#agro ecosystem

[oaresearchpaper]

Assessment of diversity and distribution of Bivalves (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Indus River District Mianwali, Pakistan

Fresh water mussels have never been the paid attention in freshwater water aquaculture of Punjab with reference to their diversity and distribution. Total number of 300 fresh water bivalves were collected from different selected sites of the River Indus i.e. Chashma Barrage, Jinnah Barrage and Dhair Yaru wala. The specimens were identified on the basis of recent identification keys and diagrammatic description provided in them, to understand the biodiversity of the bivalvia in these localities. It was found that the specimens belonged to ten species, five genera and only to the family Unionidae. The species abundance along with monthly variation of these species at various sites was estimated. The data was subjected to Shannon & Weiner Diversity index showing that all selected sites (Chashma barrage, Jinnah Barrage & Dhair Yaru wala) of river Indus had significant species diversity of the fresh water bivalvia belonging to the family Unionidae.

[oaresearchpaper]

Terrestrial snails as bioindicators of environmental degradation

The snails are very important part of the food chain and excellent source of calcium in the ecosystem for the birds during their breeding season. They are intermediate hosts of many parasites. This study was conducted to estimate the species relative abundance, the effects of abiotic factors on different snail species, which led us to the finding of the indicator species in the agro ecosystem of Faisalabad,. Total of 19,290 snails were collected from crop lands of 24 villages. The species were identified with the help of recent identification keys and RAPD markers. Three snail species i.e. Physa fontinalis, Zooctecus insularis and Ceciliodes acicula were found completely absent from most of the villages except a few, indicating that the possible cause may be presence of arsenic. Other abiotic factors i.e. Cd, Pb, pH and Electrical conductivity are within the permissible limits. These species can be considered extremely important for biomonitoring. This study can be used as a predictive model to estimate environmental degradation.