|Spiders are key components of all ecosystems in which they live and considered to be useful indicators of the overall species richness and health of terrestrial communities. However, spiders of the Western Ghats are poorly explored group and detailed information about their systematics, diversity and ecology is scarce. The present study is an attempt to investigate the spider faunal diversity in the selected habitats in the Western Ghats of North Wayanad region, Kerala, India. A total of 150 species belonging to 73 genera under 20 families were recorded from the selected habitats. Kartikulam forest reserve (Site D) showed the highest species richness and lowest species richness was recorded from Mananthavady region (Site A). Guild structure analysis of the collected spiders revealed seven functional groups viz. stalkers, orb-web builders, ambushers, space-web builder, ground runners, foliage runners and sheet-web builders. To conclude, the highest species richness is correlated with flora and fauna in these sites. The knowledge generated from the present study gives valuable and updated information on diversity of species of Western Ghats and the data can be used for future research on spider fauna.

In the queenless ponerine ant genus Diacamma, all workers eclose with a pair of innervated thoracic appendages termed gemmae. The gamergate (= mated egg laying worker) maintains reproductive monopoly by mutilating the gemmae of all eclosing individuals. Such mutilation leads to irreversible behavioural and neurological changes such that the individual lacking gemmae becomes incapable of appropriate sexual calling and mating. In one population related to Diacamma ceylonense from India, Diacamma sp. from Nilgiri (hereafter referred to as 'nilgiri'), gamergates do not mutilate their nestmates and yet maintain reproductive monopoly. To understand what triggers mutilation, we exchanged cocoons between the mutilating D. ceylonense colonies and the non mutilating 'nilgiri' colonies. 'nilgiri' callows were not mutilated even in D. ceylonense colonies while D. ceylonense callows were mutilated even in 'nilgiri' colonies, suggesting that the cues for mutilation originate in the victims (callows), presumably in the gemmae themselves. This finding should facilitate understanding the proximate mechanism and evolutionary significance of mutilation of gemmae as a method of resolution of reproductive conflicts in the genus Diacamma.

This study would look at the life of women in Sultanate of Oman during the prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, where they are privileged to become a part of different ministerial portfolios in Oman. The key objective behind this study is to know the insight of Omani women on their happiness, through identifying certain areas where they can feel the happiness and what extent they think they are happy. The study collected primary data from a sample of 500 women from Oman with a structured questionnaire. This is a qualitative study since reviews of literature shows that the subjective factors will further impact on the happiness of all women, same with Omani women as well. The study partially adopted GNH methods and SWLS scale to understand the happiness of Omani women. The findings of the study shows that women in Oman are happier and employment like factors can enhance their happiness. Finally the study gave certain recommendations to further improve the wellbeing of women in Oman as a whole.

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This study would look at the life of women in Sultanate of Oman during the prosperous era of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, where they are privileged to become a part of different ministerial portfolios in Oman. The key objective behind this study is to know the insight of Omani women on their happiness, through identifying certain areas where they can feel the happiness and what extent they think they are happy. The study collected primary data from a sample of 500 women from Oman with a structured questionnaire. This is a qualitative study since reviews of literature shows that the subjective factors will further impact on the happiness of all women, same with Omani women as well. The study partially adopted GNH methods and SWLS scale to understand the happiness of Omani women. The findings of the study shows that women in Oman are happier and employment like factors can enhance their happiness. Finally the study gave certain recommendations to further improve the wellbeing of women in Oman as a whole.