| Sanction Date: | 26-02-2018 | ||||
| Project Category | MG | ||||
| Batch Year | 2017-2018 | ||||
| Project Duration | 3 Years + 7 Months Extension | ||||
| BTA : | Biodiversity Conservation and Management | ||||
| Project Site/ State/ Districts/ Villages Covered: | Central and Eastern Himalaya (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal | ||||
| Organization/ Implementation Agency: |
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata |
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| Project Partners: | S.No. | Name | |||
1. |
NA | ||||
| Lead Proponent: | Dr. Navneet Singh Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) M-Block, New Alipore Kolkata |
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| Project Brief Description: | The project is based on the hypothesis to assess/ establish moths (the Lepidopteran insects) as a significant role player in the pollination of different types of forest as well as agrarian ecosystems of Himalayan region of North East India. A very important and related review article published by Callum J. Macgregor and its coauthors in 2015 reviewed the role of moths in pollination. According to them, 75 different plant families, including 289 species and some wider taxa are found to be partially or exclusively pollinated by the moths. But all the papers, except one, reviewed by Macgregor et al. (2015) were based on the studies of foreign land. Not even a single paper could be reviewed on the role of moths as pollinators in any of the Himalayan Ecosystems, a neglected but most important aspect for the stability and continuation of any of the ecosystem. Keeping in mind the importance of pollinators and lack of any information on these major nocturnal pollinators of Indian Himalayan Region, the present problem is proposed for the financial support under NMHS. The project will be implemented in Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Collection of moths will be done in the specific areas of ecological and agricultural importance and at particular time of flowering and fruiting in Himalayan region of NE India. Moths will be studied for their carrying capacity of pollens and direct observations on the flower visitors will be done in the field. After identification of moths and pollens, a checklist of moths carrying pollens grains and another checklist of plants/ crops whose pollens are attached to the moths will be prepared. | ||||
| Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders: | Local organizations working for the conservation and management of the biological resources. Local organizations working for the improvement of livelihood of locals. All Government of India organizations working for the exploration, conservation of floral and faunal components of IHR. Local residents and Farmers of the area Forest Departments of North East India Different agriculture research institutes and agriculture universities of India Human Welfare Departments of the country |
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| Activity Chart (For 3 Years): | Click Here | ||||
| Total Grants (in Rs.) | Rs.93,65,200/- (Rupees Ninty Three Lakh Sixty Five Thousand Two Hundred only) | |||
| Project Objectives | Quantifiable Deliverables | Monitoring Indicators |
| To prepare a check list of moth species pollinating different plants and crops in Himalayan region of North East India; | Consolidated Database and information on the major nocturnal pollinators in different agroecosystems of 5 states in North East India; | No. of New Database/ Datasets generated on the identified dynamics, i.e. moths as pollinators in the Himalayan ecosystem and other associated factors; |
| To prepare a checklist of plant species and crops of Himalayan region of North East India which are partially or exclusively pollinated by the moths; | Knowledge products on complete understanding of plant-pollinator interaction; | Periodic submission on region-specific assessment (state wise); |
| Policy/ Strategic frameworks/ drafts (No.) for assisting the regional decision-making in the identified area and dynamics; | ||
| Other Publications and knowledge products (Nos.). |
| S.No. | Name | Qualification | Designation | Salary |
| 1. | Mr. Rajesh Lenka | M.sc. in Zoology | JPF | 16,000/- +HRA |
| 2. | Mr. Pallab Kumar Chatterjee | M.sc. in Zoology | JPF | 16,000/- +HRA |
| 3. | Mr. Dipayan Mitra | M.sc. in Botany | JPF | 16,000/- +HRA |
| 4. | Mr. Kunal Kumar Chatterjee | B.Sc. | FA | 12,000/- |
| S.No. | Name of Equipment | Use of Equipment | Cost (in INR) |
| 1. | Leica Stereo zoom Binocular Microscope | Leica Model No: M165 | 10,62,000/- |
| 2. | Insect Showcase cabinet (6) | Rescholar | 3,59,664/- |
