The Younger Dryas and millenial-scale oceanographic variability in the Sulu Sea, tropical western Pacific

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): A high resolution, AMS carbon-14-dated sediment record from the Sulu Sea clearly indicates the Younger Dryas climatic event affected the western equatorial Pacific. Presence of the Younger Dryas in the tropical western Pacific indicates this climatic event is not restricted to the North Atlantic nor to high latitudes, but is global in extent.

Oceanographic variability at Clipperton Atoll since the 1880s: stable isotopic evidence from massive corals [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Clipperton Atoll (10°18'N, 109°13'W), lies within the eastern Pacific elongated warm water pool centered at 10°N and is situated at the boundary of the North Equatorial Counter-Current (NECC) and westward-flowing eddy currents moving away from Central America. ... Fifteen coral cores were collected from massive heads of Porites lobata in April 1994 for the purpose of reconstructing oceanographic and climatic conditions at this open ocean site in the eastern Pacific.

Parameters for success of Versova multipurpose cooperative in Maharashtra

Fishermen co-operatives can be a potent agency for bringing about the social and economic progress of the fishermen community. Streamlining of marketing procedures and provision of infrastructural facilities would result in lowering of production costs and increased benefits accruing to the producers. Another consequence will be an increase in fish yield whereby the problem of the nutritional food gap can be resolved. Success in cooperation is determined by diverse factors like effective leadership and management, loyal and informed members, availability of adequate and timely finance and infrastructure. Proximity to a large metropolis will also have a significant impact on the creation of a favourable environment.

Acute effect of sumithion on certain blood parameters and mortality rate of fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

The acute toxic effect of the toxicant sumithion (50% E.C.) on mortality rate (after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h), total RBC count and haemoglobin content (after 48 and 72 h) on Heteropneustes fossilis was investigated at four concentrations (9.7, 10.7 and 11.1 ppm). The sumithion treated fishes showed lower RBC and Hb levels than the untreated ones. A gradual decrease in the total RBC counts and Hb contents was recorded with increasing concentration of toxicant after 72 h but the blood showed fluctuating values after 48 h of treatment.

Studies on selected biological parameters off Mithapur (Gujarat)

The biological characteristics off Mithapur, India, indicated fairly high productivity in terms of macrobenthos and phytoplankton pigment concentration. The area sustained low standing stock of zooplankton. The overall biological productivity of plankton and macrobenthos indicated 30-90% reduction from the premonsoon to postmonsoon period. This decline in the standing stock of plankton and benthos was coinciding with the peak fishing season of the area.

Toxic effects of dietary seaweeds Sargassum bovianum, Caulera faridii and Gracilaria corticata on blood parameters of albino rats

The present communication deals with the feeding trials of brown (Sargassum bovianum), green (Caulerpa faridii) and red (Gracilaria corticola) seaweeds in albino rats for a period of thirty days in order to investigate their digestibility and acceptability as supplementary food for animals. The parameters used were: changes in blood hemoglobin, ESR, MCHC, PCV and plasma vitamin levels. The result revealed that all the three species of seaweeds had acceptability up to 5% level, as no ill effect was noted during the experiment. But at 10% and 20% levels, marked changes were observed in blood parameters with diarrhea, vomiting and convulsions indicating possibilities of either tissue and muscular dystrophy, gastrointestinal tract necrosis or functional disorder of central nervous system. A heavy mortality was noted due to excessive water loss through diarrhea and vomiting. However, no mortality was observed after 22nd day at both 10% and 20% levels with subsided clinical signs. The results suggest that these three seaweed species could be used safely as a supplementary food, in native form, in animals at low concentrations.

A preliminary account and review of the simple methods for determining the operational parameters of fishing gear, underwater, with notes on its application

An account and review of the simple methods for determining the operational parameters of fishing gear, underwater, such a tilt of otter boards (outwards or inwards, forwards or afterwards), vertical height of net, its horizontal spread, angle of divergence at bosom, spread between wing tips, angle of inclination of danlenos, butterfly, slope of legs and sweep-line has been given. The relationship of distance between the otter boards spread and the vertical height of net has been obtained as generally linear. The possibilities of regulating the vertical height of net (dependent variate) and spread of otter boards (independent variate) for increasing the fishing efficiency has been discussed. The angle of attack of oval shaped otter boards used during the operations still remain undetermined, however, it has been explained how the best angle of attack for increasing the efficiency of gear can be obtained by regulating the ratio of depth to warp for a given net. The inadequacy of the mere indices of catch per hour of trawling in comparing the relative efficiency of trawls in gear research studies has been indicated. The importance of estimating the operational parameters and its application to commercial fisheries depending upon the distribution pattern of fish and in gear research has been discussed. The efficiency of the jelly bottle method has been compared statistically with the observations made on the trawl gear underwater with instruments.

Oceanographic importance of the Cochin littoral

Situated as it is on the north-western section of the Indian Ocean, the Cochin littoral has played a very significant role in the history of India. Despite being an extremely interesting region from the point of view of oceanographic studies, the Indian Ocean in general has been one of the least scientifically known regions of our planet.

Environmental parameters and incidence of white spot disease in Penaeus monodon (Fab.) farming

An investigation was carried out to monitor management practices and to find out whether there is any relationship with occurrence of deadly white spot disease and environmental parameters. Three semi-intensive and a improved traditional shrimp farms were selected in which mass mortality of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) by white spot disease occurred previously. The farms were situated at two different geographical locations. Two ponds from each farm at random were selected for the study. Out of eight investigated ponds, 6 ponds in three farms were affected by the disease during investigation period. The non-affected ponds had relatively lower stocking density, lightly different management practice and were located at different geographical area. There was no significant variation in water quality parameters among the affected and non-affected ponds. No significant variations were recorded in pond preparation, source of Post Larvae (PL), water and feed management among the affected and non-affected ponds. The observation indicated that pond micro-organisms in a farm may not the only cause of the disease but some external factors also might be responsible for the outbreak of this disease.

Toxicity of copper sulphate on some haematological parameters of a freshwater teleost Cyprinus carpio var. communis

Haematological changes in a freshwater teleost, Cyprinus carpio var. communis, exposed to acute and sublethal toxicity of copper sulphate were studied. During the acute treatment, erythrocyte and leucocyte count, and haemoglobin content increased, whereas during the sublethal treatment, erythrocyte count and haemoglobin content decreased and leucocyte count increased.

Growth parameters of Lepturacanthus savala (Cuvier, 1829) from Mumbai waters

Lepturacanthus savala (Cuvier, 1829) constitutes a minor fishery contributing 23.3% to the total ribbonfish catch in Maharashtra. Based on the length data obtained from shrimp trawlers and the traditionally operated bag nets, age and growth of the species have been investigated from Mumbai waters. Growth was studied by various computer-based methods incorporated in FiSAT Programme. The growth parameters L∞ and K (on annual basis) by Gulland-Holt plot were 683.3 mm and 0.87, respectively. As the seasonal temperature variations in coastal waters of Mumbai are not pronounced, the seasonally oscillating growth patterns by ELEFAN and Appledoorn's method were not considered. Following the von Bertalanffy growth model, the fish attains 399.8, 567.2 and 637.4 mm at the end of 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively, and the lifespan of the fish is about 3.3 years.

Temperature dependences of oscillation parameters in ferroelectric liquid crystals

Oscillation processes have been revealed in the course of reversible polarization study in ferroelectric liquid crystals. The oscillation frequency of polarization vector has been found to be from 1 to 30 kHz. The oscillation parameters were studied as functions of temperature. Temperature dependences of the oscillation amplitude and damping decrement have been measured.