Three new species of Atalophlebiinae (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) of India, with a new record of the genus Megaglena Peters and Edmunds, 1970

Three new species of Leptophlebiidae viz., Choroterpes (Choroterpes) andamanensis Vasanth, Subramanian & Selvakumar n. sp., Edmundsula meghamalaiensis Vasanth, Subramanian & Selvakumar n. sp. and Megaglena agasthiya Vasanth, Subramanian & Selvakumar n. sp. are described based on our recent exploration of mayflies from the streams of Andaman Island, Tamil Nadu and Kerala part of the southern Western Ghats. The genus Megaglena Peters & Edmunds, 1970 has extended the distribution in southern peninsular India as represented by the occurrence of M. agasthiya n. sp. Larval key is provided to the known and new species of subgenus Choroterpes of India along with the distribution map of new species.

Get my head around owls: people perception and knowledge about owls of Andaman Islands

Understanding people’s perceptions and knowledge about birds in an endemic bird area is a prerequisite for bird conservation. This is more so in the case of non-charismatic birds such as owls. In this context, we conducted a questionnaire survey about owls in the North Andaman Island between January 2016 and 2018. We interviewed 203 respondents from six market places in North Andaman tehsil, and collected data on their socio-economic status as well as their knowledge on owls. Although all the respondents were familiar with owls, only 9% of them identified all species of owls in the Andaman Islands. Around 98% of respondents were aware of owl diets, either partly or wholly. We found several superstitious beliefs revolving around owls. Two species, Otus sunia and Ninox obscura were associated with negative beliefs while Tyto deroepstorffi was associated with positive beliefs. Generalized linear model with the demographical predictors showed that positive attitudes towards owls is associated with age (older), education (literacy), revenue villages and temporary houses. We conclude that Tyto deroepstorffi had the highest positive values among islanders and hence, may be considered as a focal species to create awareness about owls and to protect other endemic owls of the Andaman Islands. Awareness programmes targeting younger, illiterate people, and land encroachers may help in conservation of cryptic owl species of Andaman.

Impact of sea level rise and shoreline changes in the tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar region, India

We report here a four decades of shoreline changes and possible sea level rise (SLR) impact on landuse/landcover (LULC) in Little Andaman Island by using remote sensing (RS) and GIS techniques. A total of six remote sensing data sets covering years between 1976 and 2018 were used to understand the shoreline changes. Moreover, a Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) was used to estimate short- and long- term shoreline changes from ArcGIS environment. Besides, the Island vulnerability due to SLR was studied through using digital elevation model (DEM). As a result of Sumatra earthquake (2004), the results were showed a significant variation in shorline upliftment and subsidence. The land subsidence was noticed in the range of 1042-3077 ha with sea level rise between 1 and 5 m. Hence, we conclude that Little Andaman Island is vulnerable to SLR and overwhelm low elvation coastal zone.

Identification and evaluation of bunch components of Nigerian source oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) from Hut Bay, Little Andaman Island, India

Aim: The present study was carried out with an aim to select promising individual oil palms from Nigerian source population at Hut Bay, Little Andaman Island for utilization in breeding programme, enrich germplasm assemblage and conservation in the field gene bank. Methodology: The Nigerian source oil palm were subjected to fruit cut testing and evaluated for eleven bunch quality components of horticultural importance at Oil Palm Research Centre, Palode in Kerala. Results: The maximum standard deviation was observed for total number of fruits followed by total number of spikelet and percentage of shell/fruit, whereas highest CV % was recorded for bunch weight followed by oil to bunch %, single fruit weight and single nut weight. The four identified palms had maximum values of bunch components viz, total number of spikelet, single fruit weight, total number of fruits, mesocarp tofruit and oil to bunch with 262, 15.79g, 2246, 73.79 % and 37.3 %, respectively. Principal Component Analysis of bunch components revealed that the first three principal components accounted for 79.1% of the variability observed with Eigen value more than one. The most important bunch components that contributed more to the diversity of the oil palms are fruit to bunch, single nut weight, single kernel weight, bunch weight, total number of spikelets, total number of fruits and shell thickness. Interpretation: The significant genetic diversity observed among the individual palms of Nigerian source suggests that these palms are best donors of new genes for oil palm improvement as well as widening the genetic base.

Cumulate gabbros in the South Andaman Island Ophiolite Suite (India): their bearing on the tectonic setting.

The Andaman Ophiolite of south-eastern India is located on the outer arc of the Andaman-Java subduction zone. It is represented by thrust slices formed in the Mesozoic Neo-Tethyan Ocean. Lithologically, it consists of dismembered mafic and ultramafic rocks and associated oceanic pelagic sediments. The present study focuses on the mafic cumulate rocks of the Andaman Ophiolite preserved in the Kodiaghat and the Mundapahar area of the South Andaman Island. The mafic cumulates are represented by olivine-bearing and olivine-free gabbros. The sequence of crystallisation in the gabbros is olivines (Fo~80) ± chromian spinels (Cr# 59 - 57), plagioclases (An95−61), clinopyroxenes (Mg# = 89 - 82) and amphiboles (Mg-hornblende, edenite and pargasite). Major oxide and trace element whole rock geochemistry and mineral compositions are consistent with a hybrid signature of Island Arc Tholeiite (IAT) - Mid Oceanic Ridge Basalt (MORB). Geochemical modelling shows that trapped melt fractions of 0 – 20 % can produce the observed trace element signatures of these gabbros. Our findings suggest that the gabbroic cumulates of the Andaman ophiolite were formed in an oceanic back-arc and oceanic arc setting developed in the Neo-Tethyan oceanic domain between the Indian and the Burmese plates during Late Cretaceous age.

Ethnobotany of three sea grass species from Port Blair, a step towards its conservation in Andaman Islands

Ethno-phycology is the study of the relationships of human society to flora and its ecosystem. In the marine world, ethno-biology is a thriving area of research which have yielded valuable ethno-biological knowledge. The main goal of the present study was to understand the effect of abiotic factors as well as the natural and anthropogenic disturbances that shape seagrass community in Andaman Island and to reveal the knowledge of the local people, about the significance of seagrass habitat and its conservation. The qualitative study on distribution of seagrasses in Chidiyatapu (11° 29' 30" to 11° 30' 34" N and 92° 35' 10" to 92° 42' 30" E) was carried out during December2012 to February 2013. A total of three seagrass species such as Thalassia hempirichi (Ehrenberg) Ascherson, 1871, Halodule uninervis (R.Brown) J.D.Hooker 1858, Halophila ovalis (Forsskål) Ascherson 1882, where identified. Among them, T. hempirichi, and H. ovalis found in this study was reported to have the ethno-medicinal value from west coast of India. As a part of the study, the semi-structured survey was carried out among the local coastal people to analyse the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). The survey has revealed the unawareness of coastal residents about the medicinal, nutritional as well as conservational values of seagrasses. An effective implementation has to be taken to make them aware that seagrasses are fundamental components of healthy marine ecosystems and the local livelihoods that rely on them. The present findings provide the first report on the ethno-phycology of seagrasses from South Andaman Island.