Hematobiochemical changes of lead Poisoning and amelioration with Coconut ( Cocos nucifera L.) Water in wistar albino rats

To determine the ameliorative effect of coconut water on haematobiochemical changes due to lead poisoning in wistar albino rats for six weeks, sixty rats were assigned to four groups. 0.10g/l of lead and 75ml coconut ( cocus nucifera l.) water were given orally for six weeks. The mean values of red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell distribution width and platelets (8.10±0.63(×106μl), 52.7±0.87(μm3), 17.9±0.56(pg), 34.73±0.65(g/dl), 17.90±0.67(%) and 670.00±42.22(×103μl) respectively) reduced in lead treated rats when compared with control mean values (8.41 ± 0.90(×106μl), 56.60 ± 1.55(μm3), 19.33 ± 0.82(pg), 34.93 ± 0.90(g/dl), 18.27 ± 0.73(%) and 818.33± 123.68(×103μl) respectively ) and these values increased in75ml coconut water only group and the group of 0.10g/l lead + 75ml coconut water except mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell distribution width of the 75ml coconut water only. The mean values of white blood cells, lymphocytes, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol/high density lipoproteincholesterol and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased (12.23±0.57(×103μl), 79.83±3.87(%), 64.66±6.01(mg/dl), 89.00±7.94(mg/dl), 22.67±6.93(mg/dl), 21.00±4.58(mg/dl), 1.29±0.62 and 3.36±0.83 respectively ) in the lead group when compared with mean values of control group (5.83±0.74(×103μl), 69.07±10.57(%), 54.00±4.04(mg/dl), 97.33±11.34(mg/dl), 20.00±3.06(mg/dl), 17.00±6.51(mg/dl), 0.97±0.41 and 2.87±0.55 respectively) but the mean values decreased when compared with the mean values of group of 75ml coconut water only and group of 0.10g/l lead + 75ml coconut water, except the mean values of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. These results indicate that coconut water could ameliorate effects of lead toxicity

Responses of Swietenia macrophylla (King) seedlings to different sizes of canopy openings in mixed mahogany plantations

A study was conducted during 1997-99 at 2 sites in Sri Lanka (Rambukkana and Kurunegala) to investigate the responses of Swietenia macrophylla seedlings to wide, moderate and narrow openings of high to low shade conditions in a mature mixed mahogany plantations. Survival, stem growth and shoot phenology of seedlings were recorded monthly. Seedling survival a year after planting showed high mortality under high shaded gap (3-8% photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)). At 51 weeks after planting, final stem height and root collar diameter were highly significant under low shaded gaps. Increased number of shoots and shoot lenghts were observed under low shade (50-78% PAR). Increased flushing was seen in all shade regimes during the rainy period. This study illustrates that low shaded gap openings favour seeding survival, stem and shoot growth, and number of shoots. On the contrary, high shaded gaps reduce the growth of seedlings and therefore may be less attractive to shoot borers.

Seasonal incidence of Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coquillett) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) and its parasitoids on Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. in south-eastern Queensland, Australia

To quantify the role of Johnson grass, Sorghum halepense, in the population dynamics of the sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola, patterns of flowering of Johnson grass and infestation by sorghum midge were studied in two different climatic environments in the Lockyer Valley and on the Darling Downs in south-eastern Queensland for 3 years. Parasitism levels of S. sorghicola were also recorded. In the Lockyer Valley, Johnson grass panicles were produced throughout the year but on the Darling Downs none were produced between June and September. In both areas, most panicle production occurred between November and March and infestation by S. sorghicola was the greatest during this period. The parasitism levels were between 20% and 50%. After emergence from winter diapause, one to two generations of S. sorghicola developed on S. halepense before commercial grain sorghum crops were available for infestation. Parasitoids recorded were: Aprostocetus diplosidis, Eupelmus australiensis and two species of Tetrastichus. Relationships between sorghum midge population growth rate and various environmental and population variables were investigated. Population size had a significant negative effect (P < 0.0001) on population growth rate. Mortality due to parasitism showed a significant positive density response (P < 0.0001). Temperature, rainfall, open pan evaporation, degree-days and host availability showed no significant effect on population growth rate. Given the phenology of sorghum production in south-eastern Queensland, Johnson grass provides an important bridging host, sustaining one to two generations of sorghum midge. Critical studies relating population change and build-up in sorghum to sorghum midge populations in Johnson grass are yet to be performed.

The apical control of lateral bud development in excised shoot tips of Cuscuta reflexa cultured in vitro

Excised shoot tips of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (dodder), a rootless and leafless angiospermic plant parasite, were cultured in vitro for the study of the control of lateral bud development by the apex. In a chemically defined medium lacking hormones, the basal bud alone developed into a shoot. The addition of coconut milk to the growth medium induced the activation of multiple lateral buds, but only a single bud developed further into a shoot. The decapitation of this shoot induced the development of another shoot and the process could be repeated. This showed the controlling effect of the apex in correlative control of bud development. Application of indole-3-acetic acid to the shoot tip explant delayed the development of the lateral bud. Gibberellic acid A3 induced a marked elongation growth of the explant and reinforced apical dominance. The direct application of cytokinin to an inhibited bud relieved it from apical dominance. A basipetally decreasing concentration gradient of auxin may prevail at the nodes. Bud outgrowth is probably stimulated by cytokinin produced locally in the bud.

Reproductive Biology of Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata and Effective Pollination across its Native Range.

The spotted gum species complex represents a group of four eucalypt hardwood taxa that have a native range that spans the east coast of Australia, with a morphological cline from Victoria to northern Queensland. Of this group, Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata (CCV) is widespread in south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is currently the most commonly harvested native hardwood in Queensland. However, little basic knowledge of the reproductive biology of the species is available to inform genetic improvement and resource management programmes. Here we take an integrative approach, using both field and molecular data, to identify ecological factors important to mating patterns in native populations of CCV. Field observation of pollinator visitation and flowering phenology of 20 trees showed that foraging behaviour of pollinator guilds varies depending on flowering phenology and canopy structure. A positive effect of tree mean flowering effort was found on insect visitation, while bat visitation was predicted by tree height and by the number of trees simultaneously bearing flowers. Moreover, introduced honeybees were observed frequently, performing 73% of detected flower visits. Conversely, nectar-feeding birds and mammals were observed sporadically with lorikeets and honeyeaters each contributing to 11% of visits. Fruit bats, represented solely by the grey-headed flying fox, performed less than 2% of visits. Genotyping at six microsatellite markers in 301 seeds from 17 families sampled from four of Queensland's native forests showed that CCV displays a mixed-mating system that is mostly outcrossing (tm = 0.899 ± 0.021). Preferential effective pollination from near-neighbours was detected by means of maximum-likelihood paternity analysis with up to 16% of reproduction events resulting from selfing. Forty to 48% of fertilising pollen was also carried from longer distance (>60 m). Marked differences in foraging behaviour and visitation frequency between observed pollinator guilds suggests that the observed dichotomy of effective pollen movement in spotted gums may be due to frequent visit from introduced honeybees favouring geitonogamy and sporadic visits from honeyeaters and fruit bats resulting in potential long-distance pollinations.

Cocowood processing manual: from coconut wood to quality flooring.

This manual describes best practice for producing high-value flooring products from coconut ‘wood’—or cocowood. It meets international standards for flooring products and accounts for the recognised, specific, local conditions of the Pacific Islands. The information is intended for operators skilled in timber processing, who need to work with the unusual properties of cocowood, and specifies where cocowood processes differ from standard practice for timber. For other processes, refer to the relevant standards set by the importing country. These technical guidelines are based on the research outcomes of the ACIAR project, 'Improving value and marketability of coconut wood'. The manual is divided into three chapters. Each chapter adds to different aspects of primary and secondary processing. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the best practice steps for harvesting and processing cocowood. There is also a glossary of terms specifically associated with processing cocowood and a section on managing processing risks. Chapter 2 covers cocowood’s unique properties and how they relate to critical processing techniques. This is followed by sections that set out the processing methods in more detail, explaining why these practices are essential when working with cocowood. Chapter 3 provides more information, including contacts, current timber standards and some useful publications.

The growth and productivity of ‘Festival’ strawberry plants growing in a subtropical environment

Experiments were conducted over 5 years to understand the seasonal phenology of bare-rooted ?Festival? strawberry plants (Fragaria ?ananassa) growing at Nambour in southeastern Queensland, Australia. Yields ranged from 661 to 966 g/plant, and average seasonal fruit fresh weight ranged from 15 to 18 g. The growth of the leaves, crowns, roots, flowers and fruit over time followed a linear or sigmoid pattern. Maximum values of leaf, crown and root dry weight towards the end of the growing season about 190 days after planting were 30, 15 and 7 g/plant, respectively. The rates of leaf and crown growth were lower than those achieved in California under a Mediterranean climate. There were strong relationships between the allocation of dry matter to the leaves, crowns and roots and plant dry weight. Allocation to the leaves, and especially to the crowns and roots, declined as the plants grew. The number of fruit/plant increased initially over time with a decline later in the season. Average fruit fresh weight was generally higher early in the season and then declined as fruit production increased. There were strong relationships between the growth of the whole plant and the growth of the flowers and immature fruit, and leaf expansion, across the growing season and across the 5 different years. These results indicate that seasonal growth and potential productivity were strongly linked to the expansion of the leaves in this environment.

The chemical ecology of seed dispersal in monoecious and dioecious figs

In the nursery pollination system of figs (Ficus, Moraceae), flower-bearing receptacles called syconia breed pollinating wasps and are units of both pollination and seed dispersal. Pollinators and mammalian seed dispersers are attracted to syconia by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In monoecious figs, syconia produce both wasps and seeds, while in (gyno)dioecious figs, male (gall) fig trees produce wasps and female (seed) fig trees produce seeds. VOCs were collected using dynamic headspace adsorption methods on freshly collected figs from different trees using Super Q® collection traps. VOC profiles were determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).The VOC profile of receptive and dispersal phase figs were clearly different only in the dioecious mammal-dispersed Ficus hispida but not in dioecious bird-dispersed F. exasperata and monoecious bird-dispersed F. tsjahela. The VOC profile of dispersal phase female figs was clearly different from that of male figs only in F. hispida but not in F. exasperata, as predicted from the phenology of syconium production which only in F. hispida overlaps between male and female trees. Greater difference in VOC profile in F. hispida might ensure preferential removal of seed figs by dispersal agents when gall figs are simultaneously available.The VOC profile of only mammal-dispersed female figs of F. hispida had high levels of fatty acid derivatives such as amyl-acetates and 2-heptanone, while monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and shikimic acid derivatives were predominant in the other syconial types. A bird- and mammal-repellent compound methyl anthranilate occurred only in gall figs of both dioecious species, as expected, since gall figs containing wasp pollinators should not be consumed by dispersal agents.

Leaf flushing phenology and herbivory in a tropical dry deciduous forest, southern India

Patterns of leaf-flushing phenology of trees in relation to insect herbivore damage were studied at two sites in a seasonal tropical dry forest in Mudumalai, southern India, from April 1988 to August 1990. At both sites the trees began to flush leaves during the dry season, reaching a peak leaf-flushing phase before the onset of rains. Herbivorous insects emerged with the rains and attained a peak biomass during the wet months. Trees that flushed leaves later in the season suffered significantly higher damage by insects compared to those that flushed early or in synchrony during the peak flushing phase. Species whose leaves were endowed with physical defenses such as waxes suffered less damage than those not possessing such defenses. There was a positive association between the abundance of a species and leaf damage levels. These observations indicate that herbivory may have played a major role in moulding leaf flushing phenology in trees of the seasonal tropics.

Influence of surface area to volume ratio of fuel particles on gasification process in a fixed bed

The paper addresses the effect of particle size on tar generation in a fixed bed gasification system. Pyrolysis, a diffusion limited process, depends on the heating rate and the surface area of the particle influencing the release of the volatile fraction leaving behind residual char. The flaming time has been estimated for different biomass samples. It is found that the flaming time for wood flakes is almost one fourth than that of coconut shells for same equivalent diameter fuel samples. The particle density of the coconut shell is more than twice that of wood spheres, and almost four times compared with wood flakes; having a significant influence on the flaming time. The ratio of the particle surface area to that of an equivalent diameter is nearly two times higher for flakes compared with wood pieces. Accounting for the density effect, on normalizing with density of the particle, the flaming rate is double in the case of wood flakes or coconut shells compared with the wood sphere for an equivalent diameter. This is due to increased surface area per unit volume of the particle. Experiments are conducted on estimation of tar content in the raw gas for wood flakes and standard wood pieces. It is observed that the tar level in the raw gas is about 80% higher in the case of wood flakes compared with wood pieces. The analysis suggests that the time for pyrolysis is lower with a higher surface area particle and is subjected to fast pyrolysis process resulting in higher tar fraction with low char yield. Increased residence time with staged air flow has a better control on residence time and lower tar in the raw gas. (C) 2014 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fish and shell fish fauna of the retting and nonretting zones of the Kadinamkulam kayal, Kerala

Retting of coconut husk is one of the major problems of pollution in the estuaries (kayals) of Kerala. Retting activity has resulted in the mass destruction of the flora and fauna and has converted sizeable sections of the kayal into virtual cesspools of foul smelling stagnant waters. Levels of hydrogen sulphide, phosphate and BOD, increased while dissolved oxygen and fish and shellfish fauna decreased in the ambient waters. In the Kadinamkulam kayal a total of 37 species of fishes belonging to 26 families, 5 species of prawn and 2 species each of crabs and molluscs were recorded from the no retting zone, whereas only 20 species of fish in dead condition were collected from the rating zone. Prawns, crabs and molluscs were absent at the vetting zone. Majority of the fish fauna in the kayal were marine forms.

Studies on smoking of eel fillets

A procedure has been worked out to (hot) smoke eel fillets. Some of the important factors such as size of the fillets, brining, pre-drying, source of smoke, smoking period, final drying have been studied. Best quality of smoked product is obtained on smoking eel fillets with a mixture of coconut-husk and sag saw-dust in 1:1 proportion for 15 hours. Optimum moisture level of the final product was fixed in the range of 30 to 35% and it had a storage life of about 8 months at room temperature.

Developing Porphyra/salmon integrated aquaculture for bioremediation and diversification of the aquaculture industry

FUNCTIONAL-FORM GROUPS; RED ALGAE; ATLANTIC SALMON; NEW-HAMPSHIRE; NITROGEN; PHOSPHORUS; RHODOPHYTA; TEMPERATURE; NUTRIENTS; KJELLMAN

Phenological trends and trophic mismatch across multiple levels of a North Sea pelagic food web

Differential phenological responses to climate among species are predicted to disrupt trophic interactions, but datasets to evaluate this are scarce. We compared phenological trends for species from 4 levels of a North Sea food web over 24 yr when sea surface temperature (SST) increased significantly. We found little consistency in phenological trends between adjacent trophic levels, no significant relationships with SST, and no significant pairwise correlations between predator and prey phenologies, suggesting that trophic mismatching is occurring. Finer resolution data on timing of peak energy demand (mid-chick-rearing) for 5 seabird species at a major North Sea colony were compared to modelled daily changes in length of 0-group (young of the year) lesser sandeels Ammodytes marinus. The date at which sandeels reached a given threshold length became significantly later during the study. Although the phenology of all the species except shags also became later, these changes were insufficient to keep pace with sandeel length, and thus mean length (and energy value) of 0-group sandeels at mid-chick-rearing showed net declines. The magnitude of declines in energy value varied among the seabirds, being more marked in species showing no phenological response (shag, 4.80 kJ) and in later breeding species feeding on larger sandeels (kittiwake, 2.46 kJ) where, due to the relationship between sandeel length and energy value being non-linear, small reductions in length result in relatively large reductions in energy. However, despite the decline in energy value of 0-group sandeels during chick-rearing, there was no evidence of any adverse effect on breeding success for any of the seabird species. Trophic mismatch appears to be prevalent within the North Sea pelagic food web, suggesting that ecosystem functioning may be disrupted.

Macrophysiology of Calanus finmarchicus in the North Atlantic Ocean

Copepods represent the major part of the dry weight of the mesozooplankton in pelagic ecosystems and therefore have a central role in the secondary production of the North Atlantic Ocean. The calanoid copepod species Calanus finmarchicus is the main large copepod in subarctic waters of the North Atlantic, dominating the dry weight of the mesozooplankton in regions such as the northern North Sea and the Norwegian Sea. The objective of this work was to investigate the relationships between both the fundamental and realised niches of C. finmarchicus in order to better understand the future influence of global climate change on the abundance, the spatial distribution and the phenology of this key-structural species. Based on standardised Principal Component Analyses (PCAs), a macroecological approach was applied to determine factors affecting the spatial distribution of C. finmarchicus and to characterise its realised niche. Second, an ecophysiological model was used to calculate the Potential Egg Production Rate (PEPR) of C. finmarchicus and the centre of its fundamental niche. Relationships between the two niches were then investigated by correlation analysis. We found a close relationship between the fundamental and realised niches of C. finmarchicus at spatial, monthly and decadal scales. While the species is at the centre of its niche in the subarctic gyre, our joint macroecological and macrophysiological analyses show that it is at the edge of its niche in the North Sea, making the species in this region more vulnerable to temperature changes.