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Aquaculture is one of the practices that is projected to contribute to food security and the realization of UNDP SDG 2: Zero Hunger, by 2030. However, developing countries of which Kenya is no exception, are faced with the challenge of the impact of aquaculture practices on the environment (FAO, 2006). High amount of discharges which include waste food and faeces, nutrients, and in some instances medication and pesticide residues are released from cage farms. The impact of these effluents on the receiving environment depend largely on the quantity of waste discharged, the time period at which the discharge takes place, the ability of the environment to absorb the discharges and the rate at which the receiving water body is able to flush the effluent.

Ground level survey along with key informant Interviews has resulted in to identification of two rookeries and several habitat of the mangrove Horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) in Satjelia-Lahiripur Island under Gosaba block. This is the first confirmed HSC habitat and rookeries which have been identified from the eastern side of Bidyadhari and areas around project tiger areas. Three pairs of live HSC and forty-five (45) carcasses have been found. The identified location is the lowest point of human inhabited islands in eastern part of river Matla. Key Informant Interview by Snowball sampling or chain-referral sampling method revealed that that the HSC are sighted throughout the year while the pick time of sighting may be March-June in the estuary. The study has found out that HSCs entangle regularly in the galsha or the gillnet and Chawrpata and Khalpata (Shore stake nets and channel stake nets) while the juveniles have been mostly affected by the Chawrpata (shore stakes nets) in which they entangle themselves with receding waters and both desiccate to die in profuse numbers in low tide exposures. The females were found to be morphometrically larger than the males. Higher numbers of female HSC are found to be entangling in fishing nets in the breeding season due to their higher numbers is a matter of great concern. While the local population has reported about the coexistence of this species from time immemorial but progressive accretion and generation of new mud flats suitable as breeding beaches of mangrove horse shoe crabs in contrast to the rookeries of the species in western Indian Sundarbans in Sagar Island and Namkhana which are going through steady phases of erosion at present, might definitely be played some role towards this activities. Extensive awareness, restriction in use of certain fishing gears in breeding and nursery time of HSC by declaring certain areas as community eco sensitive zones with feasible fiscal alternatives are being recommended as immediate conservation action to save the species.

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (Pongamia) is a tree native to Southeast Asia. Recently, interest in Pongamia focused on its potential as a biofuel source as its seeds contain around 40% oil. However, Pongamia has multiple applications beyond biofuel production. It is a legume, can form symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi, has been shown to be tolerant to drought, salinity, and heavy metals in soil, and has potential to mitigate climate change. Additionally, Pongamia oil has medicinal properties, can be used as biopesticide, insect repellent, to produce soap, and as a source of edible grade vegetable oil. The seed cake can be used as a source of bioenergy, food and feed protein, and organic fertiliser, and the flowers are a good source of pollen and nectar. Pongamia can also bring socio-economic benefits as its ability to restore degraded and contaminated land provides opportunities for local communities through novel valorisation pathways. These multiple applications have potential to form part of a circular bioeconomy in line with sustainable development goals. Although research on the multiple applications of Pongamia has grown considerably, knowledge gaps remain. Here, we critically review the available literature on Pongamia and highlight gaps in knowledge in which future research should focus on to ensure that the full potential of this versatile tree can be achieved. We argue that harnessing the multiple applications of Pongamia in a holistic manner, with collaboration among key stakeholders, is crucial for the successful application of its benefits far beyond biofuel production.

Catchment degradation has continued to occur globally albeit the presence of Community Forest Associations (CFA) and Water Resource Users Associations (WRUA). Similarly, Kilungu catchment area in Kenya is under the management of the Kenze (CFA) and upper Kaiti (WRUA). This paper examined Kenze CFA and Upper Kaiti WRUA activities by exploring their effectiveness in discharging their statutory functions. This was achieved by carrying out, an exploratory descriptive survey. Data was collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions, 10 key informants’ interviews and direct observations. Descriptive analysis was used. Information was presented in fig.s, tables and percentages. Results showed that upper Kaiti WRUA as more effective in catchment management at moderately (31%) and highly at (37%) as compared to CFA moderately (29%) and highly (5%). In terms of discharging of their statutory functions, Upper Kaiti WRUA was better at a rating of 27% (good) and 23% (very good) as compared to Kenze CFA which was rated at 3% (good) and 6% (very good). This study results implied that Upper Kaiti WRUA was more effective in all aspects of ensuring catchment management as opposed to CFA. In conclusion, a strategy of seizing the opportunities presented by the CFA of being empowered to perform all its activities as required by law with emphasis on the timely preparation and implementation of management plans and WRUA’s continuous improvement should be prioritized. The study recommends new initiatives that improve on the CFA and WRUA activities in order to effectively discharge on their statutory functions.

Caño Palma Biological Station herpetofauna and Cerro Mountain lists revised 2011, Tortuguero area herpetofauna list, revised 2008.

Numerous studies have analysed the relationship between C4 plant cover and climate. However, few have examined how different C4 taxa vary in their response to climate, or how environmental factors alter C4:C3 abundance. Here we investigate (a) how proportional C4 plant cover and richness (relative to C3) responds to changes in climate and local environmental factors, and (b) if this response is consistent among families. Proportional cover and richness of C4 species were determined at 541 one-hectare plots across Australia for 14 families. C4 cover and richness of the most common and abundant families were regressed against climate and local parameters. C4 richness and cover in the monocot families Poaceae and Cyperaceae increased with latitude and were strongly positively correlated with January temperatures, however C4 Cyperaceae occupied a more restricted temperature range. Seasonal rainfall, soil pH, soil texture, and tree cover modified proportional C4 cover in both families. Eudicot families displayed considerable variation in C4 distribution patterns. Proportional C4 Euphorbiaceae richness and cover were negatively correlated with increased moisture availability (i.e. high rainfall and low aridity), indicating they were more common in dry environments. Proportional C4 Chenopodiaceae richness and cover were weakly correlated with climate and local environmental factors, including soil texture. However, the explanatory power of C4 Chenopodiaceae models were poor, suggesting none of the factors considered in this study strongly influenced Chenopodiaceae distribution. Proportional C4 richness and cover in Aizoaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Portulacaceae increased with latitude, suggesting C4 cover and richness in these families increased with temperature and summer rainfall, but sample size was insufficient for regression analysis. Results demonstrate the unique relationships between different C4 taxa and climate, and the significant modifying effects of environmental factors on C4 distribution. Our work also revealed C4 families will not exhibit similar responses to local perturbations or climate.

In a recent paper, “Environmental DNA: What's behind the term? Clarifying the terminology and recommendations for its future use in biomonitoring”, Pawlowski et al. argue that the term eDNA should be used to refer to the pool of DNA isolated from environmental samples, as opposed to only extra-organismal DNA from macro-organisms. We agree with this view. However, we are concerned that their proposed two-level terminology specifying sampling environment and targeted taxa is overly simplistic and might hinder rather than improve clear communication about environmental DNA and its use in biomonitoring. Not only is this terminology based on categories that are often difficult to assign and uninformative, but it ignores what is in our opinion the most important distinction within eDNA: the type of DNA (organismal or extra-organismal) from which ecological interpretations are derived.

A random walk search was conducted on academic papers to find a method for ecological combat of desert locust. Relatedness of papers and concepts were mainly analysed with the core idea of “Fighting Rooster” vs “Desert Locust “ interspecies competition. It was interesting to find a better preator than fighting roosters for locust swarms in the sea. Usage of a technology is required in this theoric approach to modify collective behavior of desert locusts which looks like the achilles heel of swarms.

Background extinction is a natural phenomenon. Anthropogenic biodiversity loss has been addressed from the various view points. The debate is continuing to identify the root cause of the anthropogenic mass extinction, also called the sixth extinction. The present communication discusses various anthropogenic drivers of the biodiversity loss and explains the ongoing sixth mass extinction using Garrett Hardin's “the tragedy of the commons”. Such explanations provide options for policy makers and for us to save the precious biodiversity of our planet. It has been demonstrated that presently we share about one third of the Net Primary Productivity which must be reduced through reducing our food consumption and by reducing our utilization of energy. Promotion of sustainable human behaviours to ameliorate the problem of anthropogenic extinction or the sixth extinction has been discussed in the light of recent findings from neurobiology and molecular biology. Biodiversity conservation through providing benefit to the people may be effective conservation strategies which would save the interest of human civilizations as well as other life forms on the earth.

Phylogenetic information has increasingly been included in studies of local communities and also at broad spatial scales. Despite recent criticisms in the last four years, phylogenetic relationships may still provide insights into theorganization and assembly of ecological communities. The objectives of this study were 1) to review the history of the use of phylogenetic information, as well as criticisms and perspectives of its use in community ecology; 2) understand how the size and shape of phylogenetic trees and the phylogenetic structure of metacomunidaes affect the amount of variation accounted for by a eigenvectorbasedmethod used to describe the phylogenetic composition of metacomunidaes (PCPS); 3) to test the effect of diversity of evolutionary history (MNTD and MPD) and species richness as predictors of three variables of freshwater ecosystemfunctioning (productivity, respiration, and decomposition); and finally 4) to test how environmental gradients, especially pond canopy cover, influence the phylogenetic structure of an anuran metacommunity from southeastern Brazil. Ifound that the structure of metacommunities had greater impact on eigenvalues of PCPS than tree shape metrics, such as symmetry and stemminess. In addition, decomposition and respiration were best predicted by MNTD as a linear function, while productivity was affected by the quadratic term of MNTD. Finally, pond canopy cover and floating vegetation strongly affected the phylogenetic structureof the anruan metacommunity, influencing lineage sorting. These findings 1) can help users interpret the results of PCPS; 2) provide better understand of the effectof species loss in multitrophic, freshwater ecosystems; and 3) improve our knowledge about the effect of canopy cover on the lineage composition in anuran metacomunities.