Researchers detect nearly 150 non-native plant, fish species

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• IMPHAL — Scientists and researchers in Manipur have detected nearly 150 non-native species in the state. The said species included 127 plant species, 18 fish species and around 4 insect species.
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• This came to light during the 3rd roundtable discussion on invasive alien species and climate change at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Manipur centre complex, in Imphal recently.
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• “Introduction of non-native fish species for aquaculture in the state in 1960 has now posed threat to the local species,” claimed Dr. Yumnam Lokeshwor, a Zoology teacher at DM University, while making a presentation during the discussion.

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• “The global climate change has also become a major challenge to aquatic diversity as well,” he said.
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• So far, 18 fish species were introduced in the state of Manipur which houses around 218 fish species under 92 generas, 32 families and 11 orders, added Dr. Lokeshwor, who has so far discovered around 10 new fish species in northeast India.
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• Impact of global warming and climate change is inevitable to the entire living organism on this planet earth. Even fish can’t escape from it, he further stated.
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• On the other hand, Prof. Potsangbam Kumar of Manipur International University informed that a total of 127 invasive plant species were recorded during a survey work to study the alien and invasive flora in valley districts of Manipur from 2011 to 2014 and 2021 to 2024.
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• Out of the total species recorded, 41 species are invasive herb, 35 belonging to shrub, 37 species of invasive trees, 10 species of invasive vine and 4 species of invasive Pteridophytes respectively, Prof. Kumar said.
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• Invasive alien species are causing significant ecological, economic and social damage and pose ongoing threats to all the countries within the region, he added.
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• He, therefore, called for taking necessary steps to keep the forest flora with a luxuriant growth and protected from the invasive plant species. He added that long-term and high investment research/ programmes are required for controlling the invasive species to safeguard the native biodiversity.
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• Dr. Arati Ningombam, an entomologist at ICAR Manipur Centre, also stated that they have found around 4 non-native insects in the state.
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• The different personalities from diverse fields including researchers, scientists, academicians, media persons and government officials attended the discussion session which was jointly organised by Department of Environment and Climate Change (DoECC) and ICAR-Manipur. The event was conducted with an aim to document and assess non-native species potentially threatening local ecosystems and its trends with changing climate scenario in the state.
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• Sharing his opinion in holding the discussion, director of DoECC, Dr. T Brajakumar, said, “The idea of organising such kind of discussion is to make the first ever list of the alien species found in our state in view of the changing climate scenario so as to take up further steps accordingly.”