Ways To Understand the Importance Of Biodiversity

The best thing to understand the importance of biodiversity is to visit a forest or a zoo and also a marketplace. Most things natural which are available in the market are derived from the biodiversity resources from the nature.

You can also understand the importance of biodiversity by visiting a vegetable, fish, fruits or a grain market.

Fruits of black mulberry (Morus  nigra).

You find so many types of vegetables in a vegetable market: of different types, colors and value. Some are leaves, others are fruits, stems, roots, seeds that we eat. Those are indispensable foods for us.

Same is true with a fruit market, fruits of all possible texture and value. Some are juicy and delicious. Others are sour but very colorful and attractive to look at. Now we have fruits imported from all over the worls selling in large stores. Though expensive it is the best bet to try them at least once.

Visiting a fish market can be a very excition experience to a biodiversity lover. Live fishes are a treat to eyes.Their sizes, shapes, colors and sources are worth experiencing.

Imagine how life would have been if there were not so many of those around us. Or, if any one of them becomes absent and non-available we will severely miss them!

Relocating Species Found in Development Sites

The most distinguished event to take place on the planet Earth was the origin of life and its evolution into all forms of living beings that existed in the past and those which survived to the present.

Even by the most wild of human imagination life on the Earth could not have been what we see it, and take it for granted.

Imagine a situation, that you may believe, life could not have existed under a particularly harsh environment. To your surprise, on an investigation, it will reveal you that life does exist under that environment, and is thriving!

The plasticity of living beings to adapt and evolve over time in any niche is truly amazing and speaks of the inherent capacities that the living organisms have.

Sadly, thousands of species of organisms have been made extinct by natural events, and continue to be wiped out from the planet due to human interference with the natural environment and its unique ecosystems.

Our entire existence on this planet is dependent upon the biodiversity resources. While material resources are of economic importance for development related activities, these no substitute to the services provided by biological resources.

Biological resources provide ecological, environmental, dietary and energy needs which can’t be replaced by any other natural or man made resource. Plants fix the energy derived from the Sun in the form of food. In our food chain all energy derived ultimately comes from the energy fixed by plants.

During any development activity, while large trees and water bodies may be seen as those directly affected, there are on the ground, or under the soil, a plethora of organisms which are uprooted and destroyed.Landscape planning and development needs to consider biodiversity protection.

In the soil inhabit large number of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, known and unknown, and small arthropods (insects, spiders, centipedes, scorpions) that may be destroyed in the land under development.

How careful are development or other agencies when the farms are converted into residential colonies to  investigate beforehand the biodiversity of the area, no matter how big or small is the project. This micro-planning is almost absent everywhere?

During the development of a site, agencies occasionally come across a wide variety of worms wriggling out from within the ground. Most often, there are no means to report, catalogue, identify and preserve those organisms found during development.

Molecular Biology versus Systematics and Classification:

We hear of human research endeavors to the far off virgin lands and discovery of new species but we ignore the unreported species right under our feet.

I had found a small frog of the size of a housefly which I was unable to identify. Initially, when I first sighted it, I was not able to identify it because it was tiny, climbing over the tiles of my bathroom.

I could realize it was a frog only when I put on my glasses. A yellow-colored frog of a very small size. It had a yellow pattern on its skin. There could be more wonders in our places. What about facilities to readily identify such new discoveries.

The current studies in biology are dominated by a greater focus on molecular and genetic approaches. We notice that there is ignorance of what genetics ultimately manifests and empowers: a full blown and thriving organism.

While it is important to know the underlying molecular functions of a living being, it is equally important to search, identify, classify and protect species which are under stress and have the least chances to survive.

During a development activity, therefore, it is important to keep a vigil by those interested in biodiversity preservation and protection, about the discovery of a significant population of a species in the area under development.

All such displaced organisms must be identified and relocated in the same area or a similar ecosystem. 

All that Grows In Wild Is Beautiful

Invariably advocacy programs for conservation of biodiversity focus on conservation of animals which have some sort of a celebrity status like tiger, crocodile and turtles. Some themes like ‘marine biodiversity’ are also used to impress upon the value of biodiversity.  

To me this is underplaying the importance of the very broad meaning and importance of the term biodiversity in a holistic context.

To me we should talk aggressively about the importance of every creature on the earth, be it a pest or parasite, economically important or not, small or big, bat or bed bug, bird or bee, crow or owl, bamboo or rose, snake or frog, elephant or mouse.

A wild grass in full bloom

The term biodiversity is more suited to the setting of  a wild environment: all that exists in a wild setting  with no or the least human invasion.  Everything there grows  naturally, sustains in a competitive natural environment and evolves. 

The term biodiversity must give us the feel of the real extent of diversity existing in the nature, the purpose, its scale or grandness, the value, ecological, environmental and biological and  our responsibility to stop the damage to it.

The other day I saw a variety of grass in full bloom growing in the vacant plot of a residential area. This area was until few years back a field with all its variety of flora and fauna.

Now the original flora of this area in under an assault. Very soon, when the house come up on this plot, and other plots, in the vicinity this flora typical to the place will vanish and we will have beautiful houses replacing those wild plants!

And powerful masters will be sitting in their lawns flaunting some prized species of ornamental plants.

This world is some how turning into a world of celebrities, celebrity men and animals as if there is no importance, place or role for others.

In fact, what grows in the natural world is far more superior biologically than those of ornamental value.

What grows in the wild is hardy, it has power to survive in the adverse climates, and thrive like this wild grass in full bloom. Their natural strength is manifested in their beauty and power to survive!

Republic of Kiribati Leads The World In Conservation

Those who like eat fish would not like to see the day without fish. Much less those who relish the gourmet Tuna fish!

There are others who may like fish for other reasons. They catch, sell or trade in fish; it is a multi-million dollar business globally.

But there is yet another class who would like fish for their importance in biological space (biodiversity) because there are innumerable number of fishes of different sizes, varieties, numbers and their role in fresh water or marine ecosystems.

In this context, this post intends to inform the readers of this blog about Kiribati's recent decision to preserve and protect tuna fish stock in a part of the Pacific ocean as a major international initiative.

A view of Kiribati Island

Last month (16th June), at the U.S. State Department’s led ‘Our Ocean Conference’ held in Washington, Anote Tong, President of the Republic of Kiribati formally announced that Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) will close to all commercial fishing by the end of 2014. The only relaxation  was subsistence fishing around Kanto Island.

The decision is part of a larger move to control commercial fishing and safeguard the world’s most important island and ocean areas. The decision is a test case for large-scale  conservation of tuna stocks. The decision assumes importance from the point of view of conservation, interests of future generation and the Kiribati’s future economy. 

The decision is joint effort of Kiribati government, the US agency, Conservation International, and New England Aquarium. PIPA’s closure will take effect ahead of the Marine Protected Area s (MPA) original plan to 28% closure of commercial fishing before 2014 end.

“This is the boldest action taken  by a government I have seen in my career in terms of protecting natural capital and creating critically-needed protected areas,” said Dr.Greg Stone, CI’s chief scientist and chairman of the PIPA Trust Board of Trustees. The PIPA is 11 percent of Kiribati's Exclusive Economic Zone; it is a significant area to set aside for conservation, food security and sustainable development.

President Tong of Kiribati said, “My people have been custodians of our oceans for centuries”, while addressing world ocean leaders from 80 countries. He added that solutions must focus on a united, connected and sustained approach. “Action is our obligation for our children and our children's children. The closure of the Phoenix Island Protected Area will have a major contribution for regeneration of tuna stocks, not only for us but for our global community, and for generations to come.”

Tuna is an economic mainstay of Kiribati and indeed many Pacific Island states. It took nearly two decades for MPAs to be recognized as a valuable approach for coastal fisheries, and the time is now to include MPAs as a vital part of our sustainable tuna strategy,” President Tong said. “We are committed to testing this in the heart of the world’s largest tuna fishery.”

The PIPA is one of the world's most economically important waters left on the planet, and it houses the largest remaining stocks of tuna fish. About 60% of the world’s tuna catch is dominated by fleets from China, Europe, Japan and the U.S., comes from this region.

The UNESCO included PIPA in its World Heritage List in 2010, in recognition of its universally significant ocean wilderness and contribution to ecological and biological processes in the evolution of global marine ecosystems. Its considers increased fishing protection critical to long-term conservation of PIPA's natural value.  

Kiribati government’s action to close the largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage site to commercial fishing is an exemplary move by a developing country in order to safeguard global food security in the next century.

Through this conservation effort, Kiribati is investing in its natural resources. This decision is taken in spite of fiscal and political constraints and Kiribati's dependence on fisheries for more than 40% of its national budget. There is also a big question of survival because of the rising sea levels due to climate change.  

With fish stocks rapidly diminishing worldwide, the PIPA’s closure, which represents approximately 11% of Kiribati’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and is the size of California, aims to strengthen tuna stocks that will ultimately be available to commercial fishing outside the protected area for generations to come.

The complete closure of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, except an exemption for subsistence fishing in a populated area, is an important precedence of stewardship for many other World Heritage marine sites which still struggle with unsustainable fishing practices.

Sustainable Tourism Promotes Conservation

World's ecologically sensitive places are always vulnerable to increased number of visits of tourists. In other worlds tourism in general endangers sensitive environments.

However, the fact is that proper planning and management can not only conserve the environment of a ecologically sensitive environment but also generate funds for basic conservation efforts and research which is very important in order to understand a particular ecosystem.

The World Conference on Tourism held in Manila in 1980 identified in the ‘Manila Declaration’ ‘tourism’ as an “activity essential to the life of nations because of its direct effects on the social, cultural, educational and economic sectors of national societies and on their international relations” (Technical Manual, 1995). 

Tourism has traditionally been defined either in term of activities of tourists/visitors (the demand side) or in terms of the activities of businesses supplying tourists/visitors (the supply side). 

The 1991 World Tourism Organisation (WTO) Ottawa Conference on Travel and Tourism accepted the demand side of the definition as “the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes”. 

The United Nation’s specialized tourism related agency, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is vested with the objective of promotion of tourism. UNEP/UNWTO (2005) defined sustainable tourism as tourism that takes “full account of current and future economic, social and environmental impacts addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”. 

The UNEP/UNWTO definition is applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations weather mass tourism or niche tourism, including eco-tourism.

In 1972, the environment becoming an issue was prompted by the Conference on Human Environment held at Stockholm in 1972. 

The concept of sustainable development evolved since the time it was dealt in ‘1987 Brundtland report’ and in the Agenda 21 in the UNCED held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 

By a search of research literature one can find that the concept of tourism, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism evolved over years in relation to the purpose, place and size. Proper assessment of tourism development of a particular place therefore needs study in the context of sustainable tourism needs assessment in the background of empirical understanding of the subject in literature. 

The concept of sustainability in tourism has developed over the last few decades as a result of improved understanding of the applied aspects of the concept to tourism industry.

Reviewing literature, Clarke (1997) identified various authors’ approaches to the concept of sustainable tourism and identified four frameworks which in chronological order were that of polar opposites, continuum, movement and convergence. 

While the early debate whether a particular type of tourism fell in this category or not, it was largely recognized that all form of tourism must move towards sustainability. 

The early literature commonly recognized scale as the distinguishing feature but Clarke (1997) considered this as the unifying theme for the proposed framework. The first position of polar opposites was conceived when mass tourism was considered as polar opposite to sustainable tourism.

Alternative tourism (Pearse, 1992)  was the popular label for sustainable tourism and it was pulling away from mass tourism. In this position the two types were considered as ‘good’ and ‘bad’; the negative social and environmental impacts at destinations were attributed to mass tourism, a destructive tourism type.

Advocates of alternative tourism even pressed for a total replacement of mass tourism. In this framework of polar opposite position, sustainable tourism was considered as a possession of  small scale characteristics, in short small was synonymous with sustainable.

The next position in the framework is the position of a continuum between mass tourism and sustainable tourism. The view held that sustainable tourism utilized the infrastructure, transport and reservation system of mass tourism and therefore if it was not properly managed it had the potential of development into mass tourism.

With dramatic growth in international tourism from 25 million trips in 1950 (WTO, 1993) to the 531 million in 1994 (WTO, 1995a) and continued predicted growth (WTO,1995b), replacement of mass tourism with sustainable tourism was not feasible.

Sustainable tourism being considered small lacked capability and could neither manage arrival numbers nor bring the kind of economic returns required. There were problems with issues such as elitism, local ownership and control. Therefore, some researchers believed that mass tourism was not harmful if it progressed towards ‘harmonious’ tourism.

In the third position, scale became a less emotive issue and became a subject demanding improvement and alignment to sustainable development. The negative impact of mass tourism is replaced by large scale tourism. 

This position takes a more objective view to achieve the goal of sustainable tourism by making changes in large scale tourism. It is industries like mining and manufacturing which damaged the environment. 

The large scale tourism possessed several strengths like marketing, communication and contacts to foster interest in sustainable tourism; large scale has the strength to influence suppliers and distributors to persuade them to sustainable policies in supply chain. 

It appeared that the large scale tourism had more strength to move to sustainable tourism. On the demand side consumers showed more interests in green issues. 

Financial institutions were available with funds to support initiatives to move to sustainable options.  Large scale tourism showed signs of proactively moving to sustainable tourism. 

Environment becoming a major concern, it is now evident that initiatives have come from different quarters: British Airways published environmental report, the International Hotels Environment Initiative (Van Praag, 1992); and launch of ‘Green Globe’ programme across the hotel sector.

The fourth position is the current position of convergence where the objective is to reach the goal. Here regardless of the scale all tourism must strive for sustainability. In the current form the tourism is large scale, it incorporates the dominant view of large size business conforming to ecological perspectives and a small scale view of sustainability at the level of destination.

The small scale view of alternative tourism at local level takes care of local economic, social and cultural aspects. 

The current tourism is environmentally conscious trying to be compliant to international regulations. It is still evolving at both levels: the large business caters to the ever growing needs and the destination level taking care of the economic, social, cultural needs for their preservation and promotion. There are guidelines for business at all levels for implementation and follow-up.

The evolution of sustainable tourism observed above is a consequence of growing global concern for deterioration of environment. 

The beginning of this concern started with the Stockholm Conference of 1972 and a more firm affirmation of concern was laid with the  setting of Agenda 21 at the UNCED in 1992. 

UNWTO described 12 aims of  sustainable tourism as, “ economic viability, local prosperity, employment quality, social equity, visitor fulfillment, local control, community well being, cultural richness, physical integrity, biological diversity, resource efficiency and environmental purity”. 

Though UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the main international agency concerned with sustainable tourism, there are several international organizations concerned with the formulation of policy, principles, processes, standards and implementation of the programmes in this field. 

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is the main international body involved in formulation, promotion, standardization and certification of sustainable tourism principles, procedures and practice. To implement 12 aims of sustainable tourism, GSTC developed Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria for tourism and for destinations. 

The GSTC criteria developed as part of tourism sector’s response  to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability and climate change. First released in 2008, these criteria are revised regularly after consultation. The criteria indicated expectations and purposes:

(i) Guidelines for tourism related business chain using global criteria;

(ii) Guidance for travel agencies in choosing suppliers and sustainable tourism programs; 

(iii) Help consumers in identifying sound sustainable tourism programs and businesses; 

(iv) Serve as a label to recognize sustainable tourism providers and products; (v) Help certification and voluntary programs ensure that their standards conform to a broadly accepted baseline; 

(vi) Offer all agencies (governmental, non-governmental, and private ) a starting point for developing sustainable tourism requirements; 

(vii) Serve as basic guidelines for education and training bodies, such as hotel, schools and universities. For the purpose of providing guidance in measuring of compliance with the GSTC criteria, the criteria consist of 40 guidelines. 

These guidelines are for application by hotels, tour operators and destinations. Sustainable tourism criteria are the guiding principles and are built around possible socioeconomic impact, cultural impact, and environmental impact including consumption of resources, reducing pollution, conserving biodiversity, and preventing landscapes. 

GSTC criteria are the minimum which businesses and destinations should follow to achieve social, environmental, cultural and economic sustainability. Since tourism destinations have their own culture, environment, customs and laws, the criteria can be suitably adapted to local conditions and supplemented with additional criteria for specific location and activity. 

GSTC criteria have been developed for hotels, tour operators and for destinations. GSTC has developed certain standards and certification programmes for being designated as  ‘GSTC-Recognized’, ‘GSTC-approved’ and ‘.GSTC-Accredited’.

Sustainable tourism offered opportunities for creation of jobs and trade. The member states had emphasized the importance of sustainable tourism in creating decent job opportunities and trade opportunities. 

Following the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, 2012, the outcome document emphasized on the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building for promotion of environmental awareness, conservation and protection of the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity and ecosystems and cultural diversity and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities. Recommendations very relevant to countries ecologically sensitive. 

The Conference also encouraged “investment in sustainable tourism, including ecotourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small and  medium sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities” ( General Assembly resolution 66/288, annex, paras. 130 and 131). 

UNWTO, in persuasion of the General Assembly resolution 66/196, had taken a lead in preparing a report  (UN General Assembly, 68th Session) on sustainable tourism in seven small countries of Central American Region.

When Red Ants Became a Menace!

                           Red ants nest of  a small size balloon (Right). Cut open nest reveals a colony of mealy bugs.                    

The little red ants that first appeared on the mango tree in my garden last year, which I had then welcome as a guest, have now become some kind of a threat. or a hazard.The solitary nest then made by joining three or four leaves is now replaced by about six to eight balloon size nests made by joining 10 to 30 leaves. 

The nests have now been built at the highest peak of a mango tree, which is about 12-13  feet tall. The nests are guarded by alert warriors which will start jerking their slender bodies on sensing the slightest danger.

In order to find out what was happening inside those nests, I slit opened some nests. I was amazed that all the nests opened had a large colony of mealy bugs (Dorsicha sp). Though these nests were perfectly sealed from all sides, except the small opening through which the ants were moving in and out, it was surprising how the mealy bugs entered the nest.

Such a large number of mealy bugs were not present elsewhere on the mango tree. It appeared likely the bugs were transported to the nest. There is a strong possibility that as the the larvae of Dorsicha sp hatched in the soil and approached the stem they were intercepted by red ant workers at some stage and purposely brought to nest to feed the ant colony through their secretions. There seems to be a very a strong case of a symbiotic relationship the red ants have with mealy bugs.

This relationship is proved by a large number of ants moving around the colony of mealy bugs, even moving on their bodies up and down enjoying every bit of exudation from the mealy bugs’ bodies.  

There are several species of insects which live in symbiotic relationship with other organisms. For example, some ants are known to rear fungus to eat on their spores and ants eating the exudes from aphids and helping in aphids infestation across the plants.

Whatever be the case, these little organisms exemplify the importance of interdependence for mutual benefit for survival of species.

Return to My Blog

There has been an unusual delay in updating this blog. The latest post was in the last November. Of course not a very healthy sign for a blog to keep going in its objective.  A lot of changes have since taken place all around us. 

During this intervening period my engagement with several writing assignments, one after the other, kept me busy burning midnight oil. In the next few posts, I will share the knowledge I acquired doing those assignments which were undoubtedly not unrelated to our concern for environment and conservation.

Of late I have also realized that this blog needs to be freed from the tight jacket of hardcore contents related to Biodiversity in its posts. After all Biodiversity is a subject that concerns citizens more than the experts because the later are mere custodian of knowledge who research, learn and practice through application of conservation programs.

Awareness about Biodiversity conservation is now a subject matter that concerns more the public, because a strong public understanding of its importance alone can take the conservation efforts forward.

The fascinating view of the diversity of life in surroundings is very pleasing and linked to our natural urge that must be fulfilled even if it is a sparrow or a butterfly flying across the window pane. The more the better!

Functional Traits For Fish Biodiversity Assessment Offer New Opportunity In Conservation

An interesting idea put forward by a research study has redefined the ways biodiversity assessment may be taken up in future.

Traditionally, biodiversity of a place is determined by identifying number of different species or “species richness” as the basis global diversity pattern since the times of Darwin and Linnaeus. This has also constituted as the biological basis for management of threatened ecosystems.

However, a  study conducted by a global team studying reef fishes has revealed that by considering a species’ role in an ecosystem and the number of  individuals within a species, new hot spots of biodiversity can be identified.

The study, led by Dr. Rick Stuart-Smith of the University ofTasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, includes researchers, Jon Lefcheck and Professor Emmett Duffy of the Virginia Institute of MarineSciences, and scientists from Spain, and researchers from other places.

The study is based on information collected through the Reef Life Survey program, which is a “citizen science” initia­tive developed in Tasmania. The RLS program operates worldwide training recreational SCUBA divers to survey numbers of reef animals and supporting their research endeavors.

Over 100 dedicated divers have contributed to the project by looking at ecological patterns and processes impossible for scientific dive teams to cover.

As pointed out by Lefcheck, counting species is a really coarse way of understanding diversity. Gathering information, instead, on other animal’s traits—what they eat, how they move, where they live— can provide understanding of their dissimilarity, the very essence of diversity.

The study provides a fresh look at biodiversity assessment. Unlike biodiversity censuses which count species, collecting information on species role in ecosys­tems, which needs to know, how abundant they are and what they’re doing, is difficult to get.

The study is based on analysis of data from 4,357 standardized surveys, spanned over 133 degrees of latitude finding 2,473 different species of fish by RLS divers at 1,844 coral and rocky reef sites worldwide. This study is claimed to the first comprehensive study with new approach, and this  undoubtedly offers a different perspective of global diversity map.

The research team noted how the members of each of these species make a living, using a detailed matrix of “functional traits”,  which included what the fishes eat (plankton, inver­tebrates, algae, other fish, or a combination), how they eat (browsing, scraping, or predation), where they live (in, on, or near the bottom or free-swimming), weather active at night or during the day, and how gregarious they are (solitary, paired, or schooling).

By determining the biology and ecology of these fishes—noting what they do and how they do it—alters hotspots of diversity. Though coral reefs are the most species-rich habitats on earth, the trait-based view identifies new areas where the diversity of ways in which fishes function is even higher.

The study reveals that functional biodiversity is highest in places like the Galápagos with only moderate species counts, whereas functional biodiversity is low in many classical hotspots with high species counts, such as the iconic coral triangle of the west Pacific.

It is interesting to note that in coral reefs having lots of species, many are doing largely the same thing, whereas in temperate reefs with many fewer species, species tend to spread individuals out among species doing different things.

The study findings have important implications for planning and management, because incorporating information on func­tional traits into monitoring programs will add an extra dimension and greater ecological relevance to global efforts to manage and conserve marine biodi­versity.

Protect Spiders:They Are Beautiful And Useful

There are different life forms around us, and our reactions to each of them is different, depending upon their known importance and our understanding and perception about them.

Those forms which serve as our food, are source of medicines, and provide materials of economic importance are always in demand, while other forms according to general perception of people have attached tales of being harmful, dangerous and poisonous. Still others arise feelings of amusement, awe, dislike, even animosity leading to their killing at first sight.

It is likely that a spider sighted hopping on the floor, dangling on its web, or hiding behind the door, lead to its smashing with the newspaper roll, or sucking by the vacuum cleaner. Parents instead of  inducing fear against spiders may start teaching their children love and respect for spiders as marvellous creatures.

An unknown species of spider

Spiders are a class of not very much understood creatures, and are important to our ecosystem, for they greatly help in keeping in control insects populations. An unwanted spider in the home is only protecting us from mosquitoes, flies and other pests. But this does not reduce their importance as creatures of great value to the ecosystem. 

The most fascinating behaviour of their life is their predatory behaviour and the multiple means to catch their prey. Some spiders jump and catch their prey, others silently attack their prey, still others spin fascinating variety of webs to catch, and then prey on their victims.

A variety  of Tarantulla sp.

Spiders are a group of Arthropods, invertebrates with jointed legs, but unlike insects which have six legs, spiders belong to the group called arachnids which have eight legs. The other close relatives of spiders are scorpions, ticks and mites.

Spiders are ubiquitous, and are found in all continents except Antarctica. There are some 40000 species of spiders, with high order of diversity as a result of their adaptability to different ecosystems.

A closer look of spiders' body show colourful combination of  bright colours.  Their bodies are divisible into a head and abdomen, the abdomen is plump. Most spiders have eight eyes,  and feel vibrations with the help of tiny hairs on their legs. 

Spiders are good jumpers, runners, spinners. There are web-weaving and non-web weaving spiders. The weaving types are: garden spider, water spider, cobweb spider, brown recluse, black widow, funnel weaver, nursery spider.

The example of non-weaving types are: wolf spider, crab spider, tarantula, jumping spider, trapdoor spider, sac spider.

Some species spin symmetrical orb webs which reflects their great intuitive ability to design and position traps in locations that can fetch better catch.

Spiders blood is light blue and fills all empty spaces in the body to provide it shape, blood provides stiffness to legs to help in walking. 

As spiders grow they molt several times, shedding old skin and grow in new one; they molt several times before they become adult. The average life span of a spider is one year, but tarantullas can live longer.

Spiders feed on small and large insects depending upon their size; tarantulas can feed on mice, lizards and birds. Most tarantulas pose no risk to humans, the largest tarantula is known as the Goliath Birdeater. The giant Huntsman spiders has total span of legs up to 30 centi meters.

APP Released to Promote East Indies Fishes Among Masses

​​ The US based agency Conservation International (CI) has announced the release of  the “Reef Fishes Of The East Indies” mobile app, a digital guide to every known reef fish species in the most biodiverse region on the planet, based on the book of the same title.

The objective is sharing  knowledge on reef fish of the region which is of great value to the regions biodiversity. This app will increase motivation and momentum for conservation to ensure that the region’s species and their delicate ecosystems are allowed to stay balance.

Maintaining this natural capital is key to the region’s important tourism industry, and other ecosystem services the ocean provides the people.

The comprehensive guide  includes over 2,500 reef fishes of which 25 species are new to science. It summarizes 60 years of research and exploration and brings greater understanding and valuation of the immense biodiversity of reef fish in the East Indies.

The scientist authors, Mark Erdmann and Gerry Allen, have spent much of their lives at sea discovering, studying and conserving some of the most rare and beautiful fish in the world. The proceeds of this CI produced app will support CI Indonesia’s marine conservation program.

Designed for iPad and Kindle Fire, the app "Reef Fishes of the East Indies" enables users to use it at sea, with no internet connection. The app contains many useful and interactive features including search, note-taking and drawing features, detailed entries for each species, and photo-sharing by e-mail and social media.

A perfect digital guide for divers and nature lovers to use in the office, school, home or out on the open sea, it was originally created as a book but later made into an app to bring this information to the masses in an easy to access, transportable format.

The coverage area of the app includes the Coral Triangle (including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands) which alone boasts 37% of the world’s coral reef fish species.

It covers all shallow-water (0-75m) reef-associated fish species known from the region, including both obligate reef dwellers and those that are commonly observed passing through reef areas or in the soft bottom areas just adjacent to reefs.

From the majestic manta ray (Manta birostris) to the gorgeous, jewel-like mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus), with 2,655 species in over 3,000 Retina Display/High Definition photos, the sheer quantity of content is split between three volumes for iPad that link together seamlessly, so you can move instantly between one volume and another.

Organized by Classification, Family, and Species, the app will be regularly updated to keep up with the scientists’ new discoveries. Scientists have very recently found a new species of “walking” Bamboo Shark (Hemiscyllium halmahera) in the waters off the Maluku Islands, Indonesia.

Biotechnology and Biodiversity Conservation

By Mohd. Haider

Biotechnological techniques offer wide ranging opportunities for improving the quality and increased productivity of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and medicine. In context of biodiversity same techniques can be applied for conservation of biodiversity. 

Genes from plants, animals and microorganisms are the strategic raw materials for their identification, conservation and conservation, and also for selective commercial development of new agricultural and industrial products, including medicines.

Biotechnology already assists the conservation of plant and animal genetic resources through:

• Novel methods for collecting and storing genes (as improved seed and tissue culture)

• Detection and elimination of diseases in gene bank collections

• Identification of useful genes

• Improved techniques for long-term storage 

Biotechnological tools are being employed for conservation of endangered plant species of economic and medicinal importance.Tissue culture techniques have been developed for endangered species. Some major achievements have been made in conservation of environment and biodiversity.  

Modern biotechnology offers new means of improving biodiversity. If properly tested for both risk and benefits to human and the environment, transgenic crops are more likely to increase agricultural biodiversity. In the context, there are two quite different applications of biotechnology or of molecular biology that are relevant. The first is to use biotechnology as a tool for acquiring knowledge, whilst the second is to use biotechnology to directly intervene in plant and animal breeding, in particular to transfer genetic information from one sort of organism to a particular crop or farm animal to make it transgenic. 

In taxonomy molecular markers are used to identify individual strains of organisms or to identify species. This is useful in ex-situ conservation of plants, animals and microorganisms. Biotechnology is useful for following genetic markers in plant and animal breeding, animal or plant varieties are crossed by conventional or sexual means. 

By analyzing a few cells of the newly born calf or the newly sprouted crops, one can predict some of the expected properties of the progeny, by looking at the presence or absence of certain forms of genes. This enables to predict the phonetic property which will only show’s up later in life, for instance certain characteristics of a cow’s milk or the crops expected resistance to infectious diseases.

The availability of genome sequences is a boost to research. The first two complete plant genome sequences determined were those of Arabidopsis and rice. The 120 million base pair of Arabidopsis sequenced by International academic consortium. The 430 million base pair of rice was completed by Syngenta.

As we know all genes consist of DNA, and information present in DNA molecule is read in the same way in all organisms in order to make proteins. With the help of biotechnological tools it is possible to transfer gene from any organism into another organism so that the recipient should produce protein that were only produced in donor.The resulting organisms, called transgenic.

(This article is primarily a guest note written by Mohd. Haider)