Orchids are blooming earlier than usual in the northeast — and it’s not good news

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

Changing climatic conditions in Assam have disrupted the blooming cycle of the foxtail orchid, traditionally associated with the Assamese new year, causing premature flowering and wilting.

Climate and orchids migration:

Orchids are good bioindicators of the health of an ecosystem.
They are usually not widely spread, found only over a smaller geographical area.
They do not tolerate pollution or change in their environment well.
It is for this reason that the kopou phool is now blooming and wilting away almost 10 days before Bihu in April.
Assam has 411 recorded orchid species. In addition to the foxtail orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa) other species such as the Dendrobium aphyllum, D. moschatum, and D. lituiflorum are also flowering early.
Other changes that orchids are exhibiting include changes in flower colour, abnormal growth and shift to higher altitudes.
Orchids are mainly of three kinds:

Almost 60% of all orchids found in India are epiphytic.
The issue of survival, especially for epiphytic orchids, is of concern.
Orchids (usually terrestrial ones) are perennial herbs, they may begin to shift up easily. But the epiphytic ones may not be able to find a suitable habitat, so there are chances many will perish.
Though the host trees will also tend to shift, it will take years before they become mature enough to be able to host orchids.
If there is no pollinator, then there will be no new recruitment through seed germination and gradually the plants will vanish too.
Not all orchids are pollinator-dependent so those species may survive longer than others.
A shrinking forest cover is a major challenge when it comes to orchid conservation. Orchids don’t inhabit all trees. The indiscriminate cutting down of trees is posing a threat to these plants.
The illegal orchid trade:
- In India, 11 species of orchids are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
- Orchids are high in demand for ornamental purposes, for medicinal purposes, and for research.

Assam’s vulnerability to climate change:

Assam is the most vulnerable to climate change among 12 states and union territories in the Indian Himalayan Region.
Between 1951-2010, the annual mean temperature in the state increased by 0.59 degrees Celsius, while rainfall has reduced by 2.96 mm per year.
Continued warming of the atmosphere and the ensuing change in precipitation pattern is impacting the state’s water resources, agriculture, forests, its unique biodiversity and the habitats of people.
The erratic rainfall or evaporation rate will misbalance the soil moisture, vegetation and microclimate of forest areas or grassland. It will likely impact the terrestrial orchid population.

Changes observed in other areas:

Changes in orchid flowering patterns are being observed in Arunachal Pradesh too.
This is considered the orchid state of India with 40% of the total orchid species found in India.
India has 1,256 recorded orchid species of which 307 are endemic to our country.

Resilience and evolution of orchids:

Orchids are also known for their resilience.
Orchids are the first ones to inhabit a new habitat.
Although climate change is impacting the phenology of some orchids, globally scientists are not considering it a serious problem because similar changes have happened earlier, about 100 years earlier, and orchids have evolved.