ID: 65146
Title: Nesting ecology and breeding performance of Sarus Crane Grus antigone (Linnaeus , 1758) among different habitats in Gurugram, Haryana, India
Author: Sarita Rana and Harish Gulati
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 1026-1032 (2023)
Subject: Nesting ecology and breeding performance of Sarus Crane Grus antigone (Linnaeus , 1758) among different habitats in Gurugram, Haryana, India
Keywords: Sarus crane, Nesting, Breeding performance, Haryana, Nest habitat
Abstract: Sarus Crane belonging to order Gruiformes is considered one of the tallest flying birds in India. It is also designated as vulnerable species but IUCN. Sarus crane breeds from July to October, but unusual breeding patterns were also seen in this species. The study furnished here was conducted in IBA 9Important Bird Areas) sites of Haryana namely, Basa Wetland and Sultanpur National Park, Gurugram from November 2018 to October 2021.The location of the nests was recorded using the etrex Garmin GPS.A detailed map of nest locations was prepared by using recorded locations with the help of Arc GIS 10.5 software. The average nest height was 23.61 ± 2.29 cm (mean ± standard error), 32.54 ± 0.94 cm and 34.18 ±2.44 cm in village pond (n=2), perrenial wetland (n=5), and agricultural land (n=3) respectively. The distance of the nest from the road (nearest was positively correlated (R2 0.197) to the depth of water around the nest. Hatching success was maximum in perrenial wetlands and agricultural land (66%) followed by village ponds (33%). Our study suggested that Sarus Crane can tolerate low water depths (as in agricultural land) and breed successfully in such habitats. Whereas the breeding success was maximum in the nests of agricultural land (33.3%) followed by perreni9al wetlands (22%). However, the disturbance level was higher in the village pond (100%) compared to other habitats. This research provides a scientific baseline for future research to better understand the ecology of the selected species and will be helpful in the conservation of this threatened species.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Arora N.Sharma S. Chakravarty S. and Singh P. (2019).Urbanization and land use/cover dynamics in Gurugram, India: a spatiotemporal analysis. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment , 191 (10):1-18.
Barter M.A. (2002). The conservation status of the Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) in South-East Asia. Biological Conservation, 104 (1): 71-82 (2002).
Literature cited 2: Broad C.K.,Mukherjee A., Patel S.B. and Parasharya B.M. (2002).Breeding performance of Indian Sarus Crane (Grus antigoneantigone ) in the paddy crop agro-ecosystem.Biodiversity and conservation, 11:797-805.https://doi.org/10.1023/A:A: 1015367406200.
Gosai K.R. , Shrestha T.K., HILL S.D., Shrestha S.M. Gyawali B., Gautum D.N. and Aryal A. (2016) .Population structure , antigoneantigone) in Nepal.Journal of AsiaPacific Biodiversity, 9:301-305.
ID: 65145
Title: Traditional and contemporary protected areas for wildlife conservation in Meghalaya,India
Author: Haorangbam arundeep singha and Madho S. Bisht
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 960-966 (2023)
Subject: Traditional and contemporary protected areas for wildlife conservation in Meghalaya, India
Keywords: protected areas, Sacred forests, traditional forest management, Wildlife conservation and protection
Abstract: Traditional ways of protection and conservation of wildlife, forests an all the natural resources have been suppressed by colonialism, industrialization and a new knowledge system resulting in the biodiversity loss. Then came the new concept of "protected areas" for the conservation and protection of wildlife after the establishment of first National Park, Yellowstone, US in 1872.Even then the threats to wildlife remained or rather increased in a newer form of poaching, habitat disturbances, etc. The model of human-exclusivity (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Reserved forests) is being met with several challenges, favouring the creation of more human-inclusive protected areas that were traditionally present (before establishment of first National Park in 1872) and are now left in a few places like in the state of Meghalaya, due to the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Meghalaya has both, traditional and contemporary methods of forest management and wild-life conservation and protection. This study clearly indicates that human-inclusive methods (that is traditional forest management) of wildlife and nature conservation need to be maintained and incorporated along with the contemporary methods of wildlife Conservation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Aengals R. Sathish Kumar, V.M., Palot M.J. and Ganesh, S.R. (2018). A checklist of REPTILES OF India. Version 3.0 https://www.academia.edu/37111415/A_CHECKLIST_OF_REPTILES_OF_INDIA.Accessed 17 March, 2022.
Agarwal A. and Sharma M. (2021). Tourism a Way to Bring Social Change: A Case study of Jim-Corbett National Park. Economics, 10:1-7.
Literature cited 2: Ahuti S. (2015). Industrial growth and environmental degradation. International Education and Research Journal, 1: 5-7.
Amritthalingam A. (2016). Sacred groves of India-An overview. International Journal of Current Research in Biosciences and Plant Biology, 3: 64-74.
ID: 65144
Title: Is elephant proof trench an effective mitigating measure against human-elephant conflict?
Author: S.Karthick an B.Ramakrishnan
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 1010-1015 (2023)
Subject: Is elephant proof trench an effective mitigating measure against human-elephant conflict?
Keywords: Elephant ,EPT, Effectiveness, HEC, Tamil Nadu
Abstract: Human-Elephant Conflict 9HEC) is one of the challenging issues posing on elephant conservation. The elephant proof trench is recognized as a potential means of reducing HEC. The effectiveness of EPT in controlling HEC depends on various factors which is not studied so far. This paper describes on effectiveness of EPT in three different geographical landscapes in Tamil Nadu. In total 470.48 km of EPTes studied in Coimbatore Forest Division, Gudalur forest Division and Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary altogether. Entire EPT was walked by foot to record wild animal and livestock crossing points. Line transect method was deployed to find out used to understand people's perception on EPT. The result revealed that there were 727 animal crossing points and 909 other than animals crossing points. The Elephant (0.63 ER/Km) was frequently used animal. Most of the people (85%) have opined that the maintenance is the duty of forest department. Huge amount being spent for digging EPT every year by the Government is sending with poor result. This present study is envisaged that policy leave change is urgently warranted for successful use of EPT grant against HEC.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Bist S.S. (2002). An overview of elephant conservation in India. Indian Forester, 122 (2): 121-136.
Balakrishnan M. and Ndhlovu D.E. (2008). Wildlife utilization and local people. A case study in Upper Lupande game management area. Zambia. Environemtal Conservation, 19: 135-144.
Literature cited 2: Bumham K.P., Anderson D.R. and Laake J.L. (1989).Estimation of density from line transect sampling of biological populations. Wildlife Monographs, 72:1-202.
Fernando P. Kumar M.A., Williams A.C., Wicramnayake E., conflict mitigation measures practiced in South Asia. AREAS Technical Support Document Submitted to World Bank, World Wide Fund for Nature.
ID: 65143
Title: Understanding Elephant movement paths in a fragmented corridor using animal energetics
Author: Ankur Awadhiya,Abhijit awadhiya, Ajay srivastava and Bilal habib
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 1004-1009 (2023)
Subject: Understanding Elephant movement paths in a fragmented corridor using animal energetics
Keywords: Conflict, corridor connectivity, efficacy, manas trans-boundary conservation aea, movement ecology
Abstract: In this paper authors present an energetics analysis of the movement paths of elepehants in the Manas Transboundary conservation area. With degrading habitat and corridor connectivity rapidly being lost due to deforestation and encroachment, elephants are being pushed to explore alternative migration routes, often leading them to human-dominated landscapes resulting in an increasing conflict situation. Authors explored the possibility of the forests of Bhutan being utilised as one alternative route by the elephant herds using computation of energy requirements vis-a-vis the extant corridor routes. We found that the alternative pathways are as much as five times more energy intensive than the existing routes, with per kilometer energy requirements being around 2.5 times the current per kilometer requirements being around 2.5 times the current per kilemeter requirements. These calculations demonstrate that the alternative routes explored are unsuitable for the migration of elephants and that restoration of corridor connectivity is urgently required to avoid situations of conflict for population decimation of elephants.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Allan J.R., Venter O., Maxwell S., Bertzky B., Jones K, Shi Y. and Watson J.E. (2017).Recent increases in human pressure and forest loss threaten many Natural World Heritage Sites. Biological Conservation, 206: 47-55.
Allen D.J., Molur S. and Daniel B.A. (2010).The status and Distribution of freshwater Biodiversity in the Eastern Himalaya. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Literature cited 2: Ben-Shahar R. (1993).Patterns of elephant damage to vegetation in northern-Botswana. Biological Consevation, 65: 249-256.
Choudhury A. (1999). Status and conservation of the Asian Elephant Elephas maximus in north-eastern India. Mammal Review, 29: 141-174.
ID: 65142
Title: Rewilding experience: inducing human associated threats and anti-predator response in captive red pandas at darjeeling zoo, India
Author: Aamer sohel khan, Pranita gupta, Joy dey and Rajendra jaker
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 998-1003 (2023)
Subject: Rewilding experience: inducing human associated threats and anti-predator response in captive red pandas at darjeeling zoo, India
Keywords: Augmentation, Ati-predator competency, defensive behaviours, human-associated threat, Red panda
Abstract: Captive-bred animals are relatively inexperiencing to respond to dangers in the wild. The augmentation programmes need to factor in the risk of predation. Captive animals need to made competent to recognise the potential threats-including human-associated threats for successful augmentation. Four captive red pandas were selected and trained for antipredator behaviour competence and their defensive responses were recorded. The study is first-ever of its kind in the species. Two types of threats were incorporated: human-associated threats and key predator threats. Individuals showed various defensive behaviours, visual scanning (vigilance), flight and attack. The defensive threat; a grunt call and defensive attack; attacking zookeepers were recorded. The study reported significant increase in vigilance response against the human presence in treatment set as compared to control. The study found an inverse relationship between vigilance and foraging. The study successfully induced required competence in captive-bred individuals to respond the potential predators including humans. Based on the results this study strongly recommends considering human-associated threats in the anti-predator competency programme for captive- bred endangered species vulnerable to poaching and other human activities.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Altmann J. (1974).Observational study behaviour :Sampling Behaviour, 49 (3): 227-267.https://doi.org/10.1080/14794802.2011.585831.
Beck B.B., Kleiman D.G., Dietz J.M., Castro I., Carvalho C.Martins A. and Rettberg-Beck B. (1991). Losses and Reproduction in Reintroduced Golden Lion Tamarins, Leontopithecus Rosalia. Dodo, 27: 50-61
Literature cited 2: Blanchard R.J. and Blanchard D.C. (1988).Ethoexperimental Approaches. Annual Review of Psychology, 39: 43-68.
Blanchard R.J. Hebbert M.A., Ferrari P. PalanzaP., Figueira R., Blanchard D. Can Parmigiani S. (1998). Defensive behaviours in wild and laboratory (Swiss) mice; The mouse defense test battery. In Physiology & Behaviour, 65(2): 201-209.Elsevier Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0473-4
ID: 65141
Title: Conservation of endemic susscrofa adamanensis and enhancing nutritional security to Jarawa tribes
Author: Sam Varghese, Senthil S.Kumar,Abdul qayum,A.C.Tilak and R.S.C.Jayaraj
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Kalpana Corporation
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 992-997 (2023)
Subject: Conservation of endemic susscrofa adamanensis and enhancing nutritional security to Jarawa tribes
Keywords: Andaman wild pig, Captive breeding, Conservation, Jarawa tribe, Nutritional security, Species recovery
Abstract: Andaman wild pig (Sus scrofa anadamensis) is an endemic sub-species found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The species is accorded the highest-level protection under the wildlife (Protection) Act., 1972, of India and is included under schedule 1, Part 1, of the Act. It is an important food resource for aboriginal tribes, and Wildlife(protection) Act has exempted its hunting by the tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Over the years, the population of this endemic species has dwindled due to various factors, and the present population is estimated at about 8,000 individuals on the Andaman Islands. The Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department attempted a captive breeding and re-stocking programme for conserving it and ensuring the nutritional and cultural needs of the aboriginal tribes, besides restoration of the ecological balance of the dwindling population of AWP (Andaman Wild Pig) in the Jarawa tribal Reserve area in South Andaman Island. In this context, the Chidiyatapu Biological Park in Andaman, which has a similar habitat, was chosen for captive breeding of AWP. The efforts yielded a positive result in 2016, when two piglets were born at the Park. Since then, breeding protocol has been firmed up, the number of AWP in captivity has risen at a steady rate and the captive breeding stock, 3 males and 5 females were released in the reserve forest areas inside the Jarawa Tribal Reserve as part of Wildlife week celebrations in 2022.The paper discusses the protocol developed for captive breeding , the Jarawa tribe's cultural significance in terms of this endemic species and the benefits of mainstreaming biodiversity conservation for the betterment of aboriginal tribes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Champion H.G. and Seth S.K. (1968). A revised survey of the forest types of India. Delhi: Government of India Press, 404p.
De A.K., Jeyakumar S., Kundu M.S., Kundu A. and Sunder J. (2013).Andaman wild pig (Sus scrofa andamanensis): A preliminary report on phenotypic and hematological characteristics. Zoo's PRINT, 28 (9): 9-11.
Literature cited 2: De, A.K., Sawhney S., Jeyakumar S. and Bhattacharya D. (2022). First account of maternal lineage of Andaman wild boar (Moupin pig), and endangered endemic species of Andaman archipelago, Explorations in animal Medical Research, 12 (1): 54-68.
Mathur K.K. (1967). Nicobar Islands. National Book Trust, New Delhi.
ID: 65140
Title: Integrated managemnt o Human-Elephant conflict-A success story involving surgical intervention on a wild elephant
Author: Justin J.Mohan and Praveen S. Kumar
Editor: Richa Misra
Year: 2023
Publisher: Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: The Indian Forester Vol. 149 (10) Pg No. 983-991 (2023)
Subject: Integrated managemnt o Human-Elephant conflict-A success story involving surgical intervention on a wild elephant
Keywords: Human elephant conflict, surgery, Wild elephant
Abstract: Human-elephant conflict has emerged as a significant-wildlife management issue in Kerala and other parts of the country, causing loss to human life and property. While straying of elephants from their natural habitat into adjoining villages could be due to variety of reasons, forest administrators should identify the cause of the problem and address the same instead of being carried away by public opinion on handling the issue. Elephants are generally shy animals which avoid conflict with humans unless compelled to do so. The officials of the forest department face a variety of human-elephant conflict in a better way. The present study elaborates on how a hapless injured elephant which strayed into village for feed was managed, by restraining and treating the animal and giving it a new lease of life. It also highlights the importance of an integrated approach while handling human-elephant conflict adopting a combination of practices that could result in a win-win situation for the animal and the affected people. This involves training an expert group of officials who would form a strategic human resource who can manage crisis situations to prevent loss of life and property due to human elephant conflict.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Appayya M.K. (1992).Elephant damage problems and measures for mitigation in Karnataka. My forest, 28 (3): 257-261.
Bosi E.J., Kilbourn A.M. and Tambing E. (1997). Translocation of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Sabah, Malaysis. Proc. American Association of zoo veterinarians, p.302.
Literature cited 2: Cheeran J.V., Chandrasekhran K. and Radhakrishnan K. (2002).Tranqilization and translocation of elephants. J. Ind. Vet. Assoc. Kerala, 7 (3): 42-46.
Datye H.S. (1993).Man-elephant conflict: A case study of human deaths due to elephants in parts of Central India. Intl. Seminar on the conservation of the Asian Elephant, Mudumalai.
ID: 65139
Title: Optimizing the preparation of seaweed-based edible cones with response surface methodology
Author: K. Sravani, P. Ganesan , S. Balasundari , N. Muralidharan, B. Chrisolite and K. Dhanapal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1381-1387 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Optimizing the preparation of seaweed-based edible cones with response surface methodology
Keywords: Composite flour, edible cones, Gracilaria edulis, response surface methodology, Ulva lactuca.
Abstract: In the present study, we have prepared seaweed-based
nutritious edible cones through per cent optimization
of composite flour level using Box–Behnken design for
response surface methodology. The three independent
variables of the statistical design were pearl millet,
wheat and seaweed powder from Ulva lactuca and
Gracilaria edulis, and overall acceptability (OAA) and
retention time (RT) were considered responses. A secondorder quadratic polynomial equation was applied to the
dataset of all responses to make predictions. U. lactucaincorporated cones showed that the overall desirability
function fits with the quadratic model at 99.77% significance level at a combination of 27.75% for pearl
millet, 7.38% of wheat and 0.986% for U. lactuca with
a predicted OAA of 8.2 and RT of 23.93 min, whereas
in G. edulis cone, at 99.34% level of significance, the
point prediction was at 27.94%, 7.95% and 1.006% for
pearl millet, wheat and G. edulis with a predicted OAA
of 8.331 and RT of 24.6 min.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Fernandes, F., Barbosa, M., Oloveira, A. P., Azevedo, I. C., SousaPinto, I., Valento, P. and Andrade, P. B., The pigments of kelps
(Ochrophyta) as part of the flexible response to highly variable marine
environments. J. Appl. Phycol., 2016, 28, 3689–3696.
Florez, N., Gonzalez-Munoz, M. J., Ribeiro, D., Fernandes, E.,
Dominguez, H. and Freitas, M., Algae polysaccharides’ chemical
characterization and their role in the inflammatory process. Curr.
Med. Chem., 2017, 24, 149–175
Literature cited 2: Parada, J., Perez-Correa, J. R. and Perez-Jimenez, J., Design of low
glycemic response foods using polyphenols from seaweeds. J. Funct.
Foods, 2018, 56, 33–39.
Kotake-Nara, E., Asai, A. and Nagao, A., Neoxanthin and fucoxanthin induce apoptosis in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. Cancer
Lett., 2005, 220, 75–84.
ID: 65138
Title: Regional-scale landslide susceptibility assessment for the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, NW Himalaya, India
Author: Vikram Gupta, Ramandeep Kaur, Sandeep Kumar, Bikash Kumar Ram and Ruchika S. Tanton
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1369-1380 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Regional-scale landslide susceptibility assessment for the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, NW Himalaya, India
Keywords: Anthropogenic interventions, bivariate methods, hilly areas, landslides, susceptibility assessment
Abstract: Himachal Pradesh (HP), one of the 11 states of the
Indian Himalayan Region, has a prolonged history of
landslides and related mass-movement activities. In recent years, landslide incidences have increased significantly in the state due to changing climatic patterns
and enhanced anthropogenic interventions. Therefore, to
understand the spatial distribution of landslide-prone
zones, regional-scale landslide susceptibility mapping
for the entire state has been carried out using two bivariate methods, i.e. weight of evidence and information
value. The results depict that 25–30% of the total area
of the state is confined in the high to very high landslide susceptible (LS) zones. These are dominantly confined to three regions: Kinnaur, Lahaul, Chamba and
upper Kangra. It is also ascertained that a higher percentage of high and very high LS zones are located at
an elevation of 2000–4000 m and on the slopes facing
south with an inclination ˃40°. Moderate and low to
very low LS zones comprise ~27% and ~43–48% of the
total area respectively, and are confined to the Outer
and Lesser Himalaya. These maps were validated using
the success rate curve and prediction rate curve, indicating that both models have more or less similar efficiency and accuracy
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Emergency Events Database, International Disaster Database, 2021;
http://www.emdat.be/database (accessed as on 13 February 2021).
Petley, D., Global patterns of loss of life from landslides. Geology,
2012, 40(10), 927–930.
Literature cited 2: Prasad, A. S., Pandey, B. W., Leimgruber, W. and Kunwar, R. M.,
Mountain hazard susceptibility and livelihood security in the upper
catchment area of the river Beas, Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh,
India. Geoenviron. Disasters, 2016, 3(1), 1–17.
Gupta, V., Tandon, R. S., Venkateshwarlu, B., Bhasin, R. K. and
Kaynia, A. M., Accelerated mass movement activities due to increased rainfall in the Nainital township, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India.
Z. Geomorphol., 2017, 61(1), 29–42; doi:10.1127/zfg/2017/0445
ID: 65137
Title: Which pricing policy do road users accept?
Author: Chintaman Santosh Bari , Adurthi Naga Murali , Yogeshwar V. Navandar and Ashish Dhamaniya
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1360-1368 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Which pricing policy do road users accept?
Keywords: Acceptability and preference, multinomial logit model, questionnaire survey, road pricing scheme, travel time and cost
Abstract: Road pricing remains one of the questionable concerns
for transportation planners and researchers. However,
the prerequisite for implementing road pricing is still
user acceptability. The present study provides users’
preferences for different road pricing schemes, which
will help the researchers determine the optimum pricing
schemes to adopt. We conducted a user acceptability
survey to analyse their perceptions and acceptability of
different road pricing schemes. Based on the questionnaire survey, a large-scale survey was conducted. However, with the varying toll charges and travel time
savings from the alternatives, this study reviews the stated
preference survey. The results from the developed multinomial logit model show significant differences in the
choice of pricing scheme. The probability of supporting
distance-based pricing is significant and it is affecting
significantly. High occupancy toll emerged as the most
acceptable by users with a perception of less travel time
savings from using toll roads. However, the acceptance
rate of dynamic toll pricing (DTP) increased among the
users who opposed the current pricing scheme. Additionally, socio-economic variables had a major impact on
the pricing scheme. The estimated parameter signs were
logical and statistically significant. Further, the price
elasticity was calculated for each pricing scheme, ranging
from –0.45 to –4.80. The elasticities for DTP were greater
when compared with other pricing schemes. The research outputs generated from this study will assist the
practitioners working in a similar domain in developing
various schemes and estimating their acceptance after
implementation.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Chang, M. S. and Hsueh, C. F., A dynamic road pricing model for
freeway electronic toll collection systems under build–operate–
transfer arrangements. Transp. Plann. Technol., 2006, 29, 91–104.
Shabib, A., Khalil, M., Abuzwidah, M. and Barakat, S., Public perception and willingness to pay for high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes
in the United Arab Emirates: questionnaire-based survey. In Advances in Science and Engineering Technology International Conference, 2020.
Literature cited 2: Swami, H., Bari, C. and Dhamaniya, A., Developing policy framework of dynamic toll pricing in India. Transp. Res. Procedia, 2021,
52, 605–612
Bari, C. S., Navandar, Y. V. and Dhamaniya, A., Delay modelling
at the manually operated toll plazas under mixed traffic conditions.
Int. J. Transp. Sci. Technol., 2022, 11, 17–31
ID: 65136
Title: Climate change adaptation strategies for the native communities of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, South India
Author: S. Aiswarya, R. N. Padaria, R. R. Burman , Sujit Sarkar , Pramod Kumar and Achal Lama
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1354-1359 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Climate change adaptation strategies for the native communities of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, South India
Keywords: Adaptation strategies, biosphere reserve, climate change, crop diversification, native communit
Abstract: Climate change threatens biosphere reserves, increasing
the risk of extreme weather events like droughts and
floods, and endangering biodiversity and livelihoods.
Effective adaptation through changes in agricultural
management is essential to mitigate these impacts. In this
study, we prioritize major adaptation strategies practiced by the communities of Agasthyamalai Biosphere
Reserve in South India by employing an analytical hierarchy process. A total of 700 farmers practicing mixed
farming in the biosphere reserve area were chosen for
the study. Adaptation strategies were categorized into
four sectors, viz. crop, livestock, fisheries and other strategies. Within each sector, five commonly practiced adaptation strategies were chosen for the study. Hence, a
total of 20 adaptation strategies were considered. ‘Crop
diversification’ was identified as the major adaptation
strategy. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for agricultural extension advisory services to
promote diversified farming systems as a resilient and
eco-friendly approach to enhance climate risk management within the biosphere reserve area.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/aspac/agasthyamala (accessed during
August 2023).
Godbole, A., Anitha, V. and Chandrashekhara, U. M., Integrating
cultural and biological diversity into the conservation of Agasthyamalai Biospher
Literature cited 2: Amare, A. and Simane, B., Determinants of smallholder farmers’
decision to adopt adaptation options to climate change and variability
in the Muger sub-basin of the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia.
Agric. Food Secur., 2017, 6, 1–20.
Othniel Yila, J. and Resurreccion, B. P., Determinants of smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change in the semi-arid
Nguru Local Government Area, northeastern Nigeria. Manage. Environ. Qual., 2013, 24
ID: 65135
Title: Delineation of saline soils in coastal India using satellite remote sensing
Author: Uttam Kumar Mandal, Dibyendu Bikas Nayak , Amit Ghosh , Ajay Kumar Bhardwaj , T. D. Lama , Gopal Ramdas Mahajan, Bappa Das , M. S. Nagaraja , Vittal B. Kuligod , P. Prasuna Rani , Sudipa Mal , Arpan Samui , K. K. Mahanta , Subhasis
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1339-1353 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Delineation of saline soils in coastal India using satellite remote sensing
Keywords: Climate change, coastal regions, ground truthing, saline soils, satellite remote sensing.
Abstract: Characterizing soil salinity at the regional scale remains
challenging despite decades of effort in soil mapping.
Using satellite remote sensing, an effort has been made
to identify the coastal saline soils in India. The study
made use of the OLI sensor of the Landsat-8 satellite. The
images were downloaded from the USGS EarthExplorer
website. For multi-temporal studies, absolute radiometric
calibration was done to minimize the impacts of changing
atmospheric conditions, solar inclination and sensor
view angle. Images were categorized using unsupervised
classification, while a ground survey and Google Earth
data were used for ground truthing. Three indices, namely
normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), salinity
index (SI), and canopy response salinity index (CRSI),
were used to identify soil salinity regions. For testing
the vegetation index with soil salinity, 192 georeferenced
soil samples from the Indian Sundarbans were collected.
A relationship was developed between NDVI, SI and
square of CRSI (CRSISQR) with ECe (electrical conductivity of saturation paste extract) and EC1 : 2 (1 : 2;
soil:water). For the coastal region, soils with CRSISQR <
0.16 were considered to be influenced by salinity since
the relationship between ECe and CRSISQR had a
maximum R2 (0.50). It has been estimated that India
has 12.94 lakh ha of saline soil within arable lands in
all the coastal districts, and Gujarat (5.28 lakh ha),
West Bengal (5.08 lakh ha), and Andhra Pradesh
(1.06 lakh ha) were identified as the top three-salinity
affected coastal states in the country.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Lobell, D. B., Remote sensing of soil degradation: introduction.
J. Environ. Qual., 2010, 39, 1–4.
Lobell, D. B. et al., Regional-scale assessment of soil salinity in the
Red River Valley using multi-year MODIS EVI and NDVI. J. Environ. Qual., 20
Literature cited 2: Rengasamy, P., World salinization with emphasis on Australia.
J. Exp. Bot., 2006, 57(5), 1017–1023.
Squires, V. R. and Glenn, E. P., Salination, desertification, and soil
erosion. In The Role of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
in Human Nutrition (ed. Squires, R.), EOLSS Publishers, Oxford,
UK, 2009, vol. III, pp. 102–123.
ID: 65134
Title: Quantifying indoor PM2.5 reduction through control measures
Author: Sangita Ghatge Goel and Rajesh Gupta
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1334-1338 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Quantifying indoor PM2.5 reduction through control measures
Keywords: Chemical mass balance equation, control measures, incense stick, indoor air pollution, PM2.5 concentration.
Abstract: This study aims to compare 10 indoor air pollution
sources for their PM2.5 emissions and quantify the indoor
PM2.5 reduction through control measures. PM2.5 emission rates were evaluated with experiments in a testing
unit. A chemical mass balance equation was used to
predict the control scenario. Two PM2.5 emission scenarios were generated, viz. emissions from a single
source and a combination of two sources. The incense
stick and dhoop combination showed the highest PM2.5
concentration among the six tested combinations. The
emission rate reduction by 50% and doubling the room
volume resulted in 75.2–79.1% and 49–50% reduction
in the predicted indoor PM2.5 concentration respectively,
when a combination of incense stick and dhoop was
considered. The reduction in emission rate significantly
reduces the predicted controlled PM2.5 concentration
compared to the increase in room volume; hence control of pollution at the source is recommended.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: GBD 2017 Risk Factor Collaborators. Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental
and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195
countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the
Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Lond. Eng., 2018,
392(10159), 1923–1994.
GoI, National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2019–20.
Literature cited 2: World Health Organisation (WHO) report on Opportunities for
transition to clean household energy in India, 2018.
Paramesh, H., Current scenario of air pollution in relation to respiratory health. Curr. Sci., 2019, 116(8), 1289–1292.
ID: 65133
Title: Silicon carbide-based functional components in the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph on-board the ADITYA-L1 mission
Author: Bhaskar Prasad Saha , Dulal Chandra Jana, Prasenjit Barick , V. Natarajan , Suresh Venkata , Abhijit A. Adoni, D. R. Veeresha , R. Venkateswaran , P. U. Kamath , Roy Johnson , K. V. Sriram , B. Raghavendra Prasad and G. Padmanabham
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1323-1327 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Silicon carbide-based functional components in the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph on-board the ADITYA-L1 mission
Keywords: Chemical vapour deposition, coronagraph, relative density, silicon carbide, solar mission.
Abstract: A state-of-the-art Visible Emission Line Coronagraph
(VELC) payload on-board India’s solar mission
ADITYA-L1 was designed to study various solar phenomena. To maintain the thermal stability of the system,
VELC design recommends silicon carbide (SiC)-based
components because of their outstanding mechanical,
thermal and optical properties. In particular, a SiC-based
tertiary mirror (M3) was used for the collection of undesired sunrays and reflecting them out from the system,
and a SiC radiator plate (popularly known as a cold finger) for efficient heat dissipation from the mirror and,
in turn, from the system. This article describes the
processing and evaluation of SiC-based M3 mirror and
cold finger for VELC. The substrates for M3 mirror and
cold finger were processed through dry pressing of SiC
powder with the required formulation, followed by machining and temperature-assisted densification under an
inert atmosphere. SiC components developed using
powder metallurgical technique exhibited about 98.4%
relative density (RD) and achieved the structural and
thermal requirements of M3 mirror and cold finger. The
optical requirement of M3 mirror was achieved
through a coating of SiC substrate with 100% RD employing chemical vapour deposition followed by surface
grinding and polishing. The final mirror achieved a
surface flatness better than 20 nm, and microroughness
data showed less than 5.1 Å root mean square surface
roughness in a spatial scale of 0.02 to 0.9 mm.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Prasad, B. R. et al., Visible emission line coronagraph on Aditya-L1.
Curr. Sci., 2017, 113(4), 613–615.
Green, L. M., Török, T., Vršnak, B., Manchester, W. and Veronig,
A., The origin, early evolution and predictability of solar eruptions.
Space Sci. Rev., 2018, 214(46), 1–52; doi:10.48550/arXiv.1801.04608
Literature cited 2: Raj Kumar, N., Singh, J., Prasad, R. B. and Suresh, N. V., Optical
design of visible emission line coronagraph on Indian space solar
mission Aditya-L1. Exp. Astron., 2018; https://doi.org/10.1007/
s10686-017-9569-7.
Singh, J., Prasad, B. R., Venkata, S. and Kumar, A., Exploring the
outer emission corona spectroscopically by using Visible Emission
Line Coronagraph (VELC) onboard ADITYA-L1 mission. Adv.
Space Res., 2019, 64, 1455–1464.
ID: 65132
Title: Springs – threats and management
Author: Vijeta Thakur, Amita Sharma and S. K. Bhardwaj
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2023
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 125 (12) 1316-1322 25 Dec (2023)
Subject: Springs – threats and management
Keywords: Ecosystem degradation, environmental integrity, freshwater, springshed, threats and manageme
Abstract: Springs are a major source of freshwater, which ensures
widespread water availability to humans and other microhabitats. There are numerous seasonal and perennial
springs with significant changes in discharge. Water
quantity and quality of springs depend upon the health
of the springsheds. Spring discharge is reportedly declining due to increased water demand, changing climate
and ecosystem degradation. Therefore, springs need to
be managed responsibly to maintain drinking water
supplies as well as to guarantee agricultural, ecological
and environmental integrity. This article discusses the
threats and management of springs.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dwivedi, A. K., Researches in water pollution: a review. Int. Res.
J. Nat. Appl. Sci., 2017, 4, 118–142.
Roy, S. S., Rahman, A., Ahmed, S., Shahfahad and Ahmad, I. A.,
Long-term trends of groundwater level variations in response to local
level use land cover changes in Mumbai, India. Groundwater Sustain. Dev., 2022, 18, 1007
Literature cited 2: Stevans, L. E. and Meretsky, V. J. (eds), Aridland Springs in North
America: Ecology and Conservation, The University of Arizona
Press and the Arizona–Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ, USA,
2008, p. 432.
4. Sharma, E., Chettri, N., Tse-Ring, K., Shrestha, A. B., Jing, F.,
Mool, P. and Eriksson, M., Climate change impacts and vulnerability
in the Eastern Himalayas, International Centre for Integrated
Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2009, pp. 24–28