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Biodiversity Journal 2016, 7 (3): 295-386

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 295-296
    Mauro Grano
    Cerastes cerastes (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reptilia Serpentes)
  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 297-300

    Novese Tantri, Dyah Perwitasari & Achmad Farajallah
    New record of Macrobrachium gua (Chong, 1989) (Crustacea Palaemonidae) from Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

    ABSTRACT
    A new record of freshwater prawn of the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Crustacea Palaemonidae) was founded in West Kalimantan, Sintang District, Kelam Permai Subdistrict, Indonesia. One ovigerous female specimen was collected in Lebak creeks, Ransi Pendek village on July 2015. Macrobrachium gua (Chong, 1989) from Sintang can be distinguished from others by morphological character, including egg size, teeth of ventral margin, length of carpus, length of merus, length of finger and palm as a chela part. Macrobrachium gua was found under rocks in a surface river with black-tea-colour waters and dense vegetation.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 301-310

    Redouane Matallah, Karima Abdellaoui-hassaine, Philippe Ponel & Samira Boukli-hacene
    Diversity of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) in the Ramsar wetland: Dayet El Ferd, Tlemcen, Algeria

    ABSTRACT
    A study on diversity of ground beetle communities (Coleoptera Carabidae) was conducted between March 2011 and February 2012 in the temporary pond: Dayet El Ferd (listed as a Ramsar site in 2004) located in a steppe area on the northwest of Algeria. The samples were collected bimonthly at 6 sampling plots and the gathered Carabidae were identified and counted. A total of 55 species belonging to 32 genera of 7 subfamilies were identified from 2893 collected ground beetles. The most species rich subfamilies were Harpalinae (35 species, 64%) and Trechinae (14 species, 25.45%), others represented by one or two species. According to the total individual numbers, Cicindelinae was the most abundant subfamily comprising 38.81% of the whole beetles, followed by 998 Harpalinae (34.49%), and 735 Trechinae (25.4%), respectively. The dominant species was Calomera lunulata (Fabricius, 1781) (1087 individuals, 37.57%) and the subdominant species was Pogonus chalceus viridanus (Dejean, 1828) (576 individuals, 19.91%).

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 311-318

    Paulami Maiti
    Global climate change and its effects on biodiversity

    ABSTRACT
    Unprecedented rise in greenhouse gas due to undue anthropogenic activities has induced global warming. It has been speculated that about 1.4–5.8 °C temperature is likely to increase by 2100 for which every species and their habitat are at risk. Some species have already perished while others are on the face of decline. This review work discusses the threats of global warming and the response of diverse biota to the global climatic shift.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 319-324

    M. Mauro Brunetti
    On some Pliocene Cancellaridae from the Mediterranean Basin with description of a new species

    ABSTRACT
    During the study on Pliocene Mediterranean malacofauna the author found the presence of a new species of the genus Sveltia Jousseaume, 1887 called S. confusa n. sp. The new species is present both in Zanclean sediments of Southern Spain (Guadalquivir basin and Estepona), and in Pliocenic sediments of Southern Tuscany. This species had been previously discussed and figured by various authors as Sveltia varicosa (Brocchi, 1814). During the research were also found some specimens similar to Ventrilia imbricata (Hörnes, 1856), a taxon which was already described for the Austrian Miocene. In this study the taxonomic position of V. imbricata, along with its presence in Pliocenic sediments and its relashionships with Scalptia etrusca Brunetti, Della Bella, Forli et Vecchi, 2008, are clarified.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 325-330

    Pietro Lo Cascio & Vincent Rivière
    An updated herpetofaunal inventory for some islets of South-Eastern Tunisia

    ABSTRACT
    The present paper provides the results of the herpetological investigations carried out on the satellite islets of Djerba and the Kneiss Archipelago, and an updated list of their herpetofauna. On the whole, the faunal assemblage of the eleven visited islets includes seven species of reptiles, whose richness seems to be related to the islet size. Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823) and Malpolon insignitus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827) are new records, respectively, for the Djerba satellites and the Kneiss Archipelago, while new localities were recorded for the previously known species.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 331-336

    Himanshu Mishra, Vikas Kumar & Ashish Kumar
    Diversity and population status of waders (Aves) of  Bakhira Tal, a natural wetland in District Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

    ABSTRACT
    Present study was conducted from April 2015 to March 2016 to assess diversity of waders (Aves) and its population status in Bakhira Tal. The study area was Bakhira Tal, located in District Sant Kabir Nagar U.P., India. Counting of waders was carried out during early morning from 6 am to 9 am with the help of binoculars and SLR cameras. Point count method was applied to count total number of individuals of each species of waders. Identification of birds was done with the help of key reference books. A total of 28 species of waders were recorded and identified. Bronze winged Jacana (178) outnumbered rest of the species and minimum number was shown by Wood Snipe (6). Maximum species diversity was recorded in winter season (H=3.13 and D=0.048) followed by minimum in summer (H=2.72 and D=0.073). The data collected were analysed using one way ANOVA. All the calculations were done with the help of Graph Pad Prism5. Result of analysed data was found to be significant (p<0.05) in case of winters. Seasonal mean values were compared by applying Tukey´s test. The outcome of this test clearly indicates similarity in diversity of waders between rain and winter.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 337-344

    Wafa Tahar, Ouahiba Bordjiba & Lyamine Mezedjri
    Study of the effect of a fungicide "the tachigazole" on some indicators of soil biological activity

    ABSTRACT
    This study tests the impact of a pesticide molecule (hymexazole) on, on the one hand, the physio-biochemistry of hard wheat Triticum durum Desf. (Poales Poaceae) and on the other hand, the indicators of soil biological activity. To do this, the analysis has focused on total proteins, proline, the total carbohydrates and total chlorophyll of wheat leaves. Total carbon and soil organic matter have been also determined. Results reveal that the levels of total chlorophyll are practically identical in the presence of different doses of the fungicide in comparison with those of the control dose. The contents of other parameters (total proteins, carbohydrates and proline) are slightly different from those obtained for witnesses doses. Finally, the analyzed soil samples show that the values of the total carbon are higher and exceed the standards in the samples treated with fungicide.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 345-346

    Mauro Grano
    An unusual urban refuge for the crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Rodentia): the ancient Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    In this note the author reports the unusual use of ancient catacombs as a daytime refuge for some specimens of crested porcupine Hystrix cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mammalia Rodentia) belonging to the population of the Villa Ada urban park in Rome.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 347-352

    Giacomo Bruni, Riccardo Novaga, David Fiacchini, Cristiano Spilinga & Dario Domeneghetti
    Updated distribution of Hydromantes italicus Dunn, 1923 (Caudata Plethodontidae): a review with new records and the first report for Latium (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    The Italian cave salamander Hydromantes italicus Dunn, 1923 (Caudata Plethodontidae) is an eutroglophilic amphibian found along the Appennines from Emilia-Romagna to Abruzzo, however the available bibliography shows inconsistencies in distribution data. Herein we provide an updated distribution of the species, with new records and the first detection for Latium in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park in the Province of Rieti.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 353-358

    Shahryar Saeidi Mehrvarz, Alireza Naqinezhad, Mokarram Ravanbakhsh & Mohaddese Maghsoudi
    The survey of macrophytes diversity in wetland zone of Boujagh National Park, Guilan, Iran

    ABSTRACT
    The aim of this study was to identify the ecological species groups and investigate the diversity among them. The research area comprises a wetland system of Boujagh National Park, in Northern of Guilan Province, Iran. Vegetation sampling was carried out by 44 sample plots placed within the different zones in a stratified random manner. In each sampled plot, the cover percentage value of each species was estimated using Bran-Blanquet scales. Vegetation was classified using Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN). Classification of plots showed four vegetation groups: “Ceratophyllum demersum-Nelumbo nucifera, Juncus acutus-Rubus sanctus, Mentha aquatica-Phragmites australis, Hydrocotyle vulgaris-Phragmites australis”. Plant diversity in these vegetation groups has been evaluated. The comparison of diversity indices among groups was performed with ANOVA test. Results of analysis of variance in species diversity indices showed significant differences among the groups in terms of some biodiversity indices. The survey of variation in the groups showed that group 3 had the highest value and group1 had the lowest in Fisher’s diversity indices and Menhinink’s and Margalef’s richness indices, respectively. In Sheldon’s evenness index group1 had the highest and group 2 had the lowest measure. Finally, the overall survey of indices showed that despite the high richness and diversity in groups 3 and 2, evenness of these groups was less than group 1 showing the lowest richness and diversity.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 359-364

    Rao Birendra Singh, Anuja A. Desale, Swapnil J. Keni & Ravindra G. Gupta
    Notes on the Avifauna in and around Devkhop lake of Palghar, India

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper, the Authors show the results of their research carried out on birds of a peculiar and interesting natural habitat. The Devkhop Lake is located at the Palghar-Manor highway about 5 km away from Palghar city (India). It is a perennial lake and it is a very good site for the water birds including the migratory ones. It also provides a rich diet to birds. We have surveyed the avian fauna of this area from May 2015 to February 2016 and we recorded total 31 species of birds belonging to 8 orders and 20 families. Passeriformes and Ciconiiformes are the dominating orders in our observations which constituted 60% of total birds observed in this period. The families Corvidae, Anatidae, Ardeidae were found dominant with four, four and three species, respectively. In this paper qualitative enumeration of avifauna is discussed and a comparison is made with other studies on birds found in similar habitats.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (3): 365-384

    Fabio Liberto, Agatino Reitano, Salvatore Giglio, Maria Stella Colomba & Ignazio Sparacio
    Two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy)

    ABSTRACT
    In the present paper the Authors describe two new Clausiliidae (Gastropoda Pulmonata) of Sicily (Italy): Muticaria cyclopica n. sp. from SE-Sicily and Siciliaria calcarae orlandoi n. ssp. from W-Sicily. The two new species are described by virtue of their distinctive conchological and anatomical features. Additional biological and taxonomic notes are provided.