The research of the project was done in 2 work packages (WP1 and WP2). WP1 started with the selection of different plant populations distributed along climatic gradients of temperature and precipitation in the Himalaya. Following the identification and selection of plant populations, we installed climatic dataloggers to record climatic data from these populations (starting in the Summer of 2021 and is continued even after the end of the project). From each of the plant populations, we estimated different morphological plant functional traits (leaf and twigs). We also analysed the leaf samples for untargeted metabolite profiling using LC-MS. During the metabolome analysis, we standardized the method for untargeted metabolomics. We also collected soil samples from each of the populations and downloaded the climatic data from installed dataloggers in summer 2022.
The statistical tests based on the recorded data reveal that different plant populations show functional differentiation. We also analysed the role of climate, soil properties and plant morphology on leaf metabolomic differentiation and analysis revealed that climatic factors (temperature and soil moisture) were the major factors determining metabolomic differentiation and morphology is only poorly linked to metabolome. In the variation of leaf and twig traits, we found that climatic responses and tradeoffs in leaf and twig trait variation were not similar.
We also recorded the abundance of all the plants other than the focal species in all the localities and recorded their different morphological traits. Currently, the generated data is being statistically analysed for preparing scientific manuscript.
WP2 comprised analysing plant responses to climatic variability along climatic gradients using plant growth rings to find evidence of linkage between climatic factors and plant growth and short and long temporal scales. For this, we characterized the plant growth rings, estimated standardized growth chronologies, and estimated changes in basal area increment in each studied individual over their entire life. We then tested for the linkage between climatic factors and plant growth using different statistical tests (correlation analysis, linear models). Our tests revealed significant effects of climatic factors on plant growth and basal area increment. Tests also revealed that the effects of climatic factors were inconsistent across different populations.
During the project work, I supervised 3 fieldwork internships for post-MSc students. Students were involved in plant sampling and trait measurements. All three students gained an interest in ecological sciences and opted for going to research in fields complementary to the experience they gained during the internship.
I received training in Eco-metabolomics in 2021 via a course offered by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig and on Species distribution modelling (during the secondment period) at Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Halle, Germany. I also received training under the Mentoring programme offered by the host institute for my professional development. I also attended workshops on publishing tips for researchers (including open-access publishing) organised by Wiley and a statistics seminar organised by Highland Statistics. Other training activities include analysis of data, writing manuscripts, writing project proposals to secure future funding and management of research project.
We expected 3 publications from the project. The data needed for the planned publications have already been collected and the publications are under preparation. The publications will be communicated to scientific journals in the coming months. Two of the three publications are in the writing phase. The work has already been presented at three international conferences. The work was also presented as an invited speaker at Student Seminar Series 2022 at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) situated at Palampur (HP), India. I also interacted with the non-scientific audience during fieldwork and made healthy discussions to create awareness among local people in the Himalayan remote villages. I was also active on Twitter and was popularizing the science on social media vis posts related to own project work as well as other general information related to climate change impacts to create awareness in the people in his social network.
