Habitat heterogeneity influences avian feeding guild composition in urban landscapes:evidence from Bhubaneswar,India

Background:Habitat heterogeneity clearly distinguished in terms of availability of food and habitat resources and landscape features(natural or human-modified)play a crucial role in the avian species composition and population structure.To examine this,a study was carried out in Bhubaneswar,India,to understand the ecological niche distinction in birds based on habitat heterogeneity.Regular sampling was conducted in 30 sampling sites covering six different habitat types in a predominantly urban landscape of Bhubaneswar for understanding the ecological niche in birds.The birds were classified into 11 types of foraging guilds.Results:The insectivorous guild had the highest bird species richness(181 species)and the omnivorous guild had the lowest(11 species).The piscivorous guild and wetland habitat had the strongest linkage,followed by the insectivorous guild and agricultural land.The frugivorous guild was significantly correlated with forest habitats(r=0.386,p<0.01)and park and garden habitats(r=0.281,p<0.01).This urban area hosted a higher number of bird species in certain habitat types,viz.,agricultural lands(52%,115 species)and forest patches(50%,111 species).Conclusion:The present study highlights the importance of agricultural lands,forest patches,parks and gardens,and wetlands inside the cityscape for supporting avifauna.It is therefore suggested that such habitats should be conserved inside an urban area to protect native avifauna.Thus,the city development plan must invariably include strategies for conserving the forest patches inside the urban area.Measures must be taken to restrain the degradation of agricultural lands and reduce their utilization for non-agricultural purposes,which will help in further reducing the bird population decline in the urban landscape.

Fatty acids of Pleurotus florida mushroom:Potential molecules for blood glucose control

In Vitro-In Vivo antidiabetic effect of Pleurotus florida mycelia was evaluated using enzymes,yeast cell and in streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic(T2D)animal model.P.florida mycelia was prepared by submerged fermentation process.The fungal biomass was organically extracted using mixture of ethanol and water.Highest extractives yield of 14.3%w/w was obtained in hydroalcoholic solvent with dielectric constant-δvalue of 78.2(EX78).P.florida mycelia extract(EX 78)shows higher antioxidant power with 86.87%free radical scavenging activity and with 75.29 reducing power.In-vitroα-amylase inhibition,α-glucosidase inhibition and glucose uptake activity of EX 78 shows higher effectiveness.The P.florida mycelia extract(EX 78)is also found to be effective in controlling of blood glucose and insulin level in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced T2D animals.The blood glucose was reduced to 216±6.21 mg/dl from 357±0.34 mg/dl and the insulin level was increased to 0.423±0.006 ng per mL from 0.164±0.03 ng/mL in P.florida treated animals.The higher fatty acids,C20-eicosane;C24-tetracosane and C30-squalene present in P.florida mycelium extract was found to be effective in inhibiting human intestinalα-glucosidase and pancreaticα-amylase.The P.florida mushroom is found to be effective in controlling high blood glucose elevated liver and cardiac enzymes.Consumption of this mushroom is suitable for controlling blood glucose level in person with hyperglycaemia.

Immobilization of β-glucuronidase:biocatalysis of glycyrrhizin to 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid and in-silico lead finding

The non-covalent immobilization ofβ-glucuronidase enzyme obtained from Rhizopus oryzae was carried out by entrapment in natural fiber(papaya and coconut).The bioconversion capability of immobilized enzyme was analyzed based on conversion of glycyrrhizin to 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid under different conditions.The hydrolytic activity of theβ-glucuronidase enzyme was highly depended on the microbial source and matrix,in which enzyme was immobilized.R.oryzaeβ-glucuronidase immobilized in papaya fibers produced the highest GA content(13.170μg/mL)at 10 h of reaction.However R.oryzaeβ-glucuronidase immobilized in coconut fibers produced the highest GA content(21.425μg/mL)at 15 h of reaction.Online Molinspiration software was used to predict drug like molecular properties of the 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid,and software suggested that the compounds had potential of becoming the orally active molecules.Therefore,in silico studies were conducted on proposed 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid to select the best possible drug candidates based on drug properties and bioactivity score of the compounds.