Alpine flora of Kashmir Himalaya: Floristic assessment, life history traits and threat status

Alpine ecosystems in the Himalaya are considered to be at a higher risk of anthropogenic global change drivers. The Kashmir Himalaya, located in the north-western side of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, harbors a diverse alpine flora, which remains systematically little investigated. To fill this knowledge gap, the present study documented the alpine flora of this Himalayan region using a plot-based systematic sampling approach. Based on the sampling of 151 1-hectare plots comprising 999 quadrats from 2020-2023 across the study region, we recorded 159 species belonging to 122 genera in 47 families. Asteraceae was the dominant family with 20 species, followed by Lamiaceae (12 species) and Rosaceae (9 species). Likewise, Impatiens and Poa were the dominant genera with 4 species each, followed by Androsace, Salix, and Plantago with 3 species each.  The herbs were dominant (135 species, 84.9%), followed by shrubs (13, 8.2%). Lifespan-wise, perennials were dominant (139 species, 87%), followed by annuals (20, 13%). The hemicryptophytes were the dominant life forms (104 species, 65%), followed by phanerophytes (19, 12%). A small proportion of the recorded species (ca. 14%) has been empirically evaluated for threat assessment, leaving a vast majority still unassessed. Overall, our study provides a permanent plot-based reference floristic data on the alpine flora of this Western Himalayan region with immediate relevance in devising conservation strategies and formulating management plans. Looking ahead, the findings showcase a framework for floristic assessment to monitor alpine biodiversity change in the future across the fragile high-elevation Himalayan landscapes.