Photo Courtesy: ukhrultimes
Gangtok: A recent Environmental Accounting report from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), which utilizes data from the Zoological Survey of India, has unveiled a stark disparity in bee pollinator diversity across Northeast India. The findings highlight the critical role of these insects in facilitating plant reproduction through pollination services, essential for healthy ecosystems.
Sikkim has emerged as the regional leader, boasting 122 documented bee species, which includes 113 free-living varieties and nine cleptoparasite species. In contrast, Tripura occupies the lowest position in the region with only 10 recorded species. This figure, which also accounts for zero cleptoparasite species, places Tripura alongside the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the lower end of the national spectrum.
Other states in the Northeast show varying levels of diversity, with Meghalaya recording 62 species, Assam 49, and Arunachal Pradesh 38. Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland trail with 14, 12, and 12 species respectively. Nationally, Himachal Pradesh leads the country with 183 species, attributed largely to its vast altitudinal variation and diverse forest cover.
The MoSPI report suggests that these variations are heavily influenced by climate, floral resources, and historical biodiversity research patterns. The authors note that the low figures observed in states like Tripura could potentially stem from geographic constraints or a significant lack of adequate research documentation. Furthermore, the report identifies a clear distinction between the Northeast's bee fauna, which resembles Southeast Asian species, and the northwestern states, which align more closely with Palaearctic characteristics.
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