NAME: ROHIT RATAN

UNIVERSITY ROLL NO: 201434-21-0112

COLLEGE NAME: SHREE AGRASAIN COLLEGE
TOPIC: A STUDY ON LOCAL BIODIVERSITY : FLORA ,
FAUNA AND THEIR INTERDEPENDENCE

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION REGARDING FLORA AND FAUNA

1. INDEX

S.NO CONTENTS PG.NO

1. INDEX 2
2. ACKNWLEDGEMENT 3
2. OBJECTIVE OF STUDY 4
3. INTRODUCTION 5-15
- WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM?
- WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
- BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA
- BIODIVERSITY OF WEST BENGAL
- WHAT ARE FOOD CHAIN?
- IMPORTANCE OF FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD
WEBS
- CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
- WHY BIODIVERSITY NEEDS TO BE
CONSERVED?
- FACTORS AFFECTING BIODIVERSITY
- PROTECTED AREAS CONSERVING
BIODIVERSITY
1. IN-SITU CONSERVATION
2. EX-SITU CONSERVATION
3. HOTSPOTS
4. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY 16
5. OBSERVATION 17-18
6. RESULTS 19-20
7. SOURCES 21

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2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my Professor (ARITRI

SARKAR) who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on
the topic (A STUDY ON LOCAL BIODIVERSITY: COMMON FLORA,
FAUNA AND THEIR INTERDEPENDENCE), which also helped me in doing
a lot of Research and i came to know about so many new things I am really
thankful to them.

Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot
in finalizing this project within the limited time frame.

Regards,
Rohit Ratan
(Roll No: 201434-21-0112)

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2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

To study the local and common plants, animals, insects, birds of a selected area in order to
attain the biodiversity of a particular area Liluah,Howrah. Along with the observation of
biodiversity the feeding habits of some species are also observed to form the probable food
chain(s). With the understanding of food preferences of species their ecological role will help
us comprehend the value of conservation of each and every species for our ultimate survival.

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 3. INTRODUCTION:

WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM ?

A biological community of interacting organisms and physical environment. As an

ecosystem area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape,
work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystem contains biotic or living , as well as abiotic
factors, or nonliving parts. Ecosystem can be very large or very small.

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?

The variety of plants and animal life in the world and or in a particular habitat, or a high level of
which is usually considered to be important and desirable. Biodiversity is the biological variety
and variability of life on earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetics, species,
and ecosystem level terrestrial biodiversity is usually near the equator, which is the result of the
warm climate and high primary productivity.

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 BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA
Environmental services from species and ecosystems are essential at global, regional and local levels.
India is a megadiverse nation and land of around 10% of world species. It also has a rich cultural
heritage traced back to thousands of years. Much on Indian biodiversity is intricately related to the
socio-cultural practices of the land.

Bio Geographic Regions

1. Trans Himalaya : This zone has three provinces: Ladakh mountains, Tibetan plateau,
Trans-Himalaya Sikkim.
2. The Himalaya : It has four provinces-North-West Himalaya, West Himalayas, Central
Himalayas and East Himalayas,
3. The Indian Desert : This zone includes two provinces-Thar and Kutch.
4. The Semi-Arid : This constitutes two namely-Punjab Gujrat-Rajasthan.
5. The Deccan Plateau : Three provinces namely-West coast, East coast and
Lakshadweep.
6. The Gangetic Plains : This zone has two provinces- Upper Gangetic plains and lower
Gangetic plains.
7. Islands : This zone includes two provinces- Andaman and Nicobar. It is highly set of
biomes.

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Flora and Fauna in India
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) India is a
megadiverse country with only 2.4% of the world's land area, accounting for 7-8% of all
recorded species, including species of plants and species of animals.
1. There are about 45000 species of plants, which is about 7% of the world's total. About
33% of these are endemic.
2. There are 15000 flowering plants, which is 6% of the world's total. Roughly 1500 plant
species are endangered.
3. There are 91000 animal species, representing about 6.5% of the world's fauna. These
include 60000 insect species, 372 mammals, 2456 fish species, 1230 bird species, over
440 reptiles, and 200 amphibians.

Richness of Biodiversity in India

1. Himalayas : include the entire Himalayan region.
2. Indio-Burma includes North-Eastern India
3. Western ghats and Sri Lanka
4. Sundaand includes the Nicobar group of islands.

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Biodiversity Hotspots

The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats are present along the western edge of peninsular India and covers most of
the deciduous forests and rainforests. As per UNESCO, it is home to at least 325 globally threatened
flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species. Originally, the vegetation in this region was
spread over 190,000 km2 but has been now reduced to 43,000 km2. The region is also known for the
globally threatened flora and fauna represented by 229 plant species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird
species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species and 1 fish species. UNESCO mentions that “Of the
total 325 globally threatened species in the Western Ghats, 129 are classified as Vulnerable, 145 as
Endangered and 51 as Critically Endangered.”
The area is one of the world's ten "hottest biodiversity hotspots." It has over 7,402 species of
flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179
amphibian species, 6,000 insects species, and 290 freshwater fish species. It is likely that many
undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the
Western Ghats. The biodiversity found here rivals that of the Amazon Basin.

North-East India
one of the most fascinating places of India and of the world, located in the northeastern
region of India, and consisting of 7 states, called collectively as 'the seven sisters'. Much of the region
has been left unexplored till date, owing to the region's formidable terrain consisting of mountains,
hills, rainforests, river, jungles and predators, and deficiency of infrastructure. The small sized region
has one of the highest biodiversity concentrations found anywhere in the world.
The states of North Eastern Region are officially recognised under the North Eastern
Council (NEC), constituted in 1971 as the acting agency for the development of the north eastern
states. Long after the induction of NEC, Sikkim formed part of the North Eastern Region as the eighth
state in 2002. India's Look-East connectivity projects connect Northeast India to East Asia
and ASEAN. Guwahati city in Assam is called the Gateway to the North East and is the largest
metropolis in North East India.

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 BIODIVERSITY OF WEST BENGAL

From the famous Royal Bengal tiger that stalks its prey with legendary cunningness in the
Gangetic delta of famous Sundarbans, to the one-horned Indian Rhinoceros grazing in the Terai
grassland, the leopards lurking in the foothills of the Himalayas and Red Pandas resting in
bamboo groves of Himalayas The forests of this state has a rich assemblage of diverse habitats
and vegetation designated with the help of eight different forest types. The diverse fauna and
flora of West Bengal possess the combined characteristics of the Himalayan, sub-Himalayan and
Gangetic plain. Diversity is further reflected in different types of ecosystems available here like
the mountain ecosystem of the north, forest ecosystem extending over the major part of the state,
freshwater ecosystem, semiarid ecosystem in the western part, mangrove ecosystem in the south
and coastal marine ecosystem along the shoreline.

The fauna and flora of West Bengal possess the combined characteristics of the Himalayan and
sub Himalayan Gangetic plain. Biodiversity is shaped by the biotic and abiotic components of its
environment and this state has a rich assemblage of diverse habitats and vegetation designated
with the help of eight different forest types. Diversity is further reflected in different types of
ecosystem available here like mountain ecosystem of the north, forest ecosystem (semi-
evergreen, deciduous, dry, moist and tidal varieties) extending over the major part of the state,
freshwater ecosystem (rivers, streams, wetlands and to some extent estuaries), semiarid
ecosystem in the western part, mangrove ecosystem in the south and coastal marine ecosystem
along the shoreline.

These diverse ecosystems has resulted in rich faunal diversity of the state and consists of
10,013 species out of a total of 89,451 species of animals present in our country, thus
representing 11.19% of our countries fauna. The floral diversity of the state is also enriched by
4,622 species out of a total of 44,594 floral species in India, and 10.36% of our country's flora.

Maximum species diversity in fauna has been observed in Arthropoda Among other groups
Protozoa (969), Bird (649), Mollusca (280), Nematoda (283), Platyhelminthes (248),Mammals
(188), Annelida (187), Rotifera (146), Reptilia (146), Amphibia (50) are with wide number of
species.

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 Mangroves of Sundarbans

The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world (140,000
ha), lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of
Bengal. It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage site inscribed
in 1987. The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and
small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of
ongoing ecological processes. The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including
260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and other threatened species such as the estuarine
crocodile and the Indian python.
The Sundarbans is the biggest delta, back water and tidal phenomenon of the region and thus
provides diverse habitats for several hundreds of aquatic, terrestrial and amphibian species. The
property is of sufficient size to adequately represent its considerably high floral and faunal
diversity with all key values included within the boundaries. The site includes the entire
landscape of mangrove habitats with an adequate surrounding area of aquatic (both marine and
freshwater) and terrestrial habitats, and thus all the areas essential for the long term
conservation of the Sundarbans and its rich and distinct biodiversity
The World Heritage property comprises three wildlife sanctuaries which form the core breeding
area of a number of species of endangered wildlife. Areas of unique natural beauty, ethno
botanical interest, special marine faunal interest, rivers, creeks, islands, swamps, estuaries, mud
flats, and tidal flats are also included in the property. The boundaries of the property protect all
major mangrove vegetation types, areas of high floral and faunal values and important bird
areas. The integrity of the property is further enhanced by terrestrial and aquatic buffer zones
that surround, but are not part of the inscribed property.

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Bengal Tiger

The Bengal tiger is a tiger from a specific population of the Panthera tigris tigris subspecies that
is native to the Indian subcontinent.] It is threatened by poaching, loss, and fragmentation of habitat,
and was estimated at comprising fewer than 2,500 wild individuals by 2011. None of the Tiger
Conservation Landscapes within its range is considered large enough to support an effective
population of more than 250 adult individuals. India's tiger population was estimated at 1,706–1,909
individuals in 2010 By 2018, the population had increased to an estimated 2,603–3,346
individuals. Around 300–500 tigers are estimated in Bangladesh, 220–274 tigers in Nepal and 103
tigers in Bhutan.
The tiger is estimated to be present in the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene, for about
12,000 to 16,500 years.
The Bengal tiger ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the
world's charismatic megafauna. It is the national animal of both India and Bangladesh. It used to be
called Royal Bengal tiger.[

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WHAT ARE FOOD CHAINS ?
A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web starting from producer organisms (such
as grass or trees which use radiation from the Sun to make their food) and ending at an apex
predator species (like grizzly bears or killer whales), detritivores (like earthworms or woodlice),
or decomposer species (such as fungi or bacteria).

WHAT ARE FOOD WEB?

Food web is an important ecological concept. Basically, food web represents feeding
relationships within a community.It also implies the transfer of food energy from its source
in plants through herbivores to carnivores. Normally, food webs consist of a number of food
chains meshed together. Each food chain is a descriptive diagram including a series of
arrows, each pointing from one species to another, representing the flow of food energy
from one feeding group of organisms to another.

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 IMPORTANCE OF FOOD CHAIN OR FOOD WEB

 Each organism fills a specific niche in an ecosystem that can be seen in food
chains. Do they create initial energy through photosynthesis? Can they eat one
group to keep the population in control? Do they decompose other organisms? Are
they acting as a predator or prey?
 Food chains are important because they show the intricate relationships in
ecosystems. They can reveal how each organism depends on someone else for
survival. Food chains also display what happens when a problem occurs and a
producer or consumer is lost. Entire communities can collapse. Food chains can
help scientists learn more about ecosystems and how to help them stay
balanced,
 Depending on the food chain you are examining, the same organism can be
considered to be at more than one trophic level. For example, seals could be
considered apex predators at the highest trophic level in certain environments
where they eat fish that are primary or secondary consumers,
 However, in other communities where seals become prey for sharks, they could be
considered to be at a lower trophic level. These relationships are easier to see in
food webs and harder to notice in food chains or pyramid,
 In conclusion, food chains helps to keep our environment balanced,
 We get energy through eating, or consuming, plants or animals as food,
 If there were no grass then a rabbit would not be able to eat it and gain its energy, so
the wolf wouldn’t be able to eat the rabbit and obtain its energy because the rabbit
would have died of starvation, and it goes as a chain reaction,
 Food chain studies have had an important role in ecotoxilogocoly studies by tracing
the pathways biomagnifications,

Examples of Food Chains and Food Web

An example of a simple food chain starts with grass, which is a producer. The next level is
the grasshopper or primary consumer and herbivore that eats the grass. Then, the secondary
consumer is the frog that eats the grasshopper. Finally, the tertiary consumer is the hawk
that eats the frog.

Plants are eaten by grasshoppers and squirrels. The grasshopper is eaten by the lizard, which
is then eaten by the fox. ... The squirrel can also be eaten by a snake, which is then eaten by
the fox. When the fox or eagle die, they are decomposed by earthworms and bacteria.

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CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity conservation has three main objectives:

1. To preserve the diversity of species.

2. Sustainable utilization of species and ecosystem.
3. To maintain life-supporting systems and essential ecological processes.

Let us have a detailed look at biodiversity and its conservation notes to explore the strategies
and concept of biodiversity conservation.

In-situ Conservation

In-situ conservation of biodiversity is the conservation of species within their natural habitat.
In this method, the natural ecosystem is maintained and protected.

National Parks
These are small reserves maintained by the government. Its boundaries are well demarcated
and human activities such as grazing, forestry, habitat and cultivation are prohibited. For eg.,
Kanha National Park, Bandipur National Park.

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Wildlife Sanctuaries
These are the regions where only wild animals are found. Human activities such as timber
harvesting, cultivation, collection of woods and other forest products are allowed here as long
as they do not interfere with the conservation project. Also, tourists visit these places for
recreation.

Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas where the wildlife, traditional lifestyle
of the inhabitants and domesticated plants and animals are protected. Tourist and research
activities are permitted here.

Ex-situ Conservation
Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity involves the breeding and maintenance of endangered
species in artificial ecosystems such as zoos, nurseries, botanical gardens, gene banks, etc.
There is less competition for food, water and space among the organisms.

Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation

Following are the important strategies for biodiversity conservation:

 All the varieties of food, timber plants, livestock, microbes and agricultural animals
should be conserved.
 All the economically important organisms should be identified and conserved.
 Unique ecosystems should be preserved first.
 The resources should be utilized efficiently.
 Poaching and hunting of wild animals should be prevented.
 The reserves and protected areas should be developed carefully.
 The levels of pollutants should be reduced in the environment.
 Deforestation should be strictly prohibited.
 Environmental laws should be followed strictly.
 The useful and endangered species of plants and animals should be conserved in their
nature as well as artificial habitats.
 Public awareness should be created regarding biodiversity conservation and its
importance.

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4. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS
Materials used by me are as follows:
1. Notebook
2. Pen
3. Map of my locality
4. Cell phone

METHODOLOGY
A study was carried out which involved observing the local biodiversity from my home in
Liluah, Howrah. The study period was from 1st June, 2021 to 15th June, 2021. The study was
generally done in morning from around 7:00 am to 10:00 am. The time slot was chosen
because fauna was found to be comparatively high around that time. The purpose was to find
out the different plants, mammals, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles of the locality and
make a checklist of my observations. From the checklist obtained, the different probably the
food chain among species of my locality where represented using flowchart.

22.6287769, 88.3348089
THE CO-ORDINATES MENTIONED ABOVE IS THE POINT OF SURVEY.

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5. OBSERVATION

The following species are found in my locality:

S.NO NAME OF SCIENTIFIC GROUP ROLE IN NUMBER(s)

IN
SPECIES NAME ECOSYSTEM LOCALITY
1. PEEPAL FICUS TREE PRODUCER 2
RELIGIOSA
2. BANYAN FICUS TREE PRODUCER 4
BENGHALENSIS

3. HOUSE CORVUS BIRD TERTIARY 10-20

CROW SPLENDENS COSUMER
4. COMMON ORTHOTOMUS BIRD SECONDARY 5-7
TRAILOR SUTORIUS CONSUMER
BIRD
5. BARN TYTO ALBA BIRD TERTIARY 1
OWL CONSUMER
6. MANGO MANGIFERA TREE PRODUCER 4
INDICA
7. COMMON POLYPEDATES AMPHIBIAN SECONDARY 7
INDIAN TREE MACULATUS CONSUMER
FROG
8. NEEM AZADIRACHTA TREE PRODUCER 2
INDICA

9. COCONUT COCOS PALM PRODUCER 8

NUCIFERA
10. LANTANA LANTANA SHRUB PRODUCER 7
CAMARA
11. SIGNATURE ARGIOPE INSECT PRIMARY OR 2
SPIDER ANASUJA SECONDARY
CONSUMER
12. INDIAN CALOTES REPTILE PRIMARY 3
GARDEN VERSICOLOR SECONDARY
LIZARD CONSUMER
13. FIVE FUNAMBULUS MAMMAL PRIMARY 4
STRIPED PENNANTII CONSUMER
PALM
SQUIREL

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14. HOUSE PASSER BIRD PRIMARY 5-7
SPARROW DOMESTICUS CONSUMER
15. HIBICUS HIBICUS SHRUB PRODUCER 8
ROSA-SINESIS
16. OLEANDER NERIUM SHRUB PRODUCER 9
OLEANDER
17. SHORT CYNOPTERUS MAMMAL PRIMARY 5
NOSED FRUIT SP CONSUMER
BAT
18. CAMMANDER MODUZA INSECT PRIMARY 7
BUTTERFLY PROCRIS CONSUMER
19. BENGAL VARANUS REPTILE SECONDARY 1
MONITOR BENGALENSIS OR
LIZARD TERTIARY
CONSUMER
20. HANUMAN SEMNOPITHEC MAMMAL PRIMARY 4
LANGOOR US ENTELLUS CONSUMER
21. ALOE VERA ALOE SHRUB PRODUCER 5
BARBADENSIS
MILLER
22. ASIAN BEE APIS CERANA INSECT PRIMARY 20-
INDICA CONSUMER 200
23. BROWN RAT RATTUS MAMMAL SECONDARY 12-
20
24. COMMON ALCEDINIDAE BIRD SECONDARY 3-4
KINGFISHER CONSUMER
25. BASIL OCIMUM SHRUB PRODUCER 2-4
TENUENUIFLORUM

26. CHECKERED FOWLEA REPTILE TERTIARY 1

KEELBACK PISCATOR
27. INDIAN GREY HERPESTIDAE MAMMAL TERTIARY 2
MONGOOSE
28. CHAMELON CHAMAELEONIDA REPTILE SECONDARY 1
CONSUMER

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6. RESULTS
FROM THE ABOVE OBSERVATION FOLLOWING FOOD CHAIN CAN BE
OBTAINED BASED ON THEIR ROLE IN ECOSYSTEM:-

EG:1

MANGO
FIVE STRIPED PALM
(PRODUCER) SQUIREL
(PRIMARY CONSUMER)

INDIAN GREY CHECKERED KEELBACK

MONGOOSE (SECONDARY
(TERTIARY CONSUMER) CONSUMER)

EG: 2

ASIAN BEE
OLEANDER (PRIMARY CONSUMER)
(PRODUCER)

COMMON INDIAN TREE CHECKERED KEELBACK

FROG (SECONDARY CONSUMER
(SECONDARY CONSUMER)

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EG 3.

HIBIUS (PRODUCER)
CAMMANDER BUTTERFLY
(PRIMARY CONSUMER)

HOUSE CROW COMMON HOUSE GECKO

(TERTIARY CONSUMER) (SECONDARY CONSUMER)

EG 4:

LANTANA ASIAN BEE

(PRODUCER) (PRIMARY PRODUCER)

COMMON HOUSE GECKO SIGNATURE SPIDER

(SECONDARY CONSUMER) (SECONDARY CONSUMER)

EG 5:

MANGO BROWN RAT BAWN OWL

(PRODUCER) (PRIMARY CONSUMER) (SECONDARY
CONSUMER)

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7. SOURCE

I have taken the help from few books like

NCERT Class 12 Biology, INDIAN sub-continent, &
Environment Studies Model Field and Project Work CU sem-2.

I have also taken help from Internet websites which as WWW.GOOGLE.COM,

WWW.WIKIPEDIA.COM, and many more websites to complete this project.

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