Species composition, seasonal abundance and population dynamics of predatory spiders from cotton field plots of irrigated and semi-arid regions of Punjab, Pakistan

Nadeem, Amir; Tahir, Hafız Muhammad; Khan, Azhar Abbas; Bano, Naheed; Hassan, Zeshan; Khan, Arif Muhammad

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103686

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They offer valuable biological control services by preying on insect pests (Losey and Vaughan, 2006). The higher densities of these natural predators ensure the suppression of pests in the agroecosystems (Nadeem et al, 2023). Different species of natural predators utilize various hunting strategies to target pests at various stages of their life cycle resulting in enhanced biological pest control (Hajek and Eilenberg, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity, Seasonal Abundance, and Population Dynamics Assessment of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from Maize Crops

Akhtar,

Tahir,

Azizullah

et al. 2024

PUJZ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

7% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)-(Govt. of Pakistan, 2021). It serves as a significant contributor to both employment opportunities and foreign exchange earnings. The sustainable development of this sector is essential to ensure food security and promote rural development (Ahmad and Farooq, 2010). In Pakistan, the principal crops include wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane and cotton. Among these crops, maize has been imparting a

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity, Seasonal Abundance, and Population Dynamics Assessment of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from Maize Crops

Akhtar,

Tahir,

Azizullah

et al. 2024

PUJZ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Integrating Passive Biomonitoring and Active Monitoring: Spider Web Silk and Portable Instruments for Air Quality in Urban Areas

Muzamil,

Sultan,

Hashem

et al. 2024

Water Air Soil Pollut

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Urban areas worldwide face significant challenges from increasing air pollution, posing health risks and environmental concerns. Lahore, a major city in Pakistan, is particularly affected by severe air pollution due to rapid industrial growth, high vehicle emissions, and various human activities. Traditional air quality monitoring methods, while effective, are often costly and complex, limiting their widespread use. This study investigates a dual monitoring system combining passive biomonitoring with spider web silk and active measurements using portable instruments to assess airborne pollutants in urban environments. Spider webs, collected from various sites in Lahore, were analyzed for heavy metals, while portable instruments simultaneously measured PM2.5, PM10, total volatile organic contents, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide at the same locations. A spatial distribution analysis using GIS and statistical analysis revealed a pattern with significant changes as per land use in the urban environment related to anthropogenic activities. The Principal Component Analysis revealed three distinct clusters of pollutants origins consisting of: I) effluent drains and landfills, II) construction sites, and III) residential areas. The concentrations of Hg in spider silk (average ~ 2.66 mg/kg) were found to be significantly higher in the northeastern part of Lahore, with a similar trend observed in Cd, Cu, Ni, and As levels (average ~ 15.45, 102.87, 31.72, and 6.64, respectively). Several-fold changes in levels and spatial distribution of Pb (15.12 to 356.41 mg/kg) showed a higher concentration in the northern and northeastern parts of Lahore. The spatial variation pattern of Cr (average~ 57.04 mg/kg) registered a higher concentration in southwestern Lahore. Ambient air levels of measured pollutants followed almost similar patterns in spatial distribution. PM2.5 and PM10 measured higher levels (195 and 226 μg/m3, respectively) in the southwestern and northwestern areas, with a similar pattern of variation observed in TVOC (average ~ 0.14 μg/m3). The concentration of HCHO (average ~ 0.003 μg/m3) was higher in the southwest of Lahore. All measured pollutants registered higher values than air quality standards. Particulate matter is the most dominant pollutant contributing to air pollution (up to 20x higher than WHO guidelines). The findings support the use of a dual monitoring system, integrating passive spider web silk biomonitoring and active portable instruments, as a scalable and sustainable solution for air quality management. This approach holds potential for global application in diverse urban environments, with future research focusing on further validation and integration with advanced remote sensing technologies to enhance air quality monitoring and contribute to improved public health and environmental management worldwide. Hence, this research work points to the potential use of spider silk as a biomonitoring tool in combination with instrumental measurement of ambient air pollutants.

show abstract

Species composition, seasonal abundance and population dynamics of predatory spiders from cotton field plots of irrigated and semi-arid regions of Punjab, Pakistan

Cited by 2 publications

References 46 publications

Biodiversity, Seasonal Abundance, and Population Dynamics Assessment of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from Maize Crops

Biodiversity, Seasonal Abundance, and Population Dynamics Assessment of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) from Maize Crops

Integrating Passive Biomonitoring and Active Monitoring: Spider Web Silk and Portable Instruments for Air Quality in Urban Areas

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About