Geographical Design of Riparian Buffers with Long-term Vegetation Cover Reconstructed in Agricultural Landscapes

Reconstructing long-term vegetation cover along streams has become a popular practice for ecological restoration in fragmented agricultural landscapes. To maximize ecological restoration benefits with the least cost, this paper developed a GIS- based model framework for the geographical design of the location and width of riparian buffers to be reconstructed with long-term vegetation cover. The framework integrated three models： the 0-1 mathematical programming model, an economical model and an ecological model. It was tested in an agricultural landscape with a drainage system consisting of 92 stream segments with cropland banks. Each segment had five restoration options in terms of buffer width： 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 m, thus making a total of 460 decision units in the landscape. For each unit, the economical model estimated the annual rental payment to the farmer who owned the targeted cropland margin along a stream to be converted into a vegetation buffer, whereas the ecological model predicted its corresponding habitat benefits at the landscape level. The 0-1 programming model minimized the total payments, subject to the designed habitat improvement and proposed acreages of riparian cropland set-aside annually. The model identified a cost-effective combination of riparian buffers from 460 units. The results showed that achieving the habitat improvement goal at the least cost required a spatial configuration of vegetation buffers with variable width. This finding suggests that the size and location of buffers directly affect restoration costs and environmental benefits. Thus, the best management practices of agricultural landscape restoration can only be achieved by a specific geographical design with the model framework.

Application of Molecular Markers in Wildlife DNA Forensic Investigations

Wildlife DNAForensic isthe application of regular DNAforensic methodsfor proper identification of wildlife parts and their products.Recent advances in molecular genetic studies have generated a new and exciting range of possible applications of genetic methods to wildlife research,conservation,and management.These advances have led to an explosion in genetic research on wildlife for their identification at molecular level and have increased interest among researchers working in other scientific disciplines for application of genetic technology in wildlife DNAforensic field.Different molecular markers have been developed and being routinely used for analysis,such as nuclear markers(variable number of tandem repeats,single-nucleotide polymorphisms),mitochondrial markers(cytochrome b,cytochrome c oxidase subunit I,16S rRNA,12S rRNA,and D‑Loop)and microsatellites.As soon as,a case is reported under Wildlife Protection Act(1972)the case exhibits are sent to forensic laboratories for proper analysis of species for appropriate application of law.

Forensic Identification of Four Indian Snake Species Using Single Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

Among different endangered animal species,snakes are the most neglected creature looked at with apathy and therefore,are ruthlessly killed,illegally trafficked,and poached for their venom,lucrative skin,meat,and bones for manufacturing of medicines,accessories,and food items.Establishing the identity of the endangered snake species is important for punishing the offenders under Wildlife Protection Act(WPA)(1972)but morphological characters fail to establish identity as they are often altered.The technique of identification of snake species at molecular level holds very effective conclusion in punishing offender.Here,we have constructed and demonstrated a novel multiplexing polymerase chain reaction technique,using 16S rRNA and C-mos gene for identification of four Indian snake species,namely Ptyas mucosa,Daboia russellii,Naja naja,and Xenochrophis piscator.They are listed in Appendix-II and III of convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and Schedule II;Part II of Indian WPA,1972.Therefore,it may be considered a functional tool for establishing species-specific identity of four Indian snake species and promising to be useful for their conservation.