Background: Understanding abundance, diversity and density of waterbird species along with detailed description of habitat utilization pattern is significant to understand species ecology and consequently for management and conservation. Waterbird density and their utilisation pattern of different habitats in Wular lake was investigated during study period from 2017-2019. Methods: Population estimation of waterbirds was carried out by point count and line transect method. Length of the transect varied from 50-100 meters. Waterbird density was estimated using Reynolds formula in a circular plot. Radius of circle varied from 45-50 meters. Pattern of habitat utilisation was calculated by Ivlev's index. Findings: Twenty-five (25) species of waterbirds belonging to eighteen (18) genera, seven families (7) and six orders (6) were recorded. Mean population of 62819±3874.20 during mid-winter and 420.58±142.10 individuals during post winter was observed. Mean density of 810.81±387.3 birds ha -1 during mid-winter and 71.29±1.33 birds ha -1 during post winter was recorded. Of all the habitats, open water had highest waterbird density (630.32±58.32 birds ha -1 ) while as paddy fields had lowest waterbird density (0.44±0.08 birds ha -1 ) during mid-winter. During post winter also open water habitat was the most densely populated habitat (30.2±4.85 birds ha -1 ) but marshes were least densely populated habitat (0.41±0.05 birds ha -1 ) during this season. Open water habitat was most preferred habitat and peatlands the most avoided one. Variation in densities among different habitats was statistically significant (p<0.05). Novelty: Anthropogenic threats like agricultural conversion, habitat degradation and pollution greatly affect the utilisation of different habitats by waterbirds. Knowledge indicating the density and diversity of waterbirds along with their preference and avoidance towards different habitats will help in managing those habitats as well as framing conservation policies for survival of waterbirds inhabiting them.
The ever increasing anthelmintic resistance and low efficacy of conventional anthelmintics against larval toxocariasis has created an interest in evaluating plants as an effective source of anthelmintics. The aqueous and methanol extracts of Euphorbia wallichii were evaluated for efficacy against larvae of Toxocara canis both in vitro and in vivo, using an embryogenesis inhibition assay and a larval recovery assay respectively. In the in vitro study (1000) eggs were treated with 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL of plant extracts and the positive control was treated with same dose of albendazole. Crude methanol extract of E. wallichii (LC50 1.09 mg/mL) exhibited higher embryogenesis inhibition compared to its crude aqueous extracts (LC50 1.89 mg/mL). In the in vivo study, embryonated eggs (1000) of Toxocara canis were orally inoculated to wistar rats followed by treatment with crude methanol and aqueous extracts of Euphorbia walliachii at concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 mg/Kg and their liver and lungs were examined for the presence of T. canis larvae on the 7th day post infection (dpi). Maximum efficacy (64.75%) in larval count reduction was recorded for crude methanol extract in liver at dose of 400 mg/Kg in liver. Least efficacy (6.25%) in larval count reduction was recorded for crude aqueous extract E. wallichii at dose of 100 mg/Kg in lungs. The results reveal that Euphorbia walliachii extracts has an antitoxocaral effect and warrants further study as to suitability as an alternative anthelmintic.
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