Pradarsika Mitra

Bio: Pradarsika Mitra is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodiversity & Global biodiversity. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 19 citations.

Studies on the diversity and abundance of butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) fauna in and around Sarojini Naidu college campus, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract: Butterflies are one of the most important assemblages of insects that act as biodiversity indicators as well as nature’s gardeners. Owing to habitat destruction for developmental activities in urban environment and unscientific management of natural resources, much of our native butterflies are fast disappearing and at present, their survival is under threat. The objective of the present survey is focussed on the assessment of the diversity and seasonal abundance of butterfly with vegetation composition of habitat and conservation priorities in the study area. A total of 49 species of butterflies under 5 families and 36 genera were recorded during May, 2013 to April, 2014 in the Sarojini Naidu College campus, Dum Dum, Kolkata. Nymphalidae was recorded as the most dominant family in terms of number of species, represented by 20 species followed by Lycaenidae (12), Pieridae (10), Papilionidae (6) and Hesperiidae (1). Out of these 49 species, five species come under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This study is aimed towards contributing to the plan of biodiversity restoration in our campus and development of management strategies so as to ensure sustenance of butterflies and ecosystem services derived from them.

A study on the butterfly diversity of Haldia industrial belt and adjacent rural area in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India

Abstract: 67 species of butterflies under 5 families and 51 genera were recorded from Haldia industrial beltand adjacent rural area. Industrial zone hadfewer species low diversity and evenness indices and high dominance index. Nymphalidae outnumbered all other families in the industrial zone with 48% of the total species of that area. Such preponderance of any single family was not evident in the rural area, likewise industrial belt had 3 dominant species but no dominant species could be seen in the rural zone. Results suggest that industrialization could alter the butterfly diversity but it was not enough to make the two sites dissimilar as revealed by the index of similarity (0.52).

DNA barcoding and species delimitation of butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Nigeria

Abstract: Accurate identification of species is a prerequisite for successful biodiversity management and further genetic studies. Species identification techniques often require both morphological diagnostics and molecular tools, such as DNA barcoding, for correct identification. In particular, the use of the subunit I of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene for DNA barcoding has proven useful in species identification for insects. However, to date, no studies have been carried out on the DNA barcoding of Nigerian butterflies. We evaluated the utility of DNA barcoding applied for the first time to 735 butterfly specimens from southern Nigeria. In total, 699 DNA barcodes, resulting in a record of 116 species belonging to 57 genera, were generated. Our study sample comprised 807 DNA barcodes based on sequences generated from our current study and 108 others retrieved from BOLD. Different molecular analyses, including genetic distance-based evaluation (Neighbor-Joining, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian trees) and species delimitation tests (TaxonDNA, Automated Barcode Gap Discovery, General Mixed Yule-Coalescent, and Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes) were performed to accurately identify and delineate species. The genetic distance-based analyses resulted in 163 well-separated clusters consisting of 147 described and 16 unidentified species. Our findings indicate that about 90.20% of the butterfly species were explicitly discriminated using DNA barcodes. Also, our field collections reported the first country records of ten butterfly species-Acraea serena, Amauris cf. dannfelti, Aterica galena extensa, Axione tjoane rubescens, Charaxes galleyanus, Papilio lormieri lormeri, Pentila alba, Precis actia, Precis tugela, and Tagiades flesus. Further, DNA barcodes revealed a high mitochondrial intraspecific divergence of more than 3% in Bicyclus vulgaris vulgaris and Colotis evagore. Furthermore, our result revealed an overall high haplotype (gene) diversity (0.9764), suggesting that DNA barcoding can provide information at a population level for Nigerian butterflies. The present study confirms the efficiency of DNA barcoding for identifying butterflies from Nigeria. To gain a better understanding of regional variation in DNA barcodes of this biogeographically complex area, future work should expand the DNA barcode reference library to include all butterfly species from Nigeria as well as surrounding countries. Also, further studies, involving relevant genetic and eco-morphological datasets, are required to understand processes governing mitochondrial intraspecific divergences reported in some species complexes.

Butterfly diversity in relation to Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and H.E. Robins as a nectar plant from two selected regions of Bangladesh

Abstract: Butterflies use Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) flower as an important source of nectar. A survey was conducted to investigate the diversity of butterflies in relation to C. odorata (L.) in two selected geographically different areas namely Kaptai National Park and Jahangirnagar University Campus during the period of December 2011 to January 2015. A total of 55 species of butterflies belonging to 06 families were recorded during this survey period of which 35 species of 28 genera were recorded from Kaptai National Park and 26 species of 23 genera were recorded from Jahangirnagar University Campus. Six different species which include Acraea violae, Catopsilia pomona, Papilio demoleus, Eurema hecabe, Cethosia cyane and Tagiades japetus were identified in the both areas.

Biodiversity accounting of cities: a case study of Kolkata, India.

Abstract: The link between urban development and its impact on the environment is always debatable. The effects of urbanization on Indian cities have mostly resulted in the loss of natural ecosystems and deterioration of the urban environment. Biodiversity, as a significant parameter of an urban ecosystem, is essential for human society because of the goods and services it provides. UNEP’s foresight report links biodiversity with urban sustainability and resilience, identifying it as one of the issues of ‘The 21 Issues of 21st Century’ under the section of food, biodiversity and land issues, which seems particularly important in the context of countries with developing economies. Since biodiversity conservation cannot happen in isolation, the ecological performance of urban areas with respect to biodiversity assumes high significance. In light of the IUCN Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the need for benchmarking the urban biodiversity status of the city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in eastern India was, thus, strongly felt. A baseline study would also be a logical starting point for the adoption of a robust biodiversity strategy and action plan for Kolkata. This paper presents such an assessment, using the City Biodiversity Index as a tool, based on qualitative as well as quantitative approaches to acquire quantitative data on the populations of key biodiversity indicators. It also attempts to benchmark the current scenario for future conservation efforts and evaluate progress in the arresting rate of biodiversity loss in the city. The results of the study indicate a reasonable score in the variety of native biodiversity, courtesy of the rich natural history of Kolkata, while its performance in the proportion of natural areas and ecosystem services is relatively poor and demands attention.

Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of Lembucherra, West Tripura, Tripura, India

Abstract: A study on the diversity of butterflies was carried out in the campus of College of Agriculture and its vicinity, Lembucherra, West Tripura district, Tripura, India from April, 2016 to March, 2017. A total of 118 species of butterflies belonging to 77 genera and five families were recorded. Among the five families, Nymphalidae (represented by 25 genera and 45 species) was the most dominant followed by Lycaenidae (22 genera, 26 species), Hesperiidae (16 genera, 20 species), Pieridae (10 genera, 17 species) and Papilionidae (4 genera, 10 species). Out of total 118 butterfly species 20 (16.95%), 29 (24.58%), 27 (22.88%), 37 (31.36%) and 5 (4.24%) species are Very common, Common, Not rare, Rare and Very rare, respectively in occurrence. Eighteen species of butterflies are reported here as new records for the state of Tripura. Among the 118 species of butterflies recorded 25 are schedule species under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Though the area is rich in butterfly diversity, it needs a conservation plan in order to protect the butterfly fauna since it harbours some of the schedule species under IWPA and 31.36 and 4.24 % of recorded species are of rare and very rare categories, respectively.