Itanagar, Oct 8 (PTI) A study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has found that high-altitude areas in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang support a wide variety of wild bees, including bumblebees.
The ZSI also stressed the need to protect alpine flowering habitats that provide vital food sources for pollinators in the Eastern Himalayas.
Alpine flower is a general term for any plant or wildflower that naturally grows in alpine climates above the tree line.
The survey was carried out between September 15 and October 7 as part of the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), according to a statement.
The ZSI team explored areas located between 2,000 and 4,700 metres above sea level, covering Sela Pass, Bumla Pass, Nagula, Sangetsar Tso, Chumi Gyatse Falls, Jang and other high-altitude locations, including areas close to the India-China border.
The study was undertaken by scientists from the ZSI’s Desert Regional Centre in Jodhpur. Research Associate Purnima Pathak led the team, assisted by Project Assistant Habung Elsa.
During the fieldwork, bees belonging to four families — Apidae, Megachilidae, Andrenidae and Halictidae — were recorded.
The survey paid particular attention to bumblebees and the flowering plants on which they depend for nectar and pollen.
Among the plants identified as important sources of food for the bees were Cirsium species, Rose Carpet Knotweed (Bistorta vacciniifolia), locally called Petma Mento, and Cicerbita alpina. Bumblebees were seen regularly visiting these flowers during the survey.
The researchers observed that the relatively brief flowering period in Tawang makes it important for bees to have access to different flowering plants throughout the season.
Fields used for agriculture, kitchen gardens and flowers growing around human settlements were also found to contribute to the availability of nectar and pollen.
According to the study, changes in alpine vegetation, disturbance to natural habitats and climate-related changes in flowering cycles could reduce the availability of food for pollinators living at higher elevations.
The scientists pointed out that conservation efforts should therefore focus not only on the bees but also on the flowering habitats that support them.
The findings are expected to serve as baseline data for further studies on bee diversity, bee-plant relationships and seasonal availability of floral resources.
The information could also assist in future habitat mapping, monitoring and conservation programmes in Tawang and other parts of the Eastern Himalayan region, the statement said. PTI UPL NN
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