Foraging analysis of Endangered Greater Adsjutant Stork Leptotilus dubios Gemlin in certain habitat of Assam, India

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.1101/2020.05.31.125328 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Purnima Devi Barman ◽

D. K. Sharma

Keyword(s):

Migratory Birds ◽

Action Plan ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

The Body ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Nesting Sites ◽

Baseline Information ◽

Fish Group ◽

Beak Length

AbstractThe endangered Greater Adjutant Stok Leptotilus dubius Gemlin confined only in some pockets in Assam and Bihar in India and in certain areas of Laos and Cambodia has poorly understood in its foraging activities in its natural habitats. Attempt has been made to address the forage pattern in its natural habitat wetlands in the Kamup district and in a city garbage dump in Guwahati in Assam, India. The various forage methods like walking, visual tactile etc and their relation with the body metrices like beak length, tibia tarsus length and its mass were assessed in terms of foraging habits. Forage actvities were evaluated during the breeding (May to September) and non breeding (October to April) time of the study period of 2012-2017 at different water level of the wetland(s). The foraging range of this stork assessed at an confinement of aerial distance of 15 km from the nesting sites appears as resident non migratory birds by habits. Types of diet composition obtained from the regurgitated food at the ground of the nesting sites were mostly the fish group channa and cyprinids. Profitability index was determined at the captive stork showed in favour of these two groups within the size group of 5 to 15 cm. Larger food item showed lesser profitability index. PCA analysis showed negative foraging correlation with the Prey size greater than 8cm and 15 cm, while the captivity study was conducted Thus the present findings on the foraging assessment of Greater Adjutant might be the baseline information for conservation action plan.

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Population Status and Distribution of Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in Nepal

The Initiation ◽

10.3126/init.v3i0.2422 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bishnu P Thapaliya ◽

Madhav Khadka ◽

Hemanta Kafley

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Captive Breeding ◽

Indian Subcontinent ◽

Action Plan ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Population Status ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Gavialis Gangeticus

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), biological treasure of the Indian subcontinent now restricts its existence in few big river systems of India and Nepal only. Innumerable threats posed to Gharial and its natural habitat led to extinction of the species from Bhutan, Burma and Pakistan and almost extinct from Bangladesh. Despite of the concerted Gharial conservation effort of Nepal and India since midtwentieth century, the species finds its status as Critically Endangered on the IUCN 2007 Red list. Realizing the fact that a basic step in any conservation plan involving mega herpetofauna is to estimate its population status and structure and its geographic distribution, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal held Gharial census on January-February 2008. The census estimated a total of 81 Gharials in Nepal. Out of total Gharial recorded during the census, 70 Gharials were recorded through direct sighting while 11 were based on indirect observations. Factors responsible for decreasing Gharial population were flood and dam construction, habitat destruction and decline in food quality & quantity. Over fishing, use of gill nets and river poisoning adversely affected the quality and quantity of fishes that serve as main food for Gharial. Contradictory to the past findings decreasing Gharial population was not attributed to the illegal egg collection and poaching of male Gharial for "Ghara". Deliberate killing was only found to take place in case the animal got entrapped in fishing nets. We conclude that Gharial should receive high conservation priority in future too. Efforts to restore the population through artificial breeding have much to do for maintaining present population. However, declining population, despite of several Gharial releases, should be addressed through more detailed scientific study. Census should be based on direct sighting through extensive field observation. Gharial release should precede scientific field study for assessing habitat suitability and follow with intensive monitoring program. The emphasis should be given for preparing specific Gharial Conservation Action Plan for regulating conservation activities to help conserve Gharial in Nepal. Key Words: Gharial conservation, Population status, Captive breeding, Threats DOI: 10.3126/init.v3i0.2422 The Initiation Vol.3 2009 p.1-11

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Orchid conservation: the next ten years

Lankesteriana ◽

10.15517/lank.v0i0.11545 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Philip Seaton ◽

Jonathan P. Kendon ◽

Hugh W. Pritchard ◽

Dwi Murti Puspitaningtyas ◽

Tim R. Marks

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Action Plan ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Rapid Decline ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Orchid Species ◽

Orchid Conservation ◽

Orchid Seed ◽

Made In

In 1996 the IUCN/SSC Orchid Specialist Group published a Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan that included a number of recommendations designed to address the problem of a projected imminent and rapid decline of species. Orchids remain subject to a multiplicity of threats in their natural habitats and, in addition to the usual suspects of habitat loss and land conversion, climate change has exerted a measurable effect on some orchid populations. Collection of orchids for traditional medicine is having a significant effect both within China and surrounding countries. Some progress has been made in achieving the targets set for Red Listing of endangered species in some countries, but other countries are lagging behind. In addition to successful initiatives in preserving natural habitats, a number of projects around the world have demonstrated that it is possible both to bring endangered species into cultivation and successfully reintroduce them into the wild. Orchid Seed Stores for Sustainable Use, with its goal of storing seeds representing a minimum of 1000 orchid species in institutes in at least 30 countries over the next five years, provides an example of what can be achieved by a small, dedicated group determined to share their technical expertise and develop a deeper understanding of the underlying science. There is, however, also an urgent need to promote awareness in the wider community about the importance of all sorts of biodiversity (not only orchids) through educational programs and involve people from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible.

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Individual identification of Crocodylus intermedius (Orinoco crocodile) using tail spot patterns

UNED Research Journal ◽

10.22458/urj.v12i2.3140 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. e3140

Author(s):

Alvaro Velasco Barbieri

Keyword(s):

Action Plan ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Individual Identification ◽

Dark Spot ◽

Identification System ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

The One ◽

The Right ◽

Conservation Action Plan

Introduction: The Conservation Action Plan of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) includes in its activities the release of captive-bred specimens back into the wild. By monitoring these specimens in their natural habitat their adaptability is assessed. However, an accurate identification system is necessary to recognize the individuals when they are recaptured. Objetive: Determinate if Swanepoel or Boucher et al. for crocodile identification for the Orinoco crocodile is useful. Methods: A total of 543 Orinoco crocodiles were photographed and each photo was vectorized by drawing dark spots greater than 25% for each scute, in the first 10 lines of double caudal scales of the tail on the right side. Two system codes were evaluated, one is a numeric code described by Swanepoel and the other is an additive code described by Boucher et al. Results: A total of 464 Swanepoel codes and 537 Boucher et al. codes based on the dark spot pattern of the scales on the right side of the tails were generated for the 543 specimens. Both methods yielded high code values, however, the one developed by Boucher et al., with a 98.90% differentiation of the analyzed specimens, worked better. Conclusion: The study confirms that using the method of spots in the tail of crocodiles is an effective tool for identifying individual crocodiles.

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Habitats naturels des écosystèmes du Cameroun

International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences ◽

10.4314/ijbcs.v13i7.22 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 3247-3265

Author(s):

Jean-Michel Onana ◽

Jean Louis Fobane ◽

Elvire Hortense Biye ◽

Eric Ngansop Tchatchouang ◽

Marguérite Marie Abada Mbolo

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Management ◽

Action Plan ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Ecosystem Approach ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

International Union ◽

Terrestrial Habitats ◽

Materials Used

Dans le cadre de la Stratégie et le Plan d’Action National sur la Biodiversité, afin d’améliorer la compréhension et la documentation des écosystèmes, l’objectif de cette étude est l’identification et la cartographie les habitats naturels du Cameroun. Les matériels utilisés ont été les référentiels constitués de la classification standard des habitats de l’Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature (UICN) pour la nomenclature, et les cartes phytogéographique, du relief et de l’hydrographie pour les habitats terrestres et aquatiques pour les cartes thématiques respectivement. Les méthodes ont été d’adapter la classification de l’UICN à celle des phytochories pour la nomenclature ; et la fabrique des délimitations sur des fonds de cartes existantes pour la cartographie. Les résultats obtenus sont la reconnaissance de différents types d’habitats naturels du Cameroun : trois cartes qui présentent les délimitations des habitats naturels terrestres par écosystème, et aquatiques par bassin hydrographique ; et que la répartition des habitats terrestres est corrélée avec la nature des sols. Ces données complètent les connaissances sur les écosystèmes et sont un outil pour l’application de l’approche par écosystème. C’est une contribution à la cartographie des milieux naturels du Cameroun en rapport avec la gestion durable de la biodiversité.Mots clés. Cameroun, habitat naturel, écosystème, phytochorie, hydrographie, cartographie. English Title: Natural habitats of the ecosystems of CameroonWithin the framework of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, to improve the understanding and documentation of the ecosystems, the objectives of this study are the identification and the mapping of natural habitats of Cameroon. The materials used have been the referentials made up of the classification standard scheme of the habitats of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for nomenclature, and the phytogeographic, relief and hydrography maps for terrestrial and aquatic habitats respectively. The methods have been to adapt the IUCN classification to that of phytochoria for nomenclature; and fabricate boundaries on existing maps for cartography. The results obtain are the recognition of different natural habitat types in Cameroon: three maps showing the boundaries of terrestrial natural habitats by ecosystem, and aquatic by watershed; and that the distribution of terrestrial habitats is correlated with the nature of the soil. These data improve the knowledge on ecosystems, and are an instrument for the implementation of the ecosystem approach. It’s a contribution to the mapping of natural environments of Cameroon in relation with the sustainable management of the biodiversity.Keywords: Cameroon, natural habitat, ecosystem, phytochoria, hydrography, mapping

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The relationship between body angle and target strength of ribbonfish (Trichiurus japonicus) displaying a vertical swimming motion

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsw095 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 73 (8) ◽

pp. 2049-2057 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Makoto Tomiyasu ◽

Wan-Yu Kao ◽

Koki Abe ◽

Kenji Minami ◽

Taro Hirose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Habitat ◽

The Body ◽

Target Strength ◽

P Value ◽

Data Logger ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Static Mode ◽

Body Angle ◽

Video Recordings ◽

Swimming Motion

Abstract During movement, the body angles of ribbonfish change, including a unique vertical swimming motion that influences their target strength (TS). In this study, we observed body angle changes in ribbonfish using an acceleration data logger and video recordings. Based on these data, variations in echo intensity in response to body angle changes were revealed using radiograph images of the swimbladder and the respective TS values. The frequency of a body angle >60° was 57.78% peak at 77°. The swimbladders were found to be slender ellipses inclined 3–4° upward from the body axis. The TS peaked (about −30 dB for the average pre-anal length of 223.9 ± 21.8 mm) when the body angle was horizontal or inclined 2–3° downward. The TS decreased substantially when the body angle was vertically inclined. From about 10° upward inclination to vertical, the TS fluctuated between −50 and −60 dB. In a comparison of the average TS values among body angle categories, the TS values for body angles grouped as ‘vertical’ (between 60° and 90°), showing static mode activity patterns in video recordings, were low (−55.7 ± 3.9 dB, Mean ± SD), whereas those for the horizontal body angle (between 0° and 30°) category, comprising the active mode, were high (−47.0 ± 8.7 dB) (P-value < 0.01). In the natural habitat, ribbonfish are known to gather at the sea floor during the daytime. In contrast, at night they disperse and move actively while foraging. Consequently, their echo intensities in natural habitats change substantially in response to their diel changes in behavioural ecology. Additional measurements or theoretical models considering the influence of ribbonfish behaviour should be undertaken as a result of this study.

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TOWARDS DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE HERITAGE TOURISM AND CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR IRBID’S HISTORIC CORE

International Journal of Architectural Research Archnet-IJAR ◽

10.26687/archnet-ijar.v10i3.1035 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 36 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Naif Adel Haddad ◽

Leen Adeeb Fakhoury

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Local Community ◽

Action Plan ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Vital Role ◽

Heritage Conservation ◽

Urban Context ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Urban Heritage ◽

Conservation Action Plan

Tal (mount) Irbid in Irbid city, Jordan, with its continuous human occupation from the Bronze Age until the present, demonstrates the main landmark that has guided the spread of the urban growth of the city. The outcome of studies carried out at Irbid’s historic core, in relation to assessing the loss and degradation of the core’s cultural heritage, shall be analyzed, investigated, and discussed, as also concerns, obstacles, and issues of sustainability to this urban heritage conservation and tourism planning. The paper starts by defining the urban heritage for the historic core, which tends to be set aside, in the city’s rapid development. Actually, the remaining historic buildings can also provide the necessary inter-relationships between the historic core areas and the wider urban context to achieve a sustainable and integrated tourism and conservation action plan for the three heritage neighborhoods around the Tal, while building on tourism opportunities and taking into consideration the needs and the vital role of the local community. The paper concludes that urban heritage conservation and protection of the integrity and identity of the historic core city fabric can assist in its branding, promotion, and management in ways that could enhance the local community belonging, quality of everyday lifestyle, and visitors' experience.

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Family graveyards form underappreciated local plant diversity hotspots in China's agricultural landscapes

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80362-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cheng Gong ◽

Liangtao Li ◽

Jan C. Axmarcher ◽

Zhenrong Yu ◽

Yunhui Liu

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Plant Species ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Landscape Features ◽

Habitat Islands ◽

Local Plant ◽

Ecological Functioning

AbstractIn the intensively farmed, homogenous agricultural landscape of the North China Plain, family graveyards form distinct cultural landscape features. In addition to their cultural value, these graveyards represent semi-natural habitat islands whose potential roles in biodiversity conservation and ecological functioning has remained poorly understood. In this study, we investigated plant species richness on 199 family graveyards of different ages and sizes. In accordance with biogeography theory, both overall and insect-pollinated plant species richness increased with area and age of graveyards. Even small graveyards show a strong potential for conserving local plant richness, and a mosaic of both large and small family graveyards could play an important role in the conservation of farmland biodiversity and related ecosystem functions. The launch of agri-environmental measures that conserve and create semi-natural habitats, in turn benefitting agricultural biodiversity and ecological functioning, has proven difficult in China due to the shortage of dispensable arable land. Given the great value of family graveyards as semi-natural habitats reflected in our study, we propose to focus preliminary efforts on conserving these landscape features as existing, widespread and culturally important semi-natural habitat islands. This would represent an effective, complementary policy to a subsequent re-establishment of other semi-natural habitats for the conservation of biodiversity and ecological functioning in agricultural landscapes.

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Knowledge and attitudes of adolescents towards the human microbiome and antibiotic resistance: a qualitative study

JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

10.1093/jacamr/dlab039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Catherine V Hayes ◽

Charlotte V Eley ◽

Fiona Wood ◽

Alicia Demirjian ◽

Cliodna A M McNulty

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Action Plan ◽

National Curriculum ◽

Human Microbiome ◽

Theoretical Domains Framework ◽

The Body ◽

Dietary Behaviour ◽

Motivation To Change ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes

Abstract Background Antibiotic and dietary behaviour affect the human microbiome and influence antibiotic resistance development. Adolescents are a key demographic for influencing knowledge and behaviour change. Objectives To explore adolescents’ knowledge and attitudes towards the microbiome and antibiotic resistance, and the capability, motivation and opportunity for educators to integrate microbiome teaching in schools. Methods Qualitative study informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model. Six educational establishments were purposively selected by rural/city and socioeconomic status, within Gloucestershire, South West England in 2019. Forty 14–18-year olds participated in focus groups, and eight science or health educators participated in interviews. Data were analysed thematically, double-coded and mapped to the TDF/COM-B. Results Adolescents were aware of ‘good microbes’ in the body but lacked deeper knowledge. Adolescents’ knowledge of, and intentions to use, antibiotics appropriately differed by their levels of scientific study. Adolescents lacked knowledge on the consequences of diet on the microbiome, and therefore lacked capability and motivation to change behaviour. Educators felt capable and motivated to teach microbiome topics but lacked opportunity though absence of topics in the national curriculum and lack of time to teach additional topics. Conclusions A disparity in knowledge of adolescents needs to be addressed through increasing antibiotic and microbiome topics in the national curriculum. Public antibiotic campaigns could include communication about the microbiome to increase awareness. Educational resources could motivate adolescents and improve their knowledge, skills and opportunity to improve diet and antibiotic use; so, supporting the UK antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan.

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Aspects of the Water, Electrolyte and Carbohydrate Physiology of the Silvereye, Zosterops Lateralis (Aves).

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9830695 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 695 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

IJ Rooke ◽

SD Bradshaw ◽

RA Langworthy

Keyword(s):

Natural Habitat ◽

Tritiated Water ◽

Free Water ◽

Laboratory Studies ◽

Turnover Rates ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Water Influx ◽

Zosterops Lateralis ◽

Total Body ◽

Free Ranging

Total body water content (TBW) and TBW turnover were measured by means of tritiated water (HTO) in free-ranging populations of silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis, near Margaret River, W.A. Birds were studied in their natural habitats during spring and summer, and compared with a vineyard population in summer. In the natural habitat TBW content was found to be 77.6% in spring, which was not significantly different from that measured in summer (78.3%). Birds in vineyards in summer, however, were dehydrated, with a TBW content of 69.4%. Calculated rates of water influx for spring, summer and summer vineyards birds were 1.44,2.20 and 0.65 ml g.day-' respectively. These water turnover rates are much higher than those of any other bird yet studied. Dehydration was marked in the vineyard birds, with a significantly lower TBW content and an average net water loss of 0.63 ml day-'. Laboratory studies showed that silvereyes have a low tolerance to sodium loading. Their tolerance is, however, quite adequate for them to drink the most concentrated free water available to them in the field. Ingestion of concentrated sugar solutions of up to 25% did not provoke an osmotic diuresis and thus cannot account for the dehydration and negative water balance of vineyard birds.

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