View of ECOLOGY AND PHYTOGEOGRAPHY OF BRYOPHYTES IN MENAL AND JOGNIYA MATA OF CHITTORGARH (RAJASTHAN)

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ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal (International Journal) ISSN-2456-1037

Vol. 05,Special Issue 02, (IC-IRSHEM-2020) February 2020, Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

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ECOLOGY AND PHYTOGEOGRAPHY OF BRYOPHYTES IN MENAL AND JOGNIYA MATA OF CHITTORGARH (RAJASTHAN)

1Arun Chaudhary and ²Sanju Balot

Department of Botany, Maharana Pratap Government College Chittaurgarh, (Rajasthan) Abstract:- The present investigation has been carried out in Menal, Jogniya Mata and its neighbouring area of Chittaurgarh District. The study deals with the ecology of bryophytes in relation to soil and climatic conditions like moisture, temperature, light and elevation.

Both biotic and abiotic factors play an important role in the occurrence and distribution of bryophyte vegetation in the study area. Twenty two bryophyte species belonging to twelve genera have been collected from different parts of the study area out of which12 species are Lithocolous, 17 species are Terricolous, 7 species are Calcicolous and 5 species are Phycocolous. Geographically 16 species occurs in Eastern Himalayas, 19 species in Western Himalayas and 19 species in South India.

Keywords:- Ecology, Bryophytes, Lithocolous, Terricolous, Calcicolous, Phycocolous.

1. INTRODUCTION

The present study area lies in Chittaurgarh district within the State of Rajasthan and thus it lies in region north to the Tropic of Cancer and occupies the Western part of India.

Chittaurgarh district is located between 23ô32^’and 25ô13^’latitude and 74ô21^’and 75ô49^’ longitude covering an area of 10,856 sq.km. The present study area Menal and Jogniya Mata lies in Begun subdivision and is generally characterized by undulating topography with hills belonging to the Aravalli Range. These hills are scattered all over the area. The average elevation of the district Chittaurgarh from the mean sea level is 408 m with dense mixed forest declared as reserved forest. The climate is maritime and monsoonal.

The year is divided in to three seasons namely monsoon season extending from June to mid October, winter season from mid October to mid February and summer from mid February to the end of May. Study area has comes in Chittaurgarh district it has a humid subtropical climate. Like most of north India, it has a hot dry summer (April–June) followed by monsoon rains (July–September) and a cool and relatively dry winter. The average rainfall is about 715.92 mm. The temperature of the study area is typical of tropical monsoon lands. In most cases the mean monthly temperature exceeds 24.82°C. The monthly average minimum temperature registered is 17.56°C in the month of January and the monthly maximum temperature registered is 32.89°C in the month of May.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Present work is based on the field collection of fresh plants of bryophytes from the different area of Menal, Jogniya Mata and their surrounding area in different seasons, especially following rains. Surveys were carried out in all possible habitats and microhabitats, most of these habitat types were visited several times during different seasons of the year. All the collected specimens have been deposited in the Bryology Laboratory, Dept. of Botany, Maharana Pratap Government College, Chittaurgarh.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During the present investigation on the bryophytes of Menal, Jogniya Mata and its neighbouring areas about 22 taxa has been identified and enumerated. It includes an account of 12 species belonging to 7 genera of Mosses, 9 species belonging 4 genera of Liverworts and 1 species belonging to 1genera of Hornworts. It has been observed that terricolous forms are dominant than other forms.

Lal (2005) has divided Indian flora into six bryo-geographical regions parts viz., Western Himalayan territory, Gangetic plains, Eastern Himalayan territory, Central Indian zone, Panjab plains and Rajasthan and South Indian zone. The present study area comes under the Rajasthan zone and regarding the distribution of bryophytes in relation to environmental conditions of the Rajasthan we propose the present study area as the “Hilly area of Menal and Jogniya Mata” into Southern region of Rajasthan bryo-ecological zone.

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2 3.1 The hilly area of Menal and Jogniya Mata

The hilly region of Menal and Jogniya Mata are highest elevated areas (610 m) of the Chittaurgarh district, showing maximum bryo-diversity. This area is towards eastern side of the Bassi region. The area is well known for Menal water flow and Jogniya Mata Temple.

The species which are collected from the study area includes Targioniahypophylla L., Cyathodiumcavernarum Kunze., Plagiochasmaappendiculatum L. et. L., Plagiochasmaarticulatum Kash., Ricciamelanospora Kash., Riccia discolor L.etL.Pugill., Ricciabillardieri Mont. et N, Ricciacruciata Kash., Ricciaplana Taylor., Anthoceros erectus Kash., Funariahygrometrica Hedw., Brachymenium exile (Doz. et Molk) Bosch et Lac., Brachymeniumindicum Doz. et Molk., Bryumparadoxum Schwaegr., Bryumcapillare L. ex Hedw., Stereophyllumligulatum Jaeg., Hydrogoniumconsainguineum(Thwait. et Mitt.) Hilp, Hydrogoniumarcuatum (Griff.) Wijk et Marg., and Hyophilainvoluta (Hook.) Jaeg., Hyophilarosea Williams., Hyophilacomosa Dix. et P. Vard.,and Fissidenscrenulatus Mitt.,.

In Liverworts Riccia is the dominant genus with 5 species and in Mosses Hyophilais the dominant genus with 3 species.

It seems to be general rule that bryophytes flourish best in the crevices where shade and moisture may be more frequently available. In the study area bryophytes can be distributed in diverse habitats out of which 12 are found on rocks (Lithocolous), 17 on moist soil floors on clayey slopes on ditches (Terricolous), 7 on brick, walls (Calcicolous) and 7 on Angiospermic plants (Phycocolous). Habitats wise classification of the species is given in table 1

Table 1: Showing distribution of the bryophytes in different habitats in the present study area

S.

No. Species Lithoco

lous Terrico

lous Calcico

lous Phycoco lous

1. Targionia hypophylla L. + + - -

2. Cyathodium cavernarum Kunze. + + - -

3. Plagiochasma appendiculatum L. et. L. + + + -

4. Plagiochasma articulatum Kash. + - + -

5. Riccia melanospora Kash. + + + -

6. Riccia discolor L. et L. + + - -

7. Riccia billardieri Mont. et N. + + + -

8. Riccia cruciata Kash. + - - -

9. Riccia planaTaylor. + + + -

10. Anthoceros erectus Kash. - + + -

11. Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. + - + -

12. Brachymenium exile (Doz. etMolk)

Bosch et Lac. - + - +

13. Brachymenium indicumDoz. et Molk. - + - +

14. Bryum paradoxum Schwaegr. - + - -

15. Bryum capillare L. ex Hedw. - - - +

16. Stereophyllum ligulatum Jaeg. - - - +

17. Hydrogoniumconsanguineum (Thwait.

et Mitt.) Hilp. - + + +

18. Hydrogonium arcuatum (Griff.) Wijk et

Marg. - + - -

19. Hyophila involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. + + - +

20. Hyophila rosea Williams. - + - +

21. Hyophila comosa Dix. et P. Vard. - - - +

22. Fissidens crenulatus Mitt. - - - +

(+) Present, () Absent.

4. PHYTOGEOGRAPHY: ELEMENT, AFFINITIES AND ANALYSIS

In the present study area, total 22 species of bryophytes were collected out of which 11 belongs to liverworts, 2 belongs to hornworts and 18 belongs to mosses. In liverworts

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Marchantiales is the most dominant order represented by 9 species belonging to 4 genera and 3 families. Order Anthocerotales is represented by 1 species belonging to single genus.

In mosses order Bryales is the dominant order with 12 species belonging to 7 genera and 6 families. The distribution of bryophytes in different regions of India is given in table 2.

Species common to:-

1. Present study area and Eastern Himalayas = 16 2. Present study area and Western Himalayas = 19 3. Present study area and South India = 19

The analysis outlined above reveals that the bryophyte element follows the same general trend in floral dispersal throughout as those in higher plants. The common species in different regions indicate that study area vegetation is more resembles with Western Himalayas and Southern India element.

Table: 2 Showing distribution of the bryophytes in different regions of India S.

No. Species Eastern

Himalayas Western

Himalayas South

India Study area

1. Targionia hypophylla L. + + + +

2. Cyathodium

cavernarum Kunze. + - + +

3. Plagiochasma

appendiculatum L. et.

L.

+ + + +

4. Plagiochasma

articulatum Kash. + + + +

5. Riccia melanospora

Kash. - + + +

6. Riccia discolor L. et L. + + + +

7. Riccia billardieri Mont.

et N. + + + +

8. Riccia cruciata Kash. + + - +

9. Riccia plana Taylor. - + + +

10. Anthoceros erectus

Kash. + + + +

11. Funaria hygrometrica

Hedw. + + + +

12. Brachymenium exile (Doz. etMolk) Bosch et Lac.

+ + + +

13. Brachymenium

indicum Doz. et Molk. - + - +

14. Bryum paradoxum

Schwaegr + + + +

15. Bryumcapillare L. ex

Hedw. - + + +

16. Stereophyllum

ligulatum aeg. + - + +

17. Hydrogonium consanguineum (Thwait. et Mitt.) Hilp.

+ + + +

18. Hydrogonium

arcuatum (Griff.)Wijket Marg.

+ + + +

19. Hyophila involuta

(Hook.) Jaeg. + + + +

20. Hyophila rosea

Williams. - + - +

21. Hyophila comosa Dix. + + + +

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4 S.

No. Species Eastern

Himalayas Western

Himalayas South

India Study area et P. Vard.

22. Fissidens crenulatus

Mitt. - - + +

(+) Present, () Absent. 16 19 19 22 REFERENCES

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