Effects of some trace heavy metals on Poecilia reticulata (Peters)

Three trace heavy metals viz., nickel, copper and zinc were studied for their toxic action against Poecilia retriculata (Peters). Among these, copper was found to be most active followed by zinc and nickel. Accumulations of these metals as well as behavioural studies were carried out after exposing fish to sub-lethal concentration of LC20. It was found that the highest quantity of nickel was accumulated in the fish body followed by zinc and copper. After exposure to sub-lethal concentration of metals some behavioural changes in fish were observed due to stress, such as mucus like secretion over gills, excessive excretion, anoretic condition and increased distance between gills and operculum. In all the cases fin movement was observed. Role and use of such changes as biological indicators or as biological early warning system in water quality assessment has been discussed.     

Effect of aspect on the structure of some natural stands of Abies pindrow in Himalayan moist temperate forest

The effects of aspect, altitude, and slope have been observed on the moist temperate forests of Abies pindrow Spach in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. Four aspects, namely, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west, have been studied to understand the growth behaviour of A. pindrow at varying altitudes. The total basal cover was found to be highest (5099.6 cm²/100 m²) on the north-east facing slopes, and lowest (3092.7 cm²/100 m²) on the south-east facing slopes. The A. pindrow was found to be associated with Quercus semecarpifolia as a main companion species on all the faces, whereas, Lyonia ovalifolia, was associated only on the west facing slopes.     

Environmental Attitudes and Behavior of Primary and Secondary Students in Asian Cities: An Overview Strategy for Implementing an Eco-schools Programme

Environmental education is essential to the success of Agenda 21. Yet currently it is without focus and effectively side-lined. This paper presents the results of preliminary investigations on the environmental attitudes and knowledge of Indian and Filipino primary and secondary school students, and their readiness to engage in pro-environmental behavior that could involve some change in their personal lifestyle. For the most part, environmental education efforts are embedded mainly into various science subjects. The relationship between environmental education and environmental awareness is analyzed to examine whether schools' environmental education could contribute to the shaping of environmental attitudes. A strategy and accompanying methodology for establishing environmental education is supplied.     

Microbial decolorization and bioremediation of melanoidin containing molasses spent wash

Molasses spent wash from cane-molasses based distilleries contains a brown coloured recalcitrantpolymer melanoidin, which if disposed untreated poses a great threat to environment. Microbial decolorization and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction was found to be dependent on specific carbon and nitrogen source. Under optimal condition of pH, carbon and nitrogen concentration for each treatment, it was found that Bacillus sp isolated from soil was capable of removing COD (85. 35%) and colour (81.10%) from distillery waste to the maximum extent after 9 days atpH 7 in the medium containing 0.5% peptone, 2% glucose and 10% (v/v), followed by Phanerochaete chrysosporium and lowest reduction was obtained by using native microbial consortium.     

Antioxidative response of Lemna polyrrhiza L. to cadmium stress

Growth, lipid peroxidation, different antioxidative enzymes and metal accumulation were studied in Lemna polyrrhiza treated with different concentrations (1-40 ppm) of CdSO4. The growth of the plant was slightly enhanced with 1 ppm, while higher concentrations retarted growth and multiplication of fronds, the effect being concentration and dose dependant. Increase in malondialdehyde content was insignificant after the first week but a prolonged exposure led to significant (p < 0.05) increase of about 38% and 45% over the control in 20 and 30 ppm, respectively after four weeks. Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6; CAT) activity increased at low concentration, but it declined to 42% and 54% at 40 ppm after 6 and 30 days, respectively Superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1; SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11;APx) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) increased at both low as well at high concentrations, but a prolonged exposure to high concentration of Cd (40 ppm) led to significant (p < 0.05) decline in the mean activities of these antioxidant enzymes. Accumulation of Cd in biomass was concentration and time dependant However at high concentration of 40 ppm, Cd accumulation did not increase significantly (p < 0.05) with time. Increased activities of antioxidant enzymes in Cd treated plants suggest that metal tolerance in L. polyrrhiza might be associated to the changes of antioxidant enzymatic activities.     

Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19: therapeutic promises,current status,and environmental implications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The outbreak of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected the entire world with its infectious spread and...     

Assessment of regional climatic changes in the Eastern Himalayan region: a study using multi-satellite remote sensing data sets

In this study, an attempt has been made to capture the sensitivity of a mountainous region to elevation-dependent warming and the response of a glacier-laden surface to increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosol concentration. Some of the changes Sikkim has undergone due to urban sprawl are as follows: an increase of ~0.7?±?0.46 °C temperature in the past 40 years at an altitude of 5.5 km; a 2.21 km²/year rate of loss of glacierised area in the past 33 years; an increase in absorbed longwave radiation (6?±?2.41 W/m²); an increase in heat fluxes (2?±?0.97 W/m²); a decrease in albedo during the last 30 years; an increase in the concentrations of carbon dioxide (4.42 %), methane (0.61 %), ozone (0.67 %) and black carbon column optical depth (7.19 %); a decrease in carbon monoxide (2.61 %) and an increase in aerosol optical depth (19.16 %) during the last decade; a decrease in precipitation, water yield, discharge and groundwater; and an increase in evapotranspiration during 1971–2005. Detection of three climate signals (1976, 1997 and 2005) in the entire analysis is the quantification of the fact that the climate of Sikkim is moving away from its inter-annual variability. An increase in temperature (0.23 °C/decade) at higher altitude (~5.5 km), suppression of precipitation, decreasing water availability and rapid loss of glacierised area are the evidences of the fact that air pollution is playing a significant role in bringing about regional climatic changes in Sikkim. In this study, change detection method has been used for the first time for the estimation of change in a glacierised area of the region.     

Long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in the central Ganga Alluvial Plain,India: Study from Gomti River Basin

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Groundwater is the major primary source of drinking and irrigation water for nearly 500 million inhabitants in both rural and urban areas of the Ganga...     

Effect of distillery effluent on yield attributes of Brassica napus L

A pot culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of untreated distillery effluent on yield attributes of gobi sarson (Brassica napus. L. var. Punjabi Special) at different effluent concentrations. The effluent showed unpleasant odour, acidic pH, high COD and high chlorides. Five concentrations of the distillery effluent (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) were used for irrigation of B. napus plants with tap water as control. Various characteristics of siliqua (number of siliqua, average siliqua length, weight of siliqua) and seeds (number of seeds, weight of hundred seeds, economic yield) were quantified to check the variations in the yield attributes of effluent irrigated test plant. Overall, 20% distillery effluent was found to be most effective for highest number and better quality of siliqua (62.0 siliqua plant-1; weight of ten siliqua 1.21 g) and seeds (836.3 seeds plant-1; weight of 100 seeds 0.39 g), and increased yield (economic yield 2.85 g plant1; stover yield 7.85 g plant1) of the test plant.