synopsis of environment and ecology of shillong

7/30/2019 Synopsis of Environment and Ecology of Shillong

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Synopsis

Ecology and Environment of Shillong

Introduction

Shillong (Khasi: Shillong) is the capital ofMeghalaya, one of the smallest states

in India and home to the Khasis. It is also the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills

district and is situated at an average altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496 m) above sea

level, with the highest point being Shillong Peak at 6,449 feet (1,966 m). The city

had a population of 314,610 according to the 2011 census. Shillong remained the

capital of undivided Assam until the creation of the new state of Meghalaya on

January 21, 1972,

Shillong is a treasure trove of Nature, with its rich variation of dense endemic and

cultivated flora. Nature, in its plenteous abundance, had blessed Shillong with a

unique array of plantation, ranging from tropical and sub-tropical to temperate or

near temperate. Biotic factors have also played an important role, at places

decisive. Shillong is also a happy hunting ground to the zoologists for its

interesting, rare and diverse fauna wealth. It is said that about 50% of the entire

population of mammal genera found in the entire Indian sub-continent can be seen

in Shillong and other states in the North-East.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khasi_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghalayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khasi_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Khasi_Hills_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Khasi_Hills_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khasi_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghalayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khasi_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Khasi_Hills_districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Khasi_Hills_district


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History

Shillong was a small village until 1864, when it became the new civil station of

the Khasi and Jaintia hills. It remained the summer capital of Eastern Bengal and

Assam for many years. In 1874, on the formation of Assam as a Chief

Commissioners Province, it was chosen as the capital of the new administration.

An earthquake destroyed the city in 1897, necessitating its complete rebuilding. In

January 1972, Shillong became the capital of the newly formed state of

Meghalaya.

Geography

Shillong is located at 25.57N 91.88E. It is on the Shillong Plateau, the only

major pop-up structure in the northern Indian shield. The city lies in the centre of

the plateau and is surrounded by hills.

Weather

The climate of Meghalaya varies with the altitude. The climate ofKhasiHillsand Jaintia Hillsis uniquely pleasant and caressing. It is neither too warm in

summer nor too cold in winter, but over the plains ofGaro Hills, the climate is hot

and humid, except in winter.

Flora of Shillong

There are 150 species of ferns and a profusion of mosses, fungi and lichens. More

than 250 species of orchids, 25 species of balsams, 20 species of palms, wild

species of apples and 150 species of grass are available. In the upper hill regions

from 1500 m and above, in the central plateau of Khasi Hills, coniferous
http://toolserver.org/~geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Shillong&params=25.57_N_91.88_E_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillong_Plateauhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/khasi-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/khasi-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/khasi-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/jaintia-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/garo-hills.htmlhttp://toolserver.org/~geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Shillong&params=25.57_N_91.88_E_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shillong_Plateauhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/khasi-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/khasi-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/jaintia-hills.htmlhttp://www.north-east-india.com/meghalaya/garo-hills.html


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vegetations like pines, oaks and ferns are found. This makes a distinct and

interesting natural vegetation belt.

Fauna of Shillong

The other wild animals found here include: tigers, bisons, and hoolock gibbons,

boars, barking deer, sambars, leopards, apes and monkeys. Among reptiles, many

kinds of snakes, poisonous and non-poisonous lizards are found here. There are

also a wide variety of birds found in the higher altitudes. A special mention of the

approximately 500 species of butterflies found in Meghalaya needs to be made,

with some of them being very rare.

Animals in Shillong

Civets

Civets have a broadly cat-like general appearance, though the muzzle is extended

and often pointed, rather like an otteror a mongoose. They range in length from

about 17 to 28 in (43 to 71 cm) (excluding their long tails) and in weight from

about 3 to 10 lb (1.4 to 4.5 kg).

Mongoose

The Mongoose is any member of a family of 33 species of small carnivorans .

Four additional species from Madagascarin the subfamily Galidiinae, which

were previously classified in this family , are also referred to as "mongooses" or

"mongoose-like".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_(taxonomy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galidiinaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_(taxonomy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galidiinae


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Reptiles in Shillong

Lizard

Lizards are a widespread group ofsquamatereptiles, with nearly3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most

oceanic island chains.

Tortoise

Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order ofturtles (Testudines).

Like theirmarine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded frompredators by

a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is theplastron, and

the two are connected by the bridge.

Plants in Shillong

Succulent plants

Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, waterretainingplants

adapted to arid climates orsoil conditions. Succulent plants store water in

theirleaves,stems, and also in roots. Geophytes that survive unfavourable periods

by dying back to underground storage organs such as tuberous

roots, corms,bulbs, and rhizomes, may be regarded as succulents.

Threats

Habitat loss is the primary cause of species loss at local, regional and global

scales. Urban development, water development, road building, recreation, fire-

raising, fire-suppresion, agriculture and tree logging all destroy and degrade

natural habitats. It is estimated that habitat destruction from human activity is the

primary cause of risk for 83% of endangered plant species.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamatahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptileshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarcticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_(ocean)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aridhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophytehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_organhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber#Root_tubershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber#Root_tubershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squamatahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptileshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarcticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_(ocean)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_turtlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aridhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophytehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_organhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber#Root_tubershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber#Root_tubershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizome


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Pollution and Disease

Pollution is the release of chemical, physical, biological or radioactive

contaminants to the environment. Because it is sometimes not visible to the naked

eye, and it disperses through the mediums it is emitted into (usually air or water),

its direct effects of can sometimes be hard to spot. This is especially true for

plants.

Fire

The most common hazard in forests is forests fire. Forests fires are as old as the

forests themselves. They pose a threat not only to the forest wealth but also to theentire regime to fauna and flora seriously disturbing the bio-diversity and the

ecology and environment of a region. During summer, when there is no rain for

months, the forests become littered with dry senescent leaves and twinges, which

could burst into flames ignited by the slightest spark.

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion by water, wind and tillage affects both agriculture and the natural

environment. Soil loss, and its associated impacts, is one of the most important of

today's environmental problems

Poaching

Poaching is the illegal hunting, killing or capturing of animals. This can occur in a

variety of ways. Poaching can refer to the failure to comply with regulations for

legal harvest, resulting in the illegal taking of wildlife that would otherwise be

allowable.


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Aims & Objectives

To study about the wildlife covered in Shillong.

To study about the Threats of Natural calamities like fire, storm, diseases

and human invention like poaching and theft of plants and their protection

in Shillong.

To study about the efforts taken to increase the fauna covered in Shillong.

To study about current Scenario and its future prospects

To study about the utilization of plants and preservation technique of them

by the government.

Research Methodology

Data has been collected from primary and secondary data

Primary Data Source

Personal visit to Shillong.

Personal meeting with the local people near Shillong.

Secondary Data Source

Newspaper(The Hindustan Times, The Times of India)

Magazines(Bharat Darshan)

Journals


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Tentative Chapters

Chapter-1

Introduction

Chapter-2

Fauna of Shillong

Chapter-3

Shillong; Threats and Protection by the Govt.

Chapter-4

Shillong; Its current Scenario and Future Prospects.

Chapter-5

Conclusion


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References

Fauna of Shillong, Volume 1 Written by Zoological Survey of India,

Published by The Survey, 1999 .

Fauna of Shillong, Volume 5 Wrtten by Zoological Survey of India,

Published by The Survey, 2000

Studies on the odonate fauna of Shillong Written by A. R.

Lahiri, Zoological Survey of India, Published by Zoological Survey of

India, 1987

Ecology, diversity, and conservation of plants and ecosystems in India By

H. N. Pandey, S. K. Barik, O. P. Tripathi, Published by Daya Books, 2006.

Shifting cultivation in India Written by Saradindu Bose, Anthropological

Survey of India, Published by Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of

Human Resource Development, Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, 1991

Flora of Jowai and vicinity, Shillong: a contribution towards a detailed

knowledge of the flora of the Northeastern region of India, Volume 1,

Written byNambiyath Puthnapurayil Balakrishnan, Published by Botanical

Survey of India, 1983

Ecology abstracts , Volume 10, Issues 10-12 Written by Information

Retrieval Limited, Unesco. Programme on Man and the Biosphere,

Published by Information Retrieval Limited., 1984
http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Zoological+Survey+of+India%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Zoological+Survey+of+India%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22A.+R.+Lahiri%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22A.+R.+Lahiri%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Zoological+Survey+of+India%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Nambiyath+Puthnapurayil+Balakrishnan%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Information+Retrieval+Limited%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Information+Retrieval+Limited%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Unesco.+Programme+on+Man+and+the+Biosphere%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Zoological+Survey+of+India%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Zoological+Survey+of+India%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22A.+R.+Lahiri%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22A.+R.+Lahiri%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Zoological+Survey+of+India%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Nambiyath+Puthnapurayil+Balakrishnan%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Information+Retrieval+Limited%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Information+Retrieval+Limited%22http://www.google.co.in/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=inauthor:%22Unesco.+Programme+on+Man+and+the+Biosphere%22


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synopsis of environment and ecology of shillong

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