russia project (Russian Federation). Her. Russ. Acad. Sci. (2007) 77, 22–26
• [2] Li D.Z., Floristics and plant biogeography in China, J Integr Plant Biol. (2008) 50(7), 771-7
• [3] Muthukumaran, M., Rao AVB., Nadanakunjidam S., Kadavul K., A. Pragasam, Non-woody back mangrove, mangrove associates and beach flora of Puducherry coast and their pharmacology, Int J. Sci. Nat. (2012) 3(4), 735-744
• [4] Ponnuchamy, R., Pragasam, A., Aravajy, S., Patel, P., Das, L., and Anupama, K., A floristic study on herbs and climbing plants at Puducherry, south India: an approach to biodiversity conservation and regeneration through eco-restoration. Check List (2013) 9(3), 555-600
• [5] Poyyamoli, G., Padmavathy, K., and Balachandran, N., Coastal sand dunes–vegetation structure, diversity and disturbance in Nallavadu Village, Puducherry, India. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution (2011) 8(1), 115-122
• [6] Ramanujam, M. P., and K. Praveen Kumar Cyril, Woody species diversity of four sacred groves in the Pondicherry region of South India. Biodiversity & Conservation 12 (2003): 289-299
• [7] Zhang, J., Li, X.Q., Peng, H.W., et al., Evolutionary history of the Arctic flora, Nat Commun (2023).14, 1-4021
• [8] Sankar Ganesh, K,, S. Rajasekaran, M. Rajesh, M. Nagarajan, and P. Sundaramoothy, Seasonal variation of temple wall floras in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India, World Scientific News (2015) 19, 50-68
• [9] Tomasz Borowski, Tadeusz Hryniewicz, Natural Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) – a Scientific and Touristic Expedition to the South-West India. The Institute of Biopaleogeography named under Charles R. Darwin 14 (2022) 1-88.
• [10] Anjan Kumar Prusty, B. Arun P.R. Bhupathy S. Murugesan M. and Rachna Chandra, Comprehensive Management Action Plan for Conservation of Ousteri Lake, Puducherry. DST Project Report (2011) 1-118
• [11] Jan Lehmköster., The Arctic and Antarctic –Extreme, Climatically Crucial and In Crisis; Polar flora and fauna, maribus, War 6 (4), (2019) 179-237
• [12] Kumaran, B., and Presena J., Ecological impact assessment on the diversity of flora and fauna of bahour lake, Puducherry, DST Project (2020) 1(1), 1-45
• [13] Muthukumaran, M., A.V.B. Rao and Nagalakshmama, K., Loss of above ground biomass (AGB) on Avicennia marina (Forsk.) and CO2 emission due to thane cyclone in Puducherry coast, South India. Editor Anisa B Khan. Green India strategic knowledge for combating climate change prospects and challenges (2014), Excel Publishers 5, 343-361.
• [14] Lila, A., Katharina, L., T. Karin, and Heino, K., (2023). A systematic review of threats, conservation, and management measures for tree species of the family Rosaceae in Europe, Flora Volume 301, April 2023, 152244
• [15] National Wetland Atlas: Union Territories, Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad, India (2010) 1-112
• [16] Parthasarathy, N., Arul Pragasan, L., Muthuperumal, C., Anbarsan, M., Flora of Pondicherry University Campus, Pondicherry University, India, (Ed. N. Parthasarathy), Pondicherry University Publishers (2010) 1, 2-5
• [17] Ramanujam, M. P., Ganesan, T., Kadamban, D., Kumaravelu, G., and Devaraj P., Flora of sacred groves of Puducherry Region-A Pictoral Guide, (Ed. M.P. Ramanujam), Forest Department Publishers (2007) 1, 77-95.
• [18] Saravanan, K.R., A study on the diversity and management of Pondicherry mangroves. DST Project, (2005) 1, 1-57.
• [19] Sasikala, K., Pradeepkumar, G,, Harilal, C.C., and Ravindran, C.P, Ecological and socio-economic studies of the sacred groves in Mahe with special reference to the conservation and management. DST Project (2011) 1, 1-82.
• [20] Sharma B.D., N.P. Balakrishnan, Rao R.R., & P.K. Hajra, Flora of India (New Series), (Ed. Sharma et al.,), Published by The Director, Botanical Survey of India (1994) 1, 1-461.
• [21] Sosef, M.S.M., Dauby, G., Blach-Overgaard, A. et al., Exploring the floristic diversity of tropical Africa. BMC Biol (2017) 15, 1-15
• [22] Joppa Lucas N., Roberts David L., and Pimm Stuart, L., How many species of flowering plants are there? Proc. R. Soc. B. (2011) 278554–278559

• Document Type: article