Dr. Ravinder Jangral

In the present study five abnormal specimens of five different species of fish were noticed in collection made from River Tawi which included Barilius bendelisis, Cirrhinus mrigala, Puntius sarana, Tor putitora, and Heteropneustes fossilis. The deformities in these fish were studied through radiographic examinations. The major deformities observed in these species include truncated body, abnormal body height and disposition of fins. All these deformities in the collected fish specimens are probably due to some injury, developmental error and disease.

Ethno-medicinal research in district Kathua was conducted during the period 2010 to 2012. The objective of the research was the assessment and preservation of cultural and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of the area. A checklist of the ethno -medicinal flora has been produced which includes 139 species belonging to 117 genera and 69 families. Information on the medicinal uses gathered from the locals together with their botanical identity is presented in the study.

Based on floral inventorization of the vegetation of Ratle catchment area, biological spectrum on life form was prepared and compared with Raunkiaer’s normal biological spectrum as well as the spectra of the adjoining areas prepared by other workers. The floristic list of the Ratle catchment consists of 384 species belonging to 96 families and 242 genera. Asteraceae has been recorded as the largest family (31 genera/52 species) followed by Fabaceae (12 genera /23 species), Lamiaceae (14 genera/ 23 species), Rosaceae (10 genera/ 17 species) etc. Thirty nine families show monotypic representation. The ratio of family to genera was calculated as 1:2.52; family to species as 1:4 and genera to species as 1:1.59. According to the Raunkiaerian life form classification (1934), Therophytes (33.85%) and Hemicryptophytes (18.75%) were found to be dominant thus indicating thero-hemicryptophytic type of phytoclimate in the study area.

This study deals with the phytosociology and plant diversity in the 10 km radius influence zone of Ratle hydro-electric Catchment area in
district Kishtwar (J&K). Quadrats of varying sizes were laid to record the parameters like frequency, density, abundance and IVI for
trees, shrubs and herbs. The data obtained was further computed to analyse the species diversity using Shannon- Wiener’s index. The
results revealed the dominance of Quercus baloot, Vitex negundo and Viola pilosa for trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. The
computation of diversity index showed that species richness and evenness remained high for trees and shrubby flora whereas low in case
of herbaceous vegetation.

Ethno-medicinal research in district Kathua was conducted during the period 2010 to 2012. The objective of the research was the assessment and preservation of cultural and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of the area. A checklist of the ethno-medicinal flora has been produced which includes 139 species belonging to 117 genera and 69 Families. Information on the medicinal uses gathered from the locals together with their botanical identity is presented in the study.

In the present study five abnormal specimens of five different species of fish were noticed in collection made from
River Tawi which included Barilius bendelisis, Cirrhinus mrigala, Puntius sarana, Tor putitora, and Heteropneustes
fossilis. The deformities in these fish were studied through radiographic examinations. The major deformities
observed in these species include truncated body, abnormal body height and disposition of fins. All these
deformities in the collected fish specimens are probably due to some injury, developmental error and disease.

In the present study six abnormal specimens of three different species of fish were noticed in a collection made
from Ranjit Sagar reservoir built on river Ravi at Basholi (J and K) which included 4 deformed specimen of
Cirrihinus mrigala, 1 aberrant specimen of Catla catla and 1 abnormal specimen of Labeo rohita. The deformities
in these fish were studied through radiographic examinations. During the study it was discovered that all these
deformities in the collected fish specimens are probably due to developmental error.