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Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication Baseline biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvati Kunda and surrounding area in Rasuwa, Nepal

Jessie Anna Moravek, Mohan Bikram Shrestha & Sanjeevani Yonzon

26 April 2019 | Vol. 11 | No. 6 | Pages: 13734–13747 DOI: 10.11609/jot.4481.11.6.13734-13747

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Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747

Baseline biodiversity and physiochemical survey in

Communication Parvati Kunda and surrounding area in Rasuwa, Nepal

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) Jessie Anna Moravek 1 , Mohan Bikram Shrestha 2 & Sanjeevani Yonzon 3 ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) PLATINUM 1,2,3 Wildlife Conservaiton Nepal, Bafal, Kathmandu 44600 Nepal. 1 2 3 OPEN ACCESS [email protected] (corresponding author), [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract: Parvat Kunda, a small, alpine wetland located near the village of Gatlang in Rasuwa, Nepal, is a major source of drinking water for the village, possesses spiritual signifcance, and is a reservoir of local biodiversity. This study presents the frst scientfcally conducted biodiversity survey of the wetland. Here, biodiversity data (wetland plants, birds, mammals, aquatc insects), basic water chemistry (nutrients, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductvity), and basic bacterial tests (total coliform, Escherichia coli, Giardia, Salmonella, Shigella) for the Parvat Kunda wetland is presented from November 2016 and February and May 2017. Parvat Kunda, two of three alternate village water sources, and several village taps were found to be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Within and around the wetland, 25 species of wetland plants, nine tree species, 10 macroinvertebrate taxa, 37 bird species, and at least six mammal species were documented. Acorus calamus was the dominant wetland plant and the rapid proliferaton of this species over the past twenty years has been reported by community members. Future studies that further document and monitor wetland biodiversity are necessary. This study provides a valuable baseline for future research in this culturally and ecologically important wetland.

Keywords: Acorus calamus, Escherichia coli, eutrophicaton, Himalaya, wetland monitoring.

Nepalese Abstract: ;f/: kfjtL{s'08 Ps ;fgf] t/ ;f+:s[lts / kfl/l:ylts ?kdf dxTjk"0f{ pRr kxf8L If]qdf cjl:yt l;d;f/ xf] . of] s'08 /;'jf lhNnfsf] l:yt uTnfª ufpFsf] glhs /x]sf] 5 . of] uTnfª ufpFsf] nflu kLpg] kfgLsf] d'Vo ;|f]t xf] / o;sf] :yfgLo h}ljs ljljwtfdf dxTjk"0f{ of]ubfg ePtfklg To;sf] clen]v /flvPsf] kfO{Pg . To;sf/0f gf]e] Da/ @)!^, k]ma|'c/L @)!& / d] @)!& df o; cWoogsf lj1x?sf] 6f]nL4f/f r/0fa4 ?kdf ul/Psf] ;j]{If0f / :yfgLo dflg;x?;Fusf] cGt/lqmofaf6 cfPsf] hfGsf/Lsf] cfwf/df uTnfª kfjtL{s'08 If]qdf ePsf ?v tyf jg:klt, :tgwf/L, k+IfL, z'Id hLjf0f'x?, hnLo hLjx?sf] klxnf] la:t[t ;"rLsf] lasf; ePsf] 5 . o;sf ;fy} kfjtL{s'08 / cf;kf;df ePsf] kfgLsf] ef}lts—/f;folgs u'0f, kfgLdf ePsf kf]ifs tTjx? tyf lkPr, 3'lnt cls;hgsf] dfqf, ljB'lto nrstf h:tf s'/fx?sf] jt{dfg dfkgsf] cj:yf yfx ePsf] 5 . uTnfª ufpFdf pkof]u x'g] kfgLsf tLgj6f a}slNks ;|f]tx? dWo] @ j6fdf / ufpFdf ePsf % j6f wf/fx?df Osf]nL hLjf0f'af6 kfgL b'lift ePsf] kfOPsf] 5] . l;d;f/ If]qsf] jl/k/L @% k|hfltsf hnLo jg:kltx?, ( k|hfltsf ?vx?, !) k|hfltsf z'IdhLjf0f'x?, #& k|hfltsf r/fx? / !) k|hfltsf :tgwf/L hgfj/x?sf] clen]v ul/Psf] 5 . af]emf] (Acorus calamus) k|hfltsf] jg:klt l;d;f/ If]qdf ;aeGbf a9L dfqfdf /x]sf] kfOof], h'g laut @) jif{b]lv Jofks ?kdf a[l4 eO/x]sf] 5 . o; ;j]{If0fsf] clen]vn] eljiodf o; ;DaGwL x'g] cWoog cg';Gwfgdf tyf kl/jt{gsf k|j[ltx?sf] t'ngf ug{ / a'e\mg cfwf/e"t tYofª\sx? k|bfg ug]{5 . kfj{tLs'08 l;d;f/ If]qsf] kof{j/0fLo kl/df0f÷j:t'÷;"rsx?sf] lg/Gt/ ?kdf lg/ LIf0f / n]vfhf]vf ul//xg ;'emfj lbOG5 .

DOI: htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.4481.11.6.13734-13747

Editor: L.A.K. Singh, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Date of publicaton: 26 April 2019 (online & print)

Manuscript details: #4481 | Received 11 August 2018 | Final received 01 April 2019 | Finally accepted 05 April 2019

Citaton: Moravek, J., M.B. Shrestha & S. Yonzon (2019). Baseline biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda and surrounding area in Rasuwa, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11(6): 13734–13747. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.4481.11.6.13734-13747

Copyright: © Moravek et al. 2019. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of this artcle in any medium by adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

Funding: The Asia Foundaton, The Luce Foundaton, Wildlife Conservaton Nepal.

Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests.

Author details: Jessie Anna Moravek previously worked as a research consultant at Wildlife Conservaton Nepal. She is now a postgraduate student at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. Mohan Bikram Shrestha former conservaton ofcer at Wildlife Conservaton Nepal. Sanjeevani Yonzon is the program director at Wildlife Conservaton Nepal.

Author contributon: JAM organized and conducted feld data collecton (plants, trees, macroinvertebrates, water chemistry) and wrote the manuscript. MBS organized feld logistcs, conducted feld data collecton (trees, birds, mammals), and consulted on the manuscript. SY acted as project supervisor and consulted on the manuscript.

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the people of Gatlang, partcularly Cher Shing Tamang, Mingmar Tamang, and Nabeen Lama for assistance in logistcs. Further thanks to Rajeshwar Rijal from Wildlife Conservaton Nepal, and to Prajjwal Rajbhandari at the Research Insttute for Bioscience and Biotechnology. Dr Ram Devi Tachamo-Shah at Kathmandu University, Dr Nirmala Pradhan at the Nepal Natural History Museum, and persons at the Godawari Natonal Herbarium provided species identfcaton advice. This work was jointly funded by The Asia Foundaton, the Henry Luce Foundaton, and Wildlife Conservaton Nepal.

13734 Biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda, Nepal Moravek et al.

INTRODUCTION of Parvat Kunda to regional vegetaton and bird and macroinvertebrate biodiversity, and ultmately The Himalaya, ofen considered the “water towers of provide informaton that will promote the sustainable Asia”, provide water for almost 1.3 billion people living management of the wetland ecosystem. downstream (Xu et al. 2007). Nowhere, however, are the Himalayan water resources as critcal as in the mountains Study site themselves. Communites throughout the Himalaya Parvat Kunda is in ward number three of Aama depend on alpine wetlands for drinking water, rely on Chhodingmo Rural Municipality, about 100km north of wetland fora and fauna for food and medicine, and Kathmandu in Nepal’s Rasuwa District. Climactcally, atach spiritual signifcance to bodies of water (Pandit the region is cold and snowy in December through 1999; Xu et al. 2009). Furthermore, the Himalayan February and temperature maximums occur between wetlands provide pristne, favourable habitats for fora May and July. Seasonal climate variatons are dominated and fauna in otherwise harsh mountain environments by the Indian monsoon that occurs between June and and are therefore important reservoirs of biodiversity September, while small scale climactc variatons depend (Murray 2009). on alttude and aspect (Kharel 1997). The Himalayan wetlands face many threats. Climate Parvat Kunda is just outside Langtang Natonal change already causes rapid glacial reducton in many Park. The NP encompasses 1,710km2 (660mi2) area areas and the ongoing rise in temperature will likely in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhulpalchok districts in impact rain paterns, wetland thermal regimes, and the central Himalayan region. Langtang NP and the habitat for fora and fauna, jeopardizing sensitve wetland surrounding area are home to 46 types of mammals and ecosystems and threatening critcal water sources (Yao 250 species of birds, including several rare and protected et al. 2004; IPCC 2007; Tse-ring et al. 2010; Gerlitz et al. species such as Snow Leopard Panthera uncia, Clouded 2015). Another major threat to the Himalayan wetlands Leopard Neofelis nebulosi, Leopard Panthera pardus, and is eutrophicaton. Eutrophicaton is characterized by Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Fox et al. 1996; DNPWC 2019). excessive plant and algal growth in a body of water, Gatlang Village is located at 2,300m on a trekking which ofen results from human actvites that produce route called Tamang Heritage Trail and is known for excessive nitrogen and phosphorus waste, such as raising its traditonal Tamang architecture. Most inhabitants livestock or applying fertlizer (Carpenter et al. 1998; of Gatlang identfy as Tamang and speak the Tamang Schindler 2006; Binzer et al. 2016). Multple studies language (Merrey et al. 2018). Like other parts of the in Himalayan wetlands identfed eutrophicaton from Langtang region, people grow potato, maize, buckwheat, human-generated polluton as a major threat to regional beans, millet, and barley; raise ‘chauri’ (Nepali: yak- wetland ecosystem health (Khan et al. 2004; Romshoo & cow hybrid), sheep, and goats; and run lodges, jeep Rashid 2014). businesses, or make handicrafs that cater to tourists Parvat ‘Kunda’ (Nepali: pond; also called (Merrey et al. 2018). Gatlang is accessible by road, ‘Chhodingmo’), a small wetland in the Rasuwa District of although there is no regular bus service. Nepal, provides drinking water to the nearby village of Parvat Kunda (85.261oE & 28.156oN) is a 1.87­­- Gatlang that consists of about 400 households (Merrey hectare groundwater and rainfall/ snowmelt-fed et al. 2018; Fig. 1). Parvat Kunda also holds spiritual eutrophic wetland located at 2,600m. The wetland is signifcance to the people in Gatlang and is a harbour located 300m above Gatlang and lies on the northern of local biodiversity. A brief, qualitatve assessment of edge of Bongjomane Community Forest from which Parvat Kunda was performed by World Wildlife Fund in the community members harvest fodder, frewood, and 2007 (Manandhar 2007) and surveys focussed on local tmber. Parvat Kunda is religiously signifcant and is livelihoods (e.g., Merrey et al. 2018). We, however, could ofen the subject of local religious festvals. Water from not access any scientfc studies from Parvat Kunda that the deep centre of the wetland is connected to a system may have characterized the wetland and provide data on of pipes and public taps in the village. Some village taps biodiversity or water chemistry. As global temperatures are fed from one of the three additonal springs in the rise and human development advances in Gatlang and vicinity. Water fows out through a small opening on throughout Nepal, it is critcal to establish a baseline the northeastern edge of the wetland, where a man- in Parvat Kunda now so as to assess the extent and made wall confnes the outlow channel to about 1m in consequences of future changes. Furthermore, such width (Fig. 3a). The outlow descends 300m over 1km to baseline informaton will characterize the contributon Gatlang Village.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747 13735 Biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda, Nepal Moravek et al.

Figure 1. Village Gatlang and Dunche (Dhunche), the administratve seat of Rasuwa District in Nepal (inset).

METHODS 1976). Unidentfed species were collected in herbarium sheets for identfcaton by experts at the Natonal Parvat Kunda was surveyed three tmes, in Herbarium in Godavari. Per cent cover of each species November 2016 and in February and May 2017. Surveys was visually estmated and the number of individuals for partcular taxa groups were conducted when of each species was counted. For rhizomous species seasonally appropriate. Vegetaton and physicochemical such as Juncus leucanthus or Acorus calamus, where parameters were measured in 18 quadrats within the multple shoots might be connected by a single root wetland, and others were analyzed in a subset of 10 for system, individual shoots were counted to avoid digging macroinvertebrates and 12 nutrient quadrats. up the entre plant. In cases where moss was present, the number of individuals were counted in three 10cm Wetland Vegetaton x 10cm sample plots and used to calculate the average The locatons of vegetaton quadrats within Parvat number of individuals per square metre. This was used Kunda included the infow plus 17 randomly determined to estmate the number of individuals in quadrats. locatons from ArcGIS (ESRI 2014; Fig. 3b). Vegetaton Specifc informaton about the proliferaton of surveys included areas that were permanently inundated A. calamus in Parvat Kunda over the last 20 years with emergent or foatng macrophytc vegetaton, was gathered during conversatons with community but excluded open water, i.e., the areas inundated members. Such local accounts are considered important but lacking emergent macrophytc vegetaton. Open to understand changes in Parvat Kunda over tme since water was excluded from the locaton generator using prior published data on wetland vegetaton does not satellite imagery and ArcGIS (ESRI 2014; Google Earth exist to the best of our knowledge. Before commencing 2016). No survey site was more than 0.7m deep and all biodiversity surveys, the researchers interviewed seven could be accessed by wading. Vegetaton surveys were high-profle community leaders specifcally about water conducted in November and May only. February was resources in the village. Further insight into questons excluded because there was minimal vegetaton growth. about changes in Parvat Kunda could be obtained Quadrat-based sampling was applied to the vegetaton from 31 household surveys that were conducted in study using 0.5m2 square quadrats and plants were conjuncton with another study during this tme. identfed using standard taxonomic keys (Malla et al.

13736 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747 Biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda, Nepal Moravek et al.

Riparian Trees Table 1. Tests and methods used for detecton and quantfcaton of Four circular riparian tree plots were created on the nutrients and detecton of pathogens. All tests were performed by CEMAT Water Labs in Kathmandu, Nepal. northern, southwestern, southern, and northeastern sides of the wetland (Fig. 3c). The plots measured 5m Test Method used in radius, 78.54m2 in area, covering at least 5% of the Total phosphorus ISO 6878:1998(E) riparian area as defned by the wetland boundary wall. Nitrate ISO 7890-3 Trees with a diameter at breast height greater than Ammonia 4500-NH3 C, APHA 17th Ed.

10cm were identfed and counted. Total coliform 9221 B, APHA 17th Ed.

E. coli 9221 F, APHA 17th Ed. Aquatc Macroinvertebrate Survey Salmonella spp. 9260 B, APHA 17th Ed. Aquatc macroinvertebrate surveys were conducted Shigella spp. 9260 E, APHA 17th Ed. in May in 10 of the vegetaton plots using the pipe Ova/ worms/ Giardia/ amoeba/ - method (Briton & Greeson 1989), where a sturdy plastc cyst bucket with a height of 0.81m and diameter 0.288m and no botom was placed frmly in the mud at each sampling locaton (Fig. 3d). Using a net, the water inside the bucket was agitated and all insects and loose debris were 18 quadrats and the outlet in November, February, and scooped out with fve to six scoops of the net, ensuring May. Measurements for dissolved oxygen, temperature, that at least three scoops scraped the botom. Contents pH, and electrical conductvity were performed using of the net were placed in a sieve and excess debris was handheld probes, namely, Lutron DO meter 519, Hanna rinsed and removed in the feld. The remaining debris pHep meter, and Hanna DiST meter. Nitrate, ammonia, and macroinvertebrates were preserved in 60% ethanol. and total phosphate were measured at a subset of 12 In the laboratory, invertebrates were sorted, counted, quadrats (Fig. 3e). To measure nutrients, samples were and identfed to family level. The Nepal lake biotc collected in 500ml clean plastc sample botles, kept index (NLBI) and lake water quality class (LWQC) were cold, and transported to Kathmandu within 24 hours. calculated using family level identfcaton according to Lab work and analysis were performed by CEMAT Water Tachamo-Shah et al. (2011). Labs, Kathmandu, Nepal, the procedural references for which are presented in Table 1. Bird Survey In November, February, and May the point-count Biological Water Quality method was used for bird observatons in which a single Because Parvat Kunda is an important source of observer stayed in one fxed positon during a specifed drinking water for the Gatlang community, we performed period of tme and recorded all birds seen or heard during bacterial tests in the wetland and in several other spring- that period (Ralph et al. 1995). This method was used fed water sources and village taps. Using public data for one hour in the morning and evening. The tmings of on water-borne illnesses from the village health centre observatons were 07.00–08.00 h and 16.00–17.00 h in to guide our study, we tested for multple bacterial May and 08.00–09.00 h and 15.00–16.00 h in November contaminants, including total coliform, Escherichia and February, for two consecutve days during each coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Giardia, and for the possible survey period. A single observer stood on the northern presence of any ova, worms, cysts, or amoeba. Tests bank of the wetland where they had a good view of the for total coliform, E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella were entre wetland area with the aid of binoculars. performed in February and May. Tests for Giardia and other microscopic stages were done in May. Sampling Wildlife Observaton was performed at three locatons in Parvat Kunda—the Data on animals were gathered from direct sightng, inlet, the outlet, and WQ1. Tests were also conducted in evidence of animal usage from faeces, wallows three additonal spring sources, namely, Chyange Spring, and walking signs, and mentons by local people. Sanglang Ghode Spring, and Shernemba Spring, which Photographic evidence of animals were collected when supplied water to six village taps (Fig. 4). Water samples possible. were collected in pre-sterilized 250ml collecton botles, kept cold, and transported to Kathmandu within 24 Physiochemical Parameters hours. Lab work and analysis was performed by CEMAT Physical water parameters were measured in each of Water Labs (Table 1).

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747 13737 Biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda, Nepal Moravek et al.

Data Analysis agar slant and lauryl tryptose broth fermentaton tube For analysis of wetland vegetaton and data from for 24h at 35C. If gas was produced at this stage, part of tree surveys, we used density and Simpson’s reciprocal the agar slant growth was gram stained. If gram negatve index of biodiversity, rods were present, coliform was present. Coliform density was estmated by calculatng the most probable number (MPN) value from the number of positve green lactose bile tubes (9221 B, APHA 17th Ed.). Escherichia where n = the total number of organisms of a coli was identfed using the membrane flter method. A partcular species and N = the total number of organisms quantty of 100mL of sample water was fltered through of all species. The indices were calculated for each a 0.45μm pore size membrane flter and placed on a quadrat using the vegan package in R (R Development plate of M-endo agar. The plate was incubated at 35C Core Team 2016). Simpson’s reciprocal index was used for 24h and bacterial colonies were inspected for red- because it tends to be less sensitve to both the shape metallic colour indicatng E. coli. Density was estmated of the abundance distributon and small sample sizes, with MPN (9221 F, APHA 17th Ed.). compared to other diversity metrics (Gotelli & Chao Salmonella and Shigella samples were pre-enriched 2013). in peptone water, then enriched in tetrathionate broth NLBI was calculated by assigning scores to each and incubated at 35C for 24h. The samples were macroinvertebrate identfed according to family. The streaked on Salmonella Shigella (SS) agar. The selectve sum of these scores divided by the number of scored solid media allowed plates to be screened for the taxa is equivalent to the NLBI. The NLBI score was then presence or absence of both Salmonella and Shigella translated to a LWQC ratng that indicates the degree of (9260 B and E, APHA 17th Ed.). Giardia, ova, worms, polluton likely in the waterbody (Tachamo-Shah et al. and cysts were identfed by microscopic observaton of 2011). 100ml of sample for presence/ absence analysis. Total phosphorus was determined using the ammonium molybdate spectrometric method. Ascorbic acid and acid molybdate were added to a 30ml fltered RESULTS subsample and formed a complex with orthophosphate ions. The complex was then reacted with ascorbic acid Biodiversity Surveys to form a blue compound, and the absorbance of this Vegetaton compound was measured against a calibraton curve Twenty-fve species of plants were identfed from to determine the concentraton of orthophosphate in surveys of wetland vegetaton (Fig. 3b; Table 2). Surveys the sample (ISO 6878:1998(E)). Nitrate was measured also identfed a large populaton of Sphagnum palustre, with the spectrometric method using sulfosalicylic acid. a type of peat moss that is rare in Rasuwa District Sodium salicylate and sulfuric acid were added to a 30ml (Nirmala Pradhan pers. comm. December 2016). fltered subsample and reacted with nitrate. Afer alkali The total area of the wetland dominated by Acorus treatment, a yellow compound formed. The absorbance calamus was demarcated by a combinaton of feld of this compound was used to determine the nitrate measurements on a geographic positoning system concentraton (ISO 7890-3). The nesslerizaton method (GPS) and visual analysis of satellite imagery in ArcGIS was used to measure ammonia concentraton. The water (ESRI 2014; Fig. 3a). Acorus calamus covered about sample was fltered, bufered with a borate bufer, and 7,140m2 of the wetland or 38% of the total wetland then distlled into a boric acid soluton. Nessler reagent surface area. Within vegetaton survey plots, A. calamus was added to the distllate, reacted with ammonia to covered an average of 37% of the area within the 18 produce a yellow colour, and ammonia concentraton survey quadrats, verifying the visual determinaton of A. was measured spectrophotometrically (4500-NH3 C, calamus coverage in ArcGIS. APHA 17th Ed.). Five of seven key informants identfed an increase in Total coliform was identfed using a fermentaton A. calamus and perceived the species as a major threat technique. Lauryl tryptose broth was inoculated in to the wetland. Sixty-fve per cent of respondents in fermentaton tubes and incubated for 24h at 35C. If gas household surveys also identfed an increase in A. or acid was produced, samples were transferred to green calamus as the most notceable change in Parvat Kunda lactose bile and incubated for 48h at 35C. If coliform over the past 20 years (Yonzon unpub. data). colonies were observed, samples were transferred to an Nine species of trees were identfed during tree

13738 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747 Biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda, Nepal Moravek et al.

Table 2. Wetland vegetaton recorded in Parvat Kunda, Nepal, in surveys in four diferent survey plots around the wetland 2016–2017. (Fig. 2; Table 3). Tree diversity (Simpson’s reciprocal

Order Family Scientfc name index) ranged from 2.571 on the western side (plot 2) to

Acorales Acoraceae Acorus calamus 4.378 on the eastern side (plot 4) of the wetland.

Apiales Apiaceae Acronema tenerum Macroinvertebrate Surveys Asparagales Orchidaceae Spiranthes sinensis In total, 10 aquatc macroinvertebrate taxa were Asterales Asteraceae Aster tricephalus identfed through surveys (Table 4). The NLBI was Asterales Asteraceae Pseudognaphalium afne calculated using these invertebrates to assess the Asterales Asteraceae Senecio laetus overall ecological quality of the wetland. Parvat Kunda Brassicales Brassicaceae Cardamine fexuosa received a ‘poor’ LWQC ratng, indicatng a likely high Brassicales Brassicaceae C. impatens level of nutrient polluton (Tachamo-Shah et al. 2011). Brassicales Brassicaceae C. loxostemonoides Caryophyllales Caryophyllaceae Arenaria debilis Bird and Mammal Surveys Caryophyllales Polygonaceae Persicaria nepalensis Point-count bird surveys identfed 37 species of

Caryophyllales Polygonaceae Persicaria sp. birds in and around the wetland (Table 5). Opportunistc

Caryophyllales Polygonaceae Rumex nepalensis observatons by the feld research team confrmed the presence of six mammal species in or near the wetland Lamiales Lamiaceae Elsholtzia strobilifera area, within 10m from the water’s edge. Community Lamiales Scrophulariaceae Hemiphragma heterophyllum members identfed four additonal mammals that were Lycopodiales Lycopodiaceae Lycopodium japonica not directly observed by the researchers (Table 6). Malpighiales Hypericaceae Hypericum japonica Paeoniales Paeoniaceae Rubus terutleri Water Propertes Poales Juncaceae Juncus himalensis Ammonium and total phosphate levels were mostly Poales Juncaceae J. leucanthus negligible (<0.1mg/l). Nitrate was higher at the inlet Calamogrosts Poales Poaceae (2.3mg/l in February and 2.9mg/l in May), but low or pseudophragmites negligible in other locatons (Table 7). Other parameters Poales Poaceae Miscanthus nepalensis including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and Ranunculales Ranunculaceae Anemone rivularis electrical conductvity difered over seasons. Average Ranunculales Ranunculaceae Ranunculus cantoniensis values are presented in Table 8. Sphagnales Sphagnaceae Sphagnum palustre

Figure 2. Percent distributon of tree species found around Parvat Kunda, Nepal.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747 13739 Biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda, Nepal Moravek et al.

Table 3. Trees found in riparian areas around Parvat Kunda, Nepal, in 2016–2017.

Order Family Scientfc name Common name Plot 1 Plot 2 Plot 3 Plot 4

Ericales Ericaceae Rhododendron barbatum Rhododendron 5

Ericales Ericaceae Lyonia ovalifolia Angeri 4 1 2

Fagales Fagaceae Quercus semicarpifolia Oak 6 1 7

Laurales Lauraceae Cinnamomum spp. Wild Cinnamon 6 2 2 2

Laurales Lauraceae Persea odoratssima Pra 1 Cinnamomum Laurales Lauraceae Wild Cinnamon 2 glanduliferum Malpighiales Salicaceae Xylosma controversum Willow 6 2

Pinales Pinaceae Tsuga dumosa Himalayan Hemlock 3

Sapindales Sapindaceae Acer spp. Maple 6 3

Biodiversity index 3.306 2.571 3.267 4.378

Biological Contaminant Tests Table 4. Aquatc macroinvertebrates found in Parvat Kunda, Parvat Kunda was found to be contaminated with E. Nepal, in 2016–2017. Two taxa are repeated twice (Haplotaxida: Tubifcidae and Coleoptera: Dytscidae). They represent diferent coli in both February and May and the Giardia trophozoite species. Identfcaton up to the level of family was needed for NLBI that is an actve stage was found in May. Two out of calculaton and family was only scored once in NLBI. Trichoptera: Polycentropodidae is not included in the NLBI index score. the three local water sources, namely, Chyange Spring and Shernemba Spring, were contaminated with E. coli, Order Family NLBI Score Giardia, Salmonella, Shigella, and ova. Compared to 1 Diptera Chironomidae 1 water sources, taps generally contained higher levels of 2 Haplotaxida Tubifcidae 2 E. coli and greater variaton in other tested contaminants 3 Haplotaxida Tubifcidae Replicate

(Table 9). 4 Trichoptera Polycentropodidae NA

5 Coleoptera Dytscidae 5

6 Odonata Libellulidae 3 DISCUSSION 7 Coleoptera Dytscidae Replicate

8 Hemiptera Corixidae 2 Change in Vegetaton Profle Based on biodiversity surveys, the semi-aquatc 9 Hemiptera Gerridae 4 plant Acorus calamus was by far the most dominant 10 Veneroida Sphaeriidae 5 plant species in the wetland. Sphagnum palustre is NDBI score/ LWQC ratng 3.14/ poor the second most dominant species and is an important structural plant since it infuences water chemistry and provides a platorm for other plants to grow on (Glime et al. 1982). According to accounts obtained from sof botom substrate and turbid waters (Nurminen community members during casual conversaton as well 2003). Similarly, a study in the Tiber River basin in as interviews of key informants, the proliferaton of A. Italy identfed a certain selecton of wetland plants as calamus in Parvat Kunda over the past 20 years was high bioindicators of water polluton and eutrophicaton and is a concern for the wetland ecosystem as a source (Ceschin et al. 2010). Acorus calamus, in partcular, was of water for people, animals, and plants. identfed as especially tolerant to high nitrogen levels Monitoring changes in Parvat Kunda vegetaton and anoxia (Weber & Brändle 1996; Zhang et al. 2018) such as A. calamus is important because the species and therefore the alleged increase in dominance of this compositon of wetland macrophytes ofen refects species over tme in Parvat Kunda could be an indicator water quality. For example, one study in lake Hiidenvesi of high nitrogen levels and anoxia in the wetland. A study in Finland identfed notable changes in vegetaton in the Hokersar Wetland in the Kashmir Himalaya in India, communites as lake eutrophicaton progressed—with however, found that A. calamus nearly disappeared in vegetaton changing from species requiring coarse the wetland, which was afected by polluton, siltaton, botom material and high light levels to species favouring and agriculture and had high levels of nitrogen (Khan

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Figure 3. Sampling locatons in and around Parvat Kunda, Nepal: a - outlet and Acorus calamus growth area | b - vegetaton diversity sampling locatons | c - tree diversity sampling locatons | d - insect diversity sampling locatons | e - nutrient sample sites with CEMAT test.

et al. 2004). It is not clear exactly what diferences compositon trended towards nutrient-rich fora and between Hokersar and Parvat Kunda wetlands led to some species were out-competed and disappeared diferent responses in the A. calamus populaton, but from the ecosystem over a period of 25 years (Rion et this could be investgated with further study. al. 2018). A similar trend was found at lake Hiidenvesi in Understanding the proliferaton of A. calamus in Finland, where certain species requiring hard substrates Parvat Kunda is also important from the biodiversity were out-competed by those preferring sof substrates perspectve. The changes in water quality and (Nurminen 2003). It is plausible that the proliferaton associated changes in wetland vegetaton can lead to of A. calamus identfed by local community members some plant species out-competng others. For example, could have similar efects on wetland plant diversity and a long-term study in wetlands in the Jura Mountains community compositon. Although our study did not in Switzerland found that due to N-depositon, species examine the specifc biodiversity impacts of A. calamus,

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Table 5. Bird species of Parvat Kunda and surrounding areas, Nepal. LC = Least Concern according to IUCN (2016).

Order Family Scientfc name Common name IUCN status Accipitriformes Accipitridae Spilornis cheela Crested Serpent-eagle LC Columbiformes Columbidae Streptopelia orientalis Oriental Turtle Dove LC Cuculiformes Cuculidae Cuculus canorus Common Cuckoo LC Cuculiformes Cuculidae C. saturatus Oriental Cuckoo LC Galliformes Phasianidae Francolinus francolinus Black Francolin LC Gruiformes Rallidae Zapornia bicolor Black Tailed Crake LC Passeriformes Aegithalidae Aegithalos concinnus Black-throated Tit LC Passeriformes Cetidae Horornis favolivacea Aberrant Bush Warbler LC Passeriformes Corvidae Corvus macrorhynchos Large-billed Crow LC Passeriformes Corvidae Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Red-billed Chough LC Passeriformes Corvidae Urocissa favirostris Yellow-billed Blue Magpie LC Passeriformes Dicruridae Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo LC Passeriformes Fringillidae Carduelis spinoides Yellow-breasted Greenfnch LC Passeriformes Fringillidae Carpodacus thura White-browed Rosefnch LC Passeriformes Laniidae Lanius schach Long-tailed Shrike LC Passeriformes Laniidae L. tephronotus Grey-backed Shrike LC Passeriformes Leiothrichidae Trochalopteron lineatum Streaked Laughingthrush LC Passeriformes Leiothrichidae T. variegatum Variegated Laughingthrush LC Passeriformes Leiothrichidae Heterophasia capistrata Rufous Sibia LC Passeriformes Motacillidae Anthus spp. Pipit spp. - Passeriformes Motacillidae Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail LC Passeriformes Muscicapidae Enicurus maculatus Spoted Forktail LC Passeriformes Muscicapidae Ficedula westermanni Litle Pied Flycatcher LC Passeriformes Muscicapidae Myophonus caeruleus Blue Whistling-thrush LC Passeriformes Muscicapidae Phoenicurus frontalis Blue-fronted Redstart LC Passeriformes Muscicapidae Saxicola ferreus Grey Bushchat LC Passeriformes Muscicapidae S. torquatus Common Stonechat LC Passeriformes Paridae Lophophanes dichrous Grey-crested Tit LC Passeriformes Paridae Parus montcolus Green-backed Tit LC Passeriformes Pycnonotdae Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul LC Passeriformes Sitdae Sita himalayensis White-tailed Nuthatch LC Passeriformes Stenostridae Culicicapa ceylonensis Grey-headed Canary-fycatcher LC Passeriformes Sylviidae Fulveta vinipectus White-browed Fulveta LC Passeriformes Timaliidae Pomatorhinus erythrogenys Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler LC Passeriformes Troglodytdae Troglodytes troglodytes Northern Wren LC Passeriformes Turdidae Turdus unicolor Tickell's Thrush LC Piciformes Picidae Picus squamatus Scaly-bellied Woodpecker LC

future studies in Parvat Kunda should make use of the samples. This was not the case and nutrient levels were, baseline informaton presentng possible threats here in most cases, negligible. Since A. calamus grows both to understand the consequences of A. calamus growth in water and on wetland edges or areas that are not within the wetland ecosystem. permanently inundated, however, soil could be another Given the dominance of A. calamus in Parvat Kunda, critcal source of excess nutrients. For example, a study we expected to fnd high levels of nutrients in water on residual availability of nitrogen in soil following

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Figure 4. Four water sources tested for microorganism contaminaton (Sanglang Ghode, Chyange, Parvat Kunda, and Shernemba) and taps tested in the village. Three sites (inlet, outlet, and WQ1) were tested within Parvat Kunda, Nepal (Table 9).

Table 6. Mammal species occurring around Parvat Kunda, Nepal, in 2016–2017. LC = Least Concern and V = Vulnerable according to IUCN (2018).

Direct Secondary Taxa Scientfc name IUCN status observaton informaton Nepal Grey Langur Semnopithecus schistaceus x LC Barking Deer Muntacus muntjak x LC Royles Pika Ochotona roylei x LC Yellow-throated Marten Martes favigula x LC Chauri - x - Goats/ Sheep - x - Porquipine Hystrix spp. x - Leopard Panthera pardus x V Mongoose Herpestes spp. x - Wild Boar Sus scrofa x LC

Table 7. Total phosphorus, nitrate, and ammonia measurements for February (10 wetland locatons, see Fig. 3e) and May (three wetland locatons—outlet, inlet, and WQ3). Fields in this table represent a single data point; only one sample was taken in each locaton in each season.

Sample locaton T. phosphorus (mg/l as P) Nitrate (mg/l as NO3) Ammonia (mg/l as NH3) February May February May February May Outlet <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.3 <0.1 <0.1 Inlet <0.1 <0.1 2.3 2.9 <0.1 <0.1 WQ1 <0.1 0.7 <0.1 WQ2 <0.1 0.4 <0.1 WQ3 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.4 <0.1 0.8 WQ4 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 V3 <0.1 0.1 <0.1 V5 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 V6 <0.1 0.5 0.1 V8 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 V9 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 V10 <0.1 0.1 <0.1 V11 <0.1 0.7 <0.1

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Table 8. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and electrical conductvity in 18 sampling locatons in the wetland. Averages and standard deviatons (SD) from the three sample points (November 2016 and February and May 2017) are presented. Note: pH was measured only in February and May and conductvity was measured only in November and February.

Sample Temperature (C) Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) pH Conductvity (mg/l) locaton Average SD Average SD Average SD Average SD

Outlet 13.0 2.6 7.4 0.6 7.0 0.5 30.0 0.0

Inlet 12.2 0.6 7.3 0.5 6.2 0.3 20.0 0.0

WQ1 15.5 4.3 5.8 1.2 6.8 0.4 30.0 0.0

WQ2 14.7 6.3 5.5 3.1 5.9 1.0 20.0 0.0

WQ3 20.9 4.1 9.0 6.5 7.0 1.1 20.0 10.0

WQ4 13.9 8.8 8.4 0.7 6.1 0.4 20.0 0.0

WT 15.8 3.5 2.1 1.2 4.5 0.3 10.0 0.0

V1 13.7 2.1 9.4 0.9 6.8 0.4 30.0 0.0

V2 18.0 0.7 10.8 5.8 6.4 1.1 20.0 0.0

V3 16.7 7.0 5.3 2.9 5.9 0.8 30.0 10.0

V4 12.7 4.0 5.5 1.7 5.7 1.1 20.0 0.0

V5 13.4 6.9 6.0 3.2 6.6 0.6 25.0 5.0

V6 14.2 7.7 7.9 1.1 6.4 0.4 20.0 0.0

V7 18.0 10.1 6.7 2.3 6.6 0.2 35.0 5.0

V8 14.0 8.6 7.6 1.2 6.8 0.2 30.0 0.0

V9 14.9 10.2 7.9 0.9 7.0 0.5 30.0 0.0

V10 12.6 9.0 5.6 1.6 5.7 0.5 5.0 5.0

V11 12.8 3.5 5.3 0.3 6.7 0.8 40.0 0.0

V12 10.0 6.6 5.4 1.8 5.9 0.9 20.0 0.0

applicaton of organic fertlizer from farmyard manure ensuing studies on A. calamus in Parvat Kunda should or compost found that nitrogen can be immobilized in focus on the nutrient content of both A. calamus and soils and enrich the soil nitrogen pool over a long term the soil to fully understand the nutrient dynamics in the (Gutser et al. 2005). A similar phenomenon may happen wetland. near Parvat Kunda, leading to slow release of nitrogen from the soil rather than from the water. Furthermore, Nutrient polluton and microorganisms nutrient additon studies on invasive Phragmites The presence of excess nutrients in Parvat Kunda is australis in the United States found that nitrogen also indicated by the ‘poor’ LWQC score, which suggests added to soil, rather than water, signifcantly increased a ‘heavy’ degree of nutrient polluton (Tachamo-Shah the growth of the wetland plant P. australis compared et al. 2011). This ratng is related to the diversity and to the natve Spartna pectnata (Rickey & Anderson types of macroinvertebrates present in the wetland. 2004). This indicates that nutrient enrichment of soil Several direct explanatons for a poor ratng may exist; can indeed increase growth rates of wetland plants. for example, lack of substrate and lack of dissolved Additonally, A. calamus itself might absorb much of oxygen as a result of excess nutrient inputs and the nitrogen entering the wetland. Zhang et al. (2018) eutrophicaton processes can inhibit macroinvertebrate investgated the nitrite stress tolerance of A. calamus breeding, emergence, and overall survival (Boles 1981; during wastewater treatment and found that A. calamus Connolly et al. 2004). When abiotc conditons such as could tolerate up to 30mg/l of nitrite (2018). Likewise, nutrient levels, substrate type, and dissolved oxygen a study in northeastern China identfed A. calamus as a are unfavourable, the rest of the ecosystem is afected. tool for nitrogen removal in foatng treatment wetlands, It should be noted, however, that although Parvat fnding that A. calamus demonstrated an 84.2% removal Kunda received a poor ratng, the pipe method used for efciency for total nitrogen (Li & Guo 2017). Thus, macroinvertebrate sampling was quanttatve instead

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Table 9. Results of tests conducted in February and May 2017 for presence (P) or absence (A) of microorganism per 100ml of water samples from 12 diferent locatons near Parvat Kunda, Nepal. MPN Index stands for most probable number of colonies present in 100ml of sample, which is determined by comparing the patern of positve results with statstcal tables (Bartram & Pedley 1996). Key to sample locatons (Fig. 4): 1 - PK Inlet, 2 - PK Outlet, 3 - PK WQ1, 4 - Chyange Spring, 5 - Chyange Tap, 6 - Sanglang Ghode Spring, 7 - Sanglang Ghode Tap, 8 - Shernemba Spring, 9 - Shernemba Pipe, 10 - Mill Tap, 11 - Old Parvat Kunda Tap, 12 - New Parvat Kunda Tap. spp. (P/A)* spp. (P/A)* (P/A)* Ova (P/A)* Ova Cyst (P/A)* Cyst (MPN E. coli index/100ml) index/100ml) Worms (P/A)* Worms Giardia Amoeba (P/A)* Salmonella Sample locaton Shigella Total coliform (MPN coliform Total

Feb May Feb May Feb May Feb May Feb May Feb May Feb May Feb May Feb May

1 9 150 4 9 - A - A - A - A - A - A - A

2 0 1100 0 460 A A A A - A - A - A - A - A

3 - 210 - 39 - A - A - A - A - P - A - A

4 93 23 43 4 P A P P - P - A - A - A - A

5 - 4 - 4 - A - A - A - A - A - A - A

6 - 0 - 0 - A - A - A - A - A - A - A

7 - 1100 - 43 - A - P - A - A - A - P - A

8 - 240 - 43 - A - A - A - A - A - A - A

9 - 240 - 43 - A - A - A - A - A - A - P

10 460 1100 240 240 P A P A - A - A - A - P - A

11 43 1100 15 460 - A - A - A - A - A - A - A

12 23 240 3 93 - A - A - A - A - A - A - A

of qualitatve as the NLBI method suggests (Tachamo- 1997) and red Chironomidae are easily identfable and Shah et al. 2011). Even if a more extensive qualitatve are therefore a good indicator of this patern (Tachamo- survey were conducted, however, the LWCQ ratng Shah et al. 2011). Red Chironomidae was very abundant would most likely only move one step from poor to fair. at all sampling locatons within Parvat Kunda, indicatng This would stll indicate a moderate level of nutrient high levels of polluton. Furthermore, various species polluton. Furthermore, wetlands in monsoonal systems in Insecta families of Heteroptera and Corixidae were such as in Nepal are known to change in water quality used as indicators of eutrophicaton and polluton in ranking depending on the season. For example, a Finland (Jansson 1977). As the Finland study found, study in the Rampur Ghol ecosystem in Chitwan, Nepal, species within the Corixidae family vary greatly in their used a similar macroinvertebrate indicator system to tolerance to polluton, they were assigned a low ratng describe water quality and found that water quality (2) in the NLBI, and their presence in Parvat Kunda and macroinvertebrate diversity was generally lower indicates high levels of nutrient polluton that may be in the dry season than the rainy season (Gautam et specifcally linked to eutrophicaton. al. 2014). Likewise, the LWCQ ratng in Parvat Kunda probably fuctuates throughout the year and additonal Threat of Eutrophicaton qualitatve sampling would possibly identfy either poor Although wetland eutrophicaton is a natural process, or fair ratngs depending on the season. it is unclear whether human actvites within the Parvat Several of the macroinvertebrate taxa identfed in Kunda watershed may also be infuencing degradaton this study indicate specifc details about Parvat Kunda of the wetland. Actvites such as agriculture, livestock and its level of polluton. For example, many prior studies raising, and tmber harvestng within the wetland found that Chironomidae abundance generally increases watershed may lead to higher levels of nutrient inputs with decreasing habitat quality (Fore et al. 1996; Bots that could explain the paterns we observed in Parvat

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Threatened Taxa

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13734–13747 13747 PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. OPEN ACCESS All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

April 2019 | Vol. 11 | No. 6 | Pages: 13631–13814 Date of Publicaton: 26 April 2019 (Online & Print) www.threatenedtaxa.org DOI: 10.11609/jot.2019.11.6.13631-13814

Editorial Diversity and community structure of Odonata (Insecta) in two land use types in Purba Medinipur District, West Bengal, India Building evidence for 20 years! – Prit Ranjan Pahari, Shubha Sankar Mandal, Subhadeep Mait & – Sanjay Molur, P. 13631 Tanmay Bhatacharya, Pp. 13748–13755

Artcles Foraging preferences of honey bees Apis cerana in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India Efect of socio-ecological factors and parasite infecton on body conditon of – A.G. Suhas Krishna & Rajashekhar K. Patl, Pp. 13756–13764 Brown Mouse Lemur Microcebus rufus (Mammalia: Primates: Cheirogaleidae) – Andry Herman Rafalinirina, Jeannot Randrianasy, Patricia C. Wright & Additons to the lichen biota of Assam State, India – Rupjyot Gogoi, Siljo Joseph, Sanjeeva Nayaka & Farishta Yasmin, Jonah Ratsimbazafy, Pp. 13632–13643 Pp.13765–13781 Identfcaton of suitable habitat for Swamp Deer Rucervus duvaucelii Short Communicatons duvaucelii (Mammalia: Artodactyla: Cervidae) in Chitwan Natonal Park, Nepal Study of nestng behaviour of Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone – Shravan Kumar Ghimire, Man Kumar Dhamala, Babu Ram Lamichhane, paradisi (Aves: Passeriformes: Monorchidae)from southern West Bengal, Rishi Ranabhat, Khim Bahadur KC & Shashank Poudel, Pp. 13644–13653 India – Nilemesh Das & Shuvadip Adhikari, Pp. 13782–13785 Communicatons A checklist of fsh species from three rivers in northwestern Bangladesh The diversity and conservaton of mammals in the Dodo Coastal Forest in southwestern Côte d’Ivoire, western Africa: a preliminary study based on a seven-year survey – Serge Pacome Keagnon Soiret, Célestn Yao Kouakou, Béné Jean-Claude Kof, – Imran Parvez, Mohammad Ashraful Alam, Mohammad Mahbubul Hassan, Blaise Kadjo, Philippe Kouassi, Peñate José Gomez, Reiko Matsuda Goodwin & Yeasmin Ara, Imran Hoshan & Abu Syed Mohammad Kibria, Pp. 13786–13794 Inza Kone, Pp. 13654–13666 New plant distributon records to Indian states and additon to the fora of Resource selecton by Javan Slow Loris Nyctcebus javanicus E. Geofroy, 1812 Myanmar (Mammalia: Primates: Lorisidae) in a lowland fragmented forest in – Kanakasabhapathi Pradheep, Ganjalagata Dasaiah Harish, Ranbir Singh Central Java, Indonesia Rathi, Joseph John Katukkunnel, Sheikh Mohmmad Sultan, Khoisnam – Mahfut Sodik, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono & Naveen, Iyyappan Jaisankar, Anjula Pandey, Sudhir Pal Ahlawat & Rita Gupta, Muhammad Ali Imron, Pp. 13667–13679 Pp. 13795–13804

Species compositon and abundance of rodents in Kafa-Sheraro Natonal Park, Notes Ethiopia: preliminary results – Alembrhan Assefa & Chelmala Srinivasulu, Pp. 13680–13689 Sightng of Arunachal Macaque Macaca munzala Sinha et al., 2005 (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Colour aberraton in Indian mammals: a review from 1886 to 2017 Bhutan – Anil Mahabal, Radheshyam Murlidhar Sharma, Rajgopal Narsinha Patl & – Sonam Tobgay, Kumbu Dorji & Norbu Yangdon, Pp. 13805–13807 Shrikant Jadhav, Pp. 13690–13719 Rediscovery of an endemic Indian moth Gurna indica (Moore, 1879) Nestng trees of the Red Giant Gliding Squirrel Petaurista petaurista (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctinae) afer 125 years (Mammalia: Rodenta: Sciuridae) in a tropical forest of Namdapha Natonal – Aparna Sureshchandra Kalawate, Neha Upadhyay & Banani Mukhopadhyay, Park, India Pp.13808–13810 – Murali Chatakonda Krishna, Awadhesh Kumar & Om Prakash Tripathi, Pp. 13720–13726 The Nepal Pipewort Eriocaulon nepalense var. luzulifolium (Commelinids: Insights into the diet and feeding behaviour of Red-capped Lark Poales: Eriocaulaceae): a new distributon record for southern India Calandrella cinerea (Aves: Passeriformes: Alaudidae) – Murugan Soumya & Maya C. Nair, Pp. 13811–13814 – Mary Mwangi, Nathan Gichuki, Robert Chira & Peter Njoroge, Pp. 13727– 13733

Baseline biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvat Kunda and surrounding area in Rasuwa, Nepal – Jessie Anna Moravek, Mohan Bikram Shrestha & Sanjeevani Yonzon, Pp. 13734–13747 Publisher & Host

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