Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity

Bean goose (Anser fabalis rossicus) reproduction on Kildin Island (Barents Sea, Russia)

Iuliia Bannikova — 2023-12-05

Breeding, migration and presence of the western subspecies of the bean goose Anser fabalis in the Murmansk region (northwest Russia) were previously reported in the publications of ornithologists. In this paper, we present some data on the breeding ecology of the bean goose Anser fabalis rossicus (Buturlin 1933) on Kildin Island. The presented data contain information about the nesting areas of the subspecies on the island, the number of eggs in the clutch, the composition of nesting material, and the fact of successful breeding here is presented.

Mitochondrial diversity in Algerian hedgehogs (Atelerix algirus) from Malta

Emanuela Bazzoni — 2023-11-01

Island species are often understudied although being frequently represented by small and fragmented populations, potentially vulnerable to extinction. We investigated the phylogenetic position of hedgehogs living in Malta, by means of mitochondrial DNA control region analysis. A total of eleven Algerian hedgehog Atelerix algirus samples provided by a Wildlife Rescue Centre in Malta were processed for DNA extraction and sequencing. Phylogeographic analyses suggested the presence of different haplogroups within the species A.algirus: one endemic to Morocco (and Canary Islands), another widely distributed in North Africa (reaching Spain and Balearic Islands), and a third haplogroup represented by the two haplotypes detected in Malta, an apparently ancestral and diverging lineage typical of the island. We discuss management and conservation implications and put the basis for further research on Maltese hedgehogs.

Possibility of night activity shift of Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Yushin Asari — 2023-10-20

We investigated activity patterns of wildlife by using 28 camera traps from June 2021 to June 2022 in a forest in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Sciurus vulgaris is generally known as a diurnal species. However, two photos recorded the night activity of this species in March 2022. One photo showed something resembling a pine cone in a squirrel’s mouth. Sciurus vulgaris might shift the timing of their activity patterns to avoid predators such as Vulpes vulpes and/or to forage food when scarce.

First report of epibiont communities on Narrow-clawed crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823 (Decapoda: Astacidae) from Shiyan dam reservoir, western Iran

Pouria Heshmatzad — 2023-09-09

This study investigates epibiont communities, including both protozoan and metazoan species, associated with Astacus leptodactylus in the Shiyan Dam reservoir situated in the Kermanshah province of western Iran. A total of 220 crayfish were collected for comprehensive parasitological surveys, targeting various body parts, including the gills, exoskeleton, mouth cavity, and internal organs. Protozoan species identified included Cothurnia sieboldii, Chilodonella sp., Vorticella similis, Zoothamnium sp., and Pyxicola annulata. In the metazoan category, notable species consisted of Branchiobdella kozarovi (Annelida), Philodina acuticornis (Rotatoria), Rabdochona sp. (Nematoda), and Mesocyclops strennus (Copepoda). P. acuticornis exhibited the highest prevalence among gill epibionts at 18.2%, while Chilodonella sp. showed the lowest prevalence at 0.9%. The study also revealed seasonal variations, with the highest infestation occurring in spring (82%), and the lowest in winter (24%). This research presents the first documented evidence of epibionts on A. leptodactylus in western Iran.

The selected insect families and their seasonal dynamics in the Mordovia State nature reserve in the burned areas of 2021

Alexander B. Ruchin — 2023-11-28

Forest fires are one of the main environmental factors that change the habitat and initiate the change of new forest communities. Burned areas are habitats representing a wide range of ecological niches, which can be used by many species of insects. It is especially interesting to observe the restoration processes in the burned areas in the first years after the fires. In 2021-2022, on the territory of Mordovia State Nature Reserve, studies were conducted on the plots that had been burned in 2010 and 2021. Traps with bait based on beer and sugar were used for the study. Our results indicate that the largest number of flying insect forms in the first year after the fire was higher in unburned areas, and the parts of burnt areas located in the depths of the burned territory had the smallest number. The number of beetles was greatest in areas which were not affected by fire. Lepidoptera immediately returned to the site of the fire in 2021. Already the next year their number became much higher. There was no clear dependence on Hymenoptera. The number of Neuroptera and Blattodea was higher in the burned areas of 2010. The seasonal dynamics of Coleoptera in the hot springs was one-peak, whereas in unburned areas it is usually two-peak.

Modeling the past and contemporary habitat suitability and distribution of the Levantine viper Macrovipera lebetinus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Ophidia: Viperidae)

Rasoul Karamiani — 2023-09-16

Evaluating the climate changes in the past and contemporary time, and the impact of those changes on the distribution range of the species have attracted research interest. The venomous snakes of the genus Macrovipera consisting of the recognized species M. lebetinus and M. razii are documented from Iran. In the study, we modeled the potential distribution areas and determined the suitable habitats in the past (the Last Interglacial [LIG], and mid-Holocene [MH]), and their present distribution for the Levantine viper M. lebetinus by MaxEnt. Models of the species indicated good fit operation by the average high area under the curve (AUC) values (LIG =0.979± 0.008, MH =0.968± 0.028, Contemporary =0.933± 0.036). Three important climate variables had significant contributions to the simulation of the LIG model distribution of M. lebetinus as mean temperature of the driest quarter of the year (43.8%), isothermality (26.9%), and mean temperature of the wettest quarter of the year (17.9%); maximum temperature of the warmest month (36.4%), mean temperature of the wettest quarter of the year (25.2%), and isothermality (21.2%) variables had significant contributions to the contemporary time and the MH model distribution the Levantine viper, respectively; Two important climate variables had immense contributions to the predication of the contemporary model distribution M. lebetinus as seasonal and annual precipitation (32.9%), and a topographic variable as slope (31.5%). Because it seems that they have sensitivity to temperature and precipitation levels of the seasons. The MH and the LGM models indicated a larger suitable area than the contemporary distribution, which it is concluded that these variables form a natural barrier for species dispersion.

The first record of Dina prokletijaca (Hirudinida: Erpobdellidae) from Bekhal stream, Erbil, Iraq

Fakhir A. Q. Zewayee — 2023-09-16

The Dina prokletijaca was found in the samples that were obtained from the Bekhal stream for the current investigation. The samples were gathered throughout the course of nine months, from March to October 2021. The reduced number of papillae on the back of D. prokletijaca distinguishes it. It can be identified by its stock and short body, the dorsal side with two dark and wide longitudinal paramedian stripes, and the ovisacs are curled reaching the somite four beyond the females' genital pores and coiled throughout their entire length.

Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes assessment for drought tolerance in Uzbekistan

Abdulahad Azimov — 2023-11-28

Globally, increasing water and energy demand is expected to reach 6.9 trillion cubic meters by 2030, exceeding 40% of the available water supplies. Climate change and rising temperatures caused water deficit due to lesser and irregular rainfalls, leading to lower production of crops. The research to assess drought tolerance of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes in Uzbekistan revealed the cultivar, Ishonch as the most promising for drought environments. The research, in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications with a factorial arrangement and two irrigation regimes (non-stress and water stress at the seedling stage), was conducted at the experimental field of the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, District Kibray, Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan. Ten Mungbean cultivars, i.e Durdona, Barqaror, Marjon, Andijon-1, Zilola, Ishonch, Baraka, L-59, L-88 and L-92 with diverse agronomic characteristics, were selected for their potential yield during 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons under two different environments (optimal and water deficit condition). In the Uzbekistan region, yield index, yield stability index, stress intensity, stress susceptibility percentage index, stress susceptibility index, stress tolerance index, drought intensity index, tolerance index, geometric mean productivity, relative drought index, mean relative performance, harmonic mean, mean productivity and sensitivity drought indices and their cluster analysis results were determined. The mungbean Durdona and T-59 genotypes were found to be prone to water deficit conditions. The Ishonch, Barqaror ва L-92 genotypes were found to be a positive donor in the selection for drought.

The effects of artificial light on the behavior of Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) in Iran

Hossein Barzegar — 2022-12-30

Around 83 percent of the world's population live in light-polluted areas, of which 40 percent live in places that are continuously lit by “ALAN (Artificial Light at Night)”. The light pollution caused by “ALAN” is growing day by day. Thus, the risk of environmental damage is growing in aquatic areas by increasing the “ALAN”. In this way, this research investigates the artificial light at night’s a “ALAN” effect on Gambusia Holbrooke “mosquitofish” in Iran. To obtain the ALAN data, we relied on the information from the operational linear satellite scanning data related to the Metrological Defense Satellite Program (DMSP/OLS). the data provided by the DMSP satellite belonged to 1992 and 2013 as images. The images were clipped by the geographical information systems (GIS), and the images were classified into five classes based on the light pollution intensity. Afterwards, the changes in light pollution by area were calculated and reported. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of ALAN on the Gambusia holbrooki. Two types of treatments were provided for G. holbrooki: control and ALAN treatments. In both treatments, fish were kept for 60 days, and after that period, their shoaling and hiding behaviors were examined and recorded by a web camera. The results indicated that by increasing the ALAN, especially near the coastlines, the risk of harmful effects on G. holbrooki could be increased. The findings suggested that the ALAN might influence G. holbrooki behavior. The shoaling behavior of the ALAN treatments samples revealed that the time spent shoaling individually at night and during the day was decreased. As a result, in the hiding behavior experiment, G. holbrooki moved less at night after ALAN exposure but did not hide, indicating that the fish are unlikely to swim away or hide when exposed to light at night. As a result, they may be more vulnerable to predation.

On the occurrence of the Pond Slider Turtle Trachemys scripta (Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792) (Testudines: Emydidae) from southwestern Turkey

Batuhan Yaman Yakin — 2023-03-06

Trachemys scripta is included among the 100 most invasive species worldwide. Since the first report on the presence of pond slider turtle from natural habitats in Turkey, distribution of this invasive species comprises almost nine provinces from Turkey. However, this number should more likely to be higher than reported in the literature. Besides, there is a lack of knowledge on which subspecies are exist in the invaded habitats. Within this study, we presented the presence of two subspecies of the invasive alien slider turtle for the first time from the Kargı Cove / Datça (Turkey). We also suggest certain precautions should be taken against slider turtle for the purpose of make contribution to prevent their invasion in our biodiversity.

Species richness and areas of endemism of Lacertidae and Gekkonidae (Reptilia: Squamata) in Iran

Seyyed Saeed Hosseinian Yousefkhani — 2022-09-17

The aim of this study is to detect areas of endemism in lizards in Iran. This is the first study of its kind focusing on this subject. Areas of endemism for two families of lizards (Lacertidae and Gekkonidae) that have the highest number of endemic species than other lizard families in Iran were identified by Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE). Distribution data were collected from previous studies on the Iranian lizards and also from the recent literature on the descriptions of new endemic species. A total of 81 species of lizards were available for analysis. The study area was divided into a 2° × 2° grid of 63 Operational Geographic Units (OGUs). PAE was applied to the data matrix to detect areas of endemism and detected eight areas of endemism in southwestern Iran and near the Persian Gulf. Southern Iran is the main region where most species from Arabia came into Iran and were stopped in their dispersal. Two grids in southern and northeastern Iran were recognized as the areas with the highest density of species in the studied families. Lacertidae and Gekkonidae did not have a shared endemic species in the region (cells 59 and 60) but the area of endemism identified by PAE in the Persian Gulf region suggests that exchange between Iranian and Arabian herpetofauna was very high during interglacial periods. The distribution pattern of the endemic species of these families is concentrated in the region of the Alborz and the Zagros Mountains, but the single area of endemism in southern Iran has an important role in the historical biogeography of the Iranian herpetofauna. During interglacial periods, the Persian Gulf acted as a corridor between the herpetofauna of the two sides and this suggests the importance of this area of endemism for the Gekkonidae family. Also, the OGUs with the highest density of species are located around the country and, the lowest density is in the Central Plateau. PAE detected eight areas of endemism in southwestern Iran, but according to the number of species per units, two OGUs can be identified as high density in northeastern and southern Iran.

A preliminary study of the lizard fauna (Reptilia: Squamata: Lacertilia) and their habitats in Bafq Protected Area and Darreh-Anjir Wildlife Refuge, Yazd Province, Central Iran

Behzad Zadhoush — 2022-11-15

Kuh-e Bafq Protected Area and Darreh-Anjir Wildlife Refuge are located in Yazd Province, Central Iran. Although reptiles are relatively diverse in this area, little is known regarding their diversity, distribution and habitat preferences. The present study was carried out from March 2012 to late June 2013. A total of 55 specimens were collected (or observed) and identified, belonging to six families, 14 genera and 16 species.

Morphological and Molecular Study of Dactylobiotus parthenogeneticus (Bertolani, 1982); A new Species of Freshwater Eutardigrada in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Sana Kayfi Najmadden — 2023-11-28

Dactylobiotus parthenogeneticus was obtained from the outflow stream of Smaquli Dam, located in Erbil Governorate, within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. During July 2022, a sample collection was conducted at the study site. The collected samples consisted of populations of D. parthenogeneticus, which were found in conjunction with green algae. The sampling process involved passing a volume of 50 liters of water through a hand net equipped with mesh components measuring 0.45 µm. The initial characterization of this species was conducted through the examination of its morphological features and measurements, alongside the utilization of DNA barcoding techniques. The acquisition of molecular data was accomplished through the process of sequencing the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. These data were subsequently archived in the GenBank database, where they were assigned the unique accession numbers OR501571. The specimens that were collected were determined to belong to D. parthenogeneticus based on the analysis of morphological and molecular analysis. The present observation represents the first documented occurrence of this species within the geographical boundaries of Iraq. Tardigrades offer valuable perspectives on the dynamics of ecosystems, and the interactions between trophic levels, and can serve as indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem and maintaining its balance.

On the distribution of Coleoptera in forests and open areas (center of the European part of Russia): A study using beer traps

Alexander B. Ruchin — 2022-09-09

Natural forests (closed habitats) and meadows (open habitats) are essential for the conservation of terrestrial biodiversity. Pubescent biotopes are of considerable importance as well. It is crucial to obtain data on the spatial distribution of Coleoptera in such biotopes because it helps protect natural biotopes. The research was conducted in 2020 on the territory of the Republic of Mordovia (the center of the European part of Russia). Beer traps (with beer bait) were used to collect Coleoptera. The collections were carried out from April to October in various forests and open biotopes. To clarify the spatial distribution of Coleoptera, various forest interiors (meadow, edges, in the depths of the forest) were studied at two experimental sites. A total of 7771 Coleoptera specimens were recorded. In the open biotopes, the smallest numerical abundance of Coleoptera was obtained with relatively high species richness. The lowest species richness was obtained in the depths of the forest at a height of 7.5 m. The edges of forests at a height of 1.5 m differed in the maximum species richness and number. At a height of 7.5 m, the number of Coleoptera was the greatest, but the species diversity was very low. The number of saproxious species was higher in forest biotopes. The number of anthophilic species was higher in the traps installed at the bottom. Differences in the number of species and individuals on different edges (northern, eastern, and western) were also determined. Thus, on the eastern and northern edges, in contrast to the western edge, the numerical abundance at the top was higher than at the bottom.

Molecular characterization of haemoparasites genus Lankestrella (Apicomplexa: Coccidia) in two species of Lizards from Iran

Hossein Javanbakht — 2022-09-21

Reptiles are known hosts of a wide variety of parasites, including haemoparasites. Species of Lankestrella (Apicomplexa; Haemococcidia) have been described from the blood of lizards distributed in American and western European areas. In the present study, we characterized morphologically and molecularly the haemococcidian parasites (sporozoites) that infect the blood cells of Eremias persica and Ophisops elegans, two species of lacertid lizards from central Iran. By the microscopic examination of the smears, we identified parasites as the genus Lankestrella. In total, two positive samples of each species have investigated the basis of the partial 18S rRNA gene analyses. The result of similarity analysis with our sequences using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) indicated a11 four parasites belonging to one haplotype of Lankestrella sp. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new Lankestrella sp is related to Lankestrella sp identified from two lizards belonging to Spain and Socotra Archipelago. This is the first report of Lankestrella parasites in the new lizard's host. The present study provided additional information about the new host of Lankestrella species and added new knowledge to clarify the future phylogenetic relationship between these parasites. Our results emphasize the importance of screening haemococcidian parasites in Iran.

Characterization of a translocated Mitochondrial Cytochrome b pseudogene in Meriones persicus (Rodentia; Gerbillinae); a potential taxonomic pitfall

Ahmad Mahmoudi — 2023-07-16

Due to its faster evolution rate compared to nuclear genes, haploid mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a promising species identification tool. This has led to its significant use in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. While mtDNA is subject to selective constraints that prevent the accumulation of deleterious mutations, the prevalence of nuclear-mitochondrial fragments (known as NUMTs or pseudogenes) in mammals has complicated the use of mtDNA for taxonomy. In the present study, a pseudogene of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) was detected in Meriones persicus. This pseudogene differed from its mitochondrial counterpart at 235 out of 1140 sites, and is characterized by frame-shift mutations, indels, and accumulation of non-synonymous substitutions. It is the first report of the Cytb pseudogene in a jird, highlighting the risk of misidentifying NUMTs as authentic mtDNA and the importance of addressing this potential pitfall in taxonomic studies.

A bibliometric analysis of 44 years of research on birdwatching tourism research: An exploration for emerging insights

Alireza Mohammadi — 2023-11-28

In recent years, birdwatching has become one of the fastest-growing forms of nature-based tourism and is often referred to as avitourism. Birdwatching has a relatively long history, but many research questions and avenues of inquiry remain unexamined. We quantitatively reviewed the literature on birdwatching using VOSviewer version 1.6.16 and the Bibliometrix package for R to assess the growth of the field over time. The results show that a total of 1371 publications have been published on the topic between 1878 and 2022. The annual growth in the number of publications was 2.59% and publications written through international collaboration constituted 20.02% of the total research output. Researchers and commentators in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada were the largest contributors. Our results showed that birdwatching, birding, and citizen science are the motor themes, which means they significantly contribute to the development of the field. Moreover, ecosystem services, cultural ecosystem services, and recreation are emerging themes that require further development. Future studies are expected to focus on fostering avitourism in developing nations through training and collaboration between local and international NGOs. Improvement of local livelihoods and grass-roots organization should be the focus of future efforts given the potential of avitourism as a source of income and incentive for wildlife conservation action.

Climatic and soil integrant that drive forest tree species diversity and distribution across cross-river state, Nigeria

Patrick Ishoro Akwaji — 2023-11-28

Awareness of the ecological needs of forest tree species is a necessity for effective and tenable forest management, conservation and restoration. Our study used the modified Whittaker sampling method to assess the diversity and distribution of forest tree species at twenty-two forest sites across northern, central, and southern Cross River State, Nigeria, and to analyse climatic and soil integrant that drive the diversity and distribution of tree species in forests. Only tree species with dbh ≥ 30 cm were identified and recorded. Tree species occurrence points were also marked using Global Positioning System (GPS) software. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) species distribution model and principal component analysis (PCA) for each zone were used to study climate and soil integrant that drive forest tree species diversity and distribution, respectively. The results of the survey revealed a great diversity of tree species in the forests, as 398 species belonging to 64 families were recorded. The maxEnt model established six climatic integrants that drive forest tree species diversity and distribution across Cross River State. These are ‘BIO 3 – isothermality’, ‘BIO 4 - temperature seasonality’, ‘BIO 7 - annual temperature range’, ‘BIO 12 - annual precipitation’, ‘BIO 16 - precipitation of wettest quarter’, and BIO 17 - precipitation of driest quarter. PCA revealed that the soil in the northern zone had seven main integrants (iron, Available Phosphorus, manganese, exchangeable cations, silicon, Hydrogen ion and organic matter); ten in the central zone (zinc, organic matter, iron, Total Nitrogen, Sodium, boron, clay, soil pH, exchangeable acids and silicon); and nine in the southern zone (sand, silt, Organic Carbon, Manganese, Hydrogen ion, Calcium, cation exchangeable capacity, Potassium and clay) that drive species diversity and distribution. Our findings can be used as rudimentary details for managing forest and ecosystem preservation at all levels and, characteristically, for forest conservation across Cross River State, Nigeria.

Preparation of Polyclonal Antiserum for potato X virus

Dilfuza Jovlieva — 2023-11-28

Recently, as a result of the development of agriculture, and the expansion of the international export of seeds and seedlings, pathogenic viruses that infect potatoes have spread to other regions, and changes in viruses under the influence of various climatic factors have led to the emergence of strong pathogenic isolates. The preservation of potato viruses in potato nodules and other plant organs creates several difficulties in their diagnosis. For this, it is advisable to use highly sensitive diagnostic methods. In this work, the results of the research on the preparation of polyclonal serum, which is the basis for obtaining antibodies necessary for the immunodiagnosis of potato X virus (PXV), are given. In this case, an isotonic solution of NaCl or cycloferon together with a purified virus antigen was injected between the muscles of the biceps and hind legs of rabbits. The delivered antigen dose was increased by the same amount for both rabbits. Before reimmunization, the titer of sera from the rabbit injected with cyclotron was 1:64, the titer from the rabbit injected with an isotonic solution of sodium chloride was 1:32, and after reimmunization, the titer of the serum isolated from the first rabbit decreased to 1:32, and from the rabbit injected with NaCl the resulting serum was found to be elevated to a titer of 1:256. The prepared serum was used in the diagnosis of PXV and its amount in plant tissue was determined.

Ecological quality status of stressed coastal benthic ecosystems in Nayband Bay from the northern Persian Gulf, Iran using AMBI, M-AMBI, Bentix, and H´ indices

Ali Ghanavati Asl — 2022-09-13

Nayband Bay has been greatly influenced by a variety of human disturbances over the last three decades. The present study was undertaken to assess the ecological quality status of macrobenthic communities in Nayband Bay sediments using four benthic indices namely AMBI, M-AMBI, BENTIX, and H´. The sediment samples were taken for macrobenthos extractions and determination of grain size analysis, Total Organic Matter (TOM), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) using a Van Veen grab. A total of 47 macrobenthos taxa (genus and species) were identified among 34825 individuals in the sampling area. Polychaeta, Malacostraca, Bivalve, Gastropoda and Echiura were the most abundance taxon with 23 (48.9%), 11 (23.4%), 6 (12.7%), 5 (10.6%), and 2 (4.2%) species. The results showed that the macrobenthic communities were characterized by sensitive (EGI) or indifferent (EGII) species of AMBI ecological groups. The opportunistic species (EGIV and V) namely Capitella capitata, Cirratulus ciratus, and Scolelepis sp. were dominated at stations with high TOC. These stations were close to the beach, where the organic matter discharges and wastewaters have been released from industrial outfalls. In general, the EcoQs were “good” or “acceptable”, although four indices showed some differences in the EcoQs classifications for a given site. The results of the present study indicate that the complementary use of different indices, especially sensitivity/tolerance-based indices, is recommended for the ecological-status assessment of the Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf.

Assessment of macrofungi diversity in Perlis State Park, Perlis, Malaysia

Ag. Shaffie Ag. Ahmadni — 2023-11-28

Macrofungi play a diverse role in ecosystems, serving as decomposers, sources of food, and providers of medicinal benefits to humans for millennia. However, the status of macrofungi diversity in Perlis State Park is poorly understood. This study aims to identify the diversity of macrofungi species in Perlis State Park. Sampling was conducted using both opportunistic and selective approaches along a transect line comprising 10 trails during the rainy season between 2019 and 2023. Identification was based on the morphological characteristics of macrofungi. A total of 69 species of macrofungi were discovered, including 59 species from Basidiomycota and 10 species from Ascomycota. These species can be categorized into eight groups, namely Cup (2), Gill (20), Shelf and Bracket (16), Bolete (7), Coral (6), Jelly (6), Earthball and Puffball (4), and Tooth (4) fungi. Of the identified macrofungi species, 33 are confirmed to be edible. Additionally, three species from the Cordycipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae families within the suborders of Ascomycota are entomopathogenic. Some microfungi fall under the category of 'Least Concern (LC)' according to the IUCN Red List. Our study highlights the importance of macrofungi diversity in Perlis State Park, which can be instrumental for conservation and educational purposes

Efficacy of different cereals on the development of Tribolium castaneum

Shahar Bano Memon — 2023-11-28

The commercial availability of the cereals has been increasing due to the availability of low-gluten however; management of the cereals with its relation and susceptibility was poorly described. The efficacy of the development of Tribolium castaneum was analyzed on six different cereals i.e. wheat, rice, corn, cowpea, sorghum and barley flour. The cereals were collected from two different sources i.e. Flour mills (Source-I) and Grocery stores (Source-II) to assess the level of infestation. It was noticed that the total duration from egg to adult remains fastest on wheat flour, i.e. 41.8±0.80 days followed by sorghum flour 52.9±0.90 days and slowest on cowpea flour 65.5±1.00 days. The study of morphometric parameters of Tribolium castaneum as a result of feeding on different cereals showed statistically significant effects on the length, and breadth of different larval instars, pupa and Adult stages. The highest total larval length and breadth was recorded on wheat flour (42.80mm and 17.4mm) followed by Sorghum flour (41.40mm and 14.6mm) while the lowest total larval length and breadth was recorded on cowpea flour (28.0mm 8.1mm) followed by corn flour (30.70mm and 8.3mm). The results of this study indicated that higher rate of infestation on wheat and less on cowpea flour as compared to other cereals. Time for 50% to 90% of eggs to adult development was fastest on wheat i.e. (2.9±1.01 and 4.3±2.37) and slowest on cowpea flour i.e. (5.5 ±1.0 and 7.5±1.76). There was extensive variation in the efficacy of the different cereals with relation to the level of gluten increases the risk of insect infestation.

A Comparative Analysis of Inland Fishing in Nigeria and Türkiye

Mehmet Fatih Huseyinoglu — 2023-02-04

Fishing is an ancient activity with its involvement being traced back to the stone age; it is also an important economic activity in the nations of the world, supplying about 60% of the world’s protein as well as creating jobs and income revenue, especially in developing nations. Three sources of fishery exist in the world: inland, marine, and aquaculture. Global aquaculture being different from capture fisheries of marine and inland has experienced rapid growth in global fishery production since 2007, producing 85.5 million metric tons in 2021, with capture fishery producing 92.6 million metric tons. While different species of fish exist in the nation’s waters, only a few are of economic value, with most of the fish caught for food gotten from inland fishing, some are food for animals, also inland fishing of ancient times are for recreational purposes. This study focuses on drawing comparisons between inland fishing in Nigeria and Turkiye. Secondary quantitative method was used in the data collection process which was in the form of the scientific and common names of the fish species in the inland waters of the countries, their status/occurrence in the waters, their location(s), fishing practices of the countries and a ten- year rate of capture fishery production of the inland waters between the years 2011 and 2020. The inland fishing in both countries was compared based on these elements to conclude that just as the countries up for comparison are far apart based on their location (existing on two different continents), so is the inland fishing of both countries, having very few similarities. The inland fishing of both nations differs in great magnitude, having different kinds of species in their waters, as well as different fishing practices, and different rates of capture inland fishing production.

Efficacy of Cryptic rodents and challenges for conservation in Africa: A review

Ahmed Seid Ahmed — 2023-11-28

Cryptic species are unique species that are genetically divergent, although formerly nominated as a single species because of their morphological indistinguishability. In the last 20 years, it has been widely documented as a cryptic species in scientific articles and has nearly consistently dispersed across all taxa and ecological niches. Unfortunately, the inconsistency of cryptic species' descriptions and taxonomic classification makes it difficult to quantify and understand their coevolutionary relevance and ecological questions. We aim to review the cryptic rodent species, discuss the mechanisms to describe them, the reasons how diversified, and assess their challenges for conservation. From a limited review of the literature, we found significant numbers of cryptic putative rodent species on the African continent. Methodological error, evolution processes, mutation, speciation, morphological homology, and convergence might be associated with cryptic species. Our regression analysis shows that cryptic species are distributed almost evenly across almost all rodent families in almost all countries. The scatterplot analysis indicates cryptic diversity has a linear scale associated with the number of publications and time. Our result shows articles emphasized the importance of molecular, morphological, cytogenetic, and ecological niche approaches in understanding crypticity. An integrated approach is more appropriate to recognize and decode the notions of cryptic nature, notably for divers’ small mammals, rather than using single methods. Understanding cryptic species is crucial for exact biodiversity estimation and conservation, including endemic and endangered species.

Key words: Conservation, Cryptic species, Molecular, Morphology, Rodent

A Closer Look at Socio-Economic and management perspectives of shark fishery in Ghana

Berchie Asiedu — 2023-11-28

Shark is an important fishery commodity globally. However, 70 % decline in the populations of shark species has cast doubt on the fishery's economic success, especially in Ghana. Therefore, studying the shark fishery activities in Ghana from the perspectives of production, socio-economic, and management will inform key stakeholders of the approaches needed to strengthen the conservation of the fishery. We interviewed ninety-one (91) shark fishers from four important landing sites, namely; Apam, Dixcove, Tema, and Axim along the coast of Ghana using a semi-structured interview guide, and recorded their landings between April and December 2022. Our findings show that the dominant shark species landed by fishers were Sphyrna sp., C. leucas, C. carcahrias, R. acutus, C. carcharodon, I. oxyrinus, and Aliopas sp. with Sphyrna sp. and C. leucas experiencing a drastic population decline. Togo and China were the main foreign destinations for shark fin products, particularly fins of Sphyrna sp., C. leucas, and Aliopas sp. (species classified by the IUCN Red List as Endangered species). The price of shark fins during the lean season was significantly higher than in the peak period, indicating the influence of seasonality on the pricing of shark fins. The main challenges confronting shark fishing in Ghana were a decline in the population of sharks, inadequate premix fuel, and the risky nature of shark fishing activities. From the study, developing a species-specific conservation action plan through consultative approaches, community awareness programmes and enforcement of these conservation measures are some of the recommendations proposed.

An analysis of illegal wildlife trade with the aid of social media and prevention strategies

Debaditya Roy — 2023-11-28

The drastic reduction of wild life populace indicates the true scale of illicit trade in wild life. The traffickers emerged in the form of organised crime and threaten the survivability of several species across the world. The developing countries like India cannot be able to enforce the laws strongly to eradicate illegal wildlife trade. The regulations are poorly communicated and executed. The legalization varies from nation to nation. The political influences also affects the investigations of IWT. The traffickers misuse technology and sells the illegal wild life products in the pseudo name. This study investigates the role of social medial platform in analyzing the illegal wild life trade (IWT) and also suggest the prevention strategies to conserve the wild life environment. The research design is exploratory and descriptive in nature. The research performs a quantitative analysis using the SPSS version 23 software package, through reports generated from the Wild life Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). The report derived from the operation WILDNET is used to gather the data of cases registered through various social media platforms such as Facebook, twitter and whatsapp. The present study adopts secondary data collection to fetch data relating to prevalence of IWT throughout India. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and ANOVA test are performed in the research. The outcomes of the study revealed that the prevalence of IWT across India and role of social media in identifying the wild life traffickers. Furthermore, the study concludes that the digital platform has aids in increasing awareness to conserve the endangered species throughout the world.