Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis (Jan 2015)

Butterfly of Assam University Campus in Silchar: Can Academic Institutions Contribute to Conservation of Species Diversity in Northeastern Region of India

  • Mitrajit Deb,
  • Sunil Nautiyal,
  • Petr Sláma,
  • Parimal C. Bhattacharjee,
  • Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

DOI
https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun201563030731
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 63, no. 3
pp. 731 – 739

Abstract

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Northeast India is amongst most bio-diverse ecological communities although recent developmental activities marred the environment to a great extent. Assam University campus in Silchar is situated in Barak valley of Assam, boasting a variety of habitats supporting invertebrate diversity. Heavy rainfall during monsoon increases vegetation and in turn larval food plants and overall butterfly density. Total 38 butterfly species were identified belonging to 30 genera under 5 families: Nymphalidae having the maximum species richness (58%), followed by Hesperiidae (13%), Lycaenidae (13%), Pieridae (11%) and Papilionidae (5%). This paper focuses on the problems and possible solutions towards butterfly conservation and highlights the role of academic institutions in conserving biodiversity by acting as green spaces for reducing effects of climate change, carbon sequestration and lowering of energy consumption among other benefits.

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