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The upwelling phenomenon plays a vital role within marine ecosystems, transporting essential nutrients from the bottom to the surface and boosting biological productivity. However, the bacterial community structure in upwelling zones along the western coast of India (WCI) is understudied. This research systematically examines bacterial diversity across three seasons—pre-monsoon (PR), monsoon (MN), and post-monsoon (PM)—using next-generation sequencing. Our findings show distinct spatial patterns of bacterial communities in the Arabian Sea and demonstrate that ecological variations influence bacterial distribution in this dynamic environment. During MN, the bacterial community exhibited greater species diversity but lower overall abundance compared to PR and PM. Non-Metric MDS cluster analysis revealed a 78% similarity (at order level) between PR and PM, indicating that MN supports unique bacterial diversity. KEGG analysis showed significant seasonal variations in metabolic functions, with increased functional potential during MN. Additionally, Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) analysis revealed distinct seasonal profiles, among which the GH13 enzymes were the most prevalent glycoside hydrolases during MN, predominantly being sucrose phosphorylase and glucosidase, known for breaking down glucan deposits derived from phytoplankton. The CAZymes profiles supported taxonomic and KEGG pathway findings, reinforcing that microbial communities are seasonally distinct and functionally adapted to changing availability of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal pattern of species diversity and abundance of waterbirds of the Chambal River in the extent of Mukundra Hills National Park, Rajasthan, India was evaluated. The pre-monsoon (March-April 2021) and post-monsoon surveys (August-September 2021) were carried out using the direct count method with the help of a motorboat to monitor the population status of waterbirds. A total of 44 species of waterbirds belonging to 15 families and nine orders were identified, including 11 winter migratory species. Forty species of birds were recorded during pre-monsoon and 27 species during post-monsoon seasons. The species richness and relative abundance varied significantly between observed seasons (x2 = 532.77, df = 43, p <0.05). Breeding activities of three species were recorded, namely, Grey Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, and the 'Near Threatened' Woolly-necked Stork. The present study reveals the status of waterbirds in the protected area of Mukundra Hills National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over-summering of shorebirds refers to the phenomenon where certain species of shorebirds, primarily migratory, remain on their non-breeding grounds during the summer months for one or more years instead of migrating to their breeding grounds. The present study investigates the presence and abundance of over-summering shorebird species at four distinct sites covering 24 scanning points along the southeastern coasts of Tamil Nadu for 2017-2023. A total of 13 species were observed over-summering, with Lesser Sand Plover being the most dominant species, followed by Greater Sand Plover. Notably, 10 species were found across all four sites, while three species--Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Common Sandpiper--were exclusive to Dhanushkodi Lagoon, observed only during 2023. The study examined the year-wise abundance of these species, revealing a decline in over-summering shorebirds across all study sites. The Eurasian Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed & Black-tailed Godwits are the 'Near Threatened' species observed during the study. Furthermore, the research highlighted variations in Shannon species diversity index (H) location-wise and year-wise - Manoli Island (H = 2.25) in 2023; Dhanushkodi Lagoon (H = 1.8) in 2023; Valinokkam Lagoon (H = 1.63), and Pillaimadam Lagoon (H = 2.08) in 2017. Key findings are that among the study sites, in Pillaimadam Lagoon all 10 species' abundance declined; in Valinokkam Lagoon, Greater Sand Plover and Little Stint marginally increased, and eight species declined; Common Redshank and Ruddy Turnstone marginally increased in Manoli Island, while other eight species declined; Grey Plover population increased in Dhanushkodi Lagoon along with a marginal decrease in Common Redshank and Ruddy Turnstone as other species declined, over the years of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, rice earhead bugs commonly known as paddy gundhi bugs, Leptocorisa spp. (Hemiptera: Alydidae), are serious pests, but their taxonomic status and genetic diversity across different rice-growing regions are unexplored. Present study documents three Leptocorisa species across the Indian subcontinent from paddy as well as other hosts. A total of 1560 specimens were collected across India and morphological and molecular identification was made. Illustrated identification keys specific to males and females were generated for the first time from India with a redescription of three species collected. Genetic variation in the mtCOI gene of L. oratoria specimens from 14 regions were analysed showing significant diversity, especially between the populations from north and south. The current findings confirm the presence of diversity in the Leptocorisa populations and the presence of molecular variability of L. oratoria from different locations. The implications of the study on the importance of taxonomic studies on the species belongs to genera Leptocorisa are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caenis ulmeriana Malzacher, 2015 is recorded for the first time from the Western Ghats, India. Prior records of this species encompass Java, Sumatra, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Notably, the Indian population of C. ulmeriana showcases variability, including slight changes in the shape of forceps in the male subimago and increased denticulation in the midclaw, a reduced number of setae in the Y-ridge of tergalius II, and differing shape of sternum IX in the larvae compared to other continental and island populations. The species number of Caenis Stephens, 1835 has now increased to twelve in India. A distributional map detailing the range of C. ulmeriana in the Oriental region is also provided herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All aquatic organisms depend directly or indirectly on plankton as they from an important component of the ecological pyramid. Zooplankton are crucial components of aquatic food webs as primary producers. Zooplankton can have large impacts on trophic transfer efficiencies from phytoplankton to zooplankton and from zooplankton to fish. In addition, they are a valuable source of protein, aminoacids, lipids, fatty acids, vitamins and enzymes. Hence, the present study was attempted to identify the zooplankton composition in three different seasons of the year in a fresh water pond at Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India. While the presummer season recorded 23 species, the post summer season registered 17 species and the rainy season recorded 18 species Protozoa was represented by a single species, which preferred the post summer season to record its highest count. Rotifers were represented by 15 species during the presummer season, 12 species during the postsummer season and 11 species during rainy season. There were 7 perennial species. Cladocera was represented by 3 species of which the only perennial species was M. micrura Ostracoda were represented by 2 species of which only C. subglobosa was perennial. Copepods were also represented by 2 species of which only H. viduvs was perennial. Anostraca was represented only by a single species. Shanon-Weiner's diversity index of species, family and species richness index revealed lowest levels in rainy season and highest levels during the presummer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal pollinators underpin the functioning and persistence of ecosystems globally. However, the vital role of pollination is being progressively eroded by the worldwide decline of pollinator species caused by human-induced environmental degradation, resulting in rising costs to biodiversity, agriculture, and economy. Most studies quantifying pollinator diversity and declines have focused on insects, whereas vertebrate pollinators remain comparatively neglected. Here, we present the first comprehensive study quantifying the macroecological patterns of species richness and extinction risk of bird and mammal pollinators in India, a region of extremely high biodiversity and increasing anthropogenic pressure. Our results reveal that hotspots of mammal pollinator diversity are restricted to the south of the Western Ghats, whereas bird pollinator diversity hotspots are scattered throughout the country. Analyses of hotspots of threatened species (based on the IUCN Red List) show that only mammal pollinators are currently classified as threatened in India, whereas multiple hotspots of population declines were observed for birds, and primarily in the Southwest for mammal pollinators. Our analyses failed to identify a role for species traits as drivers of these patterns, whereas most pollinators appear to be threatened by agriculture, logging and hunting for food, and medicinal purposes. Pollinator endangerment has widescale ecological and economic implications such as reduced food production, plant extinction, loss of functional and genetic diversity, and economic damage. We suggest protection of vertebrate pollinators should be emphasised in active conservation agendas in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the checklist of Butterfly and the floral resources i.e., trees, herbs, shrubs, climbers, bamboo from District Haridwar Uttarakhand India. The study was carried out from April 2019–March 2020. Four sampling sites S1 i.e., Kangri (natural forest), S2, i.e., Jagjeetpur (agri-horticulture), S3 i.e., Laksar (Agriculture) and S4 i.e., Bahadrabad (Barren-industrial region) were selected for this study. A total of 84 species belonging to four families (Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae) were identified, with 7533 individuals belonging to four different groups. During the study period, the Nymphalidae family was found to be the most prevalent group while Family Papilionidae with least species diversity. A total of 96 species of plants were recorded from four sites. Kangri has rich floral diversity while Laksar has low floral diversity. Rich floral diversity in Kangri supports rich biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal wetlands harbour a mosaic of habitats that support a variety of niches for bird species. When seasonal change and anthropogenic activities are coupled with the landscape, the species richness and species composition are presumably influenced by such factors. This study aimed to evaluate avifauna diversity, to investigate feeding guilds, and to determine the impact of seasonality and tourism pressure as anthropogenic disturbance on the avian community of a wetland. Comprehensive surveys were conducted to gather all necessary data, followed by the application of analytical methods to assess the hypotheses formulated in the current research. A total of 61 bird species belonging to 14 orders have been recorded during this year-round study, where Passeriformes was the most dominant order with 27 bird species. The species richness was highest in winter, and five feeding guilds were identified. This study revealed a significant role of seasonality, and tourism pressure on avian species richness of Bortir Bil. The outcomes of the present study could serve as an important baseline to adopt sustainable and bird-friendly management plan for this seasonal wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used a multidisciplinary approach to assess the role of homegardens (HGs) in ten Indigenous Garo (A'chik) communities in the South Garo district in Meghalaya, Northeast India, that we selected purposively because of their remoteness, low lying area, and the communities' dependence on HGs for their livelihoods. A reconnaissance survey was carried out to understand the area and communicate with the "Nokmas" (village headmen) and VEC (Village Employment Council) for their permission. The final survey was carried out randomly in villages with 10 HGs each from one village of two blocks; 100 (N) respondents were interviewed. Our results indicate that the average size of the HGs is 0.27 ha, with 214 species represented by 78 families and 174 genera with 13 utilization categories. Plant species richness ranged from 07 to 64 individuals with an average assemblage of 16.60 (± 8.66). We recorded five vertical strata: the ground stratum has the highest (82) number of species comprising herbs, vines, and climbers; the second stratum is mainly shrubs (29 species); the third stratum (43 species); and the fourth and fifth strata are predominantly trees. Notably, 78% of HGs had an animal component. From a conservation perspective, HGs include one critically endangered, two endangered, and one vulnerable species. We estimated frequency (ranging between 1 and 75%), density (0.01–103.6), species abundance (1.0-138.13%), and Importance value index IVI (0.19–87.28). The species diversity index (Menhinick's index), the concentration of dominance (Simpson's index), the Shannon-Weaver diversity index, and the species evenness of the HGs were 1.72, 0.45, 2.00, and 0.21, respectively. Significant correlations were observed among HGs age, size, and species richness. Our results serve as a valuable tool for preserving the genetic resources of threatened taxa and promoting the economic well-being of the A'chik community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Indotyphlops has a widespread distribution in the Indian landmass and Southeast Asia, with 20 reported species. The current classification within the genus is based on morphology. In this study, we sampled all the reported Indotyphlops species from subcontinental India, to resolve relationships within this genus and to understand biogeographic patterns that resulted in the widespread distribution. We generated sequences for five nuclear markers which were used in the global typhlopoid phylogeny and built phylogenetic trees of the superfamily Typhlopoidea. We also carried out divergence time analysis and biogeographic analysis to understand the time and modes of dispersal and diversification of these species. The results show Indotyphlops sensu lato to be polyphyletic, with the clade consisting of I. porrectus and I. exiguus sister to a clade consisting of the southeast Asian typhlopid genera Ramphotyphlops, Anilios, Malayotyphlops, Acutotyphlops, Sundatyphlops, and Indotyphlops sensu stricto. The other clade consists of I. pammeces and I. braminus from the Indian subcontinent and I. albiceps from Southeast Asia. Biogeographical analysis suggests two dispersals from Asia to the Indian landmass—an earlier dispersal from Eurasia into India led to the lineage consisting of I. porrectus and I. exiguus, followed by a later dispersal that evolved into I. pammeces and I. braminus. These results necessitate a taxonomic revision. We propose the genus Pseudoindotyphlops gen. nov. for the clade currently consisting of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of I. porrectus and I. exiguus, and all descendants thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale biodiversity conservation and management necessitate rapid assessment tools and technologies. Indices derived from passive acoustic data offer a novel solution for rapid biodiversity monitoring. Although these indices quantify vocalizing biodiversity at a site, previous studies indicate inconsistencies in the indices' performance across different biomes. We tested the efficacy of seven acoustic indices—acoustic complexity index, acoustic diversity index, bioacoustic index (BI), acoustic entropy index, total entropy (H), normalized difference soundscape index, and number of peaks in an understudied biome, tropical dry forests, in central India. We measured the relationship between every index and a combination of these indices with a biodiversity metric, avian species richness. We found a weak correlation between individual indices and species richness (0.00 ≤ R ≤ 0.35), while a combination of indices was comparatively better at predicting species richness (R2 = 0.54). Although BI performed better than all other indices, our results indicate that acoustic indices do not accurately quantify avian species richness in this forest in central India. However, combining multiple indices increases their efficacy, limitedly. We recommend evaluating the efficiency of acoustic indices, especially in underrepresented habitats, before their application in avifauna‐based rapid acoustic surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stalk rot disease is a major constraint in maize production and till date reported to be caused by two to three species of phytopathogenic fungi but, in our present study, we disclose the first report of stalk rot is caused by complex species of phytopathogens, which belongs to five different genera. Therefore, to substantiate these findings, a total of 105 diseased samples of maize were collected from 21 different locations in six different geographical locations of India from which 48 isolates were used for the research study. Morphological features such as pigmentation, colony color, type of mycelium and pattern of mycelium was examined using macro and microscopic methods. A total of 11 different spp. of pathogens belonging to the five different genera: Fusarium verticillioides (56.25%), F. equiseti (14.5%), F. andiyazi (6.25%), F. solani (2.08%), F. proliferatum (2.08%), F. incarnatum (2.08%), Lasidioplodia theobrame (6.25%), Exserohilum rostrtum (4.16%), Nigrospora spp. (4.16%). and Schizophyllum commune (2.08%) were identified by different housekeeping genes (ITS, TEF-1α, RPB2 and Actin). Fusarium verticillioides, F. equiseti and F. andiyazi were major pathogens involved in stalk rot. This is the first report on F. proliferatum, F. solani, F. incarnatum, Lasidioplodia theobrame, Exserohilum rostrtum, Nigrospora spp. and Schizophyllum commune causing stalk rot of maize and their distribution in the different states of India. Studies on population dynamics of PFSR will enhance the understanding of pathogen behavior, virulence, or its association with different pathogens across India, which will facilitate the development of resistant maize genotypes against the PFSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccinellidae is a diverse and species-rich family that includes predaceous, phytophagous and mycophagous insects, which are significant to agriculture. This study aimed to estimate the diversity of coccinellids and document their associated prey in agricultural fields of northern Kerala, India and to generate DNA barcodes for the species collected during the study. Twenty-seven species under seven tribes were reported in this study, which includes three phytophagous, two mycophagous and 22 predaceous beetles. The information on prey species and/or host plants of the beetles are given furnished. Diversity indices of coccinellids across different agroecological zones and crops of northern Kerala were estimated. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences of 18 species were generated and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Coccinellini was recorded as the predominant tribe of Coccinellidae in northern Kerala. High hills were found to be the most diverse agroecological zone for Coccinellidae, whereas plantation crops and vegetables were the most diverse crop ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of species, as well as their population and regeneration status of tree species, provide an important ecological foundation for assessing the current state and rate of ecosystem degradation. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the plant species composition with population and regeneration status of the 40 different tree species in peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi, eastern India using 52 belt transects each of 0.10 ha. A total of 58 different plant species of 49 genera and 26 families were recorded with the majority (86%) of native Indian origin species. The 14% of exotic origin species included dominant invasives in herb, shrub, and tree layers viz., Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze. (2949 ind. ha−1), Lantana camara L. (1667 ind. ha−1), and Acacia mangium Willd. (33 ind. ha−1), respectively. On the other hand, 59% of the total plant species were IUCN Red-listed including Endangered (Tectona grandis L.f.), Near Threatened (Aegle maremlos (L.) Corrêa), Data Deficient (Mangifera indica L.), and Least Concern (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC). Total adult tree density and basal cover were 541 ind. ha−1 and 24.93 m2 ha−1, respectively and Shorea robusta C.F.Gaertn. was the most dominant tree (295 ind. ha−1) recorded in the majority of the studied patches (87%) where adult tree density (ind. ha− 1) ranged from 10 to 1520 with a mean of 363 ± 49 (SE) signifying that the majority of the studied urban vegetation was Sal dominated forest patches. The total density of tree seedlings (22,627 ind. ha−1) was highest in the studied peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi followed by total tree saplings density (2677 ind. ha−1) and adult tree (GBH ≥ 10 cm) density (541 ind. ha−1) signifying good regeneration status (density of seedlings > saplings > adults) of the peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi. was the most common human disturbance observed in 31% of the total studied patches. No regeneration of 56% of the total tree species, the prevalence of human disturbances in the 48% studied patches, and the occurrence of invasives in all three layers of vegetation in the studied peri-urban vegetation signify the ongoing biotic and abiotic pressure on the survival of different plant species at various growth stages. Besides, the predominance of plant species of rare and very rare occurrences (56.9%), IUCN Red-listed (59%) with a total of 84% native Indian origin species demonstrated the importance of the studied peri-urban vegetation and warrants for immediate conservation measures to protect it from further depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campuses of educational institutions in India serve as important reservoirs for different faunal components, including ecologically sensitive species like butterflies. To record the diversity, status, and occurrence of butterfly fauna in Kurukshetra University Campus, Haryana, a year-long survey was done from July 2021 to June 2022. A total of 710 individuals of butterflies belonging to 39 species, 32 genera, and five families were recorded. Nymphalidae represented the highest diversity with 13 species followed by Lycaenidae (11 species), Pieridae (10 species), Papilionidae (3 species), and Hesperiidae (2 species). The number of individuals encountered was maximum in family Pieridae (n = 158) while the minimum was in family Hesperiidae (n = 4). Species richness, abundance, and diversity differed significantly (P <0.05) across the different seasons. Species richness was recorded to be the highest in summer season (35 species) followed by monsoon, post monsoon, and winter. Among the recorded species, one species, i.e., Common Baron Euthelia aconthea is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act (2022). The findings of the present study support the importance of the higher educational institution campuses in providing valuable habitat and resources for butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity within a species can be shaped by abiotic factors, such as climate and geography. We aimed to ascertain the relative importance of these two abiotic factors to Indrella ampulla , a monotypic snail species from the Western Ghats, India, that has three colour morphs with some overlapping distributions. We also wanted to investigate whether these colour morphs represent divergent lineages or incipient species. We sequenced one nuclear and two mitochondrial genes from 32 individuals of I. ampulla. We used phylogenetic, population genetic, and niche modelling tools to address these questions. The results suggested that the colour morphs were not reciprocally monophyletic and exhibited considerable niche overlap, suggesting that they cannot be considered as incipient species. Furthermore, the results showed that the impact of palaeoclimatic oscillations in shaping the genetic diversity of this species cannot be determined conclusively. The Palghat Gap seems to have shaped the genetic diversity in this group to a certain degree. The colour morph distributed south of the Palghat Gap did not show admixture and exhibited the least amount of niche overlap with the other morphs. The geography of the landscape seems to have played a prominent role in shaping genetic diversity in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Biotic interchanges between Africa, India, and Eurasia are central to explaining the present‐day distribution and diversity of freshwater organisms across these landmasses. Synbranchiformes is a diverse and species‐rich clade of freshwater acanthomorph fishes found on all southern continents except Antarctica, and include eel‐ and perch‐like, air‐breathing and non‐air‐breathing fishes. Lacking a comprehensive and resolved phylogeny of the entire clade, contemporary interpretations of synbranchiform biogeography invoke scenarios as disparate as Gondwanan vicariance and pan‐global rafting to explain their modern‐day distribution. Here, we study their biogeographic history of continental dispersal events and test whether these are associated with increases in lineage diversification. Location: Asia, India, Africa freshwater habitats. Taxon: Synbranchiformes (gouramis, snakeheads, swamp eels, and relatives). Methods: We used nearly 1000 ultra‐conserved elements (UCEs) and Sanger‐sequenced genes to infer a phylogeny with representatives of all major synbranchiform lineages and nearly two‐thirds of its known species diversity. Incorporating fossil calibrations, we inferred a time‐calibrated phylogeny to which we apply Bayesian methods of ancestral area reconstruction and test for diversification rate shifts. Results: Analyses of UCE data provide a resolved phylogeny for major synbranchiform lineages. Divergence times support a most recent common ancestor of the entire clade approximately 79.2 million years ago. We infer significant increases in lineage diversification in both the spiny eels (Mastacembelidae) and the genus Betta (Osphronemidae). Main Conclusions: Our results reject the hypothesis of Gondwanan vicariance explaining synbranchiform biogeography. Instead, our analyses reconstruct a southeast Asian origin of the entire clade and independent dispersal events to other continents by snakeheads, anabantids, and spiny eels, with no signal of elevated lineage diversification occurring after these invasions. Higher lineage diversification rates in spiny eels pre‐date their arrival to Africa, while the high diversification rates observed in Betta were initiated prior to the flooding of insular Sundaland in southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit., native to the American tropics, is a pantropical annual plant and a major invasive species throughout India. It was anticipated that the availability of sunlight, coupled with its superior reproductive potential, persistent propagule bank, and dispersal ability, could lead to an increase in the growth and spread of this invader, thus potentially impeding herbaceous growth and diversity in non-native areas. Clarifying its ecological fitness and competitive performance will be useful to manage the spread of H. suaveolens in natural ecosystems that are facing a wide range of anthropogenic pressures. Methods: The present study is a three-tier experiment. In the first tier, a field study was conducted to assess the patterns of H. suaveolens abundance and herbaceous species diversity in response to light availability (sun, 842–1072 µmol m–2 s−1 and shade 253–341 µmol m–2 s−1) in the tropical dry deciduous ecosystems in the Vindhyan highlands, India. Furthermore, the impact of H. suaveolens abundance on the resident native and non-native species abundance and diversity was also studied. In the second tier, a randomized common garden experiment was conducted to understand the trait fitness of H. suaveolens in sun (940 µmol m–2 s−1) and shade (300 µmol m–2 s−1) conditions. In the third tier, a plant growth chamber experiment with high-light (940 µmol m–2 s−1) and low-light (300 µmol m–2 s−1) treatments was done to learn how H. suaveolens partitions its biomass between aboveground and belowground plant parts. Results: The field study indicated that the sunlit areas had a higher abundance of H. suaveolens and a lower diversity of resident herbaceous species than the shaded areas. The common garden experiment showed that sun-dwelling H. suaveolens individuals performed better in germinative, vegetative, eco-physiological, and reproductive traits than the shade-dwelling individuals. The growth chamber experiment exhibited that plants grown in high-light environment had greater seed germination, seedling recruitment, and aboveground biomass than those grown in low-light environment, whereas plants grown in low-light environment exhibited a higher root mass ratio than the high-light individuals. These results suggest that H. suaveolens individuals mask the understory vegetation owing to higher seedling recruitment, relative growth rate, photosynthetic performance, resource acquisition-allocation, and reproductive output in response to high-light conditions. Conclusions: The study concludes that light significantly controls the invasive population dynamics of H. suaveolens in dry deciduous forests. In high-light areas, H. suaveolens populations dominate the forest understory with suboptimal shade tolerance. In shade environment, H. suaveolens maintains a persistent soil seed bank along with 'Oskar individuals' that become active in response to high-light availability. The modus operandi is a 'sit and wait' strategy. The current study provides insights on prioritizing areas for H. suaveolens management that will potentially reduce the risk of biological invasions on the native species diversity of tropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lablab (Lablab purpureus) is a potential vegetable crop cultivated throughout India. It is a tropical and subtropical vegetable adaptive to different climatic conditions and grown in all seasons. Thrips are one of the important pests of lablab as they affect all stages of the crop and transmit plant viruses. The current study aimed at identifying the thrips diversity present in lablab as a base for monitoring and management purposes. Methods: An exploratory survey was conducted to identify the diversity of thrips on lablab in its growing areas of Coimbatore. Furthermore, continuous monitoring of the lablab crops in TNAU orchard, Coimbatore, was done to explore all the life stages of thrips species and their diversity. Morphological and molecular characterization of the collected species was done using taxonomic keys and mtCOI DNA sequencing approach. Result: Thrips palmi and Thrips tabaci were observed during the crop's early stages before blossoming. Frankliniella schultzei is a polyphagous pest species that has been found infesting all phases of crop development, from early leaf through pod formation. During and after blooming, the four species Megalurothrips usitatus, Thrips parvispinus, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii and Haplothrips gowdeyi began to infest. Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were determined to be -1.739 and -0.1979. According to Shannon index, C. orchidii and T. parvispinus were the first and second predominant species after flowering. Taxonomic investigations of the collected species were done and substantiated with molecular identification of those analyzed species. A phylogenetic tree of the analyzed sequences was constructed to denote species divergence based on their specific sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study of termite diversity in different ecosystems (agricultural, horticultural and silvicultural ecosystems) was carried out in mid-hills of Meghalaya to understand the species diversity, richness and abundanceof termite. A standard transect method and tissue paper bait method were used for sampling the termites.Alpha diversity was analysed by using Shannon wiener index and Margalef's D index for Species richness; and Simpson's index for Species dominance; whereas Beta diversity was analysed by using Routledge Be index, Cody Bc index, Whittaker Bw index and Wilson and Shmida Bt index. In the study, a total of 10 species of termites were identified which belonged to three subfamilies viz., Macrotermitinae, Amitermitinae and Termitinae. Macrotermitinae was the most presiding subfamily among the collected termite fauna. Individual species dominance was observed to differ in different ecosystems however, Odontotermes spp. was widely distributed across the ecosystems.The number of species recorded in silvicultural, horticultural and agricultural ecosystem were 7, 3 and 1 respectively. The termite diversity was highest in silvicultural ecosystem and lowest in agricultural ecosystem. The lowest numbers of species recorded in ecosystem may be attributed to its abrupt human disturbance. Shannon Wiener, Margalef's D and Simpson index in agricultural ecosystem, depicted less values compared to horticultural and silvicultural ecosystem. Among the ten species collected, one species i.e. Pseudocapritermis tikaderi which was sampled from silvicultural ecosystems was soil/humus feeder and the rest were wood/litter feeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thrips fauna of Jammu and Kashmir is known for 21 species of suborder Terebrantia, while there are no known species of suborder Tubulifera till now. Two Phaleothripid genera, Bolothrips Priesner of the subfamily Idolothripinae and Cephalothrips Uzel of the subfamily Phaleothripinae are reported for the first time from India as well as for the Oriental region. These include Bolothrips dentipes (Reuter) and Cephalothrips monilicornis Uzel, and were collected in the year 1984 from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on grasses. Detailed diagnostic notes, material examined, distribution, and illustrations for these new records are also provided. Furthermore, the thrips fauna of Jammu and Kashmir has not been thoroughly studied, necessitating additional surveys to identify thrips species in this unexplored region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Stenomalina kasaragodensis sp. nov., from the Western Ghats has been discovered resulting in the first report of the genus Stenomalina Ghesquiѐre, (1946) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) from India. A thorough overview and key to the Oriental species of Stenomalina are given, together with descriptions, illustrations, and comparisons with congeneric materials for the new species. A new species of the genus Stictomischus Thomson, 1876 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Miscogastrinae) i.e., Stictomischus sahyadriensis sp. nov., was also found in the Western Ghats. The new species is described, illustrated and compared with congeneric and a comprehensive review and key to the Indian species of Stictomischus are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of tiphiid wasp, namely, Tiphia (Tiphia) andhraensis Hanima & Girish Kumar sp. nov. is described from Andhra Pradesh in the southern coastal region of India based on the female holotype. The new species is described, illustrated and compared with congeneric species. The diagnostic character of the new species is the presence of a strong, median longitudinal carina on posterior side of propodeum. The new species described here was collected from the Mudasarlova reservoir area of the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. The previous key to the species of Tiphia from the Indian subcontinent is modified to accommodate the new species. This new species is the first tiphiid wasp described from Andhra Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acromantis lobofemorata sp. nov., a new praying mantis species of the subfamily Acromantinae (Mantodea: Hymenopodidae), is described from the Southern states of India. The specimens of the present species were misidentified and referred as Acromantis insularis on several occasions by earlier workers in India. The new species can be easily identified from other species of the genus by the presence of a mid-lobe on the upper margin of the fore femora, a small medial mesofemoral lobe and well-developed denticles on pronotum laterally. A preliminary key for the identification of the Indian Acromantis species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six Collembola species from five families and two orders are for the first time recorded from India. All the described new records are mainly from two states, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh and collected from the surveys conducted in the Eastern Himalayan Region. Sphyrotheca multifasciata (Reuter, 1881) (Sminthuridae), Sminthurinus bimaculatus Axelson, 1902 (Katiannidae), Dicranocentrus nepalensis Mari Mutt & Bhattacharjee, 1980 (Orchesellidae), Isotomurus plumosus Bagnall, 1940 (Isotomidae), Isotomurus pseudopalustris Carapelli, Frati, Fanciulli & Dallai, 2001, (Isotomidae), Willowsia jacobsoni (Börner, 1913) (Entomobryidae), are the Collembola species whose occurrence is first time observed in India. As a result of the present work Collembola fauna of India reached up to 348 species. Material examined, a brief description and microscopic images of the new records are provided in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehing Patkai National Park, nestled in Assam's Upper Brahmaputra valley, features a distinctive lowland forest landscape dominated by Dipterocarpus trees, teeming with fauna encompassing reptiles, birds, and mammals. Avian surveys were conducted from October 2021 to September 2023 to document avifaunal diversity within and surrounding the park. Point-transect method was used. One-hundred-and-fifty-one species from 54 families were recorded, including 43 terrestrial and 11 aquatic bird families. One-hundred-and twenty-seven species were residents, 18 winter migrants, five summer migrants, and one was a local migrant. Habitat disturbance was assessed across five transects; undisturbed habitats in T1 and T2 showed the highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index, while moderately and highly disturbed habitats in T3, T4, and T5 exhibited lower diversity. The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation (p = 0.05) among different transects. A total of seven species (Ashy-headed Green Pigeon, Lesser Adjutant, White-cheeked Partridge, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Austen's Brown Hornbill, and Oriental Darter) are classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species; 12 species are in Schedule 1 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This investigation underscores Dehing Patkai National Park's significance as a sanctuary for diverse bird populations, including threatened and near-threatened species. The decline in bird populations in disturbed areas emphasizes the urgency of implementing effective conservation and management strategies within the park, alongside continued research and monitoring to support its unique avian ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing haplotypic and genotypic diversity is crucial for comprehending biological invasion dynamics and devising effective management strategies. In India, Gambusia spp. were introduced in the early twentieth century for mosquito biocontrol, but recent studies have demonstrated their detrimental impact on native biota. The present research employs molecular tools to investigate the haplotypic and genotypic diversity of Gambusia species in India. The findings reveal a greater distribution of Gambusia holbrooki and a lesser occurrence of Gambusia affinis in India. The study underscores that G. holbrooki was initially brought into India from Europe and later multiple times from other regions across the globe. Our global haplotypic network shows the presence of a single G. affinis haplotype, which is narrowly distributed in the northeastern part of India. Additionally, our population genetic analyses exhibit a low genetic variability and significant population genetic structuring among G. holbrooki populations. This study emphasizes the significance of evaluating haplotypic and genotypic diversity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the invasion history and dynamics of introduced species, thereby aiding in the development of effective management strategies that mitigate their negative impact on native biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loaches of the genus Lepidocephalichthys are ubiquitous in Peninsular India and the nearby continental-shelf island of Sri Lanka. Four valid species are reported from this region: L. thermalis, a species reported from across this region; L. jonklaasi, confined to rainforests in southern Sri Lanka; L. coromandelensis, from the Eastern Ghats and L. guntea, from the northern Western Ghats of the Indian peninsula. Here, based on collections from 25 locations in 13 river basins in Sri Lanka and 20 locations across India, including a dataset downloaded from GenBank, we present a molecular phylogeny constructed from the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) sequences. We show that ancestral Lepidocephalichthys colonized Sri Lanka in the late Miocene. Multiple back-migrations to India, as well as colonizations from the mainland, took place in the Plio-Pleistocene. The persistence on the island of L. jonklaasi, an obligatory rainforest associate, suggests that perhumid refugia existed in Sri Lanka throughout this time. Lepidocephalichthys thermalis appears to have colonized the Sri Lankan highlands as recently as the Pleistocene. The data suggest that Lepidocephalichthys thermalis is a species complex in which multiple species remain to be investigated and described, both in India and Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population dynamics, diversity and community structure of Odonata were studied on three adjacent riparian microecosystems in Vadodara district, Gujarat, India. Population dynamics was studied by observing their population by point count method on three microhabitats (Mini River at Sankarda, Sindhrot and Mahi River at Fazalpur). In the course of a twenty-eight-week study, a total of 4783 Odonata were encountered on three microecosystems. Odonata density 9% throughout September 2014 (39th Meteorological Week) and gained its peak during October 2014 (44th Meteorological Week). A definite drop in the density was observed during November 2014 (48th Meteorological Week) and it achieved precisely 1% throughout December 2014 (51st Meteorological Week). Amongst the three microecosystems, at Fazalpur, species richness began rising from the 4th week of September (6%) and made it to its highest (11%) throughout the 4th week of October. At Sankarda, maximum absolute richness (12.61%) was recorded in 3rd week of October. At Sindhrot, the relative abundance of odonates started increasing in 3rd week of September (7%) and achieved its highest (13%) during 4th week of October. A total of twenty-five species were encountered in the terrain. The diversity index was maximum for Sankarda (2.35) followed by Fazalpur (2.27) and Sindhrot (2.01). A total of four species (Ditch Jewel (26.6%), Pigmy Dartlet (19.5%), Green Marsh Hawk (10.3%) and Senegal Golden Dartlet (8.3%) were dominant in all three microhabitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the temporal and spatial variations in phytoplankton diversity, community composition, and associated environmental variables within Manori Creek, Northwest Coasts of India. Monthly surface water samples were systematically collected from January 2022 to February 2023 at three designated stations. The taxonomic analysis identified 114 phytoplankton species belonging to 67 genera, 53 families, and nine different classes, comprising Bacillariophyceae (29.8%), Mediophyceae (25.4%), Dinophyceae (19.3%), Coscinodiscophyceae (15.8%), Cyanophyceae (4.4%), Chlorophyceae (2.6%), Eustigmatophyceae (0.9%), Noctilucophyceae (0.9%), and Zygnematophyceae (0.9%). Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed three distinct clusters with unique spatial and temporal characteristics. The estuarine region at station 2 exhibited the highest species richness, while the riverine region at station 3 demonstrated the highest species diversity and dominance. The research outcomes revealed that phytoplankton diversity, richness, and evenness indices were highest during the monsoon and lowest during the pre-monsoon. Biota-environment stepwise analysis (BIO-ENV) results indicated that air temperature, salinity, pH, transparency, nitrite, total phosphorus, and silicate (Spearman coefficient "ρ" = 0.8327) are deterministic environmental variables that influence the distribution and community structure of phytoplankton. The canonical correspondence analysis further elucidated that the abundance of phytoplankton is primarily influenced by variables such as transparency, pH, total phosphate, nitrite, temperature, silicate, and chlorophyll-a concentration. The novelty of this research lies in its holistic approach to considering its unique environmental conditions incorporating a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological parameters that collectively influence phytoplankton dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforests are increasingly seen as ancillary conservation landscapes that effectively integrate production needs while sustaining biodiversity goals. The conservation potential of these land uses can be significantly improved by using evidencebased management practices. In this study, we examine the community assembly of anuran amphibians and identify vulnerable species based on their life-history traits across tea and coffee agroforests and non-agricultural forest fragments in the Anamalai Hills of India. We conducted visual and auditory encounter surveys for amphibians along streams and terrestrial habitats. A modified joint species distribution model was used to examine the drivers of species richness, community composition and species co-occurrence patterns. At the community level, mean species richness was greatest in forest fragments followed by coffee and least in tea agroforests. Community composition was associated with both land use (tea/coffee/forest) and habitat (stream/terrestrial), with the greatest composition difference between coffee and forest. Life-history traits were significant drivers of species occupancies, particularly in forests. Fast-flowing water breeding amphibians and smaller body sizes were positively associated with forest streams over coffee and tea streams. Elevation was a strong predictor of amphibian occupancy with nine species showing negative association and 14 species showing positive association. Twelve species also showed a significant positive association with the wetter year, seven of which belonged to direct-developing frogs. This suggests that even singleyear declines in rainfall could have detrimental effects on populations and make these species vulnerable to climate change. The results of the study have important conservation consequences for agroforests in the Western Ghats. Stream restoration efforts across elevation gradients could significantly improve habitats for different amphibian assemblages in agroforests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short-term field study was conducted to document the species diversity and abundance of ants in a deciduous forest in the South Western Ghats (Chinnar, Idukki, Kerala), India. In the present study, 22 species from 18 genera and 06 subfamilies of ants were recorded. The Myrmicinae subfamily had the most species (09), followed by Formicinae (07), Ponerinae (03), Dolichoderinae (01), Dorylinae (01), and Pseudomyrmicinae (01). The genus Camponotus had the most species (3), followed by Monomorium (2) and Pheidole (2), with the remaining genera each having one species. Camponotus compressus, Solenopsis geminata, and Oecophylla smaragdina were the three most common ant species, with Technomyrmex elatior, Leptogenys chinensis, and Odontomachus sp. being the least common (0.4%). The most abundant functional group of ants was the Tropical climate Specialists (6 species), followed by Opportunists and Generalised Myrmicinae (5 species each). Subordinate Camponotini (4 species), Specialist Predators (1 species), and Hot climate Specialists (1 species) were detected as other functional groups of ants in the study area. Overall, the study area holds good ant species diversity, which is even in composition. The present study provides useful information on the composition of the ant community in the South Western Ghats in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the fish assemblage in a temporarily-closed sandbar estuary along India's west coast, across different zones and seasons. Moderate species diversity (54 species), low species abundance, varying fish diversity from lower to upper estuarine gradient (higher counts in lower zones, and decreasing from middle to upper zones), and higher prevalence of marine migrants (estuarine use) and piscivorous species (feeding mode) were the significant characteristics of the estuary. Distinct spatial, seasonal, and estuarine mouth state-based variations were recorded in the estuary, based on diversity indices and count of taxa. Peak diversity and abundance were noted during the pre-monsoon, and during the open mouth state of the estuary. The entire estuarine gradient is anthropogenically impacted by a multitude of stressors, except at the estuarine mouth region, which is favored by marine connectivity. The fish assemblage structure in Poonthura estuary (PE) has thus far remained unaffected by anthropogenic disturbances. Nevertheless, growth and nursery function of the estuary have been significantly compromised. The predominance of juvenile fish in the ecosystem, and prevailing anthropogenic stressors from point and non-point sources underscore the necessity for long-term maintenance of the population of coastal species, as well as a need for developing and implementing urgent management strategies for this fragile ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluates the potential of airborne hyperspectral and space-borne multispectral satellite datasets to determine alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity combining in-situ floristic composition in tropical deciduous forests (TDFs) of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), India. 43 forest plots (each of 0.04 ha) were sampled to record the species diversity in MTR. The very high-resolution AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral images and temporal Sentinel-2 multispectral images were used to extract spectral variables by associating each field plot with corresponding pixels of the satellite images. A high positive correlation of field-based α-diversity (Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′)) with AVIRIS-NG based α-diversity (R2: 0.83 (2016); R2: 0.82 (2018)) was observed compared to Sentinel-2 based α-diversity (R2: 0.50 to 0.63) with high correlation during post-monsoon (R2: 0.63). Principal coordinate analysis of AVIRIS-NG based β-diversity signifies a low diversity (H′: <1.00) in the eastern parts (0.13% of MTR) in contrast to moderate (H′: 1.00 to 2.00; 13.39% of MTR) to high diversity (H′ >2.00; 86.49% of MTR) in the remaining parts of MTR. The study highlights the application of high spectral-spatial AVIRIS-NG images for precise tree diversity mapping and the high temporal-spatial Sentinel-2 satellite images for assessing the phenological variations of the forest species. The integration of high spatial-hyperspectral and temporal multispectral satellite datasets with field-based observations for fine-scale tree species diversity mapping at geographical and temporal scales is the novelty of the study that may effectively contribute in devising effective forest management plans for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic alterations have paramount impacts on the alpha and beta diversity of aquatic resources, and fishes are predominantly susceptible to such impacts. Mahanadi River, one of the major peninsular rivers of India, has abundant fish resources, which play a significant role in supporting the fishers' livelihoods. The exploratory study in the river conducted for three consecutive years recorded 148 species under 53 families. Cyprinids dominated the fish diversity with 41 species, followed by Bagrids (9) and Sciaenids (7). One hundred-one species under 29 families were reported from the freshwater stretch. With a total of 111 species reported under 48 families, the estuarine and tidal freshwater stretch was more speciose, due to marine migrant species which advent the estuarine and tidal freshwaters stretch for breeding and feeding purposes. Tikarpara, a conserved site within a sanctuary, was the most species-diverse as well as a species-even site. The study also recorded the extension of the distributional range of 3 fish species and also 4 exotic species from the river. The seasonal variations in diversity indicated that the deviations were not prominent in freshwater sites, whereas in tidal brackish water sites, species richness was relatively higher in post-monsoon, and species evenness was higher during monsoon. Taxonomic distinctness test showed that the average taxonomic distinctness was high for tidal estuarine locations as they harbour taxonomically distant fishes. The hierarchical clustering of sites showed the inordinate effect of river gradient and fragmentation on the fish community structure. Analyzing the key drivers of the assemblage structure of the entire river, salinity was the major deterministic factor, and within the freshwater stretch, the major influences were depth, transparency, and specific conductivity. The study concluded that, despite all of its ecological stresses, Mahanadi still supports rich fish diversity, yet there is a notable shift in the fish community structure. There is a need for integrating molecular and morphological tools for the taxonomic revision of many genera and species for proper in situ and ex situ conservation measures and to formulate future biodiversity management plans addressing to reduce the impacts of the ecological threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ravikumar, T.; Neethirajan, N.; Chandran, S.; Sangaralingam, M.; Natarajan, J.; Umamaheswar, T., and Padmavathy, P., 2024. Ichthyofaunal diversity from longline catches in the Gulf of Mannar (GoM), southeast coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(1), 115–128. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The present study aimed to document the spatial and temporal ichthyofaunal diversity of reef associated fishes caught with experimental longlines fitted with different "J" hook sizes (no. 12, no. 9, and no. 6) and shapes (Straight, Kirbed, and Reversed) from the Therespuram and Mundhal fish landing centres of Gulf of Mannar (GoM), Southeast Coast of India. Sampling was done at a fortnightly interval from February 2020 to January 2022. The total of 21,322 fish diversity includes 37 species of fish belonging to 15 genera, 10 families, and seven orders have been recorded during the study period. Order wise and species wise landing revealed the dominance of Perciformes with five families (Haemulidae, Lethrinidae, Lutjanidae, Nemipteridae, and Serranidae) and 28 species while in the case of order Centrarchiformes it represented with only one species. Fish diversity of GoM was assessed by calculating the various diversity indices such as Shannon–Weiner biodiversity index (H′) ranged from 2.31 to 3.29, Simpson's Dominance Index (1-λ′) ranged from 1.80 to 4.73, Pielou's Species Evenness index (J′) ranged from 0.90 to 0.99, and Margalef index (d) of species richness ranged from 2.03 to 4.73. The results of the present study revealed that the experimental longlines caught one endangered (3%), four vulnerable (11%), two not evaluated (5%), one data deficient (3%), and 29 species (78%) of least concern as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature status. The assessment is a prerequisite for understanding the biodiversity and to help fishery managers to evolve new strategies for the sustainable exploitation and conservation of coral reef associated fishes in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds cause a 57 per cent yield loss in transplanted rice and an 82 per cent yield loss in direct seeded rice, resulting in a $4.20 billion monetary loss per year. Weed infestation, species richness, density, dry matter accumulation and duration of association significantly affects rice grain production. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field in Thiruvennainallur village, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India during Navarai season of 2021, in order to evaluate the different weed management practices on growth and yield of rice under transplanted conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design, having fourteen treatment and replicated thrice. Treatment consists of hand weeding, butachlor, pretilachlor, pyrazosulfuron ethyl, bispyribac sodium, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, Triafamone + ethoxy sulfuron, metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl and penoxsulam + cyhalofop butyl were used as herbicides. Among the different herbicides tried out, pre emergence application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP @ 0.15 g/ha fb post emergence application of bispyribac sodium 10% SC @ 0.25 l/ha recorded least weed density (15.55, 29.56 m-2), weed biomass (8.25, 16.02 g/m² ) with weed index (2.18 %) and highest weed control index (89.22%, 85.18%), plant height (97.21 cm), dry matter production (12735 kg/ha), number of productive tillers/m² (349.23), grain yield (6416 kg/ha) and straw yield (7839 kg/ha). Sequential application of pre-emergence followed by post emergence enhance the reduction of weed leads to higher productivity of transplanted rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to compile the species composition of the diversity of butterflies in Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. The butterflies were observed and collected in the field from April 2019 to March 2022. Old collections of the campus made by earlier workers (1996–2018), present in the Entomological Museum, Zoological Survey of India, Itanagar, India, were also studied. A total of 195 species referable to 118 genera under six families, i.e., Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae, were recorded from Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time. The maximum diversity of species was found in the family Nymphalidae, with 82 species under 41 genera (42%); followed by Lycaenidae, 42 species under 33 genera (22%); Hesperiidae, 34 species under 25 genera (17%); Pieridae, 18 species under 11 genera (9%); Papilionidae, 18 species under 7 genera (9%); and Riodinidae, 1 species under 1 genus (1%). Observations on the relative abundance of butterfly diversity revealed that of these 195 species, 59 species (31%) were found to be common, 72 species (36%) were uncommon, and the remaining 64 species (33%) were less common. Of 195 species, 21 were found in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the bird diversity of a managed (Rajdhani Jalashay) and an unmanaged wetland (Mustafapur) in Patna, Bihar, India. We recorded bird species by using point counts and fixed-route monitoring. At Rajdhani Jalashay, a total of 73 species were recorded, of which 15 species were winter visitors. Two species were in the Near-threatened category: Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), while the others were of least concern. At Mustafapur wetland, 67 species were recorded with 11 species as winter visitors. Simpson's species diversity index was 0.78 at Rajdhani Jalashay, and 0.81 at Mustafapur wetland. The number of species of waders was 17 at Mustafapur wetland and 11 at Rajdhani Jalashay. The total number of Lesser Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna javanica), a resident bird was almost double (526) at Mustafapur wetland than that at Rajdhani Jalashay (234). The nitrate level was twice higher and the phosphate level was four times higher at Mustafapur wetland than those at Rajdhani Jalashay. The difference in species number and composition between the two wetlands may be attributed to the eutrophication resulting from high nitrate and phosphate levels at Mustafapur wetland. Unfortunately, the Mustafapur wetland is under threat due to human influences. The protection and sustainable management of natural wetlands is required for saving the biodiversity of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the species diversity of diurnal raptors along the selected linear infrastructure projects in northern Chhattisgarh, India, between December 2020 and September 2022. The study identified a total of 14 raptor species, consisting of 11 species in Accipitridae, two in Falconidae, and one in Pandionidae families. Two species were under threatened category of the IUCN red list, the Vulnerable Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata) and the Near Threatened Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus). Linear infrastructure development, such as roads, railways, pipelines, canals, and power lines, is expanding rapidly, causing the degradation and fragmentation of habitats, and leading to the loss of biodiversity. Unfortunately, the impacts of linear infrastructure on bird populations in India have not been adequately studied, resulting in limited understanding and few measures to mitigate these impacts. This study specifically focuses on the status of raptors along selected linear infrastructure intrusions and provides baseline information that can help in understanding their conservation needs. The findings of this study underline the necessity of implementing appropriate measures to mitigate the negative effects of linear infrastructure development in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tropical, dry deciduous forests of Chandrapur district provide a wide variety of natural ecosystems to the spider species, leading to spider diversity and abundance. Hence the spiders can be grouped into various ecological guilds, based on the foraging mode as orb weavers, space web builders, sheet web builders, ambushers, ground runners, foliage runners, stalkers etc. The present investigation, therefore, has an interdisciplinary approach that will undertake a comprehensive and holistic study of spider diversity along with the plant diversity. Well established sampling protocols for spider collections were adapted in different selected sampling plots from Chandrapur district. The present study reveals the occurrence of 21 different families, 57 genera and 90 species. Out of total spider species recorded, about 43% were found orb weaver, 17% stalker, 14% ground runner, 13% ambusher, 8% foliage runner, 3% space web builder and 2% were sheet web builder. Occurrence of high number of Araneids could be due to mixed vegetation of the forest which provides enough space to build web of different size and protection from their predators. The forest is dry deciduous and rich in shrubs as understory habitats resulting into more number of Salticides and Lycocides which are stalker in guild. Moderate numbers of Thomicides found in this region is due to availability of flowering plants with deep vegetation in forest area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of seasonal variations in environmental parameters on fish assemblage and species diversity patterns was studied in a tropical reservoir of Central India during March 2021 to February 2022. A total of 41 species belonging to 7 orders, 15 families and 29 genera were recorded with highest diversity during post‐monsoon season compared to the pre‐monsoon season and monsoon season. The fish abundance similarity between the monsoon and post‐monsoon reached a maximum of 89%. Seasonal variations in the mean species abundance, Simpson dominance index, Shannon diversity index, Pielou's evenness index and Margalef's richness index were determined. One‐way ANOVA revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) at the temporal scale. There was a significant seasonal difference in species abundance (P = 0.0006) and evenness index (P = 0.02) among the diversity indices. During the study period, three 'vulnerable' species, three 'near threatened' species and two 'endangered' species were caught. Carnivore dominance was evident throughout the year in the trophic guild of fishes. The Pearson correlation test revealed that water pH, dissolved oxygen, sediment organic carbon and clay percentage were positively correlated to all four diversity indices. Simpson and Margalef species richness diversity indices were positively correlated to sediment pH. Fish abundance was positively associated with sediment pH, silt, phosphorus and nitrogen content. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to investigate the relationships between fish assemblages and environmental conditions. Among the 19 physicochemical parameters, nine (dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, transparency, hardness, phosphate and chlorophyll‐a, sediment nitrogen and phosphorus) characteristics were shown to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) in determining fish diversity. Dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, transparency, hardness, phosphate and chlorophyll‐a of water and sediment nitrogen and phosphorus qualities were the key factors for the species abundance. The reservoir boasts a diverse fish population that allows multi‐species fishing and generates revenue for numerous local fishers. Fish habitats should be protected in order to maintain diversity and long‐term ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity and density of ostracods (zooplankton) in two freshwater lakes in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, India, were studied from March 2021 to February 2022 to determine seasonal variations. Plankton net (64μ pore size) was used to collect the samples and analysis was performed using standard keys. In all, 11 species from 8 genera belonging to 3 families of Ostracoda were identified from Mama Lake and Singhada Lake of the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, India. The overall population of Ostracoda is greater in Mama Lake than in Singhada Lake. Additionally, the species diversity was higher in the summer season and lowest in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out during a bird race organized in Karanja- Sohol Wildlife sanctuary Karanja, district Washim Maharashtra, India. The objective of this study was to assess the avifauna of wildlife sanctuaries. Due to the geological and ecological complexity of the area, it has become imperative to conduct research on the region's avian diversity. It is challenging to conduct this assessment, as the wildlife sanctuary is divided into numerous patches by the state highway running through it. Sanctuary is surrounded by numerous villages and agricultural land, which creates human interference and livestock grazing. This checklist will serve as a baseline for further study, as there is no published checklist of this area. In the present investigation, we reported a total of 151 bird species during the exhaustive survey by the authors and accompanied volunteers during the census organized by the wildlife department. The observed species of birds belong to 55 families and 17 orders. They also recorded their residential and IUCN red data status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity and composition enable us to understand the conservation and management of an ecosystem. There is scarcity of knowledge in understanding the diversity change across the gradients of elevation, especially in the Himalaya. Here, we focused in the eastern Himalaya to investigate the patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of true flies with relation to variation in altitude. The study was conducted in protected area (Neora Valley National Park) in the eastern Himalaya, India and the survey was conducted at five altitudinal zones (from 500 to 3,000 m). A total of 201 species of Diptera, with 105 genera and 33 families were recorded, of which 25 species are new to the state of West Bengal and seven species are new to India. The species diversity increased with elevation (maximum was near 2,500 m) and most of the flies preferred to be close to bushes with flowers, with a substantial percentage of them being pollinator species. Flies adapt to the various vegetation and climate patterns, which was evident by the abundance of fly species at high altitudes (1,500-2,500 m). Hence, it is very important to implement appropriate actions to protect the diversity of true flies in this Himalayan landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors that influence the diversity and distribution of butterfly species is crucial for prioritizing conservation. The Eastern Ghats of India is an ideal site for such a study, where butterfly diversity studies have yet to receive much attention. This study emphasized the butterfly assemblages of three prominent habitats in the region: open forests, riparian forests, and dense forests. We hypothesized that riparian forests would be the most preferred habitat for the butterflies, as they provide suitable microclimatic conditions for butterflies. The study collected samples for 35 grids of 2 × 2 km2 for each habitat during the dry months (December–June). We considered the relative humidity, temperature, light intensity, elevation, and canopy cover to assess their influences on butterfly richness and abundance. We also considered the impact of disturbances on their distribution. We used structural equation modeling and canonical correspondence analysis to quantify the correlation and causation between the butterflies and their environment. The study recorded 1614 individual butterflies of 79 species from 57 genera and 6 families. During the study, we found that temperature was the most significant factor influencing butterfly richness. Relative humidity was also important and had a positive impact on butterfly richness. Riparian forests, where daytime temperatures are relatively low, were the most preferred microhabitat for butterflies. Open forests had greater species diversity, indicating the critical significance of an open canopy for butterflies. Though riparian forests need greater attention concerning butterfly distribution, maintaining open and dense forests are crucial for preserving butterfly diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present compendium is based on the findings of a research work on the survey of nematodes belonging to the family Aphelenchoidea in the northeastern states of India and the literature available on this particular species, mainly from Manipur. During the study, a total of 12 Aphelenchoides spp. were found, among which six species were reported for the first time from Manipur. A new species, Aphelenchoides oryzae is also described in the present article. The present study will help in making us understand the biodiversity status of Aphelenchoides nematodes in the region. Diagnosis of the species and illustrations along with dichotomous keys are provided in the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan foothills and associated environment are well‐known for driving the rapid diversification of many species and the formation of biodiversity hotspots. The effects of environmental change since the Miocene have accelerated species diversification, and hence are useful for studying population genetic structure, and evolutionary relationships via genetic approaches. To date, the effects of climatic fluctuations on the biogeography of large‐bodied lizards have not been assessed comprehensively. Herein, we examine the diversification of Varanus bengalensis, focusing on its genetic structure to provide insights into how landscape structure and climatic fluctuations have shaped species differentiation. We confirm the existence of two distinct lineages within V. bengalensis distributed across the Himalayan foothills and the remainder of mainland India. Divergence analyses revealed the split between the Himalayan foothills and the remainder of the mainland lineages of V. bengalensis in the mid‐Pliocene ~3.06 Ma, potentially as a consequence of the Siwalik broadening and climatic fluctuations across the Himalayan foothills. The results suggest recognition of a new lineage of V. bengalensis from the Himalayan foothills as a distinctive evolutionarily significant unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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