Joydeb Majumder | Tripura University (original) (raw)

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Articles by Joydeb Majumder

Northeastern India has high medicinal plant diversity due to variance in topography and physiogno... more Northeastern India has high medicinal plant diversity due to variance in topography and physiognomy. We documented the uses of various medicinal plants by the Bengali people of West district and South district of Tripura state for their own health care as well as for domesticated animals. Based on semi structured interviews, group discussions and information from local informants, a total of 93 species of medicinal plants of 52 families and 83 genera were documented. These plants were used to treat more than 55 different human diseases and 6 diseases of livestock. Sixty-eight plant species were used singly and the rest were used in combination with other species for therapeutic formulations of various diseases. Leaves of plants were most often used for most of the ethnobotanical preparations. Maximum consensus value of 96% was recorded for Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & H. Rob., and the minimum was 15% for Bambusa balcooa Robx. Of the 93 plant species, 75 species showed pharmacological properties. Prospects for augmenting existing knowledge and enhancing the use of traditional medicinal plants are discussed.

Ensete glaucum recently recorded in Tripura during floristic investigations, which is an addition... more Ensete glaucum recently recorded in Tripura during floristic investigations, which is an additional banana species for the flora. We observed very limited population in the wild and recorded necessary information on its distribution, habitat association and pollen structure. Present information will be useful for future population assessment, regeneration and other ecological studies to manage its wild stock and to protect this primitive banana from regional extinction.

Antioxidants in normal diet and practice of using it in daily life can reduce the chances of vari... more Antioxidants in normal diet and practice of using it in daily life can reduce the chances of various aliments like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, aging, gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis etc. Various studies have been done to identify antioxidants from plant sources and efforts have been taken to incorporate in conventional therapy. In our present study, methanol extract of the seeds of the plant Meyna laxiflora has been evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity by using three different methods. The methanol extract is found to possess free radical scavenging property in concentration dependent manner. The IC 50 values were determined and are found to be 84.2±2.1, 91.0±3.0, and 104.5±3.4 μg/ml for DPPH, H 2 O 2 , and NO radical scavenging method respectively. This observation indicates the presence of free radical scavenging potential by the methanol extract of Meyna laxiflora seeds.

Several wildlife sanctuaries in the world are home to the surviving populations of many endemic s... more Several wildlife sanctuaries in the world are home to the surviving populations of many endemic species. Trishna wildlife sanctuary in northeast India is protected by law, and is home to the last surviving populations of Asian bison (Bos gorus Smith), spectacle monkey (Trachypithecus phayrie Blyth), capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus Blyth), slow loris (Nycticebus coucang Boddaert), wild cat (Felis chaus Schreber), and wild boars (Sus scrofa L.), among many other animals and plants. The sanctuary was explored for species richness and diversity of butterflies. A six-month-long study revealed the occurrence of 59 butterfly species that included 21 unique species and 9 species listed in the threatened category. The mixed moist deciduous mature forest of the sanctuary harbored greater species richness and species diversity (39 species under 31 genera) than other parts of the sanctuary, which is comprised of regenerated secondary mixed deciduous forest (37 species under 32 genera), degraded forests (32 species under 28 genera), and open grassland with patches of plantations and artificial lakes (24 species under 17 genera). The majority of these species showed a distribution range throughout the Indo-Malayan region and Australasia tropics, and eight species were distributed in the eastern parts of South Asia, including one species, Labadea martha (F.), which is distributed in the eastern Himalayas alone. Estimator Chao 2 provided the best-predicted value of species richness. The steep slope of the species accumulation curve suggested the occurrence of a large number of rare species, and a prolonged gentle slope suggested a higher species richness at a higher sample abundance. The species composition of vegetation-rich habitats showed high similarity in comparison to vegetation-poor habitats.

Present study was aimed to report the insect fauna of water-filled tree holes and influence of di... more Present study was aimed to report the insect fauna of water-filled tree holes and influence of different physico-chemical parameters on tree hole insect community structure at Dhalai district of Tripura state, northeast India during May to August 2010. Tree-hole insects belonging to 6 orders and 17 families were found, with the highest number from the order Diptera and minimum from the order Hemiptera. The most abundant family was Culicidae whereas Scarabaeidae and Reduviidae were the least abundant families. Among the physico-chemical parameters measured, tree hole height from ground, hole depth and dissolved oxygen content of tree hole water showed positive influence on tree hole insect abundance.

Herpetofaunal biodiversity in a particular area determine the quantitative and qualitative data o... more Herpetofaunal biodiversity in a particular area determine the quantitative and qualitative data of habitat modifications because of their receptive nature. Hilly terrain, undulating slopes and valleys with semi-evergreen to moist deciduous forests of Tripura form heterogeneous habitats for rich herpetofaunal diversity, although it is inadequately documented from the state. In the present communication, 55 species of herpetofauna was recorded belonging to 39 genera and 15 families. Out of which, 18 species were snakes, 17 species of lizards, 3 species of turtles and 17 species of amphibians. Twenty six species are new record for the state. Twenty four species were enlisted in IUCN Red List category. Habitat preference and existing threats in the state from anthropogenic activities were also mentioned.

North-east India is part of Indo-Burma hotspot and among the richest bird zones in India. Tripura... more North-east India is part of Indo-Burma hotspot and among the richest bird zones in India. Tripura lies in the border of Indo-Burma global biodiversity hotspot area but very poorly covered by ornithological works. Avifauna of Tripura state is known by 277 species but there is lack of information about their distribution, particularly in and around Agartala city, which is the capital of Tripura state and is a tourist destination along the border of Bangladesh for its natural landscapes, inland water species, and strong presence of green flora with a view to enhance its value for tourist attraction and naturalists. A study was conducted to record the species of birds that occur in and around the City. In the present study 73 bird species were recorded from Agartala city and its adjacent areas belonging to 41 families and 14 orders.

Freshwater lakes are integral part of urban ecosystem and provide numerous benefits to human bein... more Freshwater lakes are integral part of urban ecosystem and provide numerous benefits to human beings directly or indirectly. An inventory was carried out to study the aquatic entomofauna, their diversity and distribution in three urban freshwater lakes of Tripura, northeast India during January to May, 2012. A total of 2159 individuals representing 31 species belonging to 23 genera, 15 families and 4 orders were recorded. Maximum of 30 species and 1191 individuals of aquatic insects were recorded in vegetation rich Maharaja Bir Bikram College Lake and minimum of 11 species and 215individuals were recorded in vegetation poor Laxminarayan Bari Lake. Insects belonging to the orders Hemiptera (32.26%) and Odonata (32.25%) showed higher species richness followed by those belonging to Coleoptera (25.81%) and Diptera (9.68%), respectively. Maximum diversity (H = 3.03) and least dominance (D = 0.06) and minimum diversity (H = 1.50) and maximum s s s dominance (D = 0.06) of aquatic insects was recorded in Maharaja Bir Bikram College Lake and Laxminarayan s Bari Lake, respectively. Richness estimators Chao 1 and Chao 2 provided the best predicted value of species richness. Three species are reported here for the first time from the state. Dominance of hemipteran and coleopteran insects suggested that urban lakes of Tripura are relatively less polluted.

The diversity of predacious Coccinellids is of great practical and scientific importance due to t... more The diversity of predacious Coccinellids is of great practical and scientific importance due to their worldwide utilization as natural enemy of phytophagous insect pests. Present inventory was carried out in two types of habitats namely, agro-and forest habitats for predacious coccinellids in Tripura, northeast India. Random collection was made by hand picking and sweep netting during January 2008 to December 2010. A total of 1627 individuals of coccinellids representing 24 species under 17 genera were collected. Overall rank distribution of species based on relative abundance showed that 24 species distributed in 21 ranks. Diversity indices, richness estimate and individual based rarefaction curve revealed that species richness and diversity of coccinellids was more in forest habitats than the agro-habitats.

Biology and biocontrol potential of Anisolemnia dilatata (F.) was studied in laboratory condition... more Biology and biocontrol potential of Anisolemnia dilatata (F.) was studied in laboratory condition along with its field population dynamics on bamboo infesting woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna silvestrii (Takahashi). The egg, larval, pre-pupal and pupal stages last 4.73±0.08, 14.84±0.16, 2.13±0.03 and 6.58±0.10 days, respectively. Pre-reproductive, re-productive and post-reproductive periods were recorded to be 13.90±0.66, 93.70±1.27 and 24.20±0.66 days, respectively. Mean feeding potential of first, second, third and fourth instar larvae and adult female was recorded to be 2.67±0.10, 14.24±0.54, 34.47±2.11, 93.34±2.64 and 115.33±0.95 mg aphids/day/individual, respectively. Female beetles laid, on an average, 1177.30±4.57 eggs and the hatching success was 74.20%. Temperature and humidity showed strong negative correlations with prey and predator populations whereas rainfall showed modest negative correlation. Present study provides valuable baseline data regarding the biology and field population dynamics of this specialized predator of bamboo infesting woolly aphids.

Papers by Joydeb Majumder

Journal of Threatened Taxa, Dec 26, 2014

Majumder et al.

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Dec 1, 2014

Seven species of Odonata are recorded from among the numerous atolls and midocean reef islands th... more Seven species of Odonata are recorded from among the numerous atolls and midocean reef islands that make up the Republic of the Marshall Is lands (RMI). They include two Zygoptera (damselflies: Tanymecosticta sp. and Ischnura aurora) and five Anisoptera (true dragonflies: Anax guttatus, Diplacodes bipunctata, Pantala flavescens, Tholymis tillarga, and Tramea transmarina). The damselfly Tanymecosticta sp. is known only from a single World War II-era ex tralimital record reported here for the first time. Breeding is confirmed for the six other species, which are widely distributed in the Pacific and often further afield. The frequently cited record of Pantala flavescens as being the first odonate and one of the first insects to colonize Bikini Atoll after cessation of nuclear test ing requires verification. Additional surveys on many of the Marshall Islands not yet sampled for odonates will doubtless result in many new locality records. However, small island size, limited habitat diversity and water resources for breeding, and large distances from potential source populations contribute to an impoverished odonate fauna, and few, if any, species are likely to be added to the list. The six species known to inhabit the Marshall Islands make up the entire known odonate faunas of many other low, coralline islands in the Westcentral Pacific.

Zoology and Ecology, 2016

AbstractForest composition, structural attributes and the availability of foraging resources stro... more AbstractForest composition, structural attributes and the availability of foraging resources strongly determine the duration of roosting and survival of fruit bat species. The quantitative vegetation inventory was applied to examine the quality of two bat species’ [(Cynopterus sphix (in Habitat 1) and Pteropus giganteus (in Habitat 2))] habitats in Northeast India. Five 500 × 10 m (0.5 ha) transects were laid out for each bat species to record and measure all plants with a ≥10 cm girth. The obtained results showed that the dominant plant families in the habitats studied were Fabaceae, Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae and not Myrtaceae, Moraceae, Sapotaceae as potential tropical bat-favoured plant families. We recorded six roosting, 25 foraging trees out of 110 species in Habitat 1 and 10 roosting, 27 foraging trees out of 93 species in Habitat 2. Woody plant density and the basal area significantly differed between the habitats. The arrangement of stems density-girth and density-height classes suggested that matur...

Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science, 2009

A survey of the adult dragonfly and damselfly (Odonata) fauna of streams in the upper Rockcastle ... more A survey of the adult dragonfly and damselfly (Odonata) fauna of streams in the upper Rockcastle River system, Kentucky, was conducted during 2002-2003. Twenty-seven species were collected, resulting in 31 new county records for Jackson, Laurel, and Rockcastle counties and the extension of the Kentucky flight season for six species. The 27 species collected during this study represent 18 percent of the odonate species currently known from Kentucky.

Journal of Threatened Taxa, Dec 26, 2014

Majumder et al.

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Dec 1, 2014

Zoology and Ecology, 2016

Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science, 2009

Journal of Threatened Taxa, Jun 26, 2023

His research interests are diversity and ecology study of odonates, ants, moths, and butterflies.... more His research interests are diversity and ecology study of odonates, ants, moths, and butterflies. Dr. Basant Kumar Agarwala is a retired professor of Tripura University, Department of Zoology, and ex-chairman of Tripura State Pollution Control Board. He works on taxonomy, diversity and ecology of aphids, ladybird beetles, butterflies, odonates, and many more insects. Dr. Joydeb Majumder pursued his master's degree and PhD in Zoology from Tripura University and currently works as a program manager of Biodiversity Conservation in the Project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management Project (SCATFORM), Tripura. His research interests are diversity and ecological study of aphids, ladybird beetles, snakes, butterflies, moths, and odonates. Author contributions: DD and JM have collected the data and prepared the manuscript; BKA reviewed the manuscript and also allowed using laboratory facilities. Acknowledgements: The authors are greatly thankful to Arajush Payra and Aaratrik Pal for their support and help in the identification of Odonata species and in the preparation of the first draft of the manuscript; and Dr. Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee, Dipankar Kishore Sinha, and Rahul Lodh for their generous assistance during field visits.

Ensete glaucum recently recorded in Tripura during floristic investigations, which is an addition... more Ensete glaucum recently recorded in Tripura during floristic investigations, which is an additional banana spe-cies for the flora. We observed very limited population in the wild and recorded necessary information on its distribution, habitat association and pollen structure. Present information will be useful for future population assessment, regeneration and other ecological studies to manage its wild stock and to protect this primitive banana from regional extinction.

Check List, 2015

Twenty-four species representing 21 genera, 16 families and 7 orders of mammals were recorded in ... more Twenty-four species representing 21 genera, 16 families and 7 orders of mammals were recorded in the Tripura state, northeast India, from an inventory done from 2006 to 2012. Ten of these species were found in wildlife sanctuaries as well as in primary forests. Four species were recorded exclusively from the wildlife sanctuaries and ten species were recorded only from primary forests. Order Primates was the most diverse group represented by 6 species from 4 genera in 3 families. Frequency sightings data showed that 11 species were rare, 2 species were occasional, one species was frequent, and another 10 species were common. Two species, Large-footed Mouse-eared Bat, Myotis sp., and Greater False Vampire Bat, Megaderma lyra, are new records from the study area. Overall, 23 of the 24 species recorded are listed in the IUCN Red List, 14 species are listed in CITES, and 14 species are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Threats being faced by many of the recorded ...

Check List, 2015

Two new records of Calotes emma Gray, 1845, are reported from Srirampur and Homnpui in the state ... more Two new records of Calotes emma Gray, 1845, are reported from Srirampur and Homnpui in the state of Tripura, northeast India. These records are the first from Tripura. Present locality records extended the known distribution of C. emma in Southeast Asia.

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2015

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2012

Journal of Insect Science, 2013

Dept. of Botany, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar-799 022, West Tripura, Tripura, India. ABSTRA... more Dept. of Botany, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar-799 022, West Tripura, Tripura, India. ABSTRACT Herpetofaunal biodiversity in a particular area determine the quantitative and qualitative data of habitat modifications because of their receptive nature. Hilly terrain, undulating slopes and valleys with semi-evergreen to moist deciduous forests of Tripura form heterogeneous habitats for rich herpetofaunal diversity, although it is inadequately documented from the state. In the present communication, 55 species of herpetofauna was recorded belonging to 39 genera and 15 families. Out of which, 18 species were snakes, 17 species of lizards, 3 species of turtles and 17 species of amphibians. Twenty six species are new record for the state. Twenty four species were enlisted in IUCN Red List category. Habitat preference and existing threats in the state from anthropogenic activities were also mentioned. Keywords

Current Science, 2017

Going up or going down? Diamonds and super-reducing UHP assemblages in ophiolitic mantle.

Check List, 2012

Quantification of butterfly diversity and species richness is of prime importance for evaluating ... more Quantification of butterfly diversity and species richness is of prime importance for evaluating the status of protected areas. Permanent line transect counts were used to record species richness and abundance of butterfly communities of different habitat types in Trishna wildlife sanctuary. A total of 1005 individuals representing 59 species in 48 genera belonging to five families were recorded in the present study. Of these, 23 species belonged to the family Nymphalidae and accounted for 38.98% of the total species and 45.20% of the total number of individuals. Mature secondary mixed moist deciduous forest showed the maximum diversity and species richness, while exotic grassland showed minimum diversity and species richness. Out of 59 species, 31 are new records for Tripura state, while 21 are unique species and nine are listed in the threatened category. This study revealed that mature secondary forests are more important for butterfly communities, while exotic grasslands have a ...