ENDEMISM, ETHNO BOTANY, AND INVASIVE ALLIED SPECIES OF ODISHA- A BIO-GEO-DIVERSITY STUDY.

Siba Prasad Mishra 1 , Prasant Kumar Panigrahi 2 , Sweta Das 3 and Tapasi Parida 4 . (Affiliated to Centurion University of Technology and management) 1. Cor Author, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Ram Chandrapur, Jatni, Khordha, Odisha. 2. Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Ram Chandrapur, Jatni, Khordha, Odisha. 3. Assistant Professor, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Ram Chandrapur, Jatni, Khordha, Odisha. 4. Lecturer, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Ram Chandrapur, Jatni, Khordha, Odisha. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History

The aboriginal and ethnic people of Odisha in India are accustomed to living in most hostile and extreme climate under diverse meteorological conditions. The coastal state has immense rich biodiversity and possesses a rich ecosystem. The congregated bionetworks (marine, brackish, estuarine, inland and hilly) have different uniqueness in flora, fauna, aqua-fauna. Odisha, along the east coast of India is running parallel for 480Km to the Bay of Bengal including the largest brackish water lagoon Chilika and vast dry rainforests of the Eastern Ghats. The state has an area of about 155707 Km 2 , forest area recorded 51345Km 2 (31.38%) and home to about 7,000 plant species including 120 Orchids, 63 varieties of Mangrove trees constituting the state as second largest mangrove ecosystem in India. Many of the ethnic medicinal plants of the state which are not prioritized in the National Ayush Mission list have been investigated. The enumeration and preservation planning of endemic and threatened species of flora, fauna, avifauna of Odisha reveals that the coastal ecosystem is richer than inland ecosystem of Odisha. The aim of the present study is to report present status of species in Odisha. The research includes the listing of inland biodiversity and onshore marine biome of Odisha. Some selected enriched flora and fauna were studied which is less/poorly proclaimed places in Odisha. The investigation comprises of disclosing some poorly prioritized ethical medicinal flora and fauna of the state. . The summery of biogeographic information is in Table -2 [5] and Panigrahi (1983) [6] . Ethnobotanical uses of flora and fauna can be ascertained by the method of questionnaire Mallik et al 2012 [7] . The mining processes cause deforestation and surface vegetation losses on a gigantic scale and finally cause an imbalance in ecosystem Kosmas C. et. al.,(1997) [8] . Traditional medicines were from the major floral and faunal system in human civilization, yet uses of some of the medicinal herbs yet unknown. It is important to know the medicinal use of humans and the plant and the animal kingdom Odisha is one among the biodiversity regions in SE Asia. Saxena and Brahmam (1995 [9] ,1996 [10] [11] .  [12] reported 132 species are from Odisha. Apart from angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes the lower cryptogams such as algae, bryophytes and lichens of Odisha were studied by a different researcher from time to time. Mohapatra et al., 2013 [13] , had reported that 473 species of birds, 131 species of reptiles, 27 species of amphibians and > 600 species of fishes (marine and freshwater) existed in Odisha.
Biswal et. al, 2008 [14] has reported that 117 taxa of flowering plants, nonflowering and ferns claim to the rank of Odisha biodiversity conservation. As per IUCN norms, 19 taxa of them are enlisted as threatened taxa while 7 were found to be near-threatened, 28 are vulnerable, 22 were data deficient and 21 were not evaluated. In terms of growth form these species represent 47 trees, 20 shrubs, 19 climbers, 27 herbs and 3 ferns. Amphibians are an indicator of ecosystem health as they are sensitive to variations in their environment Welsh et. al., (1998) [15] ,; Sheridan et al., [16] ; Malhotra et. al.,(1999) [17] .

Marine forest along Odisha Coast:
Mangroves, the tropical coastal ecosystem is the tidal forests and most luxuriant near estuaries of rivers including trees, shrubs, creepers, ferns and palms. The onshore and estuaries of rivers the Brahmani and the Baitarani, the Bhitarakanika mangroves is ranked 2nd in India after Sundarban.The mangroves have also unique faunal diversity. The onshore coastal tract of Odisha is enriched with coastal vegetation. Chilika the brackish water lagoon has it's unique fragile marine-brackish-fresh water ecosystem.

Review of Literature
The vegetation of Odisha are of four types: (i) Semi-evergreen forests (ii) Tropical moist deciduous forests (iii) Tropical dry-deciduous forests and (iv) Littoral and Tidal swamp forests Champion et al., (1968) [5] and Panigrahi (1983) [6] . The mining cause deforestation and surface vegetation losses on a gigantic scale and finally causes an imbalance in ecosystem Kosmas C. et. al.,(1997) [8] . Ethnobotanical uses of flora and fauna can be better ascertained by the method of questionnaire as traditional ancient uses Mallik et al 2012 [7] . Traditional medicines were from the major floral and faunal system in human civilization, yet uses of some of the medicinal herbs yet unknown. It is important to know the medicinal use of faunal extracts, the different parts of plants and the avifuna kingdom of Odisha which is one among the important biodiversity regions in SE Asia. Saxena and Brahmam (1995 [9] ,1996 [ [11] . About 200-300 species of plants have been added to the list of angiosperms and pteridophytes, bringing the total floral checklist to around 3,000 in India and Mishra et al.,, 2004 [12] reported 132 species are from Odisha. Mohapatra et al., 2013 [13] , had reported that 473 species of birds, 131 species of reptiles, 27 species of amphibians and > 600 species of fishes (marine and freshwater) existed in Odisha.  [15] ,; Sheridan et al., (2003) [16] ; Malhotra et. al.,(1999) [17] .

Methods and Methodology:-
The old literature, electronic searches were made to enumerate the species. The strategic mega diversities places of Odisha were visited and the people-animal and human-plant interactions were studied. Photographic evidence was collected where the human-species interactions were noticed. During study, the authors visited most of the sites and collected photographs of the species where they found justified. They are of opinion that silent warriors are the common people who combat with the destroyers and poachers. They put their effort to protect and conserve the species both animals and plants. A list of local medicinal plants was collected with reference to a local book written by Rai Saheb Laxman Mishra IPS, which describes about some important and commonly available plants, herbs used by ethenic and primitive people to cure their diseases. It is also reported that some medicinal plants which are not prioritized by National Ayush Mission (NAM), India.

Migration of flora and fauna in Odisha:
The flora and fauna of an ecosystem adjust to the climate, food and habitat availability. They migrate and adjust their lively hood according to their necessity.The faunal species leave the eastern Indian hills and enter the Raj Mahal Hills, and bifurcate. A group move west via Ramgarh Hills, Maikela range, Satpura range and Ajanta range, and finally enter the Western Ghats Hills belt join the species in hills of west India and move south. The other group migrates through the Garhjat Hills range and enters the Eastern Ghats Hills range and move southwards. Mostly the faunal species take the river bank courses for food and water.
The migratory avifauna takes their annual path (Palearctic route) and dwell for their fertilization during the winter season and even settle for seven-eight months till the chicks are capable enough to fly back to their native places. The large water bodies and their adjoining areas preferred in Odisha are Hirakud reservoir, Bhitarkanika and the Chilika lagoon by such migratory guest avifauna.
Similarly some species like red crabs, some tortoise and Irrawadi dolphin's priorotise Odisha's coastal ecosystem for their guest house in their live journey for food and hatching. The Odisha coast is one of the best hatcheries for  [9] and 1996 [10] . Bhitarkanika, marine estuarine biome has recorded 72 species of plants comprising of numbers of species resulted as Tree (14), Herb (20), Shrub (16), Creeper (2), Climber (17), Fern (3) The list of endemic floral species of Odisha are in Table 4. Odisha has its unique biodiversity present in its inland, marine and brackish water areas. It is estimated that 473 species of birds, 131 species of reptiles, 27 species of amphibians and more than 600 species of fishes (marine and freshwater) and 87 mammals including 18 flagships hosts the huge faunal biodiversity of Odisha whose details are given in Table 5.

Coastal Marine Biodiversity Odisha
The coastal track was covered including the mangroves and the ( the brackish water lagoon, Chilika 1011 Km 2 Mishra S. P., (2016) [19] and estuarine backwater at Bhitarkanika (672 Km 2 ) and Gahiramatha (1435 Km 2 ). About 1121marine fishes of 166 families are found in Bay of Bengal in the onshore and offshore coastal zones of the east coast of India. The endemic and threatened species of aquafauna found along the east coast are 51 and 63species respectively Mishra S. S. et al (2013) [20] . Coastal Biodiversity of India has marine flora algae (844 species [21] is updated and given in Table 6 The state, Odisha is rich in species in species like mammals, birds, freshwater fishes and reptiles (vertebrates). The plant and birds species diversity is very high (>38%) in comparison to most of the coastal states of India. The marine ecosystem of Odisha possesses 261 species of fishes, 34 species of crabs and 28 varieties of prawns living in the Chilika and Bhitarkanika. A total of 695 species, out of which amphibians (20), reptiles (110) including 3 crocodiles, 479 aves and mammals (86) have been enlisted in Odisha. About 54 species comprises of reptiles (17), birds (15) and mammals (22) [22] .

Nontraditional Medicinal Plants Odisha:
Odisha is home for over 750 species of medicinal plants. Till date 200-300 species of plants have been added to the list of angiosperms and pteridophytes, as medicinal plants. Mishra, 2004 [12] reported that 132 species are in Odisha. Mohapatra et al., 2014 [13] have mentioned about 473 species of birds, 131 species of reptiles, 27 species of amphibians and more than 600 species of fishes (including marine and freshwater). Many endemic plants in Odisha are used for herbal medicine by the common people. Some of them are also used as medicinal plants and included in prioritized National Ayush Mission (NAM) plants, Rao P. P. 2013 [23] . Some plants and herbs of Odisha are yet to be included in the Ayush prioritized list are given in Table 8  Critically endangered species of Odisha: Regional plant resource center, Odisha has identified 29 species of plants, shrubs and herbs which are under the IUCN category of threatened plants to Eastern Ghat region. The red data book of Indian plants reports Odisha harbors 142 numbers of rare and endangered plant species out of which 72numbers are rare and rest 70 are endangered. Botanical Survey of India, has reported about 45 plant species are critically endangered (CR), 113 species endangered (EN), 89 species vulnerable (VU), 7 species extinct (EX) and two species are extinct in wild (EW), http://wccb.gov.in/. Some flora, fauna are considered vulnerable and endangered and are earmarked that need special attention before they will go to extinct in the wild or extinct. These endangered species are Barkud limbless skink (Barkudia insularis) (Fig 12.b), Eastern India limbless skink (Sepsophis punctatus), golden gecko (Calodactyloides aureus) of Chilika area, and bush frog (Phillautus similipalensis) considered endemic and endangered Dutta-Roy et al., 2013 [24] ,.Some orchids like arachnids Peucetia harishankarensis (a spider) and some earthworms of genera Lennogaster, Eutyphoeus, Octochaetona, Ramella, Glyphidrilus and Thatonia are also 411 endemic and endangered species of Odisha Biswas 1975 [25] , Dash and Saxena 2012 [26] , the pot-worms (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Microdrili). Some species like Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri), White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian vulture (Gyps Indicus), red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). Some of the species of this category like the forest owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti) and pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) have not been sighted in Odisha since over 50 years ZSI 2010. Some vultures, birds and mammals of Odisha are critically endangered such as Ind. Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), wild dog (Cuon alpinus), wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee), black-bellied tern (Sterna acuticauda) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), as per IUCN.

Anthropogenic Conservation of biodiversity in Odisha:
Forests, water bodies, plants and animals are spared in the name of religion and specially dedicated to some deities in Odisha. Prohibition for poaching, haunting and cutting of trees are implemented in the name of some deity. Malhotra et. al., 2001 [17] reported that sacred grooves in India are more than ≈10000. Malhotra, 1998 Table 9. https://www.orissatourism.org/ wildlife-in-Orissa.html.and http://natureconservation.in/state-wise-list-of-wildlife-sanctuaries-of-india-updated 412 Table 9:-The numbers of forest/mangroves/national parks/ and sanctuaries in Odisha (FSI Report 2017)

Faunal Biodiversity Odisha:
The coastal tract of the state has 17 estuaries (small or large) and one estuarine Lagoon, Chilika whose spread area varied to 775Km 2 from 1011Km 2 Table 10.

Invasive Alien Species (IAS), Odisha:
IAS species are exotic, introduced, foreign, and nonnative which may develop invasive after entry. They drive out native species for resources food, nutrients, light, physical space, and water. Species invasion is geospatial and dynamic but slow and complicated. IAS is contributed by trade, transport, travel, and tsunamis allied extremes and tourism (5-T's). The IAS species have high reproductive potential, dispersal rate, greater adaptability, and hefty genetic variability which is influenced by geologic, geomorphic and meteorology of the area. Habitat destruction to inland/endemic species has enhanced threat to world biodiversity, and are through invasive alien species.

Invassive Alien Flora, Odisha:
India has 1599 alien species of alien plants of 841 genera and 161 families Reddy C. S. 2008 [29] . ZSI has identified 173 IAS flowering species in India. Major IAS plants in Odisha, their nativity with their local name are in Table 11.

Biodiversity hubs in Odisha
Human endeavors persistently protect and preserve the ecosystem from past. Though the government imparts measures through forest reserves, WLS, BS and zoos, it is inadequate. Ethnic people preserve the flora & fauna in some areas in the name of religion and utilities. Some villagers in Odisha are taking care of wild animals and protect plants as Grama Jungle. The biodiversity hubs protected in Odisha are in Table-12. Maneshwar: In Maneshwar, Sambalpur dist of Odisha, the local people have conserved the Indian soft-shelled turtle (Asperadetus gangeticus), which is also known as the vulture of the water in a huge temple pond. The softshelled turtle is facing an extinction threat due to over-hunting for meat and habitat destruction as anthropogenic activities in different part of the country (Fig 4).
415   Balipadar-Bhetnoi: The Indian Blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra), is one of the endangered species (IUCN red list) found in Odisha (Fig 8). These endemic animals were plenty (1200 to 1300 in the 1960's) in India but their number was reduced to about 500 to600 in 1990's. They were listed in Schedule-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is designated as Vulnerable as per Red Data Book (1994). These rare species were traced at present in Balasore, Puri, Kendrapara Bolangir and Kalahandi and Ganjam Districts. The people of Balipadar-Bhetnoi (58.402 km 2 ), areas in Ganjam District are kind to preserve them. In Konark-Balukhand WLS area they are also increasing.    75 km2)). Similipal National Park, the 2 nd largest national park in India derives its name from the abundance of semul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here (Fig 9). 418

Mega biodiversity of Chilika lagoon:
Chilika lagoon, in southern BOB coast of Odisha is divided into four regions due to its rich biodiversity. It was declared as a -Ramsar Site‖ i.e. a wetland of international importance during the fag end of 20th century. The migratory waterfowls are its significance. The Chilika is the place of the congregation of varieties of guest birds occurs from September to January -The Nalabana Bird Sanctuary‖r a marshy land of 15.53sq.km in the central sector of the lagoon is located which provide lodging to 5-7 lakhs for 147 species of avifauna. The Irrawadi Dolphins, the Limbless skinks and rare bird species of in Chilika Lagoon, Odisha are rare and endangered Fig 12..
Chilka, the largest brackish water lagoon in south Odisha, is a mega biodiversity hotspot and also was included in IUCN and Ramada sites. About 1010Km2 pear-shaped lake was 3000 years old and was a gulf during the post-Holocene period. The barrier spit separates the ecosystem to a fragile marine-semi marine-freshwater biome. The lake habitats are about vertebrates (400 numbers), crocodiles (4 types), mammals (24 types), and reptiles/amphibians (37 types). It is also rich in floral diversity (726 types) five types of grasses and mangroves (Fig 9). There are 150 species of marine strata, 119 numbers brackish water species and 24numbers of freshwater species. This is only possible due to salinity ingredient and vertical mix from the mouth of the lagoon to the emanating point of the river Daya and Bhargovi. Some aqua species enter the fragile system which favorable for hatching and laying eggs. Birds from Mongolia, Asia and Himalaya fly to Chilika lagoon every year due to abundant food, a good place for habitation during winter from October to January. Some of the birds lay eggs during that period and nourish the tiny birds to make them fit for air travel after air travels. Similarly olive ridley in very large numbers swim for thousands and kilometers and reach some coasts Rusikulya mouth, Golia, Debi Mouth and Gahiramatha to lay eggs only. After some days when the eggs have hatched the tortoise with their babes fly back to their parent place of habitation.
Last 30 years, the people from in an around the area were massively Poaching the birds and along with dogs and the eggs were destroying the eggs for their food. But people's participation in conserving the biodiversity has been initiated. Presently the local people are vigilant about the poaching and destruction of eggs to conserve the Faunal biodiversity.

Discussion:-
Tropics have isolated hills, fragmented forest patches, which is the façade of the old primeval diversity of plants and animals. Species richness is not only the prime feature of biodiversity and ecosystem but also an assemblage of bonds between climate vs geomorphology, man and species, predator and prey or pollination and plant. Habitat 421 destruction, climatic changes and proliferation of invasive allied species (IAS) and anthropogenic interventions are the major decimation of species. The over-exploitation of flora, fauna, aquafauna, and avifauna resources are adding to lean their population density, in a polluted environment. Simultaneously, meteorological extremes, natural calamities, geologic, limnology adversities, anthropogenic and species interactions are continuously deteriorating the biosystem.
CO2 concentrations in the air have increased considerably compared to the pre-industrial era level to 280 ppm. But in the 21 st century, the average concentration has changed significantly @ 2% /year and reached 410ppm in April 2018. Elevated CO 2 and NO 2 have been reported to affect the distribution of plants by controlling the plant growth. Significant increases have also occurred in the levels of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The current concentration may be the highest in the last 20 million years. As of April 2018, the average monthly level of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere exceeded 410 parts per million. This alarming GHG level can produce an adverse impact on the evenness, richness and level of biodiversity of the state so also of the globe. About 82.1652 million tons of CO 2 (@ 1.02 per capita emission) and 0.025 million tonnes of CH 4 is produced from energy, mining, transport and Industrial sector which is the major cause for defloration and defaunation of Odisha (Data 2013, SPACC, GOO) http://www.niti.gov.in/content/forest-cover-percent-total-geographic-area# The best possible action plan needs to include for surveillance od flora and fauna are identification, segregation such as (endemic and IAS species), confirmation (Surveillance or monitoring), Processing (category wise), Screening (Not evaluated (NE), data deficient (DD), Least Concerned (LC), Nearly threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered, (EN) , critically endangered (CR), and collapsed (CO). Further reporting to proper corner is important so that pertinent action plan shall be prepared by the competent authority.

Conclusion:-
In the 21st century in the pick period of sixth extinction the vulnerable/endanger species must be conserved to save the world from the apocalyptic clutches Anthropocene epoch. Either the name of God or through mummification participation attempt has made in Odisha for the preservation of the endemic/endangered and vulnerable species which is not enough. The herbal Ayurveda medicines should be encouraged by identifying them. The endangered species left must be safeguarded to increase their productivity and they should not leave unattended to be extinct. The enumeration of plant and animal species and vigilant about their growth, migration should be noticed specifically in the onshore and offshore areas.