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.

Biodiversity of Rotifera in some tropical floodplain lakes of the Brahmaputra river basin, Assam (N.E. India)

Abstract: One hundred and sixteen species of Rotifera are recorded from seven floodplain lakes of the Brahmaputra basin (northeastern India), the highest rotifer biodiversity recorded from these biotopes in the Indian subcontinent to date The Australasian Brachionus dichotomus reductus and Lecane batillifer; the Oriental Keratella edmondsoni, Lecane blachei and L acanthinula; the Palaeotropical Lecane braumi, L lateralis, L unguitata, Trichocerca tropis, Testudinella greeni and T brevicaudata; the Pantropical Brachionus donneri and a rather widely distributed Horaella brehmi represent taxa of biogeographical interest Three species are new additions to the Indian rotifer fauna and eight are new to the NE region Lecanidae > Brachionidae = Colurellidae > Trichocercidae > Testudinellidae comprise the largest fraction (680%) of the examined fauna Comments are made on the general nature and composition of the rotifer taxocoenosis as well as on acidophilic elements, ecology of various taxa and on the species richness of different lakes

Composition, abundance and ecology of phytoplankton communities of Loktak Lake, Manipur, India

Abstract: Phytoplankton communities of Loktak Lake (a Ramsar site), studied during November 2002-October 2004, reveal the occurrence of 75 and 71 species, indicate monthly richness ranging between 47� plus or minus 6 and 49� plus or minus 3 species and record 50.0-83.2 and 64.5-84.0 % community similarities during two annual cycles respectively. Chlorophyta (33� plus or minus 5 and 35� plus or minus 5 species) show qualitative dominance and importance of Closterium > Cosmarium > Staurastrum > Micrasterias > Gonatozygon species. Phytoplankton (206� plus or minus 58 and 220� plus or minus 53 n/l) comprise between 45.1� plus or minus 6.5 and 42.9� plus or minus 5.8 % of net plankton abundance, indicate trimodal annual patterns and record peak abundance during winter. Chlorophyta (111� plus or minus 20 and 119� plus or minus 15 n/l), the dominant quantitative component, indicate winter peaks; Closterium > Staurastrum > Gonatozygon > Micrasterias species contribute significantly to their abundance. Ceratium hirudinella (43� plus or minus 52 and 39� plus or minus 37 n/l) is the sole important individual species of phytoplankton. Dinophyta > Bacillariophyta are sub-dominant groups and Euglenophyta > Cyanophyta > Chrysophyta show very low densities. Phytoplankton communities are characterized by higher species diversity, higher evenness and lower dominance. Abiotic factors register limited influence on richness and abundance of phytoplankton and on abundance of constituent groups. Multiple regression indicates relatively lower influence of fifteen abiotic factors on richness of phytoplankton and higher cumulative influence on abundance of phytoplankton, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta and Bacillariophyta.

Institutional arrangement and typology of community forests of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland of North-East India

Abstract: Most community forests in hill regions of northeast India have been managed by traditional local institutions for centuries and most of these institutions remain functional even today Higher forest coverage on private and community lands as compared to government land indicates that traditional institutions effectively manage community forests in the region The present study was conducted through a survey of literature and field work using participatory research tools viz, PRA exercises, group discussions and questionnaire interviews with key informants in northeast India We categorized the institutions involved in conservation and management of forests into three major types: traditional, quasi-traditional and modern Traditional institutions with hierarchal structure were found in all states and are intact and functional in the state of Meghalaya Quasi-traditional institutions, a blend of traditional and modern institutions were prevalent in Nagaland while modern institutions have almost replaced traditional institutions in Mizoram We recorded at least eleven types of community forests viz, group of village forest, village forest, restricted forest, sacred forest, clan forest, cemetery forest, regeneration forest, bamboo forest, recreation forest, village reserved forest and medicinal plantation in villages of three states The tribal people, through long-term trial and error experiments, have developed an elaborate, functional and generally democratic system of conservation and management of forests and associated natural ecosystems Several forest and natural resource management lessons can be learnt from the institutional structure and decision making system of the evolving and dynamic institutions of tribal communities of the region