Ecological niche modelling

 🔆Ecological niche modelling

✅ why in News: Researchers at the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh used ecological niche modelling strategies to examine the economically important of spice, saffron.

▪️About Saffron:

✅Crocus sativus, is a flowering plant, propagated through underground stems called corms.

✅It grows best under Mediterranean climate

According to latest reports, Iran grows nearly 90% of the worlds saffron.

✅Uses: Adds flavour to food, helps in healing disorders of the nervous system, acts as an anti-depressant, and also shows anti-cancer

India produces 5% of the worlds saffron and historically, some of the world’s most prized saffron has been grown in old lake beds of Kashmir.

▪️Agro-climatic conditions: 

✅well-drained soil of high pH value (6.3 to 8.3), summer temperatures (when flowers develop) of around 25°C and good soil nutrient availability.

✅Average national yield = 2.6 kg per hectare

▪️About ecological niche:

✅An ecological niche is the right set of environmental conditions under which an animal or plant species will thrive. A range of ecological niches can occur within an ecosystem. Biodiversity is the result of these niches being occupied by species that are uniquely suited to them.

✅Desert plants, for example, are suited for dry, arid ecological niches because they have the ability to store water in their leaves. Non-living, or abiotic factors like temperature, amount of available light, soil moisture also affect ecological niches.

✅Due to Climate change, the ability of existing species to hold on to their biogeographic niches may be altered.

✅Effect on Agriculture: Practices and crop choices that have worked well for centuries may no longer be ideal thereby affecting availability of food and nutrients, occurrence of predators and competing species.

▪️Ecological Niche modelling:

✅It is a predictive tool for identifying new possibilities using computer algorithms such as — new inhabitants for an existing habitat, or new geographical locations where a desirable plant may grow well.

✅It compares data about the environment and makes forecasts about what would be ideal for a given ecological niche.

▪️Need:

✅To bridge ecological considerations and economic realities and to examine economic feasibilities within the context of changing ecological scenarios.

✅The study identified 4,200 sq. km. of new areas suitable for saffron cultivation in places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North Sikkim, Imphal, Manipur and Tamil Nadu.

▪️Big Data:

✅It refers to extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions.

✅It is characterised by 3Vs – Variety, Volume, Velocity