Uzma Manzoor's scientific contributions

The population and seasonal status of migratory birds of Borith Lake and surrounding areas of Hunza was studied from August 2021 to March 2022. The study area is situated between Passu Gar and Ghulkin Glacier in the district of Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan. A total 161 migratory species belonging to 18 orders and 39 families were recorded during the field investigation. Out of these, 78 species are passage migrants, 21 winter visitors / passage migrants, 50 summer breeding visitors/ passage migrants, and 12 species are winter visitors. While 47 species observed as common, 92 less common, 9 scarce and 13 species were listed as rare. In the Spring from mid-February to mid-March and in the Summer from mid-August to mid-September large number of migratory birds were observed at the lake and surroundings areas. The findings of the present study provide the scientific baseline information about the population and seasonal status of migratory birds at the Borith Lake for further studies and conservation planning.

Globally, population of marine turtles has been affecting due to an array of some natural and anthropogenic threats. Seven marine turtle species viz. Hawksbill, Olive ridley, Kemp's ridley, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Flatback and Green turtle have been distributed throughout the world. Six species spend life in Indian Ocean South East Asian region except Kemp's ridley, found in Gulf of Mexico. Nesting of Olive ridley is largely reported in mainland of Indian coastal areas, while Hawksbill in Iran; Islands of Persian Gulf and Oman coast. Pakistan coast provides nesting sites to Green turtle, however Hawksbill and Olive ridley have not been reported since 2003 and 2004 respectively. Loggerhead and Leatherback were reported by fishermen in rookeries but further study is required to identify these species in Pakistan. Currently, Olive ridley nesting is not reported in Karachi coast. Bycatch and gill netting are common threats to marine turtles. Disturbance due to tourism is another issue needs to be addressed. Habitat alteration, harvesting of eggs, pollution, development and anthropogenic activities cause non-nesting behaviour in some marine turtle species previously reported for nesting. Climate change impact on nesting is not drastic but sex ratio is affected. National and international laws have been playing significant role for the conservation of marine turtle species. Research studies about marine turtle has relatively been advanced in Thailand, India, Malaysia and Sultanate of Oman among Asian countries, meanwhile regular monitoring program to provide accurate population trends throughout nesting points but has not been conducted in many countries. IUCN and WWF have also been playing important role in conservation of marine turtles in our region.

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is common in the entire coastal belt of Pakistan, shared by two provinces, Sindh and Balochistan. No record of nesting of Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) found since 2003 and 2004, respectively, however, distributed in off shore waters of Pakistan, similarly nesting of Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and Leather back turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) was not identified in coastal areas. Gill netting and bycatch are the major threats to marine turtle species. Alteration of nesting habitat, harvesting of eggs, plastic and photo pollution, solid waste, oil spillage, developmental and anthropogenic activities could be the main causes of non-nesting behaviour of marine turtle species. Impact of lockdown since March 2020 is positive on nesting behaviour of Green turtle as public is not allowed to visit sea sites, hence disturbance not faced by female turtles. Climate change impact on nesting is not drastic but sex ratio is affected. Sindh Wildlife Department, Coastal Association for Research and Development (CARD) Balochistan and other non-governmental organizations such as International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wide Funds for Nature (WWF-Pakistan) and Scientific and Cultural Society of Pakistan (SCSP) are playing important role for the conservation of marine turtles in Pakistan.

Globally organochlorine (OC) pesticides are synthetic pesticides and widely used for controlling of pest in agriculture field and assumed to be having adverse effects on vertebrate biodiversity. Pesticides experience leads to effects on non-target living organisms, and fish being one of the most important examples among these. Acute absorption of chlorinated pesticides leads to increased death ratio, while secondary toxic concentration caused different lethal changes. These changes may be in behaviour of the exposed fish in aquatic bodies such as change in feeding, reproduction, and some histological changes in liver, kidney, gill, muscle and intestine. The lipophilic nature of fish muscle tissues in aquatic ecosystem, higher level of OCs measured in fish muscle tissue through gas chromatography and other advanced chromatographic techniques with the help of detectors. Organochlorine pesticides and their related chemicals are accumulated in animal's bodies through food chain and food web. Some organochlorine pesticides reduced the cholinesterase activity of amphibians and reptiles. Several studies were reported that number of non-target species can be affected when pesticides are used because of their inhibition of cholinesterase activity. Small levels of organochlorine were also observed in the tissues and blood samples of birds species. In this review we summarizes the some adverse effects of the use of organochlorine pesticides and related chemicals in the selected vertebrate biodiversity.

During the period from 2014 to 2017, distribution, status and conservation of reptilian fauna in the coastal areas of Karachi with special reference to marine turtles have been studied. In this study only Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) has been recorded from the selected study areas viz. Sandspit, Hawkesbay and Cape Monze. Nine species of lizards viz. Common tree lizard (Calotes versicolor versicolor),Spotted barn gecko(Hemidactylus brookii),Yellow bellycommon house gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis),Persian house gecko (Hemidactylus persicus), Blotched house gecko (Hemidactylus triedrus),Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus),Blue tail sand lizard (Acanthodactylus cantoris), Spotted lacerta (Mesalina watsonana) and Bengal monitor(Varanus bengalensis) were recorded from Sandspit, Hawkesbay and Cape Monze. Five species of Sea snakes viz. Blotched diadem snake (Sphalerosophis diadema diadema), Blue green sea snake (Hydrophis caerulescens), Annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus), Yellow sea snake (Hydrophis spiralis)and Spotted small headed sea snake (Microcephalophis cantoris) were recorded from Sandspit, Hawkesbay and Cape Monze. Two species of terrestrial snakes viz. Cliff racer (Platyceps rhodorachis) and Saw scaled viper (Echis carinatus) were also recorded from Karachi coast. The population of reptilian species at Karachi coast is declining due to disturbance by anthropogenic activities, construction and developmental activities on beach front land, inappropriate management and fishing activities.

Pakistan has 47 species of raptors, out of which, 38 species have so for been recorded from Sindh province. Raptors have gained wide attention due to the fact that over half of the world's raptors have declining populations. The present paper deals with the status and distribution of raptors in principal habitats of these species in Sindh based on field data collected during 2010 to 2018. It emphasizes the need for the conservation of Falcons and Vultures in particular. As regards the Conservation Status of raptor species in Sindh, eight species are threatened viz. Indian White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Long-billed or Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Redheaded or King Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) are Critically Endangered, Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Pallas's Fishing Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) are Endangered, while Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) and Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) are Vulnerable.

Pakistan has 47 species of raptors, out of which, 38 species have so for been recorded from Sindh province. Raptors have gained wide attention due to the fact that over half of the world's raptors have declining populations. The present paper deals with the status and distribution of raptors in principal habitats of these species in Sindh based on field data collected during 2010 to 2018. It emphasizes the need for the conservation of Falcons and Vultures in particular. As regards the Conservation Status of raptor species in Sindh, eight species are threatened viz. Indian White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Long-billed or Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus), Redheaded or King Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) are Critically Endangered, Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Pallas's Fishing Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) are Endangered, while Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) and Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) are Vulnerable.

Based on present field surveys and review of published literature, as many as 82 species of mammals, 420 species of birds, 103 species of reptiles and 07 species of amphibians have been recorded so far in the provice. The information presented is based on our field surveys, observations and collections done from Jan 2010 to April 2018. The present paper puts the information together, and provides a comprehensive an updated checklist of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that occur in the Sindh province.

Wildlife Surveys were undertaken in the prime wildlife habitats of Sindh during 2010-2018 and a total of 82 species of mammals, 420 species of birds, 103 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians and 33 important plant species were recorded from these areas. There are total 50 Protected Areas in Sindh which have an extensive value regarding vertebrate biodiversity. The key species include: Sind Wild Lizard and Freshwater Turtles. The major threats to the wildlife of the Province are: poaching, habitat degradation and lack of management. A total of 40 threatened wildlife species have been recorded. To conserve the threatened species and their habitats, an action plan is suggested.