Phytosociology of some weeds of wheat communities around Kotli fields, Western Himalaya
November 2013
There were ten plant communities of weeds in wheat fields of Kotli. The communities were Euphorbia-Desmostachya-Coronopus, Parthenium-Galium-Taraxacum, Zanthium-Bidens-Bothriochloa, Silybum – Amaranthus-Avena, Ranunculus-Silybum-Imperata, Oxalis-Cannabis–Vicia, Calendula-Fimbristylis-Desmodium, Taraxacum-Geranium-Poa, Phalaris-Geranium-Cynoglossum and Themeda-Cardus-Urtica. The soil texture differs from loam...
Plant nutrient release composition in vermicompost as influenced by Eudrilus eugenae using different organic diets
November 2013
Sub-adult earthworms, Eudrilus, Eugenae were cultured for 100 days in rubber containers made from old tyres to determine the plant nutrient release composition in vermicompost using different organic diets. The diets are Andropogon grass + Pig manure (AGPM) Andropogon grass (AG), Bracharia grass + pig manure (BGPM) and Bracharia grass (BG). Result of the study show that the produced vermicompost in each diet consisted...
Assessment of biomass carbon stock in an Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. plantation Uttarakhand, India
November 2013
The article presents biomass carbon stock for an Ailanthus excelsa plantation in Dehradun Forest Division, Uttarakhand, India. Destructive sampling was used to calculate the biomass of A. excelsa and undergrowth vegetation (shrubs and herbs); volumetric equations were used for estimating the biomass of associated tree species. The total biomass of A. excelsa was calculated as 126.07 t ha-1 with above ground biomass...
Abundance and diversity of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities associated with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) rhizosphere in Abengourou, East Côte d’Ivoire
November 2013
Soils from four different cassava cropping fields (Aniansué 1, Aniansué 2, Dramanekro 1, Dramanekro 2) were analyzed to evaluate abundance and diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi associated with cassava rhizosphere in Abengourou, East Côte d’Ivoire. It was shown that the soils in the cassava cropping fields were all acidic with low levels of available phosphorus (P). A total of 29 species...
Characterization and impact of wood logging on plant formations in Ngaoundéré District, Adamawa Region, Cameroon
October 2013
This study was conducted to characterize the different plant formations (shrubby, arborescent and woody savanna) and to ascertain the impact of wood logging on the floral diversity in the guinea savanna zone of Ngaoundéré District, Adamawa Region, Cameroon. The “Point-Centered Quarter (PCQ) Method” was used on 120 sites measuring 50 × 50 m. Results showed that...
Composition of understory vegetation in tree species of Cholistan desert, Pakistan
October 2013
In the present study the understory vegetation or communities under the canopy of tree species of Cholistan desert (27° 42’ and 29° 45’ North and longitudes 69° 52’ and 75° 24’East) and the effect of canopy cover on the soil chemistry were studied. Quadrats of 1 m2were laid to record the different plant species underside the canopy cover of tree species and...
A preliminary simulation model of individual and synergistic impacts of elephants and fire on the structure of semi-arid miombo woodlands in northwestern Zimbabwe
October 2013
Sustainable management of plant-herbivore systems requires an understanding of their long-term dynamics through modeling approaches. A preliminary simulation model was developed using STELLA to predict the impacts of elephants and fire on the structure of semi-arid miombo woodlands of north-western Zimbabwe. Elephants alone at a density of 0.27 km-2 will convert the woodland into coppice in 120 years due to...
Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) surveys in the Western Himalayas, India
October 2013
We conducted surveys above 3000 m elevation in eight protected areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. These surveys provide new information on snow leopard in Uttarakhand on the basis of indirect evidence such as pugmark and scat. Snow leopard evidence (n = 13) were found between 3190 and 4115 m elevation. On an average, scats (n = 09) of snow leopard were found for every 56 km walked and pugmarks (n = 04) for every...
Invasion of the Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Pisces: Cichlidae; Peters, 1852) in the Yamuna river, Uttar Pradesh, India
October 2013
Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) is a highly successful invader of aquatic ecosystems due to its adaptable life history, tropic flexibility, ability to tolerate extreme and often unfavourable environmental conditions, rapid reproduction and maternal care of offsprings. Upon introduction to areas outside its natural range, these characteristics ofte give O. mossambicus a competitive advantage over indigenous...
Diversity and distribution of macrofungi (mushrooms) in the Mount Cameroon Region
October 2013
This study was carried out to document the diversity and distribution of macrofungi in the Mount Cameroon Region. These were assessed at low and high altitudinal ranges in the four flanks of the mountain during the rainy and early dry seasons of 2010 and 2011. A total of 177 macrofungal species belonging to 83 genera and 38 families were recorded. Species richness was higher in the rainy seasons (134 species) than...
Spatial relations of migratory birds and water quality management of Ramsagar reservoir, Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India
October 2013
Ramsagar reservoir is constructed over Nichroli nallah, in the Basin of Sindh River in district Datia, Madhya Pradesh, India. The present study has been carried out from April, 2003 to March, 2005. Eighteen species of birds belonging to 5 different orders and 11 families were recorded. Out of these, family Ardeidae with 4 species was dominant followed by Charadridae, Anatidae, Rallidae, Palacrocoracidae, Sturnidae,...
Food and feeding habits of three main fish species in Lake Baringo, Kenya
September 2013
The diets of three fish species of commercial importance in Lake Baringo, Protopterus aethiopicus, Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus, were determined using frequency of occurrence and volumetric methods between April 2008 and March 2010. Seine and gill nets were used to catch a total of 430 fish specimens. The diet of P. aethiopicus was 94.3% molluscs with a frequency of...
Climatic niche of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam (Burseraceae), a semi-domesticated fruit tree native to Central Africa
September 2013
Dacryodes edulis is a fruit tree growing naturally in the rainforests of Central Africa. To provide data to scientists and forest managers for the habitat of D. edulis in the wild, the study of ecological niche and environmental adaptation was carried out. The geographical coordinates of 168 collections of wild individuals and...
Study of flora of Miandasht Wildlife Refuge in Northern Khorassan Province, Iran (a)
September 2013
A wide area of Iran is covered by arid and semiarid regions. In this survey, flora of an area of the Miandasht Wildlife Refuge, out of the safe part, was studied. This region covers 84435 Ha, situated in the west of Khorassan province in Iran. The climate of the area according to de Martone system is semiarid. The mean annual precipitation is 275 mm and the altitude varies from 931 to 1021 m above sea level. Plants were...
Predictive modelling of the distribution of two critically endangered Dipterocarp trees: Implications for conservation of riparian forests in Borneo
September 2013
Riparian forests of Malaysian Borneo exhibit high tree species diversity. However, many of the tree species found in these riparian forests are conservation dependant, with their current conservation status (sensu IUCN Red List) varying from vulnerable to critically endangered. The present study had two objectives. Firstly, to identify the environmental factors associated with the distribution of two critically...
Reproductive aspects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L, 1758) in a tropical reservoir (Amerti: Ethiopia)
September 2013
The reproductive aspect of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L, 1758) in the Amerti reservoir (9°.63’ N, 37°. 23’ E) was studied monthly between August 2011 and July 2012. A total of 496 specimens, comprising 231 males and 265 females were captured during the sampling period. There were no significant differences between the sex ratio (c2 = 2.33; P= 0.126). The mean ±...
Ecophysiological influences of zeolite and selenium on water deficit stress tolerance in different rapeseed cultivars
September 2013
This experiment was carried out to study the ecophysiological influences of zeolite and selenium on water deficit stress tolerance in different rapeseed cultivars at Karaj, Iran using a factorial-split-plot design with three replications during 2009 - 2010. The main-plot factors included: irrigation regimes (control and irrigation interrupted during the flowering stage), zeolite (non-application and 10 ton/ha)...
Long-term changes in soil-based ecological services at three sites in Ethiopia
August 2013
Ethiopia faces land degradation as one of its major environmental problems. In response to the degradation, massive land rehabilitation and conservation activities have been undertaken since the mid-1970s. In spite of these efforts, the impacts of long-term land management have not been examined from soil-based ecological services perspective. This study assesses soil-based ecological services over the past 30 years...
Status of the Sondu-Miriu River fish species diversity and fisheries: Sondu-Miriu Hydro-Power Project (SMHPP) operations
August 2013
The Sondu-Miriu Hydroelectric Power Project (SMHPP) is a run-of-the-river hydro-power project on the Sondu-Miriu River, Kenya. The part of the river studied: between the Sondu Bridge upstream, and Osodo Bay on L. Victoria, was divided into three zones; 1. Upstream of the dam, artificial lake approximately 5 km long; 15 – 2 km wide, 2. Depleted section and, 3. Lower section. SMHPP caused part of river below the dam...
Seasonal change effects on phenology of Argania spinosa (L.) in the fields
August 2013
We investigated the relationship between shoot branching, shoot growth, leaf phenology and seasonal changes during three consecutive seasons in three natural populations of Argania spinosa ((L.) Skeels) in south west Morocco. Rainfall showed two peaks in autumn and winter but summer was dry. Locality, climatic season, genotype (tree/locality) and observation date influence...
Land use and vegetation cover dynamics in and around Kagoma Forest Reserve in Tanzania
August 2013
Kagoma Forest Reserve (KFR) is found in Kagera Region, Tanzania and is comprised of a large area of Miombo woodland. The extent of land use and vegetation cover changes in and around Kagoma Forest Reserve was investigated. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to analyze land use and vegetation cover changes over the past 23 years which revealed the occurrence of significant land use and vegetation cover...
The woodland tree Brachystegia floribunda facilitates the encroachment of forest tree species into miombo woodlands in northern Malawi
August 2013
Although, human activities have caused major losses of tropical forest, there are also reports of forest encroachment and expansion into surrounding sparse vegetation types (savannah and woodland). Large savannah-woodland trees may promote forest encroachment into their surroundings by facilitating seed deposition and subsequent establishment of forest species. This work sought to determine whether large individuals of...
The first report of preliminary list of the insect fauna of the Elkharaga city, New Valley, Egypt
July 2013
The present paper gives a preliminary account of the entomofauna of the New Valley. It has a complex composition; the species are a heterogeneous group with diverse distribution patterns. The account does not lay to completeness. It is chiefly based on the insects collected in a short period of time; it comprised 111 species in 95 genera, belonging to 53 families and pertaining to 13 orders namely: Coleoptera,...
Assessing community participation in selected ecotourism projects in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana
July 2013
The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of community participation in selected Community-Based Ecotourism Projects in the Brong-Ahafo Region. The sample for the study was 281 respondents including 14 opinion leaders. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The findings showed that residents were involved in the decision-making, implementation and monitoring of the...
Temporal variations in water chemistry and chlorophyll-a at the Tomaro creek Lagos, Nigeria
July 2013
Temporal variations of the water chemistry and chlorophyll-a dynamics at the Tomaro creek Lagos were investigated for six months (October, 2007 to March, 2008). Temperature remained high (>27°C) all through the sampled period while total suspended solids andtransparency increased in the dry months. Total dissolved solids were high (≥8160 mg/L) between...
Use of macroinvertebrate assemblage to assess the ecological integrity of Nyando Wetlands, Kenya
July 2013
This study aimed to investigate changes in macroinvertebrate assemblage within Nyando wetlands and developed an index of biotic integrity for monitoring human disturbances. Triplicate macroinvertebrate samples were collected monthly for seven months using a scoop net. They were sorted live, counted and identified to genus level. Water samples for nutrients were collected and analyzed using standard methods....
Impacts of enclosures in rehabilitation of degraded rangelands of Turkana County, Kenya
July 2013
The role of enclosures in range rehabilitation was investigated through a case study at Kalatum in Turkana County where the use of enclosures and establishment of fodder species were demonstrated to the local communities in late 1980’s. However, documented information on the impact of enclosures is scanty. Rehabilitation impact was evaluated through ecological sampling in fenced and unfenced areas and...
Grazing management systems and their effects on savanna ecosystem dynamics: A review
June 2013
The savanna ecosystems support livestock production and livelihood of pastoral communities. The degradation of savanna ecosystems due to overgrazing had lead government commercializing communal grazing land to privately owned ranches. However, grazing policies in Southern Africa had recently been debated, and yet there are few studies comparing grazing management systems on ecological system. This article provides an...
Species composition and abundance of small mammals in Chebera-Churchura National Park, Ethiopia
June 2013
In this study, we investigated species composition and abundance of small mammals (rodents and insectivores) in the recently established Chebera Churchura National Park, in Ethiopia between 2010 and 2011. Two study grids were established in seven selected habitats. In each grid, forty-nine Sherman live traps were used to capture the small mammals. A total of 704 individuals were captured in 5488 trap-nights. Among them,...
Effect of crusher dust on floristic composition and biological spectrum in tropical grassland of Odisha, India
June 2013
An investigation was carried out to estimate the effect of crusher dust on floristic composition and biological spectrum in grassland of Odisha, India. The vegetation analysis was performed following standard procedures. The floristic survey of the study area, which includes natural as well as crusher unit affected sites, revealed the presence of 24 plant species distributed in 11 families representing a two storied...
Physico-chemical properties of soils in cool-temperate forests of the “Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve†in Uttarakhand (India)
June 2013
The study area is very diverse due to its protectness on one hand and thus there is a vast scope of scientific study on the other hand. The parent material of the study area represents crystalline rocks and comprises of garnetiferous mica, schists, garnet mica and mica quartzite. The soil bulk density varies from 1.14 to 1.91 gm cm-3 under various soil depths ranging from 0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 45 cm. Whereas,...
Habitat structure of flat-headed cusimanse (Crossarchus platycephalus) in Futa Wildlife Park, Ondo state, Nigeria
June 2013
The study explored the habitat structure of flat-headed cusimanse (Crossarchus platycephalus) in Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Wildlife Park, Ondo State. It was undertaken during both wet and dry seasons of the year 2012. In assessing the habitat, ten plots (10 x 10 m2 each) were marked out of the total land area of the Park. A total of fifteen (15) different species were...
Possibility of species extinction in the periodical forced prey-predator model
May 2013
The response of the Lotka-Volterra system forced by periodical modulation was numerically simulated in a wide frequency range. The main question is: how does the change of environment A parameter influence the behavior of such a system? The answer to this question is the main purpose of this paper. In the resonance region, the oscillation of the system fits to the forced frequency (or its harmonics) and shows...
Population studies, habitat assessment and threat categorization of Polygonatum verticillatum (L.) Allioni in Kumaun Himalaya
May 2013
Natural populations of Polygonatum verticillatum in Kumaun Himalaya were surveyed for population studies, habitat assessment and threat status. This research reveals density of individuals and area occupied were low as compared to other species of the region, indicating habitat loss and heavy exploitation. Status was determined on a site-to-site basisfor the entire Kumaun region. Based on...
Distribution and abundance of small mammals in different habitat types in the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Ghana
May 2013
Information on the small mammal communities of the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary is virtually non-existent despite their role in forest ecosystems. A total of 1,500 trap-nights yielded 121 individuals of rodents and shrews, comprising five species: Praomys tullbergi, Lophuromys sikapusi, Hybomys trivirgatus, Malacomys edwardsi and Crocidura buettikoferi, captured in Sherman traps using 20...
Institutionalizing environmental hazards for ‘public needs’: Destruction of forest for drinking water supply in Kerala, India
April 2013
Natural resource exploitation is increasingly being considered as a technical issue with the assumption that it can be compensated for. The public concern shifts towards such destruction only when it affects the normal course of day to day life. Immediate needs often undermine the process of institutionalizing knowledge to ensure conservation of natural resources. The question of immediate needs often acts as...
Does shore length influence population size and density distribution of hippopotamus?
April 2013
Population surveys of common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in Zambia were carried out between 2005 and 2008 to estimate population size and density distribution patterns against shore length. River bank foot counts were used in the Luangwa River system while boat/canoe counts were used to collect population data from lakes, dams and rivers. Population estimate was 40,060 hippopotami distributed over...
Classification and ordination of vegetation in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Pakistan
March 2013
A survey of natural vegetation of semi arid area was undertaken in 2010-2011. The study was conducted within four distinct stands further divided into 22 sites for clear communities’ segregation. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) were used for the plant species and community analysis. Plant species of each community are presented together with the information...
Distribution, abundance and population status of Burchell’s zebra (Equus quagga) in Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Ethiopia
March 2013
A study on the distribution, abundance and population status of Burchell’s zebra (Equus quagga, Gray 1824) was carried out in the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Ethiopia from October, 2009 to March, 2010 including wet and dry seasons. Distance sampling line-transect counting method was used to estimate the population status. A total of 5151 individuals were estimated with a population density of 6.5...
Forest disturbance and cropping mixtures influence crop raiding by red-tailed monkey and grey-cheeked mangabey around Mabira Forest Reserve, Uganda
February 2013
Communities around protected areas frequently complain of wild animals destroying already limited crop fields, with little or no assistance offered by conservation stewards towards the mitigation of crop raiding losses. The aim of this study was to find out whether forest disturbance gradient and crop mixtures influence the level of crop raiding by the red-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius larvatus) and the...
Distribution, diversity and abundance of copepod zooplankton of Wular Lake, Kashmir Himalaya
February 2013
Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake of India, plays a significant role in the hydrography of the Kashmir valley by acting as a huge absorption basin for floodwaters. Although rich in biodiversity, no published report is available on Copepoda diversity, distribution and abundance in such an important Ramsar Site of Kashmir Himalaya. Copepod samples, collected over a period of 12 months from September 2010 to...
Physicochemical evaluation of wastewater from the main sewer in Abidjan City
January 2013
In many parts of the world, health problems have often been caused by untreated wastewater. The objective of this study was to determine the pollution level of wastewater in Abidjan City and to evaluate their impact on marine environment. Thus, wastewatersamples were collected and analyzed according to French Association of Standardization (FANOR). The results show that the values of these parameters...
A new model: Herbaceous species diversity along the environmental gradient in the typical hilly areas of Henan Province
January 2013
Ecological model is important. The relationship between biodiversity and disturbance gradient, however, makes it difficult to compare data from different studies and draw general conclusions. These results assessed the relationship between disturbance gradients and herbaceous species diversity in the typical hilly areas on varying spatial scales along the environmental gradient in Henan Province. Using community ecology...
Natural recolonization and suburban presence of pumas (Puma concolor) in Brazil
November 2012
The puma (Puma concolor, Carnivora: Felidae), extinct from considerable extensions of its former distribution, is considered threatened in south, southeast and northeast Brazil. Areas in the south and southeast have only recently been recolonized by the species, following decrease in logging activities after depletion of the Atlantic rainforest in the 1960s, and measures implemented since 1993 to protect this ecosystem....
Forest resources use, attitude, and perception of local residents towards community based forest management: Case of the Makira Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Project, Madagascar
October 2012
Community participation is seen to be the building block for the efficiency of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project. In order for local residents to cooperate with a reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, they must have a positive perception toward the forest conservation system and positive attitude toward the forest conservation...
Woody species composition, structure and diversity of vegetation of Kalfou Forest Reserve, Cameroon
October 2012
Studies were carried out in the Kalfou Forest Reserve to make an assessment of the flora diversity and to develop preservation guidelines facing the increase in its degradation. The composition of woody species, structure, diversity, density, dominance, frequency of species and family importance value were described and evaluated in all the forest reserve area. A total of 86 species representing 58 genera and 28...
Roadkill animals on national highways of Karnataka, India
October 2012
Highways passing through national reserves/wildlife sanctuaries have adverse impact upon wild animals. The present survey was conducted to estimate the roadkills on the National Highways NH212 and NH67 passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India during summer and pre-monsoon season at various vegetational levels. The roadkills were monitored thrice a month in each habitat between January, 2007 and June,...
Patterns of human – wildlife conflicts in Zambia, causes, consequences and management responses
September 2012
A study was carried out to determine causes, consequences and management responses of human – wildlife conflicts in Zambia during the period 2002 to 2010. Data was collected by field staff in the four management regions of Zambia Wildlife Authority and analyzed to establish patterns and species responsible for human fatalities, livestock predation, crop damage and other damages to human...
Comparative Aeropalynology of Ota, Nigeria
September 2012
The aeropalynological sampling of March 2011 was carried out at Ayetoro-Itele, Ota, southwest Nigeria. This was done to create a basis for comparison with March 2010 aerofloral data and verify conclusions made there with respect to its strange haze dust. An improvised aerofloral sampler made up of a food flask base, plastic cylinder, 5 µm mesh sieve and sieve-clamp was mounted on a 2 m stand beside the position of...
Benthic macroinvertebrate community of Yousmarg streams (Doodganga stream and Khanshah Manshah canal) in Kashmir Himalaya, India
August 2012
This study attempts to provide an overview of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages of Yousmarg streams. For studying the distribution of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the two streams, that is, Doodganga and Khanshah manshah canal, a total of 4 study sites were selected. During the period of investigation, 24 species of macrozoobenthos in Yousmarg streams were recorded. Arthropoda was found to be the most...
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