006061   Pattanaik C;Sudhakar Reddy C (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History, Deccan Regional Station, Hyderabad-500 017, Email: jilu2000@rediffmail.com) : Need for the conservation of wetland ecosystems : a case study of Ansupa lake (Orissa, India) using remote sensing based data. Natn Acad Sci Lett 2007, 30(5-6), 161-4.

Freshwater basins are vulnerable to human-induced change for a number of reasons. The change detection study of Ansupa lake, Orissa was carried out by using multi-temporal satellite data clearly indicates the decrease in wetland area. Due to high anthropogenic pressure, the wetland is shrinking day-by-day. Finally, for restoration efforts to be successful, local communities must participate actively in cooperation with local governments in accordance with the principle of co-management.

4 illus, 1 table, 13 ref

006060   Bahuguna A;Goyal S P;Mukherjee S K (NO, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun-248 001, Email: bahugunaarch_nandini@yahoo.co.in) : Identification of Axis axis (erxleben), chital; Cervus unicolor kerr, sambar and Moschus chrysogaster hodgson, musk deer through hair (I.E. trichotaxonomy) : a forensic study. Ann For 2008, 16(2), 311-20.

Three animal species viz., Chital Axis axis (Erxleben); Sambar, Cervus unicolor Kerr and Musk deer, Moschus chrysogaster Hodgson have been listed under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and also under CITES and IUCN categories. Among Asian deer species, Chital and Sambar make the major prey base of endangered species like Tiger and Leopard. These have been largely being poached for high price in the market for skin and antlers. Musk deer on the other hand is being killed for musk pod. In order to curb offences against these species, proper enactment of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is required. The study reveals that characteristics of primary guard hair can be used as a scientific tool for providing proof in court about identification of these species. Different characteristics of hair viz., medulla type, euticular pattern, cross section, M/T ratios, scale index, even the hair profile provide the key for identification of these species.

17 illus, 23 ref

006059   Anil Kumar (Arunachal Pradesh Field Station, Zoological Survey of India, Itanagar-791 113, Email: anil_rathi@yahoo.com) : Some observations on the aquatic avifauna of Hastinapur wetland, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Ann For 2008, 16(2), 331-9.

Hastinapur wetland, located in Western Uttar Pradesh, has a diverse habitat comprising of a number of water bodies varying, forest patches, agricultural fields and course of river Ganga. Observations were made during winter 2001-2002 on the aquatic birds keeping their conservation and management issues in view. The wetland supports a sizable number of water birds including some uncommon species such as Sarus Crane Grus antigone, Goliath Heron Ardea goliath, Darter Anhinga rufa, White Stork Ciconia ciconia, Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, and Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus. Observations reveals that illegal harvesting of forest wood, aquatic reeds, fishes, and water fowls is a major threat for biodiversity loss and degradation/fragmentation of habitats.

2 illus, 2 tables, 14 ref

005039   Jha A;Jha V (NO, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majithar, Rangpo, Sikkim-737 132) : Sikkim serow : threats and conservation. Mendel int J 2007, 24(3-4), 125.

Sikkim is home for the serow and conservation measure need to be adapted for this.

2 ref

004054   Sridhar H;Shankar Raman T R;Mudappa D (Centre for Ecological Science, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012, Email: hari@ces.iisc,enet.in) : Mammal persistence and abundance in tropical rainforest remnants in the southern western ghats, India. Curr Sci 2008, 94(6), 748-57.

Occurrence and abundance of mammals were compared in five large protected rainforest patches inside the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and in four smaller, unprotected rainforest fragments in a plantation matrix in the Anamalai hills, southern Western Ghats using line transect distance sampling. Among the 28 mammal species found in contiguous protected rainforests, 24 persisted in unprotected fragments. For most species, population densities were similar between the two strata. Density of arboreal mammal speªcies showed varying habitat correlates across the sites sampled; Indian giant squirrel density was negatively correlated to canopy overlap, lion-tailed macaque density negatively and Nilgiri langur positively to rainforest tree density respectively. Persistence of most mammals on private lands in a fragmented landscape may be attributed to proximity to the surrounding large tract of reserved forest areas as well as recent conservation efforts, including reduction of hunting and protection of fragments. Comparison with past estiestimates suggests that arboreal mammals have persisted and increased in abundance over the last decade, particularly in private fragments, possibly due to multiple factors, including the ability of the species to use matrix habitats, low hunting pressure, lack of predators and higher food availability.

4 illus, 2 tables, 36 ref

004053   Raman R;Kandula S (Animal Behaviour and Physiology Dep, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj Univ, Madurai-625 021, Email: sribat@rediffmail.com) : Zoopharmacognosy, self-medication in wild animals. Resonance 2008, 13(3), 245-53.

The study of parasites and their likely influence on optimal foraging and mate-selection in animals has attracted much attention in recent times. The possible effects of parasites on the host include the manipulation of host behaviour by parasites and the emergence of host behavioural adaptations for protecting against parasitism. Self-medication in wild animals is believed to be the behavioural adaptation evolved primarily against parasites and associated diseases. In this article, Briefly review some types of unusual behaviour observed in mammals, birds and insects which can be considered as self-medication.

1 illus, 15 ref

004052   Kunte K (Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 1, University Station, C 0930, Austin, TX 78712, USA, Email: krushnamegh@mail.utexas.edu) : Wildlife (Protection) act and conservation prioritization of butterflies of the western ghats, southwestern India. Curr Sci 2008, 94(6), 729-35.

Various schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (henceforth WPA), dictate the level of legal protection given to species of Indian animals. Shortcomings of the schedules of the WPA with respect to insects have been pointed out, but no solutions have been suggested. Used butterflies of the Western Ghats as a case study, analysed their conservation values with multiple species attributes and then compared my findings with the species listed under the WPA. Analysis shows that a large proportion of species with high conservation values, many of them narrowly endemic and endangered, are not listed under the WPA, indicating the need to expand the listings. This methodology can be used to objectively assess conservation values of other animals and their inclusion in the WPA

2 illus, 4 tables, 32 ref

004051   Jha V;Jha A (NO, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majhitar, Rangpo-737 132) : Extinct and near extinct mammals of Sikkim. Mendel int J 2007, 24(1-2), 13.

Methodology both primary as well as secondary sources of data were collated for the present study. For secondary data the published and unpublished works (books, papers, articles, reports etc. have been referred. Primary information has been collected using survey method. Details have been collected from local people also. The emphasis of study because of practical difficulties was only on larger mammals. Thus, correct and relevant informqtion on smaller animals such as rats, mice, squirrels, shrews and bats could not be collected.

5 ref

004050   Jha A (NO, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majhitar, Rangpo-737 132) : Preliminary study of the bats of Sikkim. Mendel int J 2007, 24(1-2), 14.

3 ref

002010   Joshi R;Rambir Singh (NO, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Garhwal Unit, Srinagar, Garhwal-246 174, Email: ritesh_joshi2325@yahoo.com) : Co-existence of asian elephants (Elehas maximus) with human beings - a difficult dream to be realised: a case study from Rajaji National Park in northern India. Ann For 2007, 15(2), 369-84.

Elephants and human beings in Rajaji National Park in northern India are increasingly arriving into conflict because of the conversion of elephant's natural habitat into agricultural areas. Besides, railway track which passes through the park area, national highways, anthropogenic activites etc. are restricting frequent movement of elephants within their home range. In a few of the villages, farmers are not cultivating sugarcane mainly due to fear of damage by elephants. In order to identify the number of villages affected, crop raiding behaviour of elephants during period of seven years was assessed and the main reasons for crop raiding were identified. Data was collected using direct and indirect observation methods and through questionnaires and informal interviews of various farming communities and concerned local people. Trend of crop raiding by elephants was mainly undertaken by solo adult and sub-adult bulls (45%), bul groups (14%) and groups including males, females and juveniles (37%) whereas group sizes ranged from 1 - 14 individuals. Only recgnized bull elephants and groups frequently strayed outside the park area. Elephants came out of the forest after sunset and return before dawn but had gradually begun moving towards outside areas after mid-day. These findings may have wider implications for developing predictive models of human-elephant interactions.

5 illus, 12 ref

002009   Denslow J S (Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, USDA Forest Service, 60 Nowelo St. Hilo, HI 96720, USA, Email: jdenslow@fs.fed.us) : Managing dominance of invasive plants in wildlands. Curr Sci 2007, 93(11), 1579-86.

Invasive exotic plants threaten nature reserves and wild-lands, where eradication may be neither a cost-effective nor an obtainable objective for controlling widespread weeds. In such cases, long-term management objectives should address the maintenance of desirable community and ecosystem processes through reduction in invasive plant abundance and distribution to acceptable levels. Strategic approaches to invasive plant control should include restoration of critical functional groups, mitigation of environmental stressors and reduction in exotic sources of disturbance to improve biotic resistance of the native community and reduction in invasive plant dominance. Monitoring to assess progress toward management goals is essential to identify needed changes in protocol as more is learned about drivers of community processes.

1 illus, 81 ref

001010   Srivastava P (Botany Dep, D S College, Aligarh-202 001) : Surface run-off experiment with Riparian weeds for their conservation efficiencies for water, soil and phosphorus. Indian J appl pure Biol 2007, 22(2), 393-8.

Three common riparian weeds [two monocots and a dicot] viz. Saccharum spontaneum L., Cynodon dactylon, L. [Pers.] and Cassia occidentalis L. were studied in surface run-off experiments to find out their conservation efficiencies for water, soil and Phosphorus run-off. The plant species were collected from the right bank of river Ganga, which is the study site, at Bharwari, Kaushambi, [U.P.] and were planted on the artificial slopes made in Botanical garden of Bhavan's Mehta Mahavidyalaya, Bharwari Kaushambi [U.P.]. Same species were also transplanted on the slopes made at the study site. Simulated rainfalls [15 cmhr]were applied on artificial slopes to collect the data. Single natural rainfall [10mm.] was used at study site to collect the data. Run-off soil and water were collected from each experimental slope at both the sites and their quantities were measured. After calculating the conservation values by formula given by Ambasht2 it was found that Saccharum spontaneum L. L. was the most efficient species in conservation and that vegetal cover influences soil, water and nutrient run-off.

5 tables, 14 ref