Back to Contents

Pak. J. Bot., 44: 63-68, Special Issue May 2012.

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

SHIFTING HERBIVORY PATTERN DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE: A CASE STUDY OF HIMALAYAN BALSAM FROM PAKISTAN

GHAZALA NASIM^* AND ASAD SHABBIR

Abstract: Pests, diseases and weeds cause significant impact on crops and natural vegetation each year. Climate change is likely to cause a spread of tropical and sub-tropical species into temperate areas and to increase the numbers of many temperate species currently limited by low temperatures at high altitudes. The potential expansion of geographical ranges of pest species will be disruptive to quarantine barriers and is likely to result in increased damage to crops and natural vegetation in previously pest free areas. Elm Leaf Beetle Pyrrhalta luteola (Mueller) is been reported to increase due to 0.3^oC rise in temperature and 3-4% decrease in rainfall in the Moist Himalayan Forest of Pakistan. The insect attacks Impatience gladulifera Royle., a plant of medicinal importance. The plant is not only used in a variety of local medicines but is also one of the important constituent of undergrowth natural vegetation in these forests. During the last 10 years the leaf damaged cased by the insect is on a hike and has increased up to 85%.

Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore-54590, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author e-mail: ghazalanasim@hotmail.com