Journal of Biodiversity, Bioprospecting and Development

The diversity of subterranean termites collected from various locations in South India were characterised based on the COI gene using specific primers. Sequence analysis and divergence among the species was assessed. Genbank accession numbers were obtained for the different species. Phylogenetic tree based on neighbour- joining method was drawn on the basis of multiple sequence alignment, which revealed clustering of individuals according to the genera. Among the species, Odontotermes longignathus was more prevalent than others. The utility of COI gene to study the systematics of termites, their evolution and relatedness that would have implication on their management is discussed.

It has become evidently clear to the global community that even in countries boasting adequate food and nutrition security there is rural hunger. Small holder farming families who represent one-third of the global population have a crucial role to play in the utilization of all available local bio-resources to boost food production and increase livelihoods and consumer choices. If local biodiversity and traditional bio-resources are adequately tapped and effectively utilized, there will be, as a consequence, great improvements in agricultural productivity. Farmers are usually more motivated when they know that the agricultural produce from their farms would be in demand. Compiling/collating data on the nutrients and bioactive compounds composition of the diverse local biodiversity is expected to ginger greater productivity, especially if the components are necessary for enhanced nutrition and health. In this paper the potentials of local biodiversity are highlighted and the avenues for their wider exploitation and commercialization are discussed with a view to improving food security. The findings here have greatly underscored the need for effective collaboration between all stakeholders and increased advocacy and enlightenment of local farmers to the rich natural endowments of their immediate ecosystems.

The use of wetlands and their resources is widespread among many diverse bird taxa of the world. The diversity and abundance of avian species in Owena Multipurpose dam was assessed out between January and June, 2016 to provide baseline information of the birds in this area. The line transects method with lengths ranging from 350 m-1000 m was adopted for the survey. Birds recorded were categorized into order, family, species, migratory status and feeding guild. Relative abundance of bird species and diversity indices were determined. Significance in mean bird density in the two seasons was determined using T-test while One-Way ANOVA was used to test for significance in bird diversity indices. A total of 35 bird species belonging to 20 families and 10 orders were recorded in the study area. The common species includes Ardea alba, Vanellus spinosus, Ardea cinerea, Phalacrocorax carbo, Milvus migrans, Ardeola ralloides, Actophilornis africanus, Microcarbo africanus, and Bubulcus ibis. All the bird species recorded were in the Least Concern (LC) category. The bird species were categorized into seven feeding guilds. The granivores, insectivores and canivores were more in abundance than the nectarivores and frugivores. The order Passeriformes had the highest families (9) and species (17), followed by Pelecaniformes and Charadriiformes with 2 families each, 4 and 2 species respectively while others had one family each. The total mean number of bird was 428 ± 5.75/ observation. Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis had the highest mean number (156.4/ observation) and relative abundance of 36.54% while Ardae cinerea and Phalacrocorax carbo had the lowest mean number (0.2/ observation) and relative abundance of 0.05% each. Transect 1 had the highest Shannon diversity index (Hl=1.664), while transect 3 had the least (1.168). All the transects had similar species evenness index except for transect 4. The findings can be attributed to the heterogeneity of the habitat resulting from alteration of the ecosystem through the construction of the dam. In conclusion, the Owena dam construction has both negative and positive impacts on avian species composition and abundance. The management programme of the Owena dam should incorporate avian conservation in the area.

The loss of biodiversity is one of the most reflective effects of humans on the global perspective and it is more and more urgent to understand how this loss will affect and what will be the profound consequences to the ecosystem functioning. Non-native fishes can cause considerable adverse impacts on the function of aquatic ecosystems and loss of biodiversity. Ecology of ecosystem focuses on the fluctuation of energy and nutrients through ecological systems. It has been confirmed that the fishes are sensitive indicators of environmental degradation and alteration. Study was undertaken during the period of October 2015 to September 2016 from the Paisuni river, India. Fish faunas of the Paisuni river have harbors of 58 species belonging to 5 order, 18 family and 43 genera. Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae were the most rich fish species order and families, respectively from the river. The Cyprinidae family has highest harbors family with 25 fish species. The family Anabaniitidae has 5 fish species which is second dominant family from the Paisuni river. According to abundance, Cyprinus carpio and Oreochromis niloticus were powerfully invaded in the Paisuni river. The detonated frequency of O. niloticus and C. carpio was recorded from the Paisuni river. Exotic species is alarming for indigenous fish species biodiversity. C. carpio and O. niloticus are frequently recorded in the Ganga river. Very highly important and ecological indicator fish species, Tor mahseer, Tor tor is declining in the catch. Current ecosystem functioning is favour to non-native species from the Paisuni river.