Hydrogeochemical evaluation of inorganics and bioorganics in selected aquatic environments

The present study is an investigation to address relevant chemical aspects of the three varied aquatic environments, such as mangroves, river and the estuary. The sampling locations include a thick mangrove forest with high tidal activity, a mangrove nursery with minimal disturbances and low tidal inundation, a highly polluted riverine system and an estuarine site, as reference. Nutrients and bioorganic compounds in the water column and surface sediment were estimated in an attempt to understand the regeneration properties of these different aquatic systems.Assessment of the trace metal pollution was also carried out.

Molecular genetic characterization of endemic red -tailed barb,Gonoproktoptems curmuca (Hamilton - Buchanan, 1807)

The family Cyprinidae is the largest of freshwater fishes and, with the possible exception of Gobiidae, the largest family of vertebrates.Various members of this family are important as food fish, as aquarium fish, and in biological research. In this study, a fish species from this family exclusively found in the west flowing rivers originating from the Western Ghat region — Gonoproktopterus curmuca — was taken for population genetic analysis.There was an urgent need for restoration ecology by the development of apt management strategies to exploit resources judiciously. One of the strategies thus developed for the scientific management of these resources was to identify the natural units of the fishery resources under exploitation (Altukov, 1981). These natural units of a species can otherwise be called as stocks. A stock can be defined as a panmictic population of related individuals within a single species that is genetically distinct from other such populations.It is believed that a species may undergo micro evolutionary process and differentiate into genetically distinct sub-populations or stocks in course of time, if reproductively and geographically isolated.In recent times, there has been a wide spread degradation of natural aquatic environment due to anthropogenic activities and this has resulted in the decline and even extinction of some fish species. In such situations, evaluation of the genetic diversity of fish resources assumes important to conservation.The species selected for the study, was short-listed as one of the candidates for stock-specific, propagation assisted rehabilitation and management programme in rivers where it is naturally distributed. In connection with this, captive breeding and milt cryopreservation techniques of the species have been developed by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow. However, for a scientific stock-specific rehabilitation programme, information on the stock structure and basic genetic profile of the species are essential and that is not available in case of G. curmuca. So the present work was taken up to identify molecular genetic markers like allozymes, microsatellites and RAPDs and, to use these markers to discriminate the distinct populations of the species, if any, in areas of its natural distribution. The genetic markers were found to be powerful tools to analyze the population genetic structure of the red-tailed barb and demonstrated clear cut genetic differentiation between pairs of populations examined. Geographic isolation by land distance is likely to be the factor that contributed to the restricted gene flow between the river systems. So the present study emphasizes the need for stock-wise, propagation assisted-rehabilitation of the natural populations of red-tailed barb, Gonoprokfopterus curmuca.

Dynamics of Deforestation and Socio-Economic profile of Tribal Women Folk in Kerala- A study of Attappady is

This thesis Entitled Dynamics of deforestation and Socio-Economic profile of tribal women flok in kerala -A study of Attappady. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through a sample survey conducted in three panchayaths .The thesis is organized in eight chapters. The first chapter provides the background to the study. Second chapter reviews the literature. Third chapter provides the profile of the study area and general conditions. Fourth chapter consists of the life cycle structure of the tribal woman. Fifth chapter covers the socio-economic conditions of the tribal women in the study area. Sixth chapter consists of relationship between tribal women and forest and the degradation of the forest. Seventh chapter provides the documentation of the development programmes implemented in Attappady and their importance to the tribals. Last chapter consists of summary and conclusions of the study, suggestions and recommendations of the study.

“Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Environmental Compartments of the Central and Northern Coast of Kerala, India”

The nearshore marine ecosystem is a dynamic environment impacted by many activities, especially the coastal waters and sediments contiguous to major urban areas. Although heavy metals are natural constituents of the marine environment, inputs are considered to be conservative pollutants and are potentially toxic, accumulate in the sediment, are bioconcentrated by organisms and may cause health problems to humans via the food chain. A variety of metals in trace amounts are essential for biological processes in all organisms, but excessive levels can be detrimental by acting as enzyme inhibitors. Discharge of industrial wastewater, agriculture runoff and untreated sewage pose a particularly serious threat to the coastal environment of Kerala, but there is a dearth of studies in documenting the contaminant metals. This study aimed principally to assess such contamination by examining the results of heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd and Hg) analysis in seawater, sediment and benthic biota from a survey of five transects along the central and northern coast of Kerala in 2008 covering a 10.0 km stretch of near shore environment in each transect. Trophic transfer of metal contaminants from aquatic invertebrates to its predators was also assessed, by employing a suitable benthic food chain model in order to understand which all metals are undergoing biotransference (transfer of metals from a food source to consumer).The study of present contamination levels will be useful for potential environmental remediation and ecosystem restoration at contaminated sites and provides a scientific basis for standards and protective measures for the coastal waters and sediments. The usefulness of biomonitor proposed in this study would allow identification of different bioavailable metals as well as provide an assessment of the magnitude of metal contamination in the coastal marine milieu. The increments in concentration of certain metals between the predator and prey discerned through benthic food chain can be interpreted as evidence of biotransference.

Coastal regulation zone rules in coastal panchayats (villages) of Kerala, India vis-a` -vis socio-economic impacts from the recently introduced peoples’ participatory program for local self-governance and sustainable development

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest of Government of India in February 1991 as a part of the Environmental Protection Act of 1986 to protect the coast from eroding and to preserve its natural resources. The initial notification did not distinguish the variability and diversity of various coastal states before enforcing it on the various states and Union Territories. Impact assessments were not carried out to assess its impact on socio-economic life of the coastal population. For the very same reason, it was unnoticed or rather ignored till 1994 when the Supreme Court of India made a land mark judgment on the fate of the coastal aquaculture which by then had established as an economically successful industry in many South Indian States. Coastal aquaculture in its modern form was a prohibited activity within CRZ. Lately, only various stakeholders of the coast realized the real impact of the CRZ rules on their property rights andbusiness. To overcome the initial drawbacks several amendments were made in the regulation to suit regional needs. In 1995, another great transformation took place in the State of Kerala as a part of the reorganization of the local self government institutions into a decentralized three tier system called ‘‘Panchayathi Raj System’’. In 1997, the state government also decided to transfer the power with the required budget outlay to the grass root level panchayats (villages) and municipalities to plan and implement the various projects in their localities with the full participation of the local people by constituting Grama Sabhas (Peoples’ Forum). It is called the ‘‘Peoples’ Planning Campaign’’(Peoples’ Participatory Programme—PPP for Local Level Self-Governance). The management of all the resources including the local natural resources was largely decentralized to the level of local communities and villages. Integrated, sustainable coastal zone management has become the concern of the local population. The paper assesses the socio-economic impact of the centrally enforced CRZ and the state sponsored PPP on the coastal community in Kerala and suggests measures to improve the system and living standards of the coastal people within the framework of CRZ.

Temporal pattern of fish production in a microtidal tropical estuary in the south-west coast of India

The status of fisheries and seasonal variation in fish diversity in the Kodungallur-Azhikode Estuary (KAE) were investigated. Total annual average fish production in the estuary declined significantly to 908.6 t with average yield of 5.4 kg ha-1 day-1, when compared to earlier study; where 2747 t was reported. During the present study, 60 species of finfishes (belonging to 34 finfish families), 6 species of penaeid shrimps, 2 species of palaemonid prawns, 2 species of crabs (4 crustacean families), 6 species of bivalves and 2 species of edible oysters (3 molluscan families) were noticed. Finfishes were the major group that contributed 69.62% of total fishery in the estuary and crustaceans (23.47%), bivalves (6.84%) and oysters (0.07%) also formed good fishery. Many of the fish species in the estuary were observed as threatened (Horabagrus brachysoma, Channa striatus, Channa marulius, Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis and Wallago attu). The major fishing gears employed in the estuary were gillnets, cast nets, stake nets, scoop nets, ring nets, traps and Chinese dip nets. Gillnets contributed 45% of the total fish catch. Gillnets also showed highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 6.91 kg h -1 followed by cast nets (1.85 kg h -1), Chinese dip nets (3.20 kg h -1), stake nets (3.05 kg h -1), ring nets (1.27 kg h -1), hooks and lines (1.35 kg h -1) and scoop nets (0.92 kg h -1). The study implies that temporal changes in fish landing pattern of the KAE was mainly due to environmental variability, habitat modification and fish migration; under the influence of south-west monsoon and anthropogenic activities in the KAE. Results of the study suggest that spatio-temporal variations in the fish community structure could be an indicator for anthropogenic stress and it should be considered for restoration programmes.

Brain Glutamate Dehydrogenase Changes In Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats As A Function Of Age

Kinetic parameters of brain glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were compared in the brain stem, cerebellum and cerebral cortex of three weeks and one year old streptozotocin (STZ) induced four day diabetic rats with respective controls. A single intrafemoral dose of STZ (60mg/Kg body weight) was administered to induce diabetes in both age groups. After four days the blood glucose levels showed a significant increase in the diabetic animals of both age groups compared with the respective controls. The increase in blood glucose was significant in one year old compared to the three weeks old diabetic rats. The Vmm of the enzyme was decreased in all the brain regions studied, of the three weeks old diabetic rats without any significant change in the Km. In the adult the Vmax of GDH was increased in cerebellum and brain stem but was unchanged in the cerebral cortex. The K. was unchanged in cerebellum and cerebral cortex but was increased in the brain stem. These results suggest there may be an important regulatory role of the glutamate pathway in brain neural network disturbances and neuronal degeneration in diabetes as a function of age.

Significance of soil microorganisms with special reference to climate change

There are a large number of agronomic-ecological interactions that occur in a world with increasing levels of CO2, higher temperatures and a more variable climate. Climate change and the associated severe problems will alter soil microbial populations and diversity. Soils supply many atmospheric green house gases by performing as sources or sinks. The most important of these gases include CH4, CO2 and N2O. Most of the green house gases production and consumption processes in soil are probably due to microorganisms. There is strong inquisitiveness to store carbon (C) in soils to balance global climate change. Microorganisms are vital to C sequestration by mediating putrefaction and controlling the paneling of plant residue-C between CO2 respiration losses or storage in semi-permanent soil-C pools. Microbial population groups and utility can be manipulated or distorted in the course of disturbance and C inputs to either support or edge the retention of C. Fungi play a significant role in decomposition and appear to produce organic matter that is more recalcitrant and favor long-term C storage and thus are key functional group to focus on in developing C sequestration systems. Plant residue chemistry can influence microbial communities and C loss or flow into soil C pools. Therefore, as research takings to maximize C sequestration for agricultural and forest ecosystems - moreover plant biomass production, similar studies should be conducted on microbial communities that considers the environmental situations