Biodiversity of brackish water amphipods (crustacean) in two estuaries, southeast coast of India

The present study about the gammarid amphipods of Vellar and Uppanar estuaries was performed during two seasons (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon, 2005–2006), respectively, in nine habitats: five in the Vellar estuary and four in the Uppanar estuary. Amphipod samples were collected from sediments, oyster beds, seaweeds, sea grass, and mangroves. A total of 29 species of gammarid amphipods were collected in each area. The surface water temperature ranged from 16°C to 26°C, the salinity from 20 to 32 psu, and the pH between 7.5 and 8.3. Dissolved oxygen ranged from 5.3 to 7.8 ml/l. The maximum abundance of amphipods was observed during the pre-monsoon (July to September) in Vellar mangrove, and it was minimum during the pre-monsoon in Uppanar sea grass. It was found that several physicochemical factors, such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and the substrate have a marked effect on the distribution and the relative abundance of amphipods. The ranges of species diversity, richness, dominance, and evenness in the Vellar and Uppanar estuaries were 1.58–4.15, 1.82–5.29, 0–0.11, and 0.96–1, respectively. Using multivariate analyses, in each estuary, it was possible to identify different communities of amphipod species according to their habitats.     

Co-substrate-mediated utilization of high concentration of phenol by Aspergillus niger FP7 and reduction of its phytotoxicity on Vigna radiata L.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phenol and its derivatives behave as mutagens, teratogens and carcinogens inducing adverse physiological effects and are considered environmental...     

Colocasia esculenta stem as novel biosorbent for potentially toxic metals removal from aqueous system

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biosorption is an ingenious technique that uses biological materials to acquire trace metal ions from wastewater. In the present study, the ability of...     

Effect of thiobencarb and pretilachlor on microorganisms in relation to mineralization of C and N in the Gangetic alluvial soil of West Bengal

An experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions to investigate the effect of two pre-emergence herbicides, viz., thiobencarb (at 1.5 and 4.5 kg active ingredient (a.i.) ha^?1) and pretilachlor (at 0.5 and 1.5 kg a.i. ha^?1), on the growth and multiplication of some microorganisms (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) in relation to transformations and availability of C and N in the Gangetic alluvial soil (Typic Haplustept) of West Bengal, India. Application of both the herbicides, in general, significantly increased microbial biomass, resulting in greater retention, mineralization and availability of oxidizable organic C and N in soil, and the stimulations were more pronounced when the herbicides were applied at their lower concentrations (recommended field application rates), more so with thiobencarb, as compared to pretilachlor. Compared to untreated control soil, the application of thiobencarb at lower concentration increased the proliferation of total bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi by 57.3, 36.6 and 55.2 %, respectively, and released the highest amount (40.2 %) of soluble NO₃ ^? in soil, while pretilachlor at field application rate induced the growth and multiplication of bacteria and fungi by 58.3 and 17.6 %, respectively. Irrespective of the concentrations, the stimulations were at par for both the herbicides towards the retention of oxidizable organic C, total N and exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ in soil.     

Durability analysis and optimization of a binary system of waste cement concrete and glass-based geopolymer mortar

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Enormous generation of construction and demolition (C&D) waste along with municipal solid waste (MSW) is required to managed properly for...