Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation

Extreme climate conditions and loss of faunal biodiversity in the rainforest zone of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abiodun Olabode, Elisha Adeleke, Oriola Samuel — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Based on Scientific Consensus (NASA, 2022), it is no longer a debate that the climate has changed, is changing, and will continue to change. One of the most conspicuous aspects of contemporary global change is the rapid decline of biodiversity in many ecosystems. This research focuses on the effect of climate change on biodiversity in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State. It further identified the amount of temperature, sunshine, relative humidity, and rainfall; determining the occurrence of animal species; examining existing interrelationships among the animal species and the climatic elements; and establishing a projection pattern of animal life in the study area. The required data for the study are rainfall amount, maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, and sunshine hours between 1988 and 2023. Both descriptive (charts, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Time Series Analysis, Regression, and Correlation Analysis) were used for data analysis. The results show that the grasscutter (0.716) and Bush rat (0.648) have a strong positive relationship with relative humility, while there are negative relationships between grasscutter (-0.578, antelope (-0.569), bush rat (-0.588), and rabbit (-0.563) with sunshine, respectively. Changes in climate over the past 30 years have resulted in a significant decrease in the occurrence of the animal species in the study area. It was further projected that the current trend of temperature (33.6⁰C), and with its negative relationships with animals (-0.492, -0.442, -0.453, -0.339 and -0.429), it is possible that animal species would be in extinction as a result of further and more complex changes in climate in years to come. The study concludes that various activities such as felling of trees and urbanization, to mention but a few, result in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which in turn increases the temperature of the Earth's surface. This increased temperature is, however, detrimental to animal survival, as well as to human health. The study, however, recommends that residents of the study area and every other related environment be educated on the importance of environmental conservation,restoration projects, sustainability practices, and community engagement.

Restoring the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) Population in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Buffer Zone

Chhote Lal, Govinda Chaudhary, Nand Lal Majhi — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) population in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and its buffer zone has increased due to habitat conservation efforts. Population surveys, data analysis, and collaboration with local conservation groups have facilitated this recovery. Research indicates a link between Bengal florican distribution and habitat dynamics. This study uses data from censuses, monitoring, and local surveys to highlight the need for habitat conservation. Human activities threaten these habitats despite improvements, underscoring the importance of ongoing conservation measures.

Biodiversity Loss Due to Forest Diversion

Disha Hingnekar, Sharda Dhadse — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Forests, constituting 31% of Earth's surface, are crucial ecosystems vital for regulating ecosystem functions. Despite their ecological sensitivity and diverse contributions, such as food and water supply, biodiversity habitats, and climate regulation, global forests face escalating threats from industrialisation, urbanisation, and population growth. Development activities like urban expansion, transport, and hydroelectricity generation exacerbate the loss of ecological diversity, resulting in forest disappearance, habitat fragmentation, and altered land use. Forest diversion, involving clearing for agriculture and non-forestry purposes, poses a significant menace, with 80.30% of such diversions concentrated in Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. In 2017 alone, 11,596.18 hectares of forest land were approved for non-forestry use. These diversions have far-reaching negative impacts on biodiversity, habitat loss, species extinction, invasive species, forest employment, wildlife corridors, food chains, and human-animal conflicts.

Biodiversity loss due to road widening and a new highway

Achal chole, Sharda Dhadse, Purshottam Sakhare — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

A vast network of motorized roads stretches throughout the region, revealing an unexpected ecological border. Road construction and maintenance can decrease the permeability of the terrain, lead to habitat loss, and exacerbate habitat fragmentation. Road collaboration is a major global trend that is improving transportation networks, but it also poses potential dangers to wildlife that haven't been well evaluated. Road networks impede significant interior species because they disrupt horizontal biological fluxes and change the spatial layout of the landscape. The decline in the amount and value of natural habitat is mostly attributed to transportation facilities, particularly road networks. A significant global trend is the twinning of roads to improve transportation networks; however, this practice may pose unknown risks to wildlife. This highlights the need for more carefully thought-out and planned infrastructure and road development, as well as for a deeper comprehension of the nation's hunting customs.

A review of mycorrhizal fungi and its effect on medicinal plants

Ali Rahimi, Yousef Askari — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Medicinal plants have existed in Iran's agricultural systems since ancient times. These plants were used as traditional medicine in Iranian medicine. However, medicinal plants have always been affected by ecological factors, and their active ingredients and yields have undergone changes, and secondary metabolites have increased in some plants under environmental stress conditions and decreased in other plants. There are strategies to deal with these stresses in the natural and cultivated ecosystem of medicinal plants in the environment, such as using beneficial microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, and this research was done for this purpose. In this study, the results showed that mycorrhizal fungi are soil organisms that can create an excellent physiological relationship with the plant by coexisting with the roots of plants. Mycorrhizal fungi are soil organisms that can create an excellent physiological relationship with the plant by coexisting with the roots of plants. During environmental stress, the colonization of mycorrhizal fungi with plant roots leads to an increase in plant secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and essential oils, and by changing the antioxidant activity (increasing superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) and increasing the amount of phosphorus, the plant strengthens.

Carbon sequestration by terrestrial and marine biodiversity- a tool for combating climate change

Shahnoor Khan, Sharda Dhadse — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Carbon sequestration by terrestrial and marine biodiversity is a critical mechanism for mitigating climate change. This paper explores the significant role of diverse ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes, in capturing and storing carbon. Terrestrial ecosystems act as substantial carbon sinks through processes such as photosynthesis, organic matter decomposition, and soil carbon storage, with grasslands being particularly noteworthy. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including seagrasses, mangroves, and salt marshes, efficiently trap and store carbon in marine environments. Marine biodiversity, encompassing coral reefs and plankton, also contributes to carbon sequestration through various mechanisms. Despite their importance, these ecosystems face threats from climate change and human activities. Preserving and restoring biodiversity in both terrestrial and marine environments is crucial for maintaining their capacity to sequester carbon and, consequently, for global climate change mitigation. This review underscores the urgent need to prioritize conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding these invaluable ecosystems for the benefit of the planet's climate and biodiversity.