Ichnofossils from the Middle Bhuban Unit, Bhuban Formation of Pachhy Lokah near Maubawk, Siaha District, Mizoram, India

Trace fossils provide us with indirect evidence of life in the past, such as the foot prints, tracks, burrows, borings and feces left behind by animals rather than the preserved remains of the body of the actual animal itself. These imprints give palaeontologies clues with evidence of the activities of ancient animals, something body fossils simply cannot do. The Middle Bhuban rocks of Bhuban Formation are well exposed in the study area comprising sandstone, siltstone, shales and their admixtures. The grey sandstone unit exposed at Pachhy Lokah, Siaha is marked by well-preserved trace fossils comprising a total of eleven ichnospecies belonging to seven ichnogenera have been identified, namely: Katbergia isp., Laevicyclus mongraensis, Ophiomorpha nodosa, Ophiomorpha borneensis, Palaeophycus alternatus, Palaeophycus heberti, Palaeophycus striatus, Phycodes curvipalmatum, Psilonichnus upsilon, Psilonichnus isp. and Skolithos verticalis. Thus, it can be inferred from the presence of ichnofossils, that the studied successions of Bhuban Formation, Surma Group of Mizoram were deposited under sandy shifting substrate and high energy conditions in foreshore to unconsolidated, poorly sorted soft substrate and low energy condition in shoreface/offshore zone of shallow marine environment with occasion storm events.

A review on the phytochemical properties of five selected genera of orchids

Orchidaceae family includes some of the most important ornamental plants with medicinal purposes. It is one of the largest groups among the Angiosperms. Even though there are several studies on the medicinal purposes of orchidaceae, lesser is known about the phytochemical compound present in the different parts of the plant. Therefore, in this present review paper five genus from Orchidaceae family has been selected to highlight the important phytochemical compounds present in the orchid plant. The commonly found phytochemicals are alkaloid, flavanoid, phenol, terpenoid, steroid and saponin.

An insight into black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon): A glimpse on globally important crop pest

Many agricultural pests create problems for farmers leading to production loss. Since agriculture plays an important role in the economy of a nation, controlling and management of such pests is of great importance. Cutworms are notorious agricultural pests infesting a wide variety of crops leading to production loss. Cutworms are distributed worldwide and many species of cutworms have also been reported feeding on all kinds of crops. Agrotis ipsilon is one of the most common cutworm species prevailing in different continents. Understanding the biology and management of these pests will be of great use for farmers. In this article, brief information on cutworms; specifically A. ipsilon species is highlighted. A brief description of host, migration, control and management of A. ipsilon are also highlighted.

A review of scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) diversity in India

The diversified geographic location along with climatic conditions has led to the enrichment of fauna species in India. Coleoptera (Gk. Coleos–sheath, ptera–wing) are the largest group of organisms at the order level and are comprised of beetles. They adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and are widely distributed. The family Scarabaeidae which is included in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea is one of the largest families. They consist of about 27,800 species worldwide and are further divided into 16 subfamilies, 82 tribes and 94 sub-tribes. They are usually harmful or beneficial in nature with their size being large to small. The research on scarab beetles is necessary to understand their role as pest as well as their adaptation to different anthropogenic activities. Also, the diversified population of scarab beetles along with their similar characters makes it hard for researchers to identify them often leading to misidentification which is why a review is needed. This review summarizes the status, diversity and ecological status of scarab beetles in India.

The status of Elateridae (Coleoptera) in India

Beetles are a group of insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Endopterygota. It is estimated that a quarter of all described species in the world belongs to this order. The family Elateridae or click beetles is the ninth-largest family under this order. Wireworms are the larval stage of this family and they play a role in the ecosystem as they are omnivorous and act as pests. There are over 800 species of elaterids recorded from the Indian Subcontinent under eight subfamilies. India is rich in floral and faunal diversity and insect diversity in particular constitute about 6% of all identified insects in the world with a large number being endemic species. But in contrast to its extreme species richness, there is comparatively very little knowledge about this family of beetles when compared to other families. And as such, there is still a lot of potential to study its ecology and diversity. It is also because of this same reason that review of the status of the elaterid family is being done as a prequel to the actual field study.

A review of the diversity of aquatic avifauna in Mizoram, India

Aquatic avifauna are an important bio-indicator of an ecosystem changes. Mizoram, one of the north-eastern states of India, lies in one of the richest biodiversity hotspots of the world. Along its water bodies, it is home to several species of resident birds, and is also a temporary home for migrating birds in different seasons. These resident and migratory avifauna form an important component of most wetland ecosystems, as they are vital components of the food webs. While only the Tamdil and Palak Lake are recognized as wetlands, there are several rivers and smaller water bodies around which aquatic avifauna exist. However, official records comprise of about 14 species of waterbirds belonging to 6 orders and 8 families. Of these, Anatidae, Charadriidae, Scolopacidae, Anhingidae, and Podicipedidae are represented by one species each, while the Ardeidae are represented by four species. Among the 14 species reported so far, two species of the Order Pelicaniformes, namely Anhinga melanogaster (Family Anhingidae) and Ardea insignis (Family Ardeidae) are highly endangered. However, detailed studies are wanting and, while there are sporadic reports of sightings on social media, there is a need for a more comprehensive study of the diversity and seasonal variations of aquatic avifauna around the different water bodies of the state of Mizoram.

Spinodal and thermodynamic limit of superheat of gold

A four-parameter generalized Berthelot equation of state has been employed to determine the spinodal and the thermodynamic limit of superheat of liquid gold. It is established that gold obeys the two-parameter law of corresponding states. It is also established that the new parameters introduced in the attractive term of the equation of state are thermodynamic similarity parameters. It is shown that liquid gold can be superheated to a temperature 6719K. That is, liquid gold, under rapid heating, can be superheated to temperature 3476K above the boiling temperature without undergoing liquid-vapour phase transition. Above this temperature, liquid gold will undergo explosive boiling owing to homogeneous nucleation.

On the definition, status of research, diversity and prospect of exploration of the Genus Garra (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Mizoram, Northeast India

The cyprinid genus Garra includes small to medium-sized, benthic fish species that are usually found in fast-flowing rivers and streams. Fish of this genus have a modified lower lip forming a mental adhesive disc and horizontally placed pectoral and pelvic fins with a flat ventral profile. The genus Garra is vast and wide with each species exhibiting various differences at the morphological and molecular level. Reports on the exploration and investigation of the genus in Mizoram are few and those that are reported need certain validation and clarifications. Re-collection and elaborated review of this genus are obligatory. Therefore, meticulous analysis of these freshwater fish using morphological as well as molecular methods is required to validate previous findings. Furthermore, the review paper will shed a light on the diagnosis of the fish, status of research, and research prospects in Mizoram.

Begonia roxburghii: A potentially important medicinal plant

Begonia roxburghii is an annual dicot plant of the family Begoniaceae and is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are monoecious (has both male and female organs) and they are generally self-pollinated. Its parts are variously used in traditional practice for different health benefits. The stem is a nutritious snack, the juice is antihaemorrhoid and antiinfectious agent. It is used for the treatment of bee sting, skin infection, dysentery, diarrhoea, gastric ulcer, oral infection, jaundice and diabetes mellitus. It is chemically rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, steroids, resins, carbohydrates and phenols. It is shown to have high antioxidant activity as well as antimicrobial activity. However, little is known about the actual bioactive components and their effects on various health conditions related to its medicinal applications. This plant, therefore, has a potential for medicinal value for a wide array of diseases and clinical conditions, and would be worth systematic chemical and pharmacological characterizations.

Diversity and abundance of birds in Reiek Biodiversity Spot, Mizoram, northeastern India

Birds are one of the best-known classes of living organisms, they are important bioindicators of an ecosystem. This study was undertaken to determine the diversity and abundance of birds in Reiek Biodiversity Spot, Mizoram, northeastern India. Intensive study was conducted from January to March 2019 by line transect method. A total of 117 species of birds belonging to 37 families and 10 orders were recorded and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was calculated (H'= 3.85). Family Muscicapidae dominated the area comprising of 16 species, followed by Timaliidae with 6 species. Among all the species recorded, Alcippe nipalensis has the highest relative abundance (13.35%), followed by Staphida castaniceps (Striated Yuhina) and Zosterops palpebrosus (Oriental White Eye) with 8.60% and 6.03% each. Family-wise relative abundance revealed that Pycnonotidae has the highest relative abundance (17.45%), followed by Sylviidae (15.91%) and Timaliidae (13.35%). The area supports a rich and diverse avian community, therefore, recommended better management of the entire landscape.