Environmental Drivers of Zooplankton and Bacterial Dynamics in Rajasthan’s Freshwaters | InformativeBD

Sedami Igor Armand Yevide, Sidoine Kolaolé Yebadokpo, Gbodja Houéhanou François Gbesso, and Essenam Esdora Christine Dansou,  from the different institute of Benin. wrote a Research Article about, Environmental Drivers of Zooplankton and Bacterial Dynamics in Rajasthan’s Freshwaters. Entitled, Environmental drivers of zooplankton community structure and bacterial load in Rajasthan’s freshwater ecosystems: A global perspective. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Hura crepitans L. commonly referred to as the “sandbox tree,” is a tree species widely distributed across tropical regions. Despite its ecological and socio-economic significance, limited research has been conducted on its traditional utilization and perception by local communities in West Africa, particularly in Benin. This investigation aims to address this knowledge gap by examining the ethnobotanical importance of this species in southern Benin. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with 357 respondents across nine (09) Communes in the Ouémè and Plateau departments. Data concerning socio-demographic characteristics, usages made from species, modes of knowledge transmission, and threats were collected and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and R studio. Twenty-eight (28) distinct uses categorized into eight (08) use categories were identified. The “Holli” sociolinguistic group primarily employs species for medicinal, construction, and artisanal purposes, while the “Nago” focuses on construction, medicinal, and cosmetic applications, and the “Wémè” on agricultural, cultural, and religious uses. Knowledge transmission is predominantly oral, passed from father to son, with significant variations among ethnic groups (p < 0.0001), age categories (p = 0.002), religious affiliations (p < 0.0001), and education levels (p = 0.045). The species demonstrates high cultural importance for construction (0.60), agricultural (0.47), artisanal (0.31), and medicinal (0.30) applications. Deforestation and excessive harvesting were identified as primary threats to the species’ survival. These findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between people and the species for sustainable management and conservation strategies. 

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Introduction

The field of ethnobotany has been established to document, analyze, and understand the multidimensional relationships between human societies and plants (Martin et al., 2010) through an interdisciplinary investigation approach of the uses of plants in traditional pharmacopoeias, food systems, rituals, and daily life (Siraj, 2022). This includes the botanical, anthropological, ecological, and linguistic disciplines used to unravel this framework of interdependent human-plant relationships (Martin et al., 2010). This respect for the past is revealed in human history, with evidence of systematic documentation of herbal knowledge by humans going back millennia to antiquity. Medicinal plants are the most important source of life-saving drugs for 75–80% of the population in developing countries. They have also been a valuable resource for scholars throughout recorded history, documenting information on plant identification, uses (e.g., as drugs), and preparation methods through pharmacopoeia (Favi et al., 2022; Rahman et al., 2022).

Traditional medicine is still a key pillar of the health system in Benin and many other parts of Africa, with households depending largely on plant-based treatment as first-line healthcare (Dossou-Yovo et al., 2022; Dougnon et al., 2023).

Furthermore, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation of natural resources, and climate change contribute to biodiversity loss, threatening traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) systems (Assogbadjo et al., 2012; Fandohan et al., 2017). This biodiversity loss affects people who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and cultural practices (Agoyi et al., 2015).

Therefore, documenting and integrating TEK into conservation is beneficial for scholarly research, as well as for resource management practices dealing with ecosystem resilience (Avakoudjo et al., 2020).

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ethnobotanical significance of Hura crepitans L., commonly known as the sandbox tree, a species widely distributed across Benin mainly in two specific departments: Ouémè and Plateau (Montcho, 2016; Sidohounde et al., 2019). By employing a qualitative and quantitative approach, this research contributes valuable insights into the diverse ways in which H. crepitans is integrated into the cultural beliefs and daily lives of communities in Southern Benin. This study aims to address the following key questions: (i) What are the traditional uses, use diversity, and socio-cultural importance of H. crepitans in the Ouémè and Plateau departments of Southern Benin, (ii) How do sociodemographic factors attributes influence the usage patterns and cultural significance of H. crepitans in the study area? (iii) What are the primary modes of knowledge transmission regarding H. crepitans among local communities? (iv) What are abundance overtime and main threats faced by this plant in these two departments?

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Source : Usages and cultural significance of Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiaceae) in local communities of ouémèand plateau departments (South Benin)