Ghulam Raza

The Tribe Scymnini (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) From Sindh Province, Pakistan

Coccinellids are important natural enemies of aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, whiteflies, jassids and mites. They are being augmented or conserved for population reduction of different agricultural crop pests in the concept of Integrated Pest Management throughout the world. The genera and species in the tribe Scymnini known from Pakistan are revised and redescribed. Two genera including two subgenera and six species among which three species are newly reported, is therefore, a new addition to Coccinellid fauna of Pakistan. Keys to all taxa, descriptions of the higher taxa, species diagnoses, synonymies, and distribution records are included.

Climate Change Variability Trends andImplications for Freshwater Resourcesin Pakistan’s Eastern HinduKush Region

Due to climate change, the world average surface temperature has increased 0.3-0.6oC over the past 100 years. The northern belt of Pakistan holds the largest storage of freshwater (ice and snow) after the polar region, and provides water to the downstream population for agriculture plus domestic and hydropower resources. This study focuses on a possible explanation for the seemingly declining behavior of Darkut Glacier using evidence from ground observation and climate station data in Yasin and Gupis valleys in northern Pakistan. We analyzed data obtained from two stations includes the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA, 1995-2010) and the Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD, 1986-2015). Results of both climate station data depicted an increase in total precipitation and a decrease in winter and spring seasons. The study also highlighted an increase in mean minimum and maximum temperatures, particularly in winter and spring. Similarly, the trend of solar radiation also has decreased. Therefore, enhanced snout fluctuation and the melting rate of Darkut occurred during the study period. All of these changes have had a negative impact on the snout of the glacier, which has retreated 6 m during 2013 and 2016, and a lake has formed behind the terminal moraine.

Documentation of Ethnoveterinary Practices in the CKNP Region, Gilgit-Baltistan

Majority of the livestock holders in different areas of Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) region in Gilgit-Baltistan lack the modern veterinary healthcare facilities. The local community mostly depends upon the traditional floral therapeutic veterinary practices for the cure of various livestock diseases. The lack of the ethnoveterinary surveys in the CKNP region results in loss in the scientific documentation of the traditional information and practices about the livestock healthcare. The present study deals with the documentation of the livestock diseases and the ethnoveterinary herbal and non-herbal therapeutic practices by the livestock holders in CKNP region. The study was conducted from March 2012 to March 2013 in the valleys of CKNP region. The ethnoveterinary data was collected through the semi-structured questionnaires and the techniques of interviews and field visits. And the productive interaction provided an enabling background for the successful Rapid Rural Appraisal and Participatory Rural Appraisal research. Total 156 local community members were interviewed in Thallay, Khaplu, Hushe and Shigar valleys. The survey showed the prevalence of the most common diseases e.g. FMD, intestinal problems etc. Among the 51 medicinal plants, the Asteraceae family exhibited the highest number of genera with the therapeutic species. The parts of the plants that were most frequently used for the therapeutic purposes were the leaves (55%), seed (15%) etc. The present study contributed to the documentation of the medicinal plants used in the ethnoveterinary practices in valleys in CKNP region, Gilgit-Baltistan.