Conservation status and distribution pattern of the Indus River Dolphin in River Beas, India

There is broad consensus among ecosystem experts that river dolphins, as top predators, can structure riverine ecosystems and benefit biodiversity. The effects of dolphins on rivers and vice versa do not operate in isolation, but are context dependent, being conditioned by other factors such as human interference. Based on the aforesaid presumption, the focus of the present study was on quantifying the factors responsible for the decline of the Indus River dolphin and species tolerance towards these factors in the upper sub-basin of the Indus River system (River Beas, India). Dolphins avoided (r=–0.667; P=0.001) the study section with higher disturbance, until some other factors, such as prey availability, came into play. Species occupancy was significantly different for different flow seasons and was associated with deep pools, eddy currents, and low disturbance index. The results indicated a marked decrease in species occurrence above a disturbance index level of 44. The findings of the present study contribute towards a better understanding of the complex ecological interactions of river dolphins with their environment and provide valuable insights into the wider conservation status of other threatened components of sympatric freshwater biodiversity that can further help in designing effective conservation measures for the ecosystem as a whole.

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Stranding cases of endangered Ganges river dolphins in the Ghaghara–Sharada irrigation canals, Ganges river basin, India: conservation implications

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2019-0110 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Shakti Prajapati

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Local Population ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Ganges River ◽

Population Declines ◽

Irrigation Canals ◽

Indus River ◽

River Dolphin ◽

Conservation Implications ◽

Media Reports

AbstractPopulations of endangered Ganges and Indus river dolphins have been under severe threat from diversion of river water by dams, barrages, and canal networks across the Indus and Ganges–Brahmaputra river basins. River dolphins prefer deep water and might enter irrigation canals in the dry-season, getting stranded there. Stranding can cause mortality and local population declines, and poses an emerging challenge to river dolphin conservation efforts. In Pakistan’s Indus river basin, stranding rates of Indus dolphins in irrigation canals are high, and well-coordinated rescue-release operations are undertaken. Despite commendable river dolphin rescue efforts in some parts of India, stranding cases are not always reported. From open-access media reports (2007–08 to 2017–18), I found 26 stranding cases of Ganges river dolphins from the Ghaghara–Sharada canal network across seven districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Of these, 62% reports were from 2015 to 2016. Most cases occurred in secondary and tertiary canal branches. Interviews with fishers, farmers, and government officials revealed low awareness of stranding cases. Stranded dolphins might have no chance of returning to their source habitat, unless rescued. From my results, I discuss how current barrage-canal operations could influence dolphin stranding risk, and their implications for flow management in the Ghaghara–Sharada river basin.

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Species richness, distribution pattern, and conservation status of amphibians in Cross River National Park, south‐eastern Nigeria

Biologia ◽

10.1007/s11756-021-00751-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lotanna Micah Nneji ◽

Adeniyi C. Adeola ◽

Babatunde E. Adedeji ◽

Omotoso Olatunde ◽

Abiodun B. Onadeko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Distribution Pattern ◽

National Park ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Cross River ◽

South Eastern

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Medicinal Plants of Turmic Valley (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Journal of Bioresource Management ◽

10.35691/jbm.5102.0025 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sher Wali Khan ◽

Qamar Abbas ◽

Syed Najmul Hassan ◽

Hawas Khan ◽

Azhar Hussain

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Plant Species ◽

National Park ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Indus River ◽

Medicinal Uses ◽

The People ◽

Over Exploitation ◽

Gilgit Baltistan

This study was undertaken to enumerate the medicinal plants of the area, find out the conservation status, and record the folk knowledge from the inhabitants of Turmic Valley during 2011-2013. The valley is located in the Rondo division of the District Skardu on the Northeastern side of the Indus River. The detailed information about the local flora regarding medicinal uses was collected from the local herbal healers (Hakeems) and other knowledgeable people. Locally used herbs of the area prevent and cure the people from various diseases such as joint pains, bronchitis, flu and fever, lowering blood pressure, constipation, liver disorders, stomach and abdominal problems, etc. The most common medicinal herbs found in the region belong to the families Gentianaceae, Berberidaceae, Umbelliferae, Labiatae, Rosaceae, Compositae, Urticaceae, and Ranunculaceae. The inhabitants of the valley mostly use the 42 plant species for the treatment of different health problems. Forty-two species of plants (including 4 Gymnosperms, 1 monocotyledon, and 37 dicotyledons) and 35 types of diseases have been identified during the current study. Thymus linearis, Rosa webbiana, Urtica dioca, Pleurospermum candollei, Berberis spp., Delphinium brononianum, and Mentha angustifolia were the commonly used plant species in the valley. The collected baseline data of this study will be helpfulfor young researchers in the fieldof taxonomy, ethnobotany, pharmacology, organic chemistry, and particularly for biodiversity conservation. Over exploitation, habitat destruction, and over grazing are the major threats for the loss of the important flora of the area.

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