KEANEKARAGAMAN TUMBUHAN PAKU DI BUKIT BOTAK KABUPATEN MUSI RAWAS SUMATERA SELATAN

This study aimed to determine the types of Pteridophyta and to determine the index of diversity, dominance, and evenness in the Botak Hill. The research method used is descriptive quantitative. The data collection techniques in this study were exploratory methods and purposive sampling techniques. Based on the results of the study found as many as 1620 individual, consist of 24 species, 16 genera, 8 families and 4 orders. The results of the analysis of the diversity index of 2.851 (medium category), the dominance index value of 0.06 (low category), the evenness index of 0.679 (high category). There were 24 species of ferns found in Botak Hill, diversity was in the medium category, dominance was in the medium category and evenness was in the high category.

Diversity of Predators Associated with the Mealybug Complex in Cassava Growing Districts of Tamil Nadu, India

An extensive survey was carried to study the diversity of predators associated with the mealybug complex in the cassava growing districts viz., Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu, India from January to September, 2021. The survey revealed the dominance of Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero 1977 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) than other mealybug species in all the surveyed districts. The incidence of P. manihoti ranged from 12 to 90 per cent while Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink 1992 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) incidence was found to be between 8 and 54 per cent. The incidence of Ferrisia virgata Cockerell 1893 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was found to be very low (8-16%) compared to other mealybug species. Association of total predators with P. manihoti were found to be maximum (30.87%) followed by the total predators with P. marginatus (6.49%) whereas 0.53 per cent of total predators associated with F. virgata. The fourteen different predators viz., Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant 1853 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Menocheilus sexmaculatus Fabricius 1781 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Anegleis cardoni Weise 1892 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Hyperaspis maindroni Sicard 1929 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Brumoides suturalis Fabricius 1798 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Scymnus spp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chrysoperla spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Mallada spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Spalgis epeus Westwood 1851 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), Geocoris spp. (Hemiptera: Geocoridae), Cardiastethus spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Diadiplosis spp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Oxyopes spp. (Araneae: Oxyopidae) and Argiope spp. (Araneae: Araneidae) were found to associated with the mealybug species viz.,P. manihoti, P. marginatus and F. virgata. Among the predators of the mealybug complex, the most relative abundant species were H. maindroni (11.74%) associated with P. manihoti and C. montrouzieri (6.49%) associated with P. marginatus followed by S. epeus (0.67%) associated with F. virgata. The diversity of predators assessed through Simpson’s Index of Diversity, Shannon-Wiener, Pielou’s Evenness and Margalef indices revealed highest species diversity, species richness and species evenness in Namakkal district.

Odonata Diversity in Thadiyankudisai, Palni Hills of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu

A total of 419 individuals under 5 families, 8 genera and 10 species of Odonata were recorded in the present study. Among them family Libellulidae had 6 species followed by Chlorocyphidae (2 species), and Coenagrionidae and Euphaeidae had1 species. The dominance order of Odonata was Pantala flavescens (44.40%) > Diplacodes trivialis (22.70%) > Orthetrum chrysis (7.40%) while rest of the fauna ranged from (1.40 to 6.90%). Pantala flavescens was maximum during NEM (50.0%) followed by summer and winter (43.8% each) and minimum during SWM (38.5%). Margalef Index of Species Richness was highest (2.00) during winter. Simpson Index of Diversity was highest (0.75) during SWM while Shannon-Wiener Index of Dominance was highest (1.75) during summer. The species were evenly distributed during summer with Pielou’s Evenness Index value of 0.76. The community change was 80.00 per cent change during January, 2018 and had a steep fall in February and April, 2018 and reached a peak of 66.67 per cent during March and November, 2018.

Ecology and Diversity of Ectomycorrhiza in moist Tropical Forest of Sunsari District, Eastern Nepal

An ectomycorrhiza plays a vital role in the maintenance and strengthening the forest ecosystems and diversity. This study attempts to assess the ecology and diversity of ectomycorrhiza in tropical Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) forest in Sunsari district, eastern Nepal. The collection of ectomycorrhiza was carried out from June to September (rainy season) for the year 2019-2020. A total of 18 species of ectomycorrhiza belonging to 12 genera and 7 families were collected. Russulaceae was found to be the dominant family representing 7 species. As per the diversity indices, the Shannon Weiner index and Simpson’s index were found to be 2.60 and 0.913, respectively indicating a higher value for the index of diversity. The results conclude that the moist tropical forest of Sunsari district is rich in ectomycorrhizal fungi, which consequently may provide a great opportunity for nutrient absorption

Community Trait Responses of Three Dominant Macrophytes to Variations in Flooding During 2011–2019 in a Yangtze River-Connected Floodplain Wetland (Dongting Lake, China)

In lacustrine wetlands connected to rivers, the changes in flood regimes caused by hydrological projects lead to changes in the community traits of dominant macrophytes and, consequently, influence the structure and function of wetland vegetation. However, community trait responses of macrophytes to the timing and duration of flood disturbance have been rarely quantified. In 2011–2019, we investigated plant species diversity, density, and biomass in three dominant macrophyte communities (Carex brevicuspis C.B. Clarke, Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hackel, and Polygonum hydropiper L.) through monthly field surveys in Dongting Lake wetlands. Partial least squares regressions were used to analyze how the variations in hydrological regimes affected plant community traits. Apparent inter-annual fluctuations in plant community traits were detected during 2011–2019. The species richness and Shannon index of diversity of Miscanthus and Polygonum communities increased, whereas the Shannon index of diversity of Carex community decreased. Variation in flooding had a greater effect on Polygonum and Carex community traits than on Miscanthus community traits. Flooding disturbed all plant communities, especially when the duration and timing varied. Shorter inundation periods caused the biomass of Miscanthus community to decline, and that of Carex and Polygonum communities to increase. Earlier flood recession caused the species richness and Shannon index of diversity of Polygonum and Miscanthus community to increase, and those of Carex community to decrease. These findings imply that shorter inundation durations and earlier flood recession generated by the operation of the Three Gorges Dam have changed the macrophyte growth pattern.

Preliminary report on the herpetofaunal diversity of Batu Hampar Recreational Forest, Kedah, Malaysia

Batu Hampar Recreational Forest (BHRF) is a lowland dipterocarp forest located in the northwestern region of Peninsular Malaysia and has not been surveyed for its herpetofauna until now. A preliminary survey of the herpetofaunal diversity of BHRF was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019 resulting in 103 individuals (37 species) of amphibians and reptiles found. This includes 14 species of frogs from six families and 10 genera; 14 species of lizards from four families and 11 genera; eight species of snakes from five families and eight genera; and one species of freshwater turtle. From these results, Batu Hampar Recreational Forest has a high herpetofaunal diversity with a Simpson’s Index of Diversity of 0.869 and a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index of 2.930. In the future, additional surveys over longer periods of time should be conducted at BHRF to produce a more complete checklist.

Diversity and Distribution of Lepidopteran Butterflies in Kota District, Rajasthan

Understanding the standing point of biodiversity is an integral part of studying habitat ecology in the arena of the applied ecology and conservation biology. Considering this, a study was conducted to understand the biodiversity of the single species, i.e. Lepidoptera in four different sites of Kota district. Four distinct habitat fragmentation sites, Chambal Garden, Ganesh Udhyan, Industrial Area and agriculture land were selected to understand the diversity and distribution of lepidopteran butterfly. As this group of butterfly is considered as “umbrella taxa”, detailed study of its assemblages could be directly correlated with the changes in microclimates in the selected regions. Therefore, diversity of the Lepidoptera was calculated by Simpson’s index of diversity and Shannon-Weiner Index. Among these four areas, Chambal Garden and Ganesh Udhyan are dominated with the Lepidoptera whereas, decline in abundance could be observed remaining two areas. This study indicated a rich and diverse butterfly habitat in the selected survey area, which could be served a s a future referral for measuring and monitoring biological diversity.

DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF MACROZOOBENTHOS IN THE WATERS OF KELAGIAN LUNIK ISLAND PADANG CERMIN DISTRICT PESAWARAN REGENCY

Kelagian Lunik Island is located in Pesawaran Regency which has three ecosystems that are mangrove, seagrass, and beaches ecosystems. These three ecosystems affect the survival of one of the biotas living on the substrate of the water that is macrozoobenthos. Macrozoobenthos are invertebrate biota that live on the base of the substrate or inside the substrate. The role that is large enough in the aquatic ecosystem is to describe the organic matter that falls to the water base. It is therefore the research to study the diversity and abundance of macrozoobenthos. This research was conducted in December 2019 to January 2020 located on Kelagian Lunik Island, Padang Cermin District, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung Province. The method is purposive sampling at five stations with three repetitions. The results show that the highest abundance found in the species Tellina perna with 2880 ind/m3 on Station 1, Nassarius globosus with 1851 ind/m3 on station 2, and Marshalora adversa with 1645 ind/m3, 2674 ind/m3, and 1851 ind/m3 at stations 3, 4 and 5. The biodiversity of macrozoobenthos such as the index of diversity and uniformity in the waters of Kelagian Lunik Island is relatively high and the dominant index is relatively low thereby the condition of the water can fit in the good category.

Earthworm population dynamics in traditional slash and burn cultivation in Mizoram, Northeast India

Aim: This paper describes the influence of traditional slash and burn (shifting) cultivation on earthworm population structure and species diversity. Methodology: The study was conducted in a tropical hilly terrain natural forest in northeast India. The first year was taken as pre–cultivation phase. During second-year traditional slash and burn cultivation was carried out with rice (Oryza sativa) as the main crop, where local weeding practice using had hoe was done thrice. The land was left fallow in the third year. Earthworms were sampled from five random quadrats at monthly interval by digging and hand sorting method. Results: Nine species of earthworms belonging to three families were identified, out of which three epigeic species (P. excavatus, P. macintoshi and A. alexandri) were not recorded during the cultivation phase. There was a significant (p<.05) reduction in earthworm density during the cultivation phase. M. houletti was the most dominant species in terms of density, while D. nepalensis was the most versatile in seasonal distribution. Shannon Index of diversity was lowest in the cultivation phase (H ̅=0.84, 1-D=0.46) as compared to pre-cultivation (H ̅=1.67, 1-D=0.76) and post-cultivation (H ̅=1.67, 1-D=0.77). Interpretation: The reason for negative effect of traditional slash and burn cultivation on earthworm population density and diversity could be due to multiple weeding practices resulting in the disturbance of surface soil that directly or indirectly affects earthworms. Key words: Earthworms, Epigeic species, Mizoram, Slash and burn cultivation, Soil, Weeding