Mautam - Revision history

27.57.83.110: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

2022-03-06T09:59:51Z

robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:29, 6 March 2022
Line 8:		Line 8:

	==Mechanism==		==Mechanism==
	After flowering, the bamboo dies and regenerates from the seeds. The [[rodent]]s feast on these seeds which are plentiful. As a consequence, a sudden boom in the rat population occurs. The action of the bamboo is thought to be an ecological control mechanism ([[predator satiation]]). The seeds of any [[culm (botany)\|culm]] of bamboo that might flower off-cycle are all eaten by rodents, thus reinforcing the rhythm of this extreme version of a [[mast (botany)#Mast seeding\|mast year]].{{Citation needed\|reason=This is a vague, group-selection flavored evolutionary claim which is made without providing any credible source.\|date=October 2016}} Some experts{{who\|date= April 2012}} believe that the flower has a positive effect on the [[fertility]] of the rats, as well as on increasing the viable size of a rat [[litter (animal)\|litter]]. All available explanations point to the fact that the increase in their numbers during the peak year is a natural after-effect of the flowering of the bamboos.{{citation needed\|date=April 2012}} However, once they exhaust this temporarily abundant food supply, the rats turn their attention to [[plant cultivation\|cultivated]] [[crops]].		After flowering, the bamboo dies and regenerates from the seeds. The [[rodent]]s feast on these seeds, which are plentiful. As a consequence, a sudden boom in the rat population occurs. The action of the bamboo is thought to be an ecological control mechanism ([[predator satiation]]). The seeds of any [[culm (botany)\|culm]] of bamboo that might flower off-cycle are all eaten by rodents, thus reinforcing the rhythm of this extreme version of a [[mast (botany)#Mast seeding\|mast year]].{{Citation needed\|reason=This is a vague, group-selection flavored evolutionary claim which is made without providing any credible source.\|date=October 2016}} Some experts{{who\|date= April 2012}} believe that the flower has a positive effect on the [[fertility]] of the rats, as well as on increasing the viable size of a rat [[litter (animal)\|litter]]. All available explanations point to the fact that the increase in their numbers during the peak year is a natural after-effect of the flowering of the bamboos.{{citation needed\|date=April 2012}} However, once they exhaust this temporarily abundant food supply, the rats turn their attention to [[plant cultivation\|cultivated]] [[crops]].

	==History==		==History==
Line 20:		Line 20:

	Regular rodent outbreaks associated with bamboo flowering (and subsequent fruiting and seeding) also occur in the nearby Indian states of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Manipur]], and [[Nagaland]],<ref>{{Citation \|url= http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99Y/$file/mn96chapter2.pdf \|title= Rodent problems in India and strategies for their management \|format= [[PDF]] \|publisher= Aciar \|place= [[Australia\|AU]] \|access-date= 4 June 2006 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061008093136/http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99Y/$file/mn96chapter2.pdf \|archive-date= 8 October 2006 \|url-status= dead }}.</ref> as well as in [[Laos]], [[Japan]], [[Madagascar]], and [[South America]].<ref>{{Citation \|url= http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99X/$file/mn96chapter1.pdf \|title= Rodent outbreaks in the uplands of Laos: analysis of historical patterns and the identity of nuu khii \|format= [[PDF]] \|publisher= Aciar \|place= AU \|access-date= 4 June 2006 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061008093411/http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99X/$file/mn96chapter1.pdf \|archive-date= 8 October 2006 \|url-status= dead }}.</ref> ''Thingtâm'', a similar famine, occurs with the flowering of another species of bamboo, ''[[Bambusa tulda]]''.<ref>{{Citation \|first= HY Mohan \|last= Ram \|url= https://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/dec2002/651.pdf \|title= A passion for plant life \|journal= Journal of Biosciences \|volume= 27 \|number= 7 \|year= 2002 \|pages= 659–660 \|format= PDF \|publisher= IAS \|place= IN \|doi=10.1007/bf02708373}}.</ref>		Regular rodent outbreaks associated with bamboo flowering (and subsequent fruiting and seeding) also occur in the nearby Indian states of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Manipur]], and [[Nagaland]],<ref>{{Citation \|url= http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99Y/$file/mn96chapter2.pdf \|title= Rodent problems in India and strategies for their management \|format= [[PDF]] \|publisher= Aciar \|place= [[Australia\|AU]] \|access-date= 4 June 2006 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061008093136/http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99Y/$file/mn96chapter2.pdf \|archive-date= 8 October 2006 \|url-status= dead }}.</ref> as well as in [[Laos]], [[Japan]], [[Madagascar]], and [[South America]].<ref>{{Citation \|url= http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99X/$file/mn96chapter1.pdf \|title= Rodent outbreaks in the uplands of Laos: analysis of historical patterns and the identity of nuu khii \|format= [[PDF]] \|publisher= Aciar \|place= AU \|access-date= 4 June 2006 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061008093411/http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99X/$file/mn96chapter1.pdf \|archive-date= 8 October 2006 \|url-status= dead }}.</ref> ''Thingtâm'', a similar famine, occurs with the flowering of another species of bamboo, ''[[Bambusa tulda]]''.<ref>{{Citation \|first= HY Mohan \|last= Ram \|url= https://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/dec2002/651.pdf \|title= A passion for plant life \|journal= Journal of Biosciences \|volume= 27 \|number= 7 \|year= 2002 \|pages= 659–660 \|format= PDF \|publisher= IAS \|place= IN \|doi=10.1007/bf02708373}}.</ref>

			Mautam and thingtam have been observed to strictly alternate, with a gap of 18 years from mautam to thingtam and a gap of 30 years from thingtam to mautam.<ref name="Kumawat14">{{cite journal \|last1=Kumawat \|first1=M.M. \|last2=Singh \|first2=K.M. \|date=2014 \|title=Rodent outbreak in relation to bamboo flowering in north-eastern region of India \|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01448765.2014.925828 \|journal=Biological Agriculture & Horticulture \|volume=30 \|issue=4 \|pages=243–252 \|doi=10.1080/01448765.2014.925828 \|access-date=2021-09-24}}</ref> Recorded instances of mautam include 1864, 1910–1912, 1958–1959, and 2007–2008 and those of thingtam include 1880–1884, 1928–1929, and 1976–1977. The next predicted events if this pattern continues are thingtam in 2025–2026 and mautam in 2055–2056.<ref name="Kumawat14"/>

	==See also==		==See also==
	*[[Bamboo blossom]]		*[[Bamboo blossom]]
			*[[Population cycle]]

	==References==		==References==
Line 36:		Line 39:

	[[Category:Bamboo]]		[[Category:Bamboo]]
	~~[[Category:Famines in Asia]]~~
	~~[[Category:Famines in India]]~~
	[[Category:Environment of Manipur]]		[[Category:Environment of Manipur]]
	[[Category:Periodic phenomena]]		[[Category:Periodic phenomena]]

imported>Lalthlengliana Khawlhring at 19:33, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T19:33:27Z

New page

{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
[[File:BambooFlowering.jpg|thumb|250px|Photograph of flowering bamboo]]
'''''Mautâm''''' is a cyclic [[ecology|ecological]] phenomenon that occurs every 48–50 years in the northeastern [[India]]n states of [[Tripura]], [[Mizoram]] and [[Manipur]], as well as in many places of [[Assam]] which are 30% covered by wild [[bamboo]] forests, and [[Chin State]] in [[Myanmar]], particularly [[Hakha Township|Hakha]], [[Thantlang Township|Thantlang]], [[Falam Township|Falam]], [[Paletwa Township|Paletwa]] and [[Matupi Township]]s. It begins with a rat population boom, which in turn creates a widespread famine in those areas.<ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/4-inside-burma/831-swarms-of-rats-destroy-crops-in-townships-in-chin-state |publisher= Mizzima |title= Inside Burma |contribution= Swarms of rats destroy crops in townships in Chin state}}.</ref>

During ''mautâm'', ''[[Melocanna|Melocanna baccifera]]'', a species of bamboo, [[flowering|flowers]] at one time across a wide area. This event is followed invariably by a plague of [[black rat]]s in what is called a '''rat flood'''.<ref>{{Citation |url= https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/rats/janzen.html |title= Rat Attack, Plant vs. Predator |publisher= PBS}}.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last= Normile |first= D |title=Holding back a torrent of rats |journal=Science |volume=327 |issue=5967 |pages=806–7 |date=February 2010 |pmid= 20150483 |doi=10.1126/science.327.5967.806}}</ref> This occurs as the rats multiply in response to the temporary windfall of seeds, and leave the forests to forage on stored grain when the bamboo seeds are exhausted, which in turn causes devastating [[famine]].<ref name= species>{{Citation |first= Peter |last= Foster |url= http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/bamfboo.htm |title= Bamboo threatens to bring Indian famine |date= 14 October 2004 |publisher= Papillons art palace |access-date= 4 June 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101220042239/http://papillonsartpalace.com/bamfboo.htm |archive-date= 20 December 2010 |url-status= dead }}.</ref> Famines thus caused have played a significant part in shaping the region's political history. The most recent spate of flowering, on the bamboo species' genetically linked timetable, began in May 2006, and the state government and the [[Indian Army]] attempted to prevent a famine.

==Mechanism==
After flowering, the bamboo dies and regenerates from the seeds. The [[rodent]]s feast on these seeds which are plentiful. As a consequence, a sudden boom in the rat population occurs. The action of the bamboo is thought to be an ecological control mechanism ([[predator satiation]]). The seeds of any [[culm (botany)|culm]] of bamboo that might flower off-cycle are all eaten by rodents, thus reinforcing the rhythm of this extreme version of a [[mast (botany)#Mast seeding|mast year]].{{Citation needed|reason=This is a vague, group-selection flavored evolutionary claim which is made without providing any credible source.|date=October 2016}} Some experts{{who|date= April 2012}} believe that the flower has a positive effect on the [[fertility]] of the rats, as well as on increasing the viable size of a rat [[litter (animal)|litter]]. All available explanations point to the fact that the increase in their numbers during the peak year is a natural after-effect of the flowering of the bamboos.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} However, once they exhaust this temporarily abundant food supply, the rats turn their attention to [[plant cultivation|cultivated]] [[crops]].

==History==
Records from the [[British Raj]] indicate that Mizoram suffered famine in 1862 and again in 1911, after the region witnessed similar bamboo flowerings.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} In each case, the records suggest that the flowering of the bamboo leads to a dramatic increase in the local rat population. The increase led to raids on [[granary|granaries]] and the destruction of [[paddy field]]s, and subsequently to a year-long famine.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}

The 1958–59 ''mautâm'' resulted in the recorded deaths of at least 100 people, besides heavy loss to human property and crops.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Some elderly villagers in the undeveloped, more traditional region, recalling this event, have claimed that their warnings based on folk traditions were dismissed as superstition by the government of [[Assam]], which then ruled what is now the present [[States of India|state]] of Mizoram.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} An estimated two million rats were killed and collected by the locals, after a bounty of 40 paisa was placed on each. However, even after the increase in the rat population was noted, preparations by the government to avoid a famine were limited.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}

This negligence by Assam and Indian government led to the foundation of the [[Mizo National Famine Front]] (MNFF), set up to provide relief to the far-flung areas. This body later became the [[Mizo National Front]] (MNF), which staged a [[March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising|major uprising in 1966]]. Under its leader [[Laldenga]] (who later became the [[Chief Minister of Mizoram|chief minister of Mizoram]]), MNF fought a bitter [[separatist]] struggle for 20 years against the [[Indian Army]] until an accord that guaranteed Mizoram's [[autonomy]] as a separate state was signed in 1986.<ref name= "Arnold2011">{{cite book |first1= Arnold P |last1= Kaminsky |first2= Roger D |last2= Long |title=India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VVxlfDHGTFYC&pg=PA473 |accessdate=28 August 2013 |date=30 September 2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-37463-0 |pages= 473–}}</ref>

Chief Minister [[Zoramthanga]], a former [[guerrilla]] leader, made preparations for the predicted 2006 ''mautâm'' for two years. In June 2006, the Indian Army was pressed into service as an emergency measure to assist the state administration in reaching remote areas. The state administration arranged for alternate [[food crop]]s to be grown locally, and also arranged for the army to provide instructions on [[pest control]]. Villagers were encouraged to grow [[turmeric]] and [[ginger]], partially as an insurance against variations in [[purchasing power]], and also because the [[aroma]]tic [[spice]]s ward off rodent raids.

Regular rodent outbreaks associated with bamboo flowering (and subsequent fruiting and seeding) also occur in the nearby Indian states of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Assam]], [[Manipur]], and [[Nagaland]],<ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99Y/$file/mn96chapter2.pdf |title= Rodent problems in India and strategies for their management |format= [[PDF]] |publisher= Aciar |place= [[Australia|AU]] |access-date= 4 June 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061008093136/http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99Y/$file/mn96chapter2.pdf |archive-date= 8 October 2006 |url-status= dead }}.</ref> as well as in [[Laos]], [[Japan]], [[Madagascar]], and [[South America]].<ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99X/$file/mn96chapter1.pdf |title= Rodent outbreaks in the uplands of Laos: analysis of historical patterns and the identity of nuu khii |format= [[PDF]] |publisher= Aciar |place= AU |access-date= 4 June 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061008093411/http://www.aciar.gov.au/web.nsf/att/JFRN-6BN99X/$file/mn96chapter1.pdf |archive-date= 8 October 2006 |url-status= dead }}.</ref> ''Thingtâm'', a similar famine, occurs with the flowering of another species of bamboo, ''[[Bambusa tulda]]''.<ref>{{Citation |first= HY Mohan |last= Ram |url= https://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/dec2002/651.pdf |title= A passion for plant life |journal= Journal of Biosciences |volume= 27 |number= 7 |year= 2002 |pages= 659–660 |format= PDF |publisher= IAS |place= IN |doi=10.1007/bf02708373}}.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Bamboo blossom]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Citation |url= http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30572/story.htm |title= In India's Mizoram, Bamboo Mean Dreams, Nightmares |quote= In 1959... widespread food shortages. In 2007, the government hopes to be better prepared. |publisher= Reuters |newspaper= Planet ark |date= 27 April 2005}}.
*{{Citation |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5044436.stm |title= Indian army's new enemy is rats |quote= "troops in the six north-eastern states of the country are used to dealing with insurgencies" but are now dealing with "an infestation of rats" |publisher= BBC |date= 3 June 2006 |place= UK}}.
*{{Citation |url= http://www.sos-arsenic.net/english/homegarden/bamboo.html |title= Bamboo the life blood of the people: Alarm to Ecosystem |publisher= SOS arsenic}}.
*{{Citation |url= http://mizobamboo.nic.in/bambooinmizoram.html |title= Bamboo in Mizoram |place= India}}.
*{{Citation |url= http://mautaam.org/ |title= Mautaam in Manipur |access-date= 9 September 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111025071652/http://mautaam.org/ |archive-date= 25 October 2011 |url-status= dead }}.
*{{Citation |url= https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/rats/janzen.html |contribution= Rat Attack, Plant vs. Predator |quote= noted ecologist Daniel Janzen describes how Melocanna […] bamboo's strategy came about |title= NOVA |publisher= PBS |type= interview |date= 30 September 2008}}.

[[Category:Bamboo]]
[[Category:Famines in Asia]]
[[Category:Famines in India]]
[[Category:Environment of Manipur]]
[[Category:Periodic phenomena]]
[[Category:1959 in India]]
[[Category:Rodents and humans]]
[[Category:Environment of Tripura]]