Genetic heterogeneity among three Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India

We studied the distribution of ABO blood groups among three little known subtribes of the Adi tribe, namely, the Panggi, Komkar, and Padam, of the East and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Blood group O was the predominant group in the Komkar and Padam, whereas group A was the predominant group in the Panggi. Blood group AB was found to be the least frequent group in all three studied populations. The populations showed significant differences in blood groups A (43% in Panggi, 23% in Komkar, and 18% in Padam) and O (33% in Panggi, 54% in Komkar, and 61% in Padam). The chi-square test indicated significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting high heterogeneity among the tribes.     

Intertribal and temporal allele-frequency variation at the ABO locus among Tibeto-Burman-speaking Adi subtribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India

We studied the distribution of ABO blood group frequencies of the Galo and Mishing subtribes of the Adi tribal cluster in East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India, in order to investigate the intertribal and temporal allelic variation. Blood groups O and AB showed higher frequencies (28.4%, 27.4%) in the Galo, whereas group O (45%) was predominant in the Mishing. Allele r is significantly different in the Galo (44.6%) and Mishing (60.3%). The chi-square test indicated significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Adi tribes show high heterogeneity and indicate significant temporal variation in ABO genotype frequencies in the Galo, Mishing, and Padam, whereas the Panggi, a small isolated subtribe of Adi, show similar and stable frequencies.     

Energy flow through an Apatani village ecosystem of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India

The energy flow through the ecosystem of a typical Apatani village in Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India was studied. The energy and economic efficiency of the rice agro-ecosystem of this region is exceptionally high, and rice is exported after meeting local needs. The cropping pattern varies depending upon the amount of organic residues recycled into the system. Where recycling is more efficient and substantial, pisciculture is integrated with rice cultivation. Dry land cultivation of millet and mixed cropping in home gardens contribute toward meeting the diverse needs of the people. Swine and poultry husbandry is an important link with agro-ecosystems through the detritus food chain. Mithun (Bos frontalis)husbandry, which is dependent upon large forested grazing lands, is important for social and religious reasons, as well as being a source of food. Fuelwood is extracted from the natural forest and from the cultivated bamboo gardens; the latter also provide construction materials. This village ecosystem with high overall energy efficiency is based on tight recycling of resources.     

Genetic kinship among an isolated Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh: isonymy in the Adi Panggi

Isolated tribes in remote areas are important for genetic studies, and one such little known subtribe of the Adi tribe, namely, the Adi Panggi (Pangi) of the Upper Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, India, was studied for surname distribution to deduce the deviation from random mating and genetic kinship between villages. The estimates of homonymy (homozygosity) vary between villages; husbands show wider variation (0.009 to 0.23) than wives (0.005 to 0.054). The remote villages of Sumsing and Sibum and Geku Town show lower entropy among husbands' surnames than among Panggi wives. The highest equivalent surname number was found among Sibum husbands (9.9), Panggi wives (12.6), and Panggi and non-Panggi wives (13.5). The estimates of unbiased random isonymy among husbands and wives together show the smallest values in Sibum (0.05) and the highest values in Sumsing and Ramku (0.16). The random and nonrandom components of the inbreeding coefficient show avoidance of inbreeding among the Panggi villages (-0.012 to -0.27) except in Sibum (0.012). Genetic kinship between villages based on the Mij distance shows different clusters of villages among husbands and wives. Both the Panggi wives and the Panggi and non-Panggi wives show a similar pattern of clustering between villages. The wide homonymy variation between villages among the patrilocal Adi Panggi indicates differential genetic kinetics among husbands and wives, avoidance of inbreeding, and female-oriented differential gene flow with little effect on the overall intervillage genetic kinship.     

Foraging Patterns of Sympatric Hornbills during the Nonbreeding Season in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India

The diet and food resource partitioning of three sympatric hornbills (Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus, and Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris) during the nonbreeding season were studied relative to fruit availability in a foothill semievergreen forest of Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India. Hornbills fed on fruits of 49 plant species that comprised over 95 percent of their diet. Hornbill species partitioned food resources by varying the relative contribution of figs and non‐fig fruits in the diet. Similarity in non‐fig fruit diet was low. Ten species contributed to over 90 percent of the non‐fig diet. The availability of non‐fig fruits was much lower in the nonbreeding season than in the breeding season; however, despite lower fruit availability during the nonbreeding season, hornbills had a wide diet breadth and indirect evidence suggests that Wreathed Hornbills foraged widely in this season for fruit. Great Hornbills relied more on figs that were available year‐round. The diverse diet breadth that included rare and patchy fruit resources underscores the importance of conserving large forest tracts for hornbills.     

Ethnobotany of the Monpa ethnic group at Arunachal Pradesh, India

Background

Barley is the number one food crop in the highland parts of North Eastern Ethiopia produced by subsistence farmers grown as landraces. Information on the ethnobotany, food utilization and maintenance of barley landraces is valuable to design and plan germplasm conservation strategies as well as to improve food utilization of barley.

Methods

A study, involving field visits and household interviews, was conducted in three administrative zones. Eleven districts from the three zones, five kebeles in each district and five households from each kebele were visited to gather information on the ethnobotany, the utilization of barley and how barley end-uses influence the maintenance of landrace diversity.

Results

According to farmers, barley is the "king of crops" and it is put for diverse uses with more than 20 types of barley dishes and beverages reportedly prepared in the study area. The products are prepared from either boiled/roasted whole grain, raw- and roasted-milled grain, or cracked grain as main, side, ceremonial, and recuperating dishes. The various barley traditional foods have perceived qualities and health benefits by the farmers. Fifteen diverse barley landraces were reported by farmers, and the ethnobotany of the landraces reflects key quantitative and qualitative traits. Some landraces that are preferred for their culinary qualities are being marginalized due to moisture shortage and soil degradation.

Conclusions

Farmers' preference of different landraces for various end-use qualities is one of the important factors that affect the decision process of landraces maintenance, which in turn affect genetic diversity. Further studies on improving maintenance of landraces, developing suitable varieties and improving the food utilization of barley including processing techniques could contribute to food security of the area.     

Icthyofaunal Diversity of Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh,India

Study was carried out from June 2012 to July 2013 in a 58 km stretch of the river Siang in Arunachal Pradesh, India to determine ichthyofaunal diversity in this section of the river. The study revealed the presence of 82 species of fishes belonging to 8 orders, 24 families and 53 genera. Species representing the order Cypriniformes dominated the ichthyofauna while those representing Tetradontiformes are in less number.     

An assessment of social vulnerability to climate change among the districts of Arunachal Pradesh,India

The present study highlighted the state of climate change induced social vulnerability of the districts of Arunachal Pradesh. For the purpose of assessment of one of the most fragile ecosystems of the eastern Himalaya, the ‘Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Approach’ and IPCC’s definition of vulnerability were utilized. The assessment was based on various secondary data, like socio-economic and biophysical indicators, collected from several authenticated sources; and the respective weightage of these indicators was assigned by using ‘Principal Component Analysis’. Vulnerability was calculated as the net effect of exposure and sensitivity on the adaptive capacity. Anjaw district of eastern Arunachal Pradesh was found to be the most vulnerable district, while Tawang district of western Arunachal Pradesh happened to be the least vulnerable. This net effect was found negative in 7 out of 12 districts viz. Anjaw, Upper Siang, West Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, East Siang, East Kameng and Kurung Kurmey. This net negative effect could be construed as an alarming situation.     

Nonhuman Primates in the Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India are rich in biodiversity. The dense evergreen forest of the park with high canopy coverage supports a variety of fauna including primates. In February, 2002, we surveyed the primates in Namdapha National Park to assess their status. We directly sighted, 5 species of diurnal primates, and secondary information shows the presence of stump-tailed macaques and slow lories. We encountered 10 groups of hoolock gibbons (33 individuals), 9 troops of capped langurs (61 individuals), 15 groups of Assam macaques (209 individuals), 6 groups of rhesus macaques (74 individuals) and one unidentified group of macaques (15 individuals). Hunting, rather than habitat destruction, is the chief potential threat for primates in the park.     

Climate Drivers on Malaria Transmission in Arunachal Pradesh,India

The present study was conducted during the years 2006 to 2012 and provides information on prevalence of malaria and its regulation with effect to various climatic factors in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Correlation analysis, Principal Component Analysis and Hotelling’s T² statistics models are adopted to understand the effect of weather variables on malaria transmission. The epidemiological study shows that the prevalence of malaria is mostly caused by the parasite Plasmodium vivax followed by Plasmodium falciparum. It is noted that, the intensity of malaria cases declined gradually from the year 2006 to 2012. The transmission of malaria observed was more during the rainy season, as compared to summer and winter seasons. Further, the data analysis study with Principal Component Analysis and Hotelling’s T² statistic has revealed that the climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall are the most influencing factors for the high rate of malaria transmission in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.     

Ethnobiological notes on some tribes of Arunachal Pradesh,northeastern India

A total of 171 plant species used by the Nishis, the Hill M iris, the Sulungs, and the Apatanis of Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India; 12 animal species used by the Nishis were identified. Of the total plant species recorded 38% of the total were leafy vegetables and 28% were edible fruits. Others were used for food, liquor, medicine, household goods, traditional dresses, dyes, tattoos, fish and animal poisons, or for salt extraction. The Sulungs use starch obtained from the pith ofMetroxylon sagu as a staple food. The extensive use of wild plants and animals suggests that the tribes of northeastern India rely heavily on forest resources. The importance of conserving these in the light of rapid conversion of rainforests is emphasized.     

Winter ecology of the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala in Pangchen Valley,western Arunachal Pradesh,northeastern India

The newly described Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala occurs largely in sub‐tropical to temperate environments at elevations of c. 1,800–3,000 m in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. We studied its over‐wintering strategy by comparing the diet, ranging, and behavior of a troop of 24 individuals during winter and spring (December 2005 to May 2006) through instantaneous scan sampling (3,002 records, 448 scans, 112 hr of observation). We also monitored the phenology of food plants. The macaques spent more time (41–66%) feeding in the winter than in spring (33–51%), whereas time spent moving and resting was greater in spring. The diet composed largely of plants, with animal matter being eaten rarely. The number of plant species in the diet increased from 18 to 25 whereas food types rose from 18 to 36 from winter to spring, respectively. Although only two species formed 75% of the winter diet, seven species comprised this proportion in spring. Availability of fruits and young leaves increased in spring; the troop moved more and utilized a larger part of its range during this time. Seasonal changes in behavior could be explained by the scarcity of food and the costs of thermoregulation in winter. Our study suggests that the Arunachal macaque inhabits a highly seasonal environment and has an over‐wintering strategy that includes subsisting on a high‐fiber diet by increasing the time spent feeding, and minimizing energy expenditure by reducing the time spent moving. Am. J. Primatol. 71:939–947, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Database management system for the control of malaria in Arunachal Pradesh, India

The Arunachal Pradesh state in India is epidemic for malaria, caused by P.vivax and P.falciparum. Despite the implementation of several control strategies, the outbreak of malaria in the state is mainly due to lack of proper information regarding the disease. Hence, we completed a database to help implement appropriate control strategy for the public health officials in Arunachal Pradesh. AVAILABILITY: www.envisiict.org.     

Phylogenetic relationships and morphometric affinities of the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala, a newly described primate from Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India

A new species of primate, the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala, belonging to the sinica species-group of the genus, was described from northeastern India in 2005, and, based on its appearance and distribution, hypothesised to be closely related to M. assamensis and M. thibetana. We subsequently obtained an entire adult male specimen and tissue remains from two other M. munzala individuals. Molecular analyses establish the distinct identity of the species and indicate a time of origin of c. 0.48 mya for it. The species also shows close phylogenetic affinities with the allopatric M. radiata and with the geographically closer M. assamensis and M. thibetana, possibly mediated by male introgression from an ancestral M. assamensis-M. thibetana stock into an ancestral M. munzala stock. Morphometric analyses, on the other hand, reiterate its close similarity only with M. assamensis and M. thibetana, presumably resulting from convergent evolution under similar ecological conditions and along a latitudinal gradient, as predicted by Bergmann's and Allen's rules.     

'Ltvo new species of Cheirostylis (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Two new species of Cheirostylis, C. sessanica and C. munnacampensis are described from Arunachal Pradesh, India.     

Effect of interactions among ethnic communities,livestock and wild dogs (Cuon alpinus) in Arunachal Pradesh,India

A questionnaire survey in 48 villages covering over 10,000 km² in Arunachal Pradesh, India, was conducted to quantify the livestock depredation and resultant killing of dholes in retaliation. Depredation was reported to be caused highest by dhole (Cuon alpinus) in comparison to tiger (Panthera tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus). Respondents claimed major losses (7.90 %) of socio-culturally valued livestock, i.e., mithun (Bos frontalis), to depredation. Scat analysis revealed livestock constituted only 10 % of the diet of dhole, tiger and leopard. Mithun depredation by dhole was correlated with hunting (r?=?0.54, P?r?=?0.54, P?dhole that correspond to their direct killing in retaliation may lead to unrecoverable losses in its population. This study highlights the significance of the region in securing the long-term survival of large carnivores, especially dholes, in this region.     

Feeding ecology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in a rice–fish culture system of the Apatani plateau (Arunachal Pradesh, India)

For two years (2002, 2003) selective feeding ecology of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) has been studied in carp-integrated rice fields in Apatani Plateau of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Sampling strategy was based on the water depths in the fields and on the flood phases: early flood phase (June–July), mid flood phase (July–August), and late flood phase (September–October). In 2003 the water level was higher and therefore periphyton availability was better. This resulted in larger gut contents and better growth of the carp compared with 2002 when the water levels were lower. Gut contents analyses revealed a total of 60 food items of which 22 belonged to the Chlorophycea, 12 to the Cyanobacteria, 10 to the Bacillariophycea and 16 to several zooplankton taxa. With the progress of flood phases, the fish increased its feeding on periphyton food items; simultaneously, feeding on plankton items gradually declined. This was caused by the increasing periphyton availability on the rice-stems. Selective feeding on plankton and periphyton taxa was studied, selectivity changed with the flood phases. Periphytic Chlorophycea and Cyanobacteria, especially, were strongly positively selected. Generally, periphyton was the most important resource for the common carp in the rice fields.     

A new species of Sarcoglyphis (Orchidaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India

A new species of Sarcoglyphis, S. arunachalensis, from Arunachal Pradesh, India is described.