Strengthening the DNA barcode database is important for a species level identification, which was lacking for seaweeds. We made an effort to collect and barcode seaweeds occurring along Southeast coast of India. We barcoded 31 seaweeds species belonging to 21 genera, 14 family, 12 order of 3 phyla (viz., Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta and Rhodophyta). We found 10 species in 3 phyla and 2 genera (Anthophycus and Chnoospora) of Ochrophyta were barcoded for the first time. Uncorrected p-distance calculated using K2P, nucleotide diversity and Tajima’s test statistics reveals highest values among the species of Chlorophyta. Over all K2P distance was 0.36. The present study revealed the potentiality of rbcL gene sequences in identification of all 3 phyla of seaweeds. We also found that the present barcode reference libraries (GenBank and BOLD) were insufficient in seaweeds identification and more efforts were needed for strengthening local seaweed barcode library to benefit rapids developing field such as environmental DNA barcoding. We also show that the constructed barcode library could aid various industrial experts involved in seaweed bio-resource exploration and taxonomy/non-taxonomic researches involved in climate, agriculture and epigenetics research in precise seaweed identification. Since the rise of modern high-throughput sequencing technologies is significantly altering bio-monitoring applications and surveys, reference datasets such as ours will become essential in ecosystem’s health assessment and monitoring.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and is widely known as Agenda 2030, and it should have been attained globally. This study was conducted with an aim to access the knowledge of youth on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to know the awareness on SDGs, to nd out the contributions towards SDGs and to nd out whether any difference exists between gender and age groups with regard to their awareness on SDGs. The study was conducted in three districts of Tamil Nadu and was descriptive in nature. An interview schedule was used as tool of data collection. The total sample size was 628. Four Hundred young boys and girls (School students) in the age group of 11-18 years were selected from the schools by using Simple Random Lottery method. Then, 258 young boys and girls in the age group of 18-25 years were selected from out of schools by using Purposive sampling. The main ndings of the study were, the awareness about SDGs was very low among the respondents. There was no difference between male and female respondents in their ignorance of SDGs. The same is for different age groups. None of the respondents contribute to SDGs mainly due to lack of awareness. It was suggested that the school teachers and PHC staff have crucial roles to play in creating awareness as well as providing SDGs and the services to young people both inside and outside schools

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Identification of polychaetes from the Vellar estuary mangroves is very essential to assess their diversity status. In this study, we have used sequences of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) from 15 species belongs to eight families to barcode and investigate the molecular variation among the Vellar estuary polychaetes. Based on the sequence data, it was observed that the maximum A+T content (62.00%) was recorded in Diopatra neapolitana and minimum (55.00%) in Laonice cirrata. Similarly, the maximum C+G value of 45.00% was observed in Laonice cirrata and least content of 38.00% was estimated in Capitella capitata and Diopatra neapolitana. The maximum K2P distance (1.459) was found between Lubrineridae and Capitellidae family. Whereas, the minimum K2P distance of 0.270 was observed between Nereididae and Spionidae. However, the maximum K2P distance within family was observed in Lubrineridae (0.197) and the minimum value of 0.005 was recorded in Spionidae.The maximum K2P distance (1.459) was found between the genus Capitella and Lumbrineris whereas the minimum distance (0.230) was observed between Platynereis and Perinereis. However, the maximum K2P distance within genus was observed in Perinereis (0.211) whereas the minimum distance of 0.005 was perceived in Laonice. The intra genus K2P genetic distance in Marphysa, Naineris, Platynereis, Capitella, Diopatra was zero. The maximum likelihood tree clearly demonstrates the efficacy of COI gene in discriminating polychaete individuals both at conspecific and congeneric levels. Further molecular tools such as microsattelite, RAPD is needed to assess the population structure of the above identified species.

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