Mithun (Bos frontalis): the neglected cattle species and their significance to ethnic communities in the Eastern Himalaya - A review

Dorji, Tashi,Wangdi, Jigme,Shaoliang, Yi,Chettri, Nakul,Wangchuk, Kesang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.11

Objective: This review consolidates the available information on the socio-economic and ecological significance of Mithun in the lives of ethnic communities in the Eastern Himalaya. Methods: Standard guidelines were followed for the review and data collection was carried out at three stages; literature search, literature screening, and literature review and analysis. Results: Records indicate a long association of Mithun with the ethnic groups. Mithun serves as a symbol of pride and local currency for barter trade in the ethnic society. Its utilities range from being used as a bride price to settling legal disputes. Several cultural festivals and local ceremonies are celebrated around this bovine. Due to its semi-wild nature, this animal also has an ecological role to conserve broad leaf sub-tropical forests. However, it remains neglected and has not received policy attention, leading to a stagnated growth. The institutions for Mithun research and development are also weak. Furthermore, the species is under threat from new diseases and habitat alteration triggered by climate change. Conclusion: Founded on the current state of knowledge, there is a need for institutional development, strengthening institutional linkages, and promoting regional cooperation among Mithun rearing countries for further research and development of this unique cattle.

Meat-based ethnic delicacies of Meghalaya state in Eastern Himalaya: preparation methods and significance

Kadirvel Govindasamy,Bandita Bagchi Banerjee,Arockiasamy Arun Prince Milton,Rahul Katiyar,Suranjit Meitei 한국식품연구원 2018 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.5 No.4

Meghalaya, a northeastern state of India, has several authentic ethnic meat delicacies that have not been documented adequately. A survey was conducted among cooks, food stall owners, and consumers representing all three tribes of Meghalaya, namely, Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo. Detailed information was collected on a variety of traditional meat preparations, the method of preparation, and the general pattern for the consumption of such products. The socioeconomic values and traditions attached to the products were also explored. We have enlisted 15 such meat-based traditional products of Meghalaya. The method of preparation and significance have been recorded for doh jem, dohkhlieh, acharDohSniang, tungrymbai, dohSnam, and jadoh. Loss of these ethnic meat delicacies can be prevented only by increasing its availability and market value. An intervention of food science in optimizing the preparation methods, improving hygiene parameters, and packaging can promise a lucrative business in this sector for local people and may attract consumers from other parts of the country.

Diversity and Distribution of Bulb-associated fungi of Fritillaria Cirrhosae Bulbus Source Plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine

( Qian Gao ),( Fawu Dong ),( Jianying Xiang ) 한국균학회 2020 韓國菌學會誌 Vol.48 No.3

Diversity and community composition of bulb-associated fungi of Fritillaria Cirrhosae Bulbus source plants, which are used in traditional chinese medicine, in the eastern Himalaya- Hengduan Mountains, southwestern China, were estimated based on the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence analysis, using host plant species, geographic area, and plant phenology as variables. A total of 1,486 fungal sequences assigned to 251 operational taxonomical units (OTUs) were obtained from the bulbs. Fungal OTUs comprised 96.41% Ascomycotina, 3.52% Basidiomycotina, and 0.07% Zygomycotina. Sordariomycetes, Hypocreales, and Nectriaceae were the most frequent fungal lineages at each taxonomic rank. Fusarium, Ilyonectria, Tetracladium, Leptodontidium, and Tomentella were the top OTU-rich genera. Fusarium sp. 03, Ilyonectria rufa, Fusarium sp. 08, Ilyonectria sp. 03, and Leptodontidium orchidicola 03 represented the most frequent OTUs. Fusarium spp. were the most frequent general taxa. The distribution of fungal community exhibited preferences for host plant species, geographic area, and plant phenology. These findings are the foundation of our research on culturing and active metabolites of bulb-associated fungi of Fritillaria Cirrhosae Bulbus source plants.

Two new records of Riccia L. (Ricciaceae) for the Eastern Himalaya Bryogeographical Region of India

Naorem Premita Devi,S.D. Yumkham,P.K. Singh 국립중앙과학관 2019 Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol.12 No.4

The Eastern Himalaya Bryogeographical Region is recognized as one of the richest areas for bryoflora inIndia. It comprises the eight North Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura), Darjeeling, and the Hills of the West Bengal. In the presentarticle, the occurrence of Riccia curtisii (Austin) Austin and Riccia pathankotensis Kashyap of Ricciaceae isreported for the first time for the Eastern Himalaya region from the state Manipur. Detailed descriptionsand photographs of the two newly recorded species of Riccia L. are provided to facilitate easy identification. A key to species of the nine Riccia species found in Manipur is also incorporated.

Effect of altitude and climate in shaping the forest compositions of Singalila National Park in Khangchendzonga Landscape, Eastern Himalaya, India

Sheila Sinha,Hemant K. Badola,Bijoy Chhetri,Kailash S. Gaira,Jhony Lepcha,Pitamber P. Dhyani 국립중앙과학관 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol.11 No.2

Himalayas provide high altitudinal gradients and extreme slopes which may rapid changes in climatic zones over a small distance which reflects noticeable changes in the forest community structures. We identified and analyzed various aspects of forest community composition with the effect of climatic variables and altitudes in the Singalila National Park (SNP), Khangchendzonga Landscape in Eastern Himalayas (India). We encountered 2075 woody individuals of 70 species within a transect (2000 m-3636 m asl). The entire forest regime reflected a dominance of young trees and the species richness showed a negative correlation with the altitude. Climatic variables (actual evapotranspiration, potential evapotranspiration and moisture index) are the measures of available environmental energies which drive the final shape of forest community structure. Our study revealed that these forces showed a significant relationship with species richness and altitude of the forest which provides the present shape of forest community composition structure of the SNP.

Diversity of the genus Sheathia (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in northeast India and east Nepal

Necchi, Orlando Jr.,West, John A.,Ganesan, E.K.,Yasmin, Farishta,Rai, Shiva Kumar,Rossignolo, Natalia L. The Korean Society of Phycology 2019 ALGAE Vol.34 No.4

Freshwater red algae of the order Batrachospermales are poorly studied in India and Nepal, especially on a molecular basis. During a survey in northeast India and east Nepal, six populations of the genus Sheathia were found and analyzed using molecular and morphological evidence. Phylogenetic analyses based on the rbcL gene sequences grouped all populations in a large clade including our S. arcuata specimens and others from several regions. Sheathia arcuata represents a species complex with a high sequence divergence and several smaller clades. Samples from India and Nepal were grouped in three distinct clades with high support and representing new cryptic species: a clade formed by two samples from India, which was named Sheathia assamica sp. nov.; one sample from India and one from Nepal formed another clade, named Sheathia indonepalensis sp. nov.; two samples from Nepal grouped with sequences from Hawaii and Indonesia (only 'Chantransia' stages) and gametophytes from Taiwan, named Sheathia dispersa sp. nov. Morphological characters of the specimens from these three species overlap one another and with the general circumscription of S. arcuata, which lacks the heterocortication (presence of bulbous cells in the cortical filaments) present in other species of the genus Sheathia. Although the region sampled is relatively restricted, the genetic diversity among specimens of these three groups was high and not closely related in the phylogenetic relationship with the other clades of S. arcuata. These data corroborate information from other groups of organisms (e.g., land and aquatic plants) that indicates this region (Eastern Himalaya) as a hotspot of biodiversity.

The first record of the rare fern Pteris griffithii (Polypodiales: Pteridaceae: Pteridoideae) in the Bhutan Himalayas

Rinchen DORJI,Sangay DEMA,Mani Prasad NIROLA,Choki GYELTSHEN 한국식물분류학회 2022 식물 분류학회지 Vol.52 No.1

Pteris griffithii Hook., one of the rarest fern species on the Indian subcontinent, is reported from Bhutan for the first time. The identity of this species was confirmed through morphological determination at the National Herbarium (THIM) of the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) of Bhutan. It was found only in one location, in Gyelpozhing in eastern Bhutan, at an elevation of 521 m a.s.l. on 10 January 2016. Given that a very limited study of this species was conducted, the knowledge baseline with regard to its distribution is poor. It is also reported that this species has not been found for several years. The species is also considered to be very rare or critically endangered in some countries; however, there are no assessments on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for this particular species. This paper attempts to provide baseline information considering its rarity and data deficiency. This species is also reported from the adjacent neighboring Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as very rare, and also from Myanmar; however, confirmation of its presence in China is not clear at this time. Therefore, considering its data deficient status, we attempt to document it scientifically to create a knowledgebase pertaining to this particular species. Concurrently, this species merits further research to understand its distribution patterns in Bhutan and any related anthropogenic threats.

Diversity of the genus Sheathia (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in northeast India and east Nepal

Orlando Necchi,John A. West,E. K. Ganesan,Farishta Yasmin,Shiva Kumar Rai,Natalia L. Rossignolo 한국조류학회I 2019 ALGAE Vol.34 No.4

Freshwater red algae of the order Batrachospermales are poorly studied in India and Nepal, especially on a molecularbasis. During a survey in northeast India and east Nepal, six populations of the genus Sheathia were found and analyzedusing molecular and morphological evidence. Phylogenetic analyses based on the rbcL gene sequences grouped allpopulations in a large clade including our S. arcuata specimens and others from several regions. Sheathia arcuata representsa species complex with a high sequence divergence and several smaller clades. Samples from India and Nepal weregrouped in three distinct clades with high support and representing new cryptic species: a clade formed by two samplesfrom India, which was named Sheathia assamica sp. nov.; one sample from India and one from Nepal formed anotherclade, named Sheathia indonepalensis sp. nov.; two samples from Nepal grouped with sequences from Hawaii and Indonesia(only ‘Chantransia’ stages) and gametophytes from Taiwan, named Sheathia dispersa sp. nov. Morphologicalcharacters of the specimens from these three species overlap one another and with the general circumscription of S. arcuata, which lacks the heterocortication (presence of bulbous cells in the cortical filaments) present in other species ofthe genus Sheathia. Although the region sampled is relatively restricted, the genetic diversity among specimens of thesethree groups was high and not closely related in the phylogenetic relationship with the other clades of S. arcuata. Thesedata corroborate information from other groups of organisms (e.g., land and aquatic plants) that indicates this region(Eastern Himalaya) as a hotspot of biodiversity.

Naturally fermented milk products of the Eastern Himalayas

Jyoti P. Tamang 한국식품연구원 2016 Journal of Ethnic Foods Vol.3 No.4

A review of forest fire and policy response for resilient adaptation under changing climate in the Eastern Himalayan region

WANGSONAMWANGYEL,임철희,이우균 한국산림과학회 2021 Forest Science And Technology Vol.17 No.4

This review paper presents the extent and magnitude of forest fires and adaptation responses to deepen our understanding of the dynamics of forest fires in the eastern Himalayan region. We used a narrative scooping review approach to narrate the present state of forest fires and resilient adaptation responses to guide the development of climate resilient adaptation pathways in the future. Our review concludes that forest fires (total mean fire incidence ¼ 3,158.5) continue to destroy overwhelming areas of forests every year (mean area destroyed ¼ 658,778.4 hectares), presenting significant threat to ecological integrity, human wellbeing, and global effort to fight climate change. Fire incidences are highest during and post dry winter months which quickly declines at the onset of monsoon. Adaptation and responding to ever growing size and frequency of forest fires are limited by lack of awareness, training on fire management, firefighting infrastructure, technology, and adequate policy and financial support. In addition, there is acute lack of scientific studies to understand forest fire dynamics in the eastern Himalayan region. Based on the forest fire literature we argue that policy makers and communities must quickly adopt policy strategies that support smart responses to forest fire management including allocating adequate funds to support capacity building and research. Such decision must be based on research into potentials for climate resilient pathways for adaptation response.