STATUS OF LEPIDOPTERAN DIVERSITY AT ASOKAPURAM LOCALITY, ALUVA, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA

The insect order Lepidoptera comprises both butterflies and moths. There are over 180,000 Lepidoptera species described, divided into 126 families and 46 superfamilies. 10% of the total number of living creatures described. It is one of the most common and well-known insect orders on the planet. Butterflies are an important category of insects that can function as sensors of environmental change. Butterflies are insects from the order Lepidoptera's macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera. Except for Antarctica, there are around 18,500 species of butterflies. Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that contain all non-butterfly members of the order Lepidoptera, with moths constituting the great bulk of the order. Moths are expected to number over 160,000 species. The majority of moth species are nocturnal, however there are crepuscular and diurnal species as well. Asokapuram is a tiny hamlet located east of Aluva. The current analysis was carried out to identify the Lepidopterans in the area for 6 in diverse habitats surrounding the area. During the inquiry, a total of 46 lepidopterans were noted, 27 of which were recognised, 13 of which were various species of butterflies and the remaining 14 were different species of moths

Comparison Of Butterfly Diversity In Natural, Semi-Natural And Human-Modified Ecosystems At Kundamankadavu,Thiruvananthapuaram, Kerala, South India .

Among insects, butterflies are the most taxonomically studied group and play key role in ecosystem as pollinators and bioindicator species. The diversity of butterflies inhabiting at Kundamankadavu, Vilavoorkal Panchayath, Thiruvananthapuram was recorded through a Pollard walk method by traversing slowly and observing within 5m radius of the observer for the period of November 2019 to March 2020. Three different ecosystems such as natural, semi-natural and human-modified ecosystems were evaluated for analysis of the diversities of butterfly species. The maximum diversity was observed in the natural ecosystem. A total of 15 species were observed across the three habitat types during the study period. Maximum number of butterflies were observed in natural ecosystem (6) followed by human-modified (5) and minimum in semi-natural ecosystem (4) respectively. Out of these, members belonging to the family Nymphalidae was the most common with 6 species being recorded accounting for 34% of total species. The study area is rich in butterfly diversity and further research could be conducted to obtain more details and documentation on butterfly diversity for the conservation and butterfly park. As the population of these insects decline rapidly due to human activities, habitat destruction, uses of pesticides and unawareness of people about the importance of butterflies, appropriate measures should be adopted for their protection

Role of omega-3 fatty acids and digoxin in cardiovascular diseases – A comprehensive review

Digoxin and omega-3 fatty acids are two different agents that have been studied for their potential roles in managing cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be a global health concern, with their prevention and management being of paramount importance. Omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have garnered substantial attention for their potential therapeutic role in mitigating CVD risk factors and improving cardiovascular health. This comprehensive review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases. The review encompasses a wide range of studies, including epidemiological investigations, and experimental research, to provide a holistic understanding of the mechanisms through which omega-3 fatty acids influence CVD. Key areas of focus include their effects on lipid profiles, inflammation, endothelial function, blood pressure regulation, and arrhythmia prevention. Additionally, their potential roles in secondary prevention, such as reducing the risk of recurrent myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death, are explored. The review also discusses the challenges and controversies surrounding omega-3 supplementation, including dosing, sources, and patient selection. Furthermore, it addresses emerging areas of research, such as the interplay between omega-3 fatty acids and gut microbiota, genetics, and personalized medicine. This comprehensive review underscores the multifaceted role of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular diseases. While evidence suggests their potential benefits, further research is needed to refine recommendations and identify optimal strategies for integrating omega-3 fatty acids into cardiovascular disease prevention and management. Understanding the complexities of omega-3's effects on CVD will contribute to more effective and personalized approaches to improve cardiovascular healt

STATUS OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN MAJOR RIVERS OF KERALA, SOUTH INDIA – A REVIEW

In the past few years, rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to an enormous increase in the amount of industrial waste generated, including heavy metals. Metal contaminants are usually found in a variety of sources, including soils, sediments and water. Rivers are the major source of fresh water for drinking, domestic needs, irrigation, industries etc. Kerala is home to 44 rivers, most of which are now polluted to a great extent due to anthropogenic activities. This manuscript reviews the research work on the heavy metal status of 10 rivers in Kerala. The levels of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) etc. are increasing substantially in rivers of  Kerala. Heavy metals cause irrevocable damage to the biota, when they are transferred from water bodies to the food chain via assimilation, bioaccumulation and biomethylation processes

Physico - Chemical and Biological Water Quality Analyses of Meenachil River, Kottayam, Kerala, South India

The Meenachil River is one of the major rivers that flows through the Kottayam District of Kerala, India. The water quality of the Meenachil River was studied. Five locations of the river were chosen. pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, Hardness, Calcium & Magnesium hardness, TDS, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Sulphate, Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrite, Nitrate, and DO were measured. From the study, it was observed that diverse human activities have an impact on the water quality of the Meenachil River. The present study showed that the pH of the water samples rose at several places, with sample 2 taken from Erattupetta having the lowest pH, indicating that the water sample 2 is acidic in nature. Due to the discharge of industrial and household wastewater, station 5 Kottayam has the highest conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, chloride, fluoride, nitrite, nitrate, TDS, and coliform count. Dissolved oxygen was extremely low in Kottayam region

Freshwater Fish Diversity of Meenachil River, Kottayam, Kerala, South India

The present study was conducted to gain a better understanding of the variety of freshwater fishes found in the Meenachil River. The Meenachil river is one of Kerala's major rivers. The Meenachil River has an abundance of indigenous fishery resources as well as a high level of biodiversity. The current study was carried out to identify the fishes of the five Meenachil river stations. Poonjar (station 1), Erattupetta (station 2), Pala (station 3), Ettumanoor (station 4) and Kottayam (station 5) are the stations. The study was conducted at 15-day intervals for six months, from January 2021 to June 2021. Fish for the study were collected from various locations along the Meenachil River by local fishermen . Fish morphological and morphometric identification was accomplished using standard text. The current study identified 20 species from the Meenachil river, divided into 8 orders and 11 families. The order Cypriniformes dominated with seven, followed by Siluriformes with four species. Two species were identified in the Meenachil river that were endemic to the Western Ghats, and two were endangered. Station 4 Ettumanoor recorded the most fish diversity, while station 5 Kottayam recorded the least. According to this research, the Meenachil River has a diverse fish population

Bacteriological Characteristics of Meenachil River, Kottayam, Kerala, South India: A Seasonal Study

The Meenachil River is a major river that runs through different taluks, viz. Meenachil, Vaikom and Kottayam of Kerala, India. The Meenachil River's bacteriological characteristics were investigated. Six Meenachil riverine stations were chosen for the investigation. Bacteriological parameters were studied in three different seasons during 2022: monsoon, postmonsoon, and premonsoon. Estimating bacterial production is a critical step in quantitatively understanding the function and contribution of bacteria in material cycling within given aquatic habitats.TCC and FCC values are high during the pre-monsoon season and low during the post-monsoon season.During pre-monsoon, total Coliform number ranged from 230 MPN/100ml to 1100 MPN/100ml, 93 MPN/100ml to 380 MPN/100ml during post-monsoon, and 149 MPN/100ml to 470 MPN/100 ml during monsoon. Escherichia, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsilla are examples of coliform bacteria. The highest value of Coliform was 1100 MPN/100ml at station 1 Poonjar during the pre-monsoon period, and the lowest value was 93 MPN/100ml at station 6 Illikkal during the post-monsoon period. Faecal contamination is seen in all the six stations. The bacteria E.coli, Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter aerogenes, Shigelle sp., Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Proteus sp., Klebsiella sp., have been isolated from  various stations, primarily from stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. During pre-monsoon, station 1 in Pooonjar recorded the highest FCC value of 460 MPN/100 ml, while station 6 in Illikkal recorded the lowest value of 20 MPN/100 ml. Although the current situation is not dire or alarming, the river water needs to be closely monitored in order to improve its quality and allow for better and more sustainable management