δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C and δ<Superscript>15</Superscript>N values in reef corals <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porites lutea</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. cylindrica</Emphasis> and in their epilithic and endolithic algae

In summer 1998, shallow water corals at Sesoko Island, Japan (26°38′N, 127°52′E) were damaged by bleaching. In August 2003, partially damaged colonies of the massive Porites lutea and the branching P. cylindrica were collected at depths of 1.0–2.5 m. The species composition of epilithic algal communities on dead skeletal surfaces of the colonies (‘red turfs’, ‘green turfs’, ‘red crusts’) and the endolithic algae (living in coral skeletons) growing close to and away from living coral polyps was determined. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values of organic matter (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) from all six of these biological entities were determined. There were no significant differences in the isotope composition of coral tissues of the two corals, with P. lutea having δ¹³C of −15.3 to −9.6‰ and δ¹⁵N of 4.7–6.1‰ and P. cylindrica having similar values. Polyps in both species living close to an interface with epilithic algae had similar isotope values to polyps distant from such an interface. Despite differences in the relative abundance of the algal species in red turfs and crusts, their δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were not significantly different from each other (−18.2 to −13.9, −20.6 to −16.2, 1.1–4.3, and 3.3 to 4.9‰, respectively). The green algal turf had significantly higher δ¹³C values (−14.9 to −9.3‰) than that of red turfs and crusts but similar δ¹⁵N (1.2–4.1‰) to the red algae. The data do not suggest that adjoining associations of epilithic algae and coral polyps exchange carbon- and nitrogen-containing metabolites to a significant extent. The endolithic algae in the coral skeletons had δ¹³C values of −14.8 to −12.3‰ and δ¹⁵N of 4.0–5.4‰. Thus they did not differ significantly from the coral polyps in their carbon and nitrogen isotope values. The similarity in carbon isotope values between the coral polyps and endolithic algae may be attributed to a common source of CO₂ for zooxanthellae and endolithic algae, namely, from respiration by the coral host. While it is difficult to fully interpret similarity in the nitrogen isotope composition of coral tissue and of green endolithic algae and the difference in δ¹⁵N between green epilithic and endolithic algae, the data are consistent with nitrogen-containing metabolites from the scleractinian coral serving as a significant source of nitrogen for the endolithic algae.     

Change in drinking water quality from source to point-of-use and storage: a case study from Guwahati, India

To ascertain the quality of drinking water being supplied and maintained at Guwahati, the study was conducted on the status of water supply in city through surveillance of drinking water quality for consecutive 7 days at various treatment stages, distribution network and consumer ends. The performance of five water treatment plants (WTPs), viz. Panbazar WTP, Satpukhuri WTP, Kamakhya WTP, PHED WTP and Hegrabari WTP were assessed for summer, piost-post-monsoon and winter seasons. No significant change in raw water quality was observed on day-to-day basis. Residual chlorine was found in the range of nil to 0.2 mg/L in the treated water. During post-monsoon, winter, and summer seasons the thermotolerent TC and FC counts ranged between Nil to 168 CFU/100 ml and Nil to 84 CFU/100 ml; Nil to 3356 CFU/100 ml and Nil to 152 CFU/100 ml; and Nil to 960 CFU/100 ml and Nil to 108 CFU/100 ml respectively. There was variation in bacterial counts among the different service reservoirs and consumer ends, which may be attributed to the general management practices for maintenance of service reservoirs and the possibility of enroute contamination. Evaluation of the raw water quality indicate that the water is suitable for drinking after conventional treatment followed by disinfection. The finished water quality meets the level of standards described as per Bureau of Indian Standard specifications (BIS:10500 1991) for potability in terms of its physico-chemical characteristics.     

MODELING PERCOLATION LOSSES FROM A PONDED FIELD UNDER VARIABLE WATER-TABLE CONDITIONS1

ABSTRACT: A numerical simulation model was developed to predict the vertical and lateral percolation losses from a ponded agricultural field. The two-dimensional steady-state unsaturated/ saturated flow equation was solved using the finite-difference technique. A constant ponding depth was maintained at the soil surface with different water table conditions in an application of the model for rice fields bordered by bunds. Field experiments were conducted for two different water table depths to collect data on the spatial distribution of volumetric soil-moisture content for model verification. The measured soil-moisture content values were found to be in close agreement with those predicted by the model. The sensitivity analysis of the model with selected hydrologic conditions shows that the model is most sensitive to the values of saturated hydraulic conductivity, but relatively less sensitive to water table depth, ponding depth, and evaporation rate from the soil surface. It implies that, in a ponded rice field condition, the lateral and vertical percolation losses are mostly governed by the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The vertical percolation losses were almost equal to the saturated hydraulic conductivity values and, in most cases, these losses increased with deeper water table depths. The lateral percolation losses also increased with deeper water table depths; however, these losses were relatively small in comparison to the vertical percolation losses. The vertical and lateral percolation losses increased with the increase in ponding depths. The lateral percolation losses through the bund decreased when the evaporation losses increased from the soil surface. The results of this study indicate that the percolation losses from a ponded field may be predicted accurately for a wide range of soil and hydrological conditions when the values of hydraulic conductivity, evaporation rate, depth of ponding, and water table depth are accurately known.     

A critical review on plastic waste administration

The management of plastic waste through various methods such as landfilling, recycling, and incineration has several inherent shortcomings, such as a lack of resources, preparation, motivation, financial power, and expertise. Additionally, these methods are unable to handle the quantity and types of plastic waste, nor do they increase the public's interest in plastic waste management practices. According to research, environmental, economic, and social factors are the main drivers for reducing plastic waste. Experts from around the world have identified four significant areas of concern for which solutions have been proposed: methods of plastic waste reduction and management, the amount of plastic waste, the quality of waste/plastic, and awareness of plastic waste management/cost of plastic waste management. However, individual solutions proposed for these key areas of concern are facing several challenges, leading to delays in their adoption or less popularity globally. The review has identified the reasons for the less popularity of existing plastic waste management methods, which are less environmentally friendly and have a complex process, hence requiring serious reconsideration from technocrats and researchers to develop more sustainable and efficient procedures that do not produce more hazardous by-products. This study also found that financial incentives are one of the main drivers to ensure the mass participation of lower and working-class people.     

Understanding biochemical defense and phytoremediation potential of Leucas aspera in crude oil polluted soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The phytoremediation potential and enzymatic defense of a medicinal herb Leucas aspera was studied in the crude oil contaminated soil. The...     

A semi-coupled model for determining the distribution of two-dimensional coherent structures in open channel flow

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Mixing layers and associated large-scale turbulent structures are some of the most common features of turbulent shallow water flow. Due to their...