Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

Biplob Kumar Modak ¹, Saugata Basu ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, A.M. College, Jhalda, Purulia, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Biology, Uttarpara Govt. High School, P.O. Uttarpara, Dist. Hooghly, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

While investigating on the oral health of rural people of Purulia district, West Bengal, it has been found that they use various plants and plant parts to maintain their day to day oral hygiene and even use them in some pathological conditions. These plant bioresources are easily available in their surroundings and are enlisted in the present communication along with indication of their medicinal values.

Keywords

Oral Hygiene, Datun, Rural People, Purulia, Medicinal Values.

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Saugata Basu ¹, Biplob Kumar Modak ², Durga P. Haldar ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biology, Uttarpara Govt. High School, Uttarpara, Hooghly - 712258, West Bengal, IN
2 Dept. of Zoology, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia - 723101, West Bengal, IN
3 Protozoology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani - 741235, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 is a member of the Class Myxosporea in the Phylum Myxozoa. Spores of the genus Thelohanellus Kudo are tear-shaped, pyriform or ellipsoidal in valvular view and tear-shaped or pyriform in sutural view. Spores with spore valves are always smooth and devoid of any outgrowth. They are characterized by single pyriform or tear-shaped polar capsule with single coiled polar filament; binucleate sporoplasm mostly with polysaccharide inclusion. Members of this genus have large polysporous plasmodia with pansporoblast formation. They are histozoic parasites of freshwater fishes representing about 75 species with Thelohanellus pyriformis Thelohan, 1892 as the type species. So far, 32 species of the genus Thelohanellus are known to occur in India. In this communication, their recognition, biology and pathogenicity, if any, are summarised.

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Saugata Basu ¹, Biplob Kumar Modak ², Prabir Banerjee ³

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Biology, Uttarpara Govt. High School, Uttarpara, Hooghly-712258, West Bengal, IN
2 Dept. of Zoology, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia-723101, West Bengal, IN
3 Bhara Madhyamik Vidyaniketan, P.O. Bhara Kalibari, Bankura, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The present communication records the prevalence of myxozoan (Myxozoa : Myxosporea : Bivalvulida) parasites of the genera Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 and Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 in different food fishes of West Bengal, India. The host fishes were collected from river Damodar in the district of Bankura, West Bengal. There are 10 different genera of host fishes which belong to as many as 8 families of Bony fishes, viz., Cobitidae, Ambassidae, Channidae, Gobiidae, Bagridae, Mastacembelidae, Cyprinidae, Belonidae. The myxoaoans have been found infecting the fins, operculum, gills as well as the internal organs like intestine and kidney too. The rate of infections was comparatively higher in the winter months. Monthly prevalence of the myxozoan infections along with the genera and families of host fishes are summarised in this communication.

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Prabir Banerjee ¹, Saugata Basu ², Biplob Kumar Modak ³

Affiliations
1 Bhara Madhyamik Vidyaniketan, P.O.-Bhara Kalibari, Mejia, Dist.-Bankura, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Biology, Uttarpara Govt. High School, Uttarpara, Hooghly-712258, West Bengal, IN
3 Department of Zoology, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia-723101, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The present study records the prevalence of myxozoan (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infections of some fishes collected from the river Damodar in Mejia area of Bankura district, West Bengal. During the calendar year 2014, in all 17 species of fishes belonging to nine families were examined, of which five species belonging to two families, viz., Cyprinidae and Bagridae were found to be infected with three different myxozoan genera, viz., Myxobolus Butschli, 1882, Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 and Henneguya Thelohan, 1892. The rate of infection was comparatively higher during the winter seasons. Monthly prevalence of the myxozoan infection in fishes is communicated.

Keywords

Bivalvulida, Myxozoa, Myxobolus, Thelohanellus, Henneguya.

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Saugata Basu ¹, Biplob Kr. Modak ², Durga P. Haldar ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biology, Uttarpara Government High School, P.O. Uttarpara, Dist Hooghly, PIN 712 258, West Bengal, IN
2 A.M. College, P.O. Jhalda, Dist. Purulia, PIN 723 202, West Bengal, IN
3 Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The paper records the prevalence of two major groups of protozoan fish parasites, viz., myxozoans (Myxozoa : Myxosporea : Bivalvulida) and trichodinids (Ciliophora : Mobilina : Trichodinidae) in pure and hybrid carps reared in three pisciculture ponds at Jhalda in Purulia, West Bengal. It has been revealed that infection rate was remarkably higher in hybrid carps. Monthly prevalence of these parasites obtained during the study period along with month-wise analysis of physical and chemical environmental parameters of pond water have also been incorporated.

Keywords

Pure and Hybrid Carps, Myxosporeans, Trichodinids, Prevalence, Purulia, West Bengal.

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Biplob Kumar Modak ¹, Saugata Basu ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, A.M. College, Jhalda, Purulia, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Biology, Uttarpara Government High School, P.O. Uttarpara, Dist. Hooghly, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Paradoxically Purulia, which is a natural resource abundant district, is the most backward district in West Bengal. Tribal people maintain their subsistence by using those resources. Diverse small and cottage industries including lac are being run by natural resources. However, evidence reveals that for the last three decades Lac industry has been deteriorating in this district. In consequence, the tribal communities are in great crisis. The natural vegetations involved in lac cultivation (host plants of lac insects) have lost their importance to the poor inhabitants and become 'trash tree'. They cut them down indiscriminately as 'fire-wood'. As a result, lac-associated biodiversity is declining and the environmental balance is being disturbed. In such an adverse situation, this article seeks to disclose that adequate action should be undertaken to reduce or rule the deteriorating condition of lac industries, and thereby to restore both the biodiversity and the economic sustainability of the tribal people.

Keywords

Environmental Balance, Lac-Associated Biodiversity, Lac-Insect, Tribal Communities.

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Saugata Basu ¹, Biplob Kr. Modak ², Durga P. Haldar ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Biology, Uttarpara Government High School, P.O. Uttarpara, Hooghly-712 258 West Bengal, IN
2 A.M. College, P.O. Jhalda, Dist. Purulia-723 202, West Bengal, IN
3 Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741235, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

The genus Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 belongs to the class Myxosporea under the phylum Myxozoa. Large number of species have been described under this genus by different workers from various parts of this world. From food fishes of south Bengal, eleven species of Myxobolus were described by the present workers during 1998-2009. Brief diagnosis along with morphometric data of these species is communicated in the present paper.

Keywords

Myxobolus, Diversity, Food Fishes, South Bengal.

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Raghunath Dhan ¹, Saugata Basu ², Biplob Kumar Modak ³

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Technology Management Agency, Dept. of Agriculture, Bagmundi, WB, IN
2 Dept. of Biology, Uttarpara Govt. High School, Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal, IN
3 Dept. of Zoology, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, WB, Pin:723104, IN

Abstract

The Purulia district of West Bengal, popularly known as Junglemahal, is endowed with rich ethnic culture as well as immense biological diversity. The district is mostly inhabited by the poorest of the poor rural and tribal communities and they constitute about 20% of the total district population. They still prefer to live in the remote hilly jungles or at their base. Biodiversity offers great subsistence value to these extremely poor rural and tribal communities. They have the choice to exploit a wide range of species in different ways rather than just a limited number of species exploited by the urban citizen. However, some of the NTFPs of Purulia district have vast commercial importance. Consequently, due to market pressure, unsustainable exploitation of these NTFPs have been taken place making some of the species vulnerable to extinction in the wild. The present communication intends to document the present status of NTFPs of the Bagmundi Block of Purulia district. The study reveals that, forest area of Bagmundi Block has more than two hundred non timber forest Products (NTFPs.), of which forty seven commonly traded forest products have been studied. Among these NTFPs ten species are vulnerable and six are endangered as per IUCN red list. A comparison between present status of NTFPs with the last decade is also been compiled in the present communication.

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