An Ecological Study of Red Junglefowl (Gallus Gallus Spadiceus) in Agriculture Areas

A two-year study on the ecology of Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) was conducted in five selected agriculture areas in the state of Selangor. In the first year (from August 1995 to July 1996), the study was done in three areas viz. rubber plantation, 22-year old oil palm plantation and orchard area at Universiti Putra Malaysia. In the second year (from August 1996 to July 1997), another two areas viz. 4-year and 8-year old oil palm plantations at Sungai Sedu Estate, Selangor were selected. Red Junglefowl density was estimated by transect survey. The densities in 4-year, 8-year and 22-year old oil palm plantations, orchard area and rubber plantation were 84.221km2, 27.801km2, 21,431km2, 15.661km2 and 6.061km2 respectively. Male and female ratio was 1:1.25. The abundance of arthropods did not seem to affect the density of Red Junglefowl. Four Red Junglefowls were radio tagged in oil palm plantation to observe the home range size and movement. The Red Junglefowl tracking was made by triangulation technique. The daily and monthly home range of male was larger than that of female and also the total daily movement of male was larger than female. The maximum home range size of male and female were 312.50 ha and 49.07 ha respectively. The study on breeding ecology showed that generally, one male was observed with a single female and rarely with two to four females. A total of 95 nests were observed during the entire period of study. The Red Junglefowl breeds throughout the year with a peak in December 1996. The mean clutch size was 4.08 eggs. The incubation period in captivity was approximately 19.5 days. The hatching percentage of eggs in nature was 99% whereas, the rate of desertion of nests was 80%. The predators of eggs and chicks in the agriculture areas were stray dogs, snakes, monitor lizards and big carnivorous birds. Foraging ecology of Red Junglefowls shows that they fed in open areas early in the morning and evening and the rest of the day they fed under trees. They are opportunistic feeders and ate a variety of animal and plant components. The male Red Junglefowl consumed oil palm fruit more than the female whereas the female consumed more animal materials than the male. Roosting ecology shows that the Red Junglefowl preferred horizontal branch/frond for roosting at night and changed branches and trees from time to time. The roosting height varied between 5 to 9 m in orchard area and 4 to 12 m in oil palm plantations. Red Junglefowl departed about 3 minutes earlier before sunrise and roosted about 6 minutes before sunset. The male Red Junglefowl crowed for finding or attracting a mate and for announcing or protecting its territory. The crowing frequency was high when a nonterritorial male entered the territory of a territorial male. Alarm calls were given by both sexes when there was a danger especially when predators were nearby

Roosting Habits of Red Junglefowl in Orchard Area

The roosting habits of Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) was studied in an in orchard area of University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor Malaysia, planted with Chiku (Achras sapota), Cempedak (Artocarpus integer), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), Pulasan(Nephelium mutabili), Durian (Durio zibethinus) and Kayu Manis (Cinnamomum iners). Roosting trees were identified when the Red Junglefowls started to crow early in the morning and late evening. The study showed that the Red Junglefowl preferred Cempedak trees. One male was observed to use the same Cempedak tree for 33 days and a Rambutan tree for 9 days. Males and females generally roosted at about the same height from the ground. Roosting height varied between 5 m and 9 m depending upon the tree species. Hens with chicks roosted lower (4 m) than those without chicks. Red Junglefowl left the roosting tree before sunrise and went to roost before sunset. Females went to roost earlier than males and the males departed the roosting tree earlier than females

Effect of arthropods abundance on the red junglefowl population in oil palm plantation habitat

The study was conducted for one year in the 4-year and 8-year old oil palm plantation at Sungai Sedu Estate, Selangor, Malaysia, to observe whether the abundance of arthropods affects the density of red junglefowl (Callus gallus spadiceus). The arthropods were collected by three methods i.e., litter, pitfall and sweep net. The results indicated that the arthropods abundance in both the study areas was found to be almost similar. It is suggested that arthropods abundance has little effect on the density of red junglefowl in oil palm plantation

One Belt and One Road: Does China-Pakistan Economic Corridor benefit for Pakistan’s Economy?

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of China have adored long-lasting and friendly ties – regardless of their ideological differences, evident in their very names. This article discusses economic cooperation between China and Pakistan with Chinese investment in Pakistani infrastructural growth. The plan was successfully launched to establish an economic corridor between China and Pakistan for which the two countries have signed contracts on the proposal for Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC). The challenges in the political, security, and economic fields include political instability and insecurity. However looking at the CPEC, China should not bound it to the bilateral relations, but mull it over with a regional and comprehensive vision. China should encourage the Economic Corridor projects with the assistance of its "resilient power" in energy, transportation and infrastructure along with the "flexible power" of the Chinese and Pakistani think tanks, mass media, educational exchanges, strong cooperation and make arrangements for the complete implementation of the "One Belt and One Road" initiative. Keywords: CPEC, China-Pakistan, Bilateral Tarde, FTA, FDI, One Belt and One Roa

Variation in home range size exhibited by Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) in oil palm plantation habitat, Malaysia.

A Radio telemetry study on Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus spadiceus) was conducted in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation at Sungai Sedu Estate, Selangor, Malaysia from October 1996 to July 1997. The main objective of the study was to examine the ranging behaviour of the species. Four Red Junglefowls (3 males and 1 female) were caught using decoy and leg trap method. They were then equipped with single stage 16 g transmitters and were radio-tracked using Mariner 57 receiver. The radiolocation was taken every 30 minutes by triangulation. The results show that the daily and monthly home range size of male was greater than that of a female. Similarly the home range size of a male without a female was greater than with a female. Environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration and cloud cover have no effect on the size of home range. The movement (distance travelled) contributes 49.1% of the variability on home range size. The total daily movement of male was greater than that of a female. The Red Junglefowl travelled more in the morning than in the afternoon and evening. In general, the size of home range varies according to several factors such as when the male is establishing and defending its territory. Habitat destruction and predators may also affect the home range size

Determinants and Consequences of Deforestation in the Indus River Belt Area of Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan

Deforestation persists as a main environmental issue in majority of the nations of the world and decreases the number of trees and wildlife species. Many species of animals and plants has become threatened with extension due to loss and fragmentation of habitats. Households’ perception knowledge regarding deforestation is significant for establishing suitable conservation and management strategies. To our know-how, this was the 1st research study that determined the perceptions of villagers’ about the factor of deforestation and their effect on environment of Riverine forest which are important for their livelihoods. About 150 male respondents were interviewed from three villages in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. The data was analyzed with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The respondents perceived that fuel wood collection (74%), cutting of trees for income (92.5%), poverty (81%), population pressure (46%), political involvement (39.3%), corruption (74 %) and mismanagement (64%) were the key causes of deforestation. The major effects of deforestation as per perceptions were climate change (87.4%), increase in CO2 (74.7%), increase in temperature (92.7%), lack of rain (63.2%) and decrease of wildlife species (73.3%). The respondents perceived that provision of alternate fuel source, control of corruption, creation of awareness among the people regarding the importance of forest and reforestation can minimized the deforestation rate. Keywords: Deforestation, Perception, Riverine Forests. Rural Peopl

PRIMARY GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMOUR OF THE PROSTATE: A CASE REPORT OF A RARE TUMOUR

A 70-year-old gentleman underwent prostatectomy for bladder outlet obstruction due to enlarged prostate and was found to have primary extragastrointestinal stromal tumour (EGIST). He has been started on imatinib therapy and is presently on follow-up. Prostatic EGIST should be one of the differential diagnoses in patients with enlarged prostate with normal prostate-specific antigen levels.Key words: Prostate, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, PSA 

COMBINING ABILITY STUDIES OF GRAIN YIELD AND RELATED TRAITS IN PEARL MILLET

The present study was undertaken to explore the genetic architecture of pearl millet through combining ability analysis in a 5X5 diallel fashion. Both GCA and SCA mean squares were significant in grain yield, plant height, panicle length and days to flowering. However, these were non-significant for number of productive tillers and panicle girth. General combining ability estimates revealed that genotype MGP-322 was good general combiner for all the traits under study except for days to flowering for which MGP-335 and 13RBS-01 were good general combiners but these were poor general combiners for all other traits under study. The crosses MGP-322XMGP-328, MGP-322XMGP-335, MGP-328X13RBS-13, 13RBS-01X13RBS-13 and MGP-322X13RBS-01 were best specific combiners for grain yield and some other attributes respectively. All these crosses involved at least one good general combiner except MGP-328X13RBS-13. This suggested that good general combiners are the best tool in improving the crop yield by manipulating the genetic architecture. Combining ability variances revealed that although both GCA and SCA variances were important, however, SCA variances were higher than GCA variances suggesting that non additive type of gene action was more prominent in the inheritance of characters under study

COMBINING ABILITY STUDIES OF GRAIN YIELD AND RELATED TRAITS IN PEARL MILLET

The present study was undertaken to explore the genetic architecture of pearl millet through combining ability analysis in a 5X5 diallel fashion. Both GCA and SCA mean squares were significant in grain yield, plant height, panicle length and days to flowering. However, these were non-significant for number of productive tillers and panicle girth. General combining ability estimates revealed that genotype MGP-322 was good general combiner for all the traits under study except for days to flowering for which MGP-335 and 13RBS-01 were good general combiners but these were poor general combiners for all other traits under study. The crosses MGP-322XMGP-328, MGP-322XMGP-335, MGP-328X13RBS-13, 13RBS-01X13RBS-13 and MGP-322X13RBS-01 were best specific combiners for grain yield and some other attributes respectively. All these crosses involved at least one good general combiner except MGP-328X13RBS-13. This suggested that good general combiners are the best tool in improving the crop yield by manipulating the genetic architecture. Combining ability variances revealed that although both GCA and SCA variances were important, however, SCA variances were higher than GCA variances suggesting that non additive type of gene action was more prominent in the inheritance of characters under study

Air Pollution and Its Effect on Human Health: A Case Study in Dera Ghazi Khan Urban Areas, Pakistan

Presently, air pollution is a principal global health threats which is responsible for enhancing the chances for spreading of many chronic diseases. This problem occurred over past few decades due to fast growth in urbanization, industrialization and massive of vehicles volume in developed and under developed countries.  The contaminated air leads the detrimental effects on the human health. Principal air pollutants are particulate matter, sulpher dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, carbon monoxide and ozone. When the level of these pollutants is increased at certain degree, the outcome may cause serious respiratory problems which lead to happening of deaths. In recent years, rapidly increasing population, economic and educational developments in the city brought a huge pressure of traffic. So, the current study was planned to determine the roots and examine the awful consequences of air pollution on the humanity health. Public opinions on exposure are severe in examining human reaction and adoption of concerned strategies. Hence, viewing people’ perception is vital in establishing the plan of suitable managing actions.  We arranged this study in Dera Ghazi Khan City to obtain the local people know-how of the existing air pollution situation and their postures towards measures to control of air pollution. Multistage sampling technique was applied for the selection of 120 respondents and data was collected by developing questioners.  Most of the interviewees illustrated that air pollution is very hazardous for the people health and is responsible for the cause of many diseases. Keywords: Air Pollution, Human health, Pollutants, Environment, Dera Ghazi Kha