TAG: GS-3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: On 18th Oct 2024, Kaziranga National Park, famous for its iconic one-horned Rhinoceros, is recognised as India’s second-largest butterfly diversity centre.
EXPLANATION:
Why in the news?
- A new study found over 446 butterfly species in Kaziranga National Park. This discovery makes Kaziranga India’s second butterfly diversity hotspot after Namdapha National Park. The findings result from years of research by Dr. Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi, a young scientist who has been studying the park since 2007.
- The first-ever ‘Butterfly Conservation Meet-2024’ was held in September to focus on the detailed study of butterfly species in Kaziranga.
- The event attracted about 40 butterfly enthusiasts, including participants from Northeastern Hill University, Cotton University, Maharashtra Forest Department, Corbett Foundation, and the Northeast Butterflies group.
- Kaziranga’s diverse butterfly population is particularly notable given its location outside the Himalayan and Patkai mountain ranges, where high species diversity is typically expected.
About Kaziranga National Park:
- It is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.
- It was declared a national park in 1974.
- It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses two-thirds of the total world population of greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- It is the largest undisturbed area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplains.
Rivers: The Brahmaputra flows along the northern boundary of the park. Other smaller rivers and streams, such as the Diphlu, Mora Diphlu, and Mora Dhansiri, pass through the National Park.
- Landscape: Sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes, and shallow pools.
- Fauna: Many endangered and threatened species like Rhino, Tiger, Eastern swamp deer, Elephant, Buffalo, Hoolock gibbon, Capped langur, and Gangetic River dolphin
- It is inhabited by the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals.
Vegetation: It is a mix of eastern wet alluvial grasslands, semi evergreen forests and tropical moist deciduous forests.
About Butterfly:
- They are insects from the order Lepidoptera of phylum Arthropoda which also includes moths.
- Butterflies along with bees play an important role in the pollination of plants and the production of crops.
- Butterflies transport pollen grains from one place to another.
- Indicator Species: Reflect the quality and changes in environmental conditions as well as aspects of community composition.
- If the population of butterflies decreases then their predators (wasps, spiders, and birds) lose their major food source.
- Rich Biodiversity: Their abundance in any area represents the rich biodiversity.
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