Shoolini University Researcher Discovers New Species in the Himalayas

Shoolini University is a young university set up in 2009 and it is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Shoolini University, a NAAC accredited has consistently been ranked among India’s top 100 universities (NIRF). ISO Certified 9001:2015, the university has successfully saved a spot for itself amongst the recognised Private Universities on the website of AICTE. Shoolini University Solan offers courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels in multiple disciplines.

Shivani Devi, a PhD student from the Faculty of Science at Shoolini University, has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of Arachnology. Working under the guidance of Prof JM Julka, who has over five decades of research experience, Shivani identified a new genus and species of ‘harvestmen’. This distinct group is often mistaken for spiders in the Indian Himalayan region. Hailing from Una in Himachal Pradesh, Shivani got research support from the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The discovery of this new genus and species of ‘harvestmen’ proves the biodiversity in the region and highlights the potential for further scientific exploration. These findings result from a larger project, ‘Returning Taxus to the Forests and the People: A Study in Shimla and Kullu Districts of the Indian Himalayan Region’, funded by the NMHS. This project aimed to investigate the invertebrates and soil fauna associated with Taxus Contorta, an endangered tree species in the region.

The research conducted by Shivani and Prof Julka highlights the rich and diverse ecosystem of the Himalayas, which remains largely unexplored. The study area included the villages of Himri and Nankhari in Shimla district, where pitfall traps were used to collect arthropods. These traps, consisting of plastic cups buried in the soil and filled with a soap solution, were left out for 24 hours to capture specimens.

The suspected uniqueness of the newly discovered ‘harvestmen’ species was confirmed through analysis by Jochen Martens, a German zoologist. His examination validated that the specimen represented a new genus and species of harvestmen from the temperate Himalayas. This significant discovery has been named ‘Himachalus Pradeshicus’ in honour of Himachal Pradesh, where it was discovered.

The findings of this research have been published in a renowned Swiss journal, contributing significantly to our understanding of the biodiversity of the Himalayan region. Shivani Devi expressed excitement about the discovery, saying, “Tapping into the vast biodiversity of the Himalayas to discover ‘Himachalus Pradeshicus’ has been thrilling. This will enhance our understanding of the unique environments. I’m grateful for the unwavering support and resources provided by Shoolini University, which made this research possible.”

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