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Chatterjee A., Adhikari S., Barik A., Mukhopadhyay S.K. 2013. The mid-winter assemblage and diversity of bird populations at Patlakhawa Protected Forest, Coochbehar, West Bengal, We compared avian community structure of six contrasting habitat types at Patlakhawa Protected Forest of Dooars of West Bengal. During three weeks of the mid-winter studies 154 bird species representing 41 families were recorded. Of the 154 recorded species, 22 were observed in grasslands, 22 in swamp forest, 46 in riverine forest, 52 at miscellaneous plantation areas, 43 at forest edges and 51 at wetlands. The Shannon-Wiener general diversity indices varied among the habitats and ranged from 2.323 to 3.458. Richness (5.813-11.410), evenness (0.406-0.641) and dominance (0.042-0.128) indices also varied considerably among the study locations. The highest diversity, the lowest dominance and a very high evenness were characteristics of miscellaneous plantations. Grasslands showed highest evenness and considerably high species diversity. The lowest avian evenness and diversity were recorded in wetlands and swamp forests. Insectivorous birds were most numerous (53), followed by carnivorous (40), omnivorous (29) and frugivorous (15) birds. Winter appeared to be the best time for niche occupancy at the Himalayan foothills for assemblages of either winter migrants and visitors or altitudinal and passage migrants, as about 30% of all encountered species were migrants. 96 bird species were observed to occur at any one of these habitat types showing high habitat fidelity. Mixed avian foraging assemblages that varied in species number and compositions were observed and they contain 11 to 17 species. Avifaunal niche diversity and richness in different habitats of Patlakhawa Protected Forest during mid-winter envisaged its importance from conservation point of view.

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The present limnological investigation was conducted to study zooplankton diversity in municipal wastewater-contaminated ponds in light of their contributions to the ecosystem. It is revealed by the present study that the physicochemical factors of the study sites are regulated by wastewater input and anthropogenic activities. A good number of zooplankton species thrived in these ponds (22 species of zooplankton, including 14 species of Rotifera, 3 species of Copepoda, 4 species of Cladocera, and a single species of Ostracoda), which suggests that the municipal wastewater, loaded with various nutrients, has influenced the zooplankton diversity and abundance. Site 3, a well-managed fishpond, showed the highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index value (2.303). Site 5, contaminated with organic waste matter from adjacent cattle sheds, showed the highest zooplankton abundance (1609.63 ind. L -1 ) and maximum dominance (0.472). Site-wise variations of diversity indices and statistical analyses support our findings. These ponds, although faced with serious threats of extinction by unscientific and unplanned urbanization policies, could very well be recognized as natural effluent treatment units within the municipal areas. Ponds of varied sizes in almost every municipal area of the lower Gangetic plains stabilize raw untreated domestic wastewater and encourage fish yield and the local economy.

The Asian Paradise Flycatcher has always been a flamboyant passerine to be photographed quite often throughout the Gangetic Bengal in India, but hardly any behavioural documentation is enlisted till date.  The nesting behaviour of the subject bird encompassing its parental behaviours was studied on a wetland stretch of Ishapore, southern Gangetic Bengal.  The present study mainly deals with the nesting behaviour, incubation activities, hatching, and parental care to fledging of a wild pair.  The behavioural changes at par with the changing weather conditions and the neighbouring species too were studied.