Biological archives of climatic changes and vegetation

Objectives

Climate change and increased human pressures on the environment are strongly moulding the future landscape evolution in peninsular India. However, none of this is new: monsoon strength has been known to fluctuate since the last glacial maximum under the impact of insolation. Over the centuries, land cover has been seriously affected by human interference leading to a degradation of available resources. Hence we now have to look to the past to provide us with the "accumulated experiences" of these adaptations through a collection of proxy records (data) and models based on varying conceptual frameworks. The end objective is to use the information provided by the present and the past to validate model(s) designed to predict the evolution of our environment under different climatic and human impact scenarios.

Given the state of the art in South Asia, the focus has been on the following tasks:

• To identify a network of modern and fossil sites and document multi-proxy data such as pollen in monsoon dominated peninsular India;
• To identify sites for palaeo-reconstruction at distinct temporal scales - recent past (historical) and palaeo (Quaternary);
• To adapt existing "global" model(s) by downscaling using regional models and incorporating vegetation effects for validation with data.

Melissopalynology studies have been added recently to explore the dimension of insect pollination in the context of modern pollen relation studies and help achieve the end objective mentioned above.

Materials and Methods

The research focus since seven years, has been on peninsular India with special emphasis on areas lacking in sufficient data on the eastern region. The primary tools used in this instance are: pollen and sedimentary sequences, climatic and remote sensing data, vegetation and climatic model simulations.

The materials used are: existing vegetation maps, facilities at the IFP for basic and applied quantitative palynology, fieldwork, applied information technology, library and old toposheets of study area. Complementary requirements (radiometric dating, chronology, remote sensing and GIS….) have been solicited through collaborators.

The topography and climatic conditions of this region necessitate a method that combines different kinds of sites with a continuous sedimentary record : peat bogs, lakes, irrigation reservoirs and oceanic cores and/ or archeological sites with a stratigraphic sequence.

In the given context, the scientific queries raised are addressed by pursuing multidisciplinary research as defined by the following three " sub projects ":

I. Modern pollen rain studies and palaeoecology (BIOME 6000, INDSUBIO, plant functional types (PFT), statistical methods for climate and vegetation inferences): Here, the project in collaboration with the NRSA to document modern pollen rain and palaeovegetation studies in the Eastern Ghats including a novel component of plant trait measuremets for a PFT classification is now completed and the final report submitted. Some papers and several communications have been achieved in the framework of this collaborative project. The Ph.D project of A. Stephen under this subproject is due for submission. The next focus of palaeoecological studies under this sub project is in the Cauvery floodplains A three-year project to look at the palaeovegetational and palaeomonsoonal changes, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in the flood plains of Cauvery, in active colloboration with the Earth Science Department of Pondicherry University will officially commence in December 2009

II. Natural and human-induced climatic and environmental changes in the past 1000-2000 years (PAGES focus 5, HITE-TERRAPIN (Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems - Tracking the Environmental Record in Reservoirs and Agro-ecosystems of Peninsular India)). The ISRO-GBP funded component of this sub project, ongoing since mid 2004 has been completed this year. Papers and communications have been achieved and a discussion workshop on Herbaceous taxa markers was also held. One highlight under this subproject is the successful launch of the first DVD documentary by the IFP, Bittersweet Waters: a trilingual film on Irrigation practices in south India, in collaboration with the Social Water Management project of the Department of Social Sciences, IFP.

III. Pleistocene archaeology and palaeoenvironments in the Palar Valley, S. India.

The first excavation report is in progress and our contribution is a chapter exploring Holocene Palynology in the region.

A new line of enquiry with tremendous ecological applications of pollen studies has been launched last year. This is the study of pollen in honey and honeycombs, i.e., Melissopalynology. This will be a collaborative project of 3 to 5 years with partners from the Environmental studies group at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre for Education (SAICE). This study will incorporate phenological data of the study site near Ousteri Lake Pondicherry, with the pollen content of the honey samples over four seasons of every year for at least three years.

Partners

Academic Institutions

• National Remote Sensing Agency, Forestry & Ecology Division NRSA_FED Hyderabad
• Indian Space Research organization’s Geosphere Biosphere Programme ISRO-GBP
• PAGES- IGBP (PAst Global changES - a core project of the International Geospgere- Biosphere Program), Bern Switzerland
• Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Pune and Chennai
• Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University
• Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
• Department of Plant Sciences, Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for PG studies, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
• Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry

Government Institutions

• Andhra Pradesh Forest Department
• Tamil Nadu Forest Department
• Orissa Forest Department

Funding

• French Institute of Pondicherry
• Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi

Team

Project leader

• Dr. Anupama, K., (IFP)

Research Fellows and Associates, (IFP)

• S. Aravajy, Research Assistant, (IFP)
• G. Jayapalan, Research Assistant, (IFP)
• R. Ponnuchamy, Project Assistant on contract – under MOU with SAICE (IFP & SAICE)
• S. Prasad, Pollen Analyst, (IFP)

Affiliated Researchers

• Dr. C.B.S. Dutt Deputy Programme Director, ISRO-GBP (ISRO, Geosphere Biosphere Program)
• G. Pujar, Scientist, (NRSA-FED, Hyderabad)
• Dr. S. Sudhakar, Scientist, (NRSA-FED, Hyderabad)
• Dr. J. V. Thomas, Scientist, EOS division , (ISRO, Bangalore)
• Prof. S. Balakrishnan, Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University
• Dr, Pramod Singh, Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University
• Dr. Yanni Gunnell, University of Paris 7, Paris, France
• Dr. C. Livingstone, Head, Department of Botany, Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai
• Dr. Shanti PAPPU, (Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Pune and Chennai)
• Dr. Kumar Akhilesh, Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, Pune and Chennai
• Ms.. Lipi Das, Teacher and Researcher (Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry)
• Mr. Prakash Patel, Teacher and Researcher (Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry)

Collaborators

• Prof. Kathleen D. Morrison, Professor of Anthropology, Director, Center for International Studies, (University of Chicago, USA)
• Prof. Pragasam, A. Head, Department of Plant Sciences, Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for PG studies, (Pondicherry University)
• Prof. M. P. Ramanujam, Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for PG studies, (Pondicherry University)
• Mr. K. Thulsi Rao, Head, Biodiversity Research Centre, (Project Tiger, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh)
• Dr. P. Ravichandran, Lecturer, Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Studies, (Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Alwarkurichi, Tamil Nadu)
• Mr. Winfred Thomas, Department of Botany, (The American College, Madurai)
• Dr. V. Vedachalam, Retired Epigraphist, Tirumalai Nayakar Mahal, Madurai, (State Department of Archeology, Tamil Nadu

PhD students/ PhD candidates

• A. Stephen, PhD candidate The Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Chennai (supervisor: Dr. C. Livingstone)

• Prayan Paramita Mahapatra, PhD Candidate,Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University (supervisor: Dr. Pramod Singh)

• Selva Singh Richard, MS University, Tirunelveli

Past Fellows and Students

• Andrew M. Bauer, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology, (University of Chicago, USA).
• J. Presena, M. Phil student (2005-2006) Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for Post Graduate studies, (Pondicherry University)
• N. Srivalli, M.C.A stuent (2005) Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Information Technology, (Pondicherry Engineering College)
• M. Tamilselvi, M.A. student (2005) Kanchi Mamunivar Centre for Post Graduate studies, (Pondicherry University)
• Nathanel Coste, MA student (2004-2005), Department of Geography (University of Paris 1, Paris, France)
• Nicolas Ploumpidis, MA student (2004-2005), Department of Geography (University of Paris 1, Paris, France)
• Camille Rognant, MA student (2004-2005), Department of Geography (University of Paris 1, Paris, France)
• Mr. L. Arul Pragasam, Department of Ecology, (Pondicherry University) (2004-2005)
• Prof. R. Shankar, Professor in Marine Geology, (Mangalore University)
• Dr. C. N. Prabhu, PhD student, Department of Marine Geology, (Mangalore University), (2002-2004)
• Dr. Maurice Taieb, emeritus scientist, (CEREGE, France)
• Mr. A. Aslam, The American College Madurai (2003-2005)
• Dr. Doris Barboni, Charge de Recherche, (CEREGE, France)
• Dr. Joel Guiot, Head, Bioindicators lab, (CEREGE, France)

Main Outputs

International seminars

International PAGES workshop and Training programme: Late Quaternary Environment Change: Emerging Issues (EILQUEC & POLTRAIN 2003, February 10th to 15th) hosted by the FIP in scientific cooperation with Anna University, Chennai.

National Seminars

Discussion Workshop on "Herbaceous taxa in south India: Ecology, Distribution and Applications in palaeovegetation studies", November 30th -December 1st 2006.

Books/CD ROM/DVD

• Late quaternary environment change: emerging issues. Proceedings of the International PAGES workshop and training program at the French Institute, Pondicherry, 10th–15th February 2003, and the common seminar at Anna University, Chennai, 8th February 2003.

Edited by Anupama K. & Hema Achyutan, 2003, 288 p. (PDE n°42)
Language: English. 400 Rs (14 €)

This edited volume of proceedings brings together a diversity of papers that presents a multitude of approaches and proxies used in understanding global climatic and environmental changes during the Quaternary period of the earth’s history, focusing on the most recent or “Late Quaternary”. Regionally, the focus is on the south Asian region with contributions from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand in addition to the majority from India. The volume is subdivided into 6 sections grouped thematically and comprises papers dealing with diverse themes such as Radiometric dating methods, Geological and Biological proxies, Model specific datasets and data specific models and applications of new technologies such as remote sensing to the study of palaeoenvironments.

Keywords: palaeoenvironment, multi-proxy studies, climate change

• COSTE N., PLOUMPIDIS N., ANUPAMA K., AUBRIOT O. & GUNNELL, Y. 2007. Bittersweet waters: irrigation practices and modern challenges in South India, Publications Hors série, n° 5, Institut Français de Pondichéry. [DVD]

Chapter in Books

• ANUPAMA K., SUDHAKAR S., PRASAD S. & PUJAR G.S., 2007 Temporal dynamics using a spatially resolved technology: applying RS to target sites for reconstructing vegetation history in the Eastern Ghats. In Proceedings of the National Seminar on Conservation of the Eastern Ghats, December 28-29, 2007, ENVIS centre, EPTRI, Hyderabad, pp 474-480. ISBN: 978-81-7525-955-3
• PONNUCHAMY R., ANUPAMA K., RAMMOHAN H. & ARAVAJY S., 2007. Indices based study of herbaceous vegetation in a South Indian tank bed at the foothills of Alagar Malai, Tamil Nadu In. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Conservation of the Eastern Ghats, ENVIS centre, EPTRI, Hyderabad, pp 198-204. ISBN: 978-81-7525-955-3
• STEPHEN A., ANUPAMA K., ARAVAJY S. & ORUKAIMANI G. Leaf trait measurements in southern Eastern Ghats and their applications. In Proceedings of the National Seminar on Conservation of the Eastern Ghats, ENVIS centre, EPTRI, Hyderabad, pp 188-197. ISBN: 978-81-7525-955-3

Selected Articles

• GUNNELL Y., ANUPAMA K. & SULTAN B., 2007. Response of the South Indian runoff-harvesting civilization to northeast monsoon rainfall variability during the last 2000 years: instrumental records and indirect evidence, The Holocene, 17: 207-215.
• PRASAD S. & ANUPAMA K., 2008. Light microscopic studies on pollen grains of selected Cyperaceae species from Southern Tamil Nadu: Relevance in Late Holocene sediment studies. The Palaeobotanist Diamond Jubilee National Conference Special Issue 57: 227-233
• STEPHEN, A., ANUPAMA, K., ORUKAIMANI, G. AND PRASAD, S.. A new microsieving technique in pollen analysis. The Palaeobotanist, 57: 551-557.
• PRABHU C. N., SHANKAR, R., ANUPAMA K., TAIEB M., BONNEFILLE R., VIDAL S., & PRASAD S., 2004. A 200-ka pollen and oxygen-isotopic record from two sediment cores from the eastern Arabian Sea. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 214: 309- 321.
• BARBONI D., BONNEFILLE R., PRASAD S., & RAMESH, B.R., 2003. Variation in modern pollen from tropical evergreen forests and the monsoon seasonality gradient in SW India Journal of Vegetation Science 14: 551-562
• GUNNELL Y., ANUPAMA K., 2003. Past and present status of runoff harvesting systems in dryland peninsular India: a critical review. Ambio 32 (4): 320-324.
• ANUPAMA K., ARAVAJY S., & PRASAD S., 2002. Pollen and ecological studies in the Southern Eastern Ghats : a new methodological approach. Proceedings of National Seminar on Conservation of Eastern Ghats, March 24-26 2002, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Pp: 88-102.