Impact of changed trophic status on the zooplankton composition in six water bodies of Dharwad district, Karnataka state (South India)

Morgan Island, located within the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina, is home to the only free-ranging colony of rhesus monkeys (Macca mulatta) in the continental United States. The purpose of this study was to assess environmental impacts of the monkey colony on water quality in adjacent tidal creeks and on island vegetation. Three tidal creeks were sampled: Morgan Creek, adjacent to the monkey colony; Back Creek, on Morgan Island not adjacent to the colony; and Rock Creek, on a nearby island unoccupied by monkeys. Temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and fecal coliform bacteria were measured six times at three sites in each of these creeks, and vegetation change analysis was conducted in a geographic information system using satellite imagery. Results showed elevated fecal coliform concentrations in the Morgan Creek site immediately adjacent to the colony, though no samples exceeded the standard set for recreational water use. Ribotyping reconnaissance matched four Escherichia coli isolates from Morgan and Back Creeks to the monkeys, identifying the colony as one source of fecal coliform bacteria, though relative source loadings could not be quantified. Significant differences were not observed between ammonia or orthophosphate levels in Morgan Creek relative to the other creeks tested; and vegetation change analysis showed a 35% increase in canopy cover between 1979 and 1999. Overall, these results suggest that the rhesus colony’s environmental impacts are localized and minimal. Results from this study provide baseline data on Morgan Island and may be useful in management decisions regarding the future of the monkey colony.     

Characterisation of Selected Lentic Habitats of Dharwad, Haveri and Uttar Kannada Districts of Karnataka State, India

Water quality survey was undertaken to study the current status of water quality of some lentic habitats of Dharwad, Haveri and Uttar Kannada districts, to provide a baseline data, comprising study of their main physical and chemical characteristics and also to evaluate the recent limnological changes those have occurred over a time period in some lentic habitats. Trophic status was also analysed. Present study reveals that Unkal lake, and B.K. Shigigatti tank of Dharwad district, Timmapur, Hosalli, and Krishnapur tanks of Haveri district are fast progressing towards hypereutrophication. Of the other tanks, Galgi tank of Dharwad district, Gudgur, Hanamapur, Medleri, and Kadkol tanks of Haveri district have reached the eutrophic stage. The anthropogenic activities, sewage and fertilizers used in agricultural fields appear to be the major causes of the eutrophication in these tanks. If the habitats have to be preserved for their intended use, sustainable and holistic management measures for the remediation of the tanks are an immediate necessity.     

Cr (VI) and Fe (III) removal using Cajanus cajan husk

Husk of tur dal (Cajanus cajan) was investigated as a new biosorbent for the removal of Fe (III) and Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solutions. Parameters like agitation time, adsorbent dosage and pH were studied at different initial Fe (III) and Cr (VI) concentrations. The biosorptive capacity of the Tur dal husk was dependent on the pH of the chromium and iron solution, with pH 2 and 2.5 respectively being optimal. The adsorption data fit well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The practical limiting adsorption capacity (qmax) calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 96.05 mg of Cr(VI)/ g of the biosorbent at an initial pH of 2.0 and 66.65 mg/g at pH 2.5. The infrared spectra of the biomass revealed that hydroxyl, carboxyl and amide bonds are involved in the uptake of Cr (VI) and Fe (III) ions. Characterisation of tur dal husk has revealed that it is an excellent material for treating wastewaters containing low concentration of metal ions.