BSIP scientists trace Kaziranga's ecological history from pollen in swamp sediment
Scientists of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences used pollen and dung-fungal spores in a sediment core from the Sohola swamp to build the first long-term palaeoecological record of Kaziranga National Park, the DST said on 3 February 2026.
Summary
The Department of Science and Technology said on 3 February 2026 that scientists of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous DST institute, have produced the first long-term palaeoecological records linked to herbivory from Kaziranga National Park in Assam. They studied a sediment core just over a metre long from the Sohola swamp, using pollen grains and spores of fungi that grow on animal dung to trace how climate, vegetation, invasive species and herbivores shaped the home of the one-horned rhino.
Key facts
- Announced
- 3 February 2026
- Institute
- BSIP (autonomous, DST)
- Site
- Sohola swamp, Kaziranga National Park, Assam
- Method
- Pollen and dung-fungal spores in a ~1 m sediment core
Practice MCQs 1 questions
From which swamp inside Kaziranga National Park did BSIP scientists extract the sediment core for their palaeoecological study (February 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Sohola swamp
The sediment core was taken from the Sohola swamp inside Kaziranga National Park.