Theses and Dissertations

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    Species diversity and molecular study of bees (Bombus and Xylocopa) in Dehradun District, Uttarakhand, India
    (wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2025) Abha Purohit
    Pollinators are fundamental to the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, as they facilitate the reproduction of a vast majority of flowering plants and thereby sustain biodiversity and ecological stability. Globally, an estimated 87.5% of flowering plants depend onanimal pollinators for successful reproduction (Ollerton et.al. 2011). In addition to their ecological role, pollinators, particularly bees, are indispensable for global agriculture. Approximately 75% of the world’s leading food crops rely on pollination to enhance both yield and quality (Klein et.al. 2007). Agricultural commodities such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, oilseeds, and spices are especially dependent on bee-mediated pollination. Beyond agricultural productivity, pollinators provide critical services that directly influence human nutrition. By increasing the diversity, availability, and quality of nutrient-rich foods, they indirectly contribute to balanced diets enriched with vitamins, antioxidants, and essential micronutrients (Eilers et.al.2011). Thus, pollinators not only underpin biodiversity but also strengthen food security and human well-being, highlighting their ecological, agricultural, and nutritional significance. 2. Research objectives The study aims to conduct a systematic survey of Bombus (bumblebees) and Xylocopa (carpenter bees) in the Dehradun district, focusing on their taxonomy, ecology, and seasonal distribution in different habitat zones. It also seeks for identification and characterization of their habitats, with emphasis on the availability of food plants that sustain high species diversity. Molecular tools, including DNA barcoding, was applied for accurate identification of collected specimens. Additionally, the research evaluated the impact of anthropogenic pressures and other environmental threats on the survival and diversity of these pollinator groups in the study area.
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    Assessment fof Bees in Agroforestry in Kangsabati South Forest Division, Purulia, West Bengal
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Das, Pallabi; Uniyal, V.P.; Chandra, Kailash
    Plant pollinator interactions have evolved through diffuse co-evolution, representations of relation between plants and animal species, where bees play a crucial role in preserving native plants' diversity and their reproduction success. This research intended to investigate the bee community composition in the agroforestry ecosystem, focusing on the impact of anthropogenic activities on pollinator diversity and ecosystem services of wild bees. This study made an effort to compile a list of bee species in both agriculture and forest ecosystems and their interaction with plant functional groups in the study site. The study was conducted in Kangsabati South Forest Division (KSFD) in Purulia, West Bengal. Extensive field research was conducted from February 2020 to April 2023. In the study, 25 species were successfully documented from three habitats: mixed forest, Sal forest, and agricultural landscape. The study found that the majority of residents in the study area were below the poverty level and an Indigenous community, relying on forest for firewood and non-timber forest product (NTFP). Agriculture practices were prevalent, with migrant labor being a significant trend. The agricultural practice was not considered eco-friendly, and excessive pesticides were used. The study also found that less than 50% of the respondents were familiar with bees. Subsistent and unskilled agriculture was practiced by less literate farmers, leading to land degradation and wasteland. The study highlights the need for eco-friendly agriculture practices and the degradation of natural habitats due to human activities. The relationship between bee species diversity and the stability of ecosystem service (E.S.) was investigated in this study. The study categorized bee communities into social and wild bees, and interpolated (IDW) diversity maps were generated for each survey site. The decline in population and diversity of bees' is observed gradually due to the influence of several anthropogenic activities, as demonstrated by several past studies. A low to slightly intermediate anthropogenic impact, mainly for agricultural landscapes, was noticed through the Human Footprint Index (HFI) map of KSFD.