Bio Diversity

The study to analyze extension services in forest conservation was carried out in Ogun State, Nigeria. The objectives were to identify extension services in forest conservation, examine perception of forest officers on effectiveness of extension services in forest conservation and identify constraints hindered extension services in forest conservation. Multistage sampling technique was undertaken following the state ministry of agriculture delineation of forest reserves across the state. A total of 68 forest officers were selected for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result shows that 83.8% of the forest officers were at their active age that fall between 31-45 years with high literacy level, 48.5% had between 11-15 years in service, 26.4% had between 5-10 years in service. Extension services rendered in forest conservation include education programme that emphasized forests officers knowledge related to forest conservation discipline with mean value of (2.73), create awareness through publication in relation to forest conservation with mean value of (2.60). Majority of the forest officer agree that extension services in forest conservation were effective, and major constraints to extension services in forest conservation were mentioned by forest officers. Therefore, the conservation of forests depends on how effective extension services are, for the forestry extension services to be effective the challenges facing the service must be seriously considered and funding of forestry extension programme should be such that has political will by given better materials and service as supportive provided for extension agents.

To compare the essential oil composition of two Thyme species T.daenensis and T.fedtschenkoi, the aerial parts of them were collected at flowering stage. The essential oil was obtained by hydro distillation method for 3 hours and their chemical components of essential oil were identified by GC and GC/MS. The main constituents of T.daenensis were thymol (73.86 %), caryophyllene (5.55 %), ?-terpinene (5.03 %), p-cymene (3.92 %) and carvacrol (2.92 %). While the main constituents of T.fedtschenkoi were linalool (63.77 %), ?-terpineol (10.17 %), 1,8-cineole (4.01 %), thymol (3.3 %), sabinene (2.66 %).

India abounds in wealth of complex and diverse biodiversity, exhibiting a great deal of variation however, its documentation is necessary for its proper record and management. India with its vast geographical area of about 329 m ha ranks seventh largest in the world (Venu, 1998). Present studies were conducted on the foot hill, slope (middle hill) and top of the protected and unprotected hills of Jhalana at Jaipur (26? 49’ N, 75 48’ E, 436 m.s.i.). Land is always in a constant flux of continual change due to transformation, resulting either from natural processes or due to human activities. Large portions of land transformation have been witnessed in and around major cities of India e.g. Kolkata, Bangalore, Chandigarh etc. Some of these are dynamic and fast, particularly in the urban tassel. The main factors affecting the urban area and land transformation are growth of industrial, commercial and institutional activities. Secondly due to urbanization and increasing trend, migration towards urban areas for employment and other developmental opportunities.

The first stage of the study consists of defining rock types by relating Geological framework, lithofacies, petrology to porosity, permeability, and Water saturation. Rock types represent reservoir units with a distinct porosity -permeability relationship and a unique water saturation range for a given height above the free water level. We also describe the conventional methodology used to evaluate water saturation from sections of the electric log of a well. The second stage of the work involved the analysis of the cored samples of the well (SANDS D 2, E1-8).Which will lead to the determination of the water saturation of the well. The third stage of the work dealt with the integration of the core analysis result with formation evaluation data to define reservoir water saturation. By using a proposed water saturation model, known as the molco water saturation model. It was observed that the conventional Archie water saturation gave the water saturation for the well section as 74.26% while the model gave it as 41.6%, giving a consolidated difference of 33.20%. This result will contribute to the understanding of tight reservoirs and making an impact on reservoir development.

This research was carried out from April 2012 to late August 2012 in Kakan Region as a recreational area around Yasuj (the capital of the Kohgiloye - Boyer Ahmad Province), I. R. Iran. The method used in this study was based on radius point counts. In the study area, 29 terrestrial bird species were identified. According to the “Margalef Index”, the most biodiversity richness was observed in June (3.259) and the least richness in August (3.250). According to “Menhink Index”, the most richness was seen in June (0.395) and the least in August (0.390).According to “Simpson Index”, the max. biodiversity richness was in August (0.928) and the min. biodiversity was June and April (0.925). According to “Shanon-viner Index” the max. biodiversity richness was observed in August (4.250) and the min. biodiversity in June (4.205). According to “Simpson Index” the most uniformity was in August (0.477) and the least uniformity was in June and April (0.460). The diversity of species uniformity indices indicate a high habitat quality around “Kakan” area and status of good conditions for birds which should be considered in the management issues. The suggestions proposed in this article can be effective in improving the conditions for birds in the region.

First study of new locality the Mount Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve with charophyte algae in the Lower Galilee region of Israel has been implemented for revealing of algal diversity and ecological assessment of the water object environment by bio-indication methods. Altogether twenty nine species of algae including one of them macro-algae Chara vulgaris L. were revealed in the Arbel stream. Chara was found in massive growth in the middle part of studied stream. Bio-indication and chemical variables characterize the charophyte site environment as mesotrophic to eutrophic with prevailing of benthic type of organisms of autotrophic type of nutrition, which are mostly attached of substrate and preferred slow streaming water with temperate temperature, low salinity, low alkalinity, and low to middle organic pollution, Class II-III of water quality. Seasonality of algal community and water quality showed of organic and other contaminants pollution during winter rainy period as a result of grazing impact. Charophyte community is sharp limited in its development as a result of periodical desiccation of the stream. We found unique property of Chara vulgaris to renewing after two years desiccation. We can recommend the Arbel Biblical stream for monitoring of natural aquatic object in the Lower Galilee, and Chara vulgaris as climatic indicator of surviving under future climate change.

An orchid Bulbophyllum tremulum Wight has been collected from Sirumalai hills of Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu for the first time. This species was earlier known to occur only in Western Ghats. Hence, the present collection of this species is being reported here as a new record for Eastern Ghats.

Marsdenia tirunelvelica A. N. Henry & Subram. a rare and little known asclepiad, endemic to Southern Western Ghats has been rediscovered after a lapse of about 38 years since its type collection. To facilitate easy identification of the species a brief description and relevant notes are provided.

Some opportunistic observations on the diversity of hawk moths have been done from June 2015 to May 2016 in North Malabar region of kerala. We have identified10 genera and 23species of Hawk moth belongs to3 subfamilies of Sphingidae. Of these 20species of hawk moths are new records to Malabar region. From our study we come to a conclusion that Malabar region is a suitable habitat for these highly sensitive families of moths. The paper gives details regarding Collection methodology, Diversity indices of each three subfamilies of sphingidae, effect of lunar periodicity in the diversity of the moth species and seasonal fluctuations.

The green microalga strain, Botryococcus braunii Kützing, was provided by the Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas (Austin, USA). The effects of nitrogen and temperature on growth and lipid production were studied for 18 days. Cultures of B. braunii were incubated in five different nitrogen concentrations: 1 g L-1 (group 1), 0.5 g L-1(group 2), 0.25 g L-1 (group 3), 0.125 g L-1(group 4) and free nitrogen (group 5). The highest biomass concentration (0.564±0.200 g L-1) and lipid content (33.31±0.014%) were obtained by cultivation with an initial nitrogen concentration of 0.50 g L-1 in these experiments. In free nitrogen, the maximum lipid content was 56.31±0.026% of dry weight, while the biomass concentration was 0.270±0.063 g L-1 at 20 °C. The density of the biodiesel obtained from B. braunii was calculated as 0.8263 kg.L-1, its viscosity as 4.97 mm2.s-1 at 40 °C and its flash point as 109 °C. According to these results, nitrogen-starved Botryococcus braunii increased the production of lipids and could be made more suitable for biodiesel production. This study suggests that it is possible to utilize Botryococcus braunii for biodiesel production.