Isotopic and Molecular Level Characterization of Modern Plants: A Case Study from Lower Reaches of the Gangetic Plain

Gaur, Harsh Vardhan (2014) Isotopic and Molecular Level Characterization of Modern Plants: A Case Study from Lower Reaches of the Gangetic Plain. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

PDF (MS dissertation of Harsh Vardhan Gaur) HARSH_VARDHAN_GAUR(09MS062).pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (4MB)

Abstract

Paleovegetation reconstruction in Indian subcontinent has been performed for decades without taking account of shift in modern vegetation pattern with respect to climate. In our study,we have collected 25 C₃ (Trees, Shrubs, Herbs),12 C₄ plants during monsoon and post monsoon season to observe the δ¹³C variation within plant for two season and within C₃ & C₄ family using bulk isotopic analyses. Additionally, variations in n-alkane in terms of molecular assemblage i.e. CPI,ACL and δ¹³C also measured. A strong correlation of bulk isotopic δ¹³C value is observed between leaf of various C₃ genera and climate. With the decrease in rain δ¹³C values of C₃ plants leaves increases. However for C plants opposite trend has been observed which could be due to leakiness in C₄ plant.Also, a δ¹³C mean value of -29%ₒ and -12.9 %ₒ is observed for C₃ & C₄ which differs by -2%ₒ and 0.5%ₒ from the globally accepted value of C₃ and C₄ plants. Compound specific resolve the environmental condition in a detailed way, using proxies like concentration,ACL,CPI and individual n-alkane chain δ13C which responds to ablation(climate effect) ,biochemical pathways(genetics) and preference of a particular carbon chain (response of plant to climate) would give us the role of individual climatic parameter on environment.In case of our field area, there is more ablation effect in monsoon than winter for shrub and grasses,ACL almost remain constant for every species and CPI could be used as a proxy for indicating monsoonal effect on trees.

Actions (login required)

View Item