North Eastern Hill University

About: North Eastern Hill University is a education organization based out in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 2318 authors who have published 4476 publications receiving 48894 citations.

Comparative study of ureogenesis in freshwater, air-breathing teleosts

Abstract: The ureogenic potential of five species of freshwater, air-breathing teleosts was studied. The activity of all five enzymes of the ornithine-urea (c-u) cycle could be assayed in four out of the five species. The enzymatic activities were generally high. Physiological levels of ammonia and urea and of enzymes of the o-u cycle have been considered to be associated with the potential for terrestrial life in different species. The species having an efficient o-u cycle had low levels of ammonia and high levels of urea in various tissues. Ammonia was the major excretory product in the aquatic medium in all five air-breathing species. However, the rate of excretion of urea was greater than that of exclusively freshwater teleosts reported earlier. There was apparently no diurnal variation in the rates of excretion of ammonia. The rate of excretion of urea was significantly higher during the night than during the day in only two of the species examined, namely, Heteropneustes fossilis and Anabas testudineus. These observations strengthen our earlier suggestion that active ureogenesis through a functional o-u cycle does exist in some freshwater, air-breathing teleosts.

Ethnobotany of Meghalaya: Medicinal plants used by Khasi and Garo tribes

Abstract: Ethnobotany is the study of plants in relation to the inhabitants of an area. Meghalaya, one of the hill states in India, inhabited by aboriginal people, offers unusual opportunity for ethnobotanical studies, as these people largely depend upon the surrounding plants for their existence. In the present paper some medicinal plants commonly used by these people are reported based upon the information gathered from local people in different parts of Meghalaya.

Biodiversity conservation in sacred groves of Manipur, northeast India: population structure and regeneration status of woody species

Abstract: Sacred groves are forest patches conserved by the local people intertwined with their socio-cultural and religious practice. These groves harbour rich biodiversity and play a significant role in the conservation of biodiversity. Population structure and regeneration status of woody species were studied during 2001–2002 in the four sacred groves of Manipur, a state in north east India. A total of 96 woody species was recorded from the four groves, the highest being Konthoujam Lairembi sacred grove (55 species) and lowest in Heingang Marjing sacred grove having 42 species. The density-diameter distribution of woody species in the four groves showed highest stand density and species richness in the lowest girth class (30–60 cm) and decreased in the succeeding girth classes. Overall population structure of the groves based on the number of tree seedlings, saplings and adults, displayed a greater proportion of seedlings followed by saplings and adults while for the selected tree species it varied seasonally and recruitment of species increased during rainy season attaining peak during June. Regeneration status of the four sacred groves based on strength of different age groups in their population showed good regeneration. High occurrence of ‘additional species’ to the groves may be due to the invasion through dispersal from other areas. Possibly, the prevailing favourable microenvironmental conditions contributed to their establishment and growth in the groves. Absence of seedlings and saplings of some of the species in the groves may be due to their poor seed germination and establishment of seedlings in the forest.