Avian use of man-disturbed forest habitats in the Eastern Ghats, India

The northern Eastern Ghats is an area with significant biodiversity value but remains poorly explored except for a few charismatic taxa such as birds, mammals and reptiles. Very few studies have looked at the invertebrate diversity of these hill ranges, particularly butterflies. We present the first peer-reviewed checklist of butterflies from the northern Eastern Ghats based on a rapid and intensive survey carried out at five sites over 16 days across the buffer area of Papikonda National Park and Araku Valley in 2015 and 2016. We report a total of 102 species of butterflies from six lepidopteran families. Seventeen significant records include numerous first reports: three new species reports for peninsular India, nine for Eastern Ghats and 14 for the northern Eastern Ghats. This checklist adds 17 species to the known butterfly fauna for the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is hoped that findings from the study will help to mobilise conservation research, action and attention for the northern Eastern Ghats forest habitats, which are currently threatened by large scale development, security threats due to the Naxalite insurgency and mesoscale exploitation of forest resources.

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Bat diversity in the Banpale forest, Pokhara, Nepal during spring season

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.6263.13.6.18479-18489 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 18479-18489

Author(s):

Prabhat Kiran Bhattarai ◽

Basant Sharma ◽

Anisha Neupane ◽

Sunita Kunwar ◽

Pratyush Dhungana

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Secondary Source ◽

Illegal Logging ◽

Forest Edges ◽

Spring Season ◽

Disturbed Areas ◽

Species Checklist ◽

Disturbed Forest ◽

Bat Diversity ◽

Forest Habitats

Bat research in Nepal is limited and most areas remain to be explored. Sparse research has been conducted in the Banpale forest and to improve the understanding of bat diversity, an updated species checklist was prepared. Trapping surveys using mist nets were conducted at four different locations in the forest from March to May 2018. This survey identified 55 individuals belonging to eight species within eight genera and four families. Trapping locations near less disturbed forest edges and water resources were found to have higher bat diversity compared to highly disturbed areas (e.g., landslides and logging areas). With information from survey and secondary source, we conclude that Banpale forest harbours 10 of the 53 bat species found in Nepal. We recommend adopting practices to conserve the forest from landslides and minimizing illegal logging to conserve bat forest habitats.

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Patterns of Bat Diversity in an Undisturbed Forest and Forest Mosaic Habitats of the Afromontane Forest Biome of Western Cameroon

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.761969 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Eric-Moîse BakwoFils ◽

Manga Aaron Mongombe ◽

Dongmo Ervis Manfothang ◽

Aicha Gomeh-Djame ◽

Jean Michel Takuo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Open Space ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Forest Types ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Undisturbed Forest ◽

The Difference ◽

Disturbed Forest ◽

Bat Diversity ◽

Forest Habitats

Anthropogenic activities continue to degrade natural montane ecosystems globally. Bats communities are altered by these changes. We analyzed how bats are affected by human-induced habitat changes by comparing the bat species diversity and functional diversity in undisturbed forest habitats and disturbed forest habitats of the Afromontane biome of Cameroon. We recorded 244 individuals from 13 species in the undisturbed forest, while 233 individuals from 16 species were recorded in the disturbed forest. Bat diversity was higher in disturbed habitats (D = 0.84) than undisturbed habitats (D = 0.67). Jackknife 1 species richness estimator suggests 21.53 species for the disturbed forest and 19.30 in the undisturbed forest. Closed-space forager insectivorous bats made up nearly half of the species in the undisturbed forest, but this dropped to 25% in the disturbed forest, meanwhile, edge-space foragers increased in the disturbed forest. Bat community analyses by ordination revealed a distinct bat community composition between the two forest types, demonstrated as a significant difference in diversity between the two forest types. The distribution of Rousettus aegyptiacus, Myonycteris angolensis, Hipposideros cf. ruber, and Micropteropus pusillus contribute the most to the difference in bat community composition between the two forest types. Edge and open-space species were likely to benefit from additional resources provided by the disturbed area, by expanding their range and distribution. However, this may not compensate for the decline in the population of forest species caused by the loss of pristine forests, thus measures to conserve montane forest remnants should be of utmost significance.

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Distribution and status of threatened and endemic marsupials on the offshore islands of south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia

Australian Mammalogy ◽

10.1071/am17052 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 76 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thomas E. Martin ◽

Joseph Monkhouse ◽

Darren P. O'Connell ◽

Kangkuso Analuddin ◽

Adi Karya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Range Extension ◽

Short Term ◽

Disturbed Forest ◽

Forest Habitats

We highlight hitherto unreported populations of two globally threatened phalangerid species on south-east Sulawesi’s offshore islands – bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) and small Sulawesi cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis) – and observations of a third range-restricted species – Peleng cuscus (Strigocuscus pelengensis). Our data are based on records made during 11 years of seasonal surveys on Buton, and short-term expeditions to Kabaena and Manui. Our observations of S. celebensis on Buton, where it occurs in three protected areas, represent an important range extension for this species, as do our observations of A. ursinus on Kabaena, where it is also widespread. We also report the unexpected presence of S. pelengensis on Manui. Buton, in particular, appears to be an important stronghold for both A. ursinus and S. celebensis, given that forest ecosystems here remain extensive and relatively intact. Both these species may also display a previously unreported adaptability to disturbed forest and even some non-forest habitats within our study area. Hunting pressures, a proven threat to these species in northern Sulawesi, may also be lesser here.

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Fragmentation effects on dead wood-dependent species associated with disturbed forest habitats: implications for stump harvesting

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1080/02827581.2016.1229021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 260-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

T. Ranius ◽

L. Mestre ◽

C. Bouget ◽

M. Schroeder

Keyword(s):

Dead Wood ◽

Disturbed Forest ◽

Forest Habitats

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Beetle biodiversity in forest habitats in Laos depends on the level of human exploitation

Journal of Insect Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10841-020-00255-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 833-840

Author(s):

Bounsanong Chouangthavy ◽

Khankeo Bouttavong ◽

Johnny Louangphan ◽

Phonepadith Phewphanh ◽

Phoutthasone Sibounnavong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Area ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Dry Season ◽

Deciduous Forests ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Wet Season ◽

Window Traps ◽

Disturbed Forest ◽

Forest Habitats

Abstract Coleopteran diversity was compared between more and less disturbed lowland evergreen deciduous forests located in Phou Phanang National protected area, Lao PDR. Using window traps and pitfall traps and collecting beetles from March until December 2018, a total of 6243 specimens were obtained. The number of morphospecies found in the less disturbed forest was significantly higher as compared to the more disturbed forest. Slightly more morphospecies were found in the window traps compared to pitfall traps and a significantly higher number of morphospecies were found in the wet season (June and September collections), compared to the dry season (March and December collections). Similarly, more than twice as many specimens were found in the less disturbed forest, compared to the more disturbed forest and also again more were found in the wet season, in particular predators. The data presented here indicate that so far largely undisturbed forests in Lao PDR need to be better protected from human exploitation such as logging.

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Effect of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance and habitat occupancy of two endemic hornbill species in Buton island, Sulawesi

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270911000141 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 222-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

NURUL L. WINARNI ◽

MARTIN JONES

Keyword(s):

Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Point Counts ◽

Habitat Occupancy ◽

Large Trees ◽

Low Levels ◽

Disturbed Forest ◽

Study Sites ◽

Forest Status ◽

Forest Habitats

SummaryThe Red-knobbed Hornbill Rhyticeros cassidix and the Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill Penelopides exarhatus are endemic to Sulawesi. This study assessed the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on these two species in Lambusango forest, Buton, south-east Sulawesi. Data were collected between 2005 and 2007 in six study sites which varied in their levels of disturbance. Two of the lightly disturbed and two of the more heavily disturbed sites were within ‘protection forest’ whereas the rest were classified as ‘production forest’. We used point counts with distance sampling to survey the hornbills. Habitat data were also collected at each of the points and related to hornbill ‘occupancy’ with the program PRESENCE. Both hornbills were estimated to be at higher density in the lightly disturbed forest but the level of disturbance had more of a detrimental effect on Red-knobbed Hornbill than on Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill. Lightly disturbed forest had significantly more large trees than the heavily disturbed forest but there was no difference in the abundance of figs. Using four covariates (disturbance level, protection status, number of large trees, and number of figs), 99% of presence/absence of Red-knobbed Hornbills at the points could be explained by habitat disturbance and 87% by forest status; the same covariates explained 76% of presence/absence for the Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill with abundance of large trees as the most important factor. These results support the notion that Red-knobbed Hornbill is more sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance and its conservation is highly dependent upon the preservation of forest habitats with low levels of disturbance.

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Enzymatic Textile Dyes Decolorization by In vitro and In silico Studies

Recent Patents on Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1872208313666190625123847 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 268-276

Author(s):

Sridevi Ayla ◽

Monika Kallubai ◽

Suvarnalatha Devi Pallipati ◽

Golla Narasimha

Keyword(s):

Molecular Docking ◽

In Silico ◽

Docking Studies ◽

Textile Dyes ◽

Crude Enzyme ◽

Eastern Ghats ◽

Textile Dye ◽

Phanerochaete Sordida ◽

Molecular Docking Studies ◽

In Silico Studies

Background:Laccase, a multicopper oxidoreductase (EC: 1.10.3.2), is a widely used enzyme in bioremediation of textile dye effluents. Fungal Laccase is preferably used as a remediating agent in the treatment and transformation of toxic organic pollutants. In this study, crude laccase from a basidiomycetes fungus, Phanerochaete sordida, was able to decolorize azo, antroquinone and indigoid dyes. In addition, interactions between dyes and enzyme were analysed using molecular docking studies.Methods:In this work, a white rot basidiomycete’s fungus, Phanerochaete sordida, was selected from forest soil isolates of Eastern Ghats, and Tirumala and lignolytic enzymes production was assayed after 7 days of incubation. The crude enzyme was checked for decolourisation of various synthetic textile dyes (Vat Brown, Acid Blue, Indigo, Reactive Blue and Reactive Black). Molecular docking studies were done using Autodock-4.2 to understand the interactions between dyes and enzymes.Results:Highest decolourisation efficiency was achieved with the crude enzyme in case of vat brown whereas the lowest decolourisation efficiency was achieved in Reactive blue decolourisation. Similar results were observed in their binding affinity with lignin peroxidase of Phanerochaete chrysosporium through molecular docking approach.Conclusion:Thus, experimental results and subsequent in silico validation involving an advanced remediation approach would be useful to reduce time and cost in other similar experiments.

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Three Mosses New to Bryoflora of Eastern Ghats

Cryptogam Biodiversity and Assessment ◽

10.21756/cba.v1i1.11019 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A.K. Asthana ◽

Priyanshu Srivastava

Keyword(s):

Tamil Nadu ◽

Andhra Pradesh ◽

Eastern Ghats ◽

Extended Range

Eastern Ghats are discontinuous hill ranges passing through Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu located between 11⁰30' & 22⁰N latitude and 76⁰50' & 86⁰30'E longitude. Bryophyte flora of this region is still very less explored. During a recent field exploration to Eastern Ghats region of Tamil Nadu three moss taxa viz. Solmsiella biseriata (Austin) Steere, Aulacopilum glaucam Wilson and Groutiella tomentosa (Hornsch) Wijk & Marg. have been identified as new additions to moss flora of Eastern Ghats. The present study provides the information regarding extended range of distribution of these taxa in India and a compensable account of morpho-taxonomical details with earlier described taxa from other bryogeographical zones.

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Using Landscape Change Analysis and Stakeholder Perspective to Identify Driving Forces of Human–Wildlife Interactions

Land ◽

10.3390/land10020146 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

Mihai Mustățea ◽

Ileana Pătru-Stupariu

Keyword(s):

Landscape Change ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Driving Forces ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Change Analysis ◽

Local Stakeholders ◽

Stakeholder Perspective ◽

Forested Ecosystems ◽

Forest Habitats

Human–wildlife interactions (HWI) were frequent in the post-socialist period in the mountain range of Central European countries where forest habitats suffered transitions into built-up areas. Such is the case of the Upper Prahova Valley from Romania. In our study, we hypothesized that the increasing number of HWI after 1990 could be a potential consequence of woodland loss. The goal of our study was to analyse the effects of landscape changes on HWI. The study consists of the next steps: (i) applying 450 questionnaires to local stakeholders (both citizens and tourists) in order to collect data regarding HWI temporal occurrences and potential triggering factors; (ii) investigating the relation between the two variables through the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA); (iii) modelling the landscape spatial changes between 1990 and 2018 for identifying areas with forest loss; (iv) overlapping the distribution of both the households affected by HWI and areas with loss of forested ecosystems. The local stakeholders indicate that the problematic species are the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus). The number of animal–human interactions recorded an upward trend between 1990 and 2018, and the most significant driving factors were the regulation of hunting practices, the loss of habitats, and artificial feeding. The landscape change analysis reveals that between 1990 and 2018, the forest habitats were replaced by built-up areas primarily on the outskirts of settlements, these areas coinciding with frequent HWI. The results are valid for both forest ecosystems conservation in the region, wildlife management, and human infrastructures durable spatial planning.

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