Research Projects

Climate change in the Himalayan region significantly impacts plants in extreme environments, causing phenological phases to shift. While most temperate plants experience phenological shifts in spring and autumn, the shifting patterns in Kashmir Himalaya are species-specific and context-specific. Frost resistance, a critical trait for surviving climate change impacts, has not been studied for Himalayan plant species in extreme environments. Electrolyte leakage after freezing is an indicator of leaf frost sensitivity, related to climate, season, and plant geographical distribution. This frost resistance could be included in trait-based research on vegetation change caused by climate warming, especially in mountain ecosystems. The proposal aims to assess phenological shifts in alpine and sub-alpine plants in Kashmir Himalaya due to climate warming through systematic observations, comparing phenological patterns along an altitudinal gradient, and reconstructing historical records. The key functional traits of selected plant species will be identified to understand their potential role in adaptation to extreme environments and climate change. Understanding the frost resistance of plant species in alpine and sub-alpine extreme environments is a key hallmark of the proposal.