ID: 58657
Title: Effect of Pb and Zn stress on growth parameters of Spinach oleracea.
Author: Shivom Singh, Neetu Saxena, Kajal Srivastava, D K Saxena.
Editor: D R Khanna
Year: 2013
Publisher: Action for Sustainable Efficacious Development and Awareness (ASEA)
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Environment Conservation Journal Vol 11(no.1&2), pp 11-15 (2010)
Subject: Environment Conservation Journal
Keywords: Correlation, Growth response, Metal, Stress, Spinach.
Abstract: The influence of metals (Pb and Zn) was investigated using plant growth as stress indicators. Spinach plant was treated with various concentrations of Pb and Zn (2, 5, 10 50,100 and 200 mM). Lead has a simulating effect upto 5mM concentrations whereas, zinc was find to promote the growth upto 10mM level. Overall, a negative correlation was found between metal concentration and cholophyll, carbohydrate, nitrogen and protien content of the plant.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58656
Title: An account concerning arrival and departure time of few selected winter migratory birds in Haryana rural ponds.
Author: Rohtash Chand Gupta, Tirshem Kumar Kaushik, Surjit Kumar
Editor: D R Khanna
Year: 2013
Publisher: Action for Sustainable Efficacious Development and Awareness (ASEA)
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Environment Conservation Journal Vol 11(no.1&2), pp 1-9 (2010)
Subject: Environment Conservation Journal
Keywords: Arrival patterns, Climax number, Departure patterns, Rural ponds, Winter migratory birds.
Abstract: The present study has been carried out in few selected Northern Districts of Haryana State for a period of three years w.e.f. 2005-08. Attention has been focused on winter migratory birds that sojourn in Haryana and other parts of Haryanal. These birds come to Haryana from far off places, accross the rim of great Himalayas and beyond. Only eighteen birds departure and arrival time was recorded for study convenience. These migratory birds do not arrive in Haryana in one lot, on one date and at one time. Instead these display a definte, pattern, decorum and time table, specifc to species and even specific to place subject to varying temperature barometer.
The present study reveal that Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Commom Teal (Anas crecca) and Gadwall (Anas strepera) arrive in October; Bar-headed Goose ( Anser indicus) Graylag Goose (Anser anser) Spot billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) arrive in November. As far as departure time is concerned, it is interesting to note that Mallard generally depart in February. Birds like Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Spot billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha), Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), Eurasion Wigeon (Anas penelope), Tufted Pochard (Aythya fuligula) Red-crested Pochard (Rodonessa rufina) and Rudy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) departs in March every year. On the other hand, Common Coot (Fulica atra) Nothern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) Nothern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Gadwall (Anas strepera) and Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) depart as late as April. Simultaneously, another aspect of gradual increase in number from October to December and conversely gradual decrease in number from January to February was also analysed in the case of few birds only. Greatest flocks of nearly 250 or so were in case of Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata), Nothern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca) and Common Coot (Fulica atra). Contrary to this, least number in a flock less than fifteen was seen in case of Bar-headed Goose (Anser Indicus), Greylag Goose (Anser anser) etc.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58655
Title: August 2012 cloud burst and subsequent flash food in the Asi Ganga, a tributary of the Bhagirathi river, Garhwal Himalaya, India.
Author: Vikram Gupta, D P Dobhal, S C Vaideswaran.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 249-253
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Cloudburst, flash flood, Garhwal, Himalaya.
Abstract: Asi Ganga, a tributary of Bhagirathi river located upstream of Uttarakashi township witnessed a massive flash flood on the night of 3 August 2013 due to cloud burst that occured at the Pandrasu ridge that serve as a water divide between the Yamuna and Bhagirathi rivers. The flash flood claimed the lives of 35 human beings and 436 livestock, and affected about 12,000 people, damaging property worth about Rs 612 crore. It has been observed that the most of the damages in the area is related to the physiographic disposition of the Quaternary deposits lying along the valley slopes. The continued and recuring flash floods in the Himalaya call for a DIsaster Management Policy that needs to be undertaken in the Himalaya terrain. The present study lays the foundation for further work to link/map the Quaternary deposits lying loose on both sides of the river vis-a-vis any development activity in the Himalayan terrain.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58654
Title: Sapatial and temporal variations of natural tritium in precipitation of southern India
Author: C Unnikrishnan Warrier, M Praveen Babu, P Manjula, A Sahul Hameed.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 242-248
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Hydrological applicatiions, monsoon, pre-capitation, tritium.
Abstract: Spatial and temporal variations in tritium content of precipitation at Hyderabad and Kozhikode, stations in southern India during 2005-2008 are discussed. The tritium content of precipitation varied from 1.59 to 9.21 TU for the Hyderabad station and from 0.65 to 6.11 TU for the Kozhikode station. Precipitation at the Hyderabad station had excess tritium than Kozikhode, mostly owing to its origin at higher latitudes. The predominance of the marine moisture in the precipitation at the Kozhikode imparts low tritium content to its precipitation during the monsoon period. The tritium concentration in the precipitation of the two stations during this period is compared with that during 1997-1999. The tritium content of precipitation of both the stations showed higher values in the earlier periods, reflecting the minor contribution of residual bomb tritium that possibly prevailed during that period. The present-day tritium concentration in the precipitation at the two stations has reached the values that prevailed during the pre-bomb era. The tritium data provided useful clues for better understanding of the mechanism of monsoonsal rainfall at the two locations. Tritium inputs in precipitation and its variation in southern India, especially in the recent period are lacking. This study elucidating the present-day concentration of natural tritium in precipitation at the two stations may be helpful in applying tritium techniques for hydrological studies in the area.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58653
Title: Population structure analysis of Labeo gonius from there reservoirs of Uttarakhand using RAPD marker.
Author: Grishma Tewari, I J Singh, A Barat.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 237-241.
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Genetic diversity, Labeo gonius, population genetics, reservoirs.
Abstract: Population gentic structure of the fish, Labeo gonius from three reservoirs, i.e. Dhaura, Baigul and Nanak sagar, Uttarakhand, India was analysed by appyling random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. RAPD-PCR products obtained using 15 decamer operon series (OPA, OPB, OPC and OPY) primers, were utilized for analysis of population of L. gonius, in each reservoir. Genetic observations based on percentage of polymorphic loci, the number of effective and observed alleles, Nei ' s genetic diversity and Shannon ' s information index indicated high level of genetic diversity in stocks of all three reservoirs of L. gonius, being more heterozygous in Nanak sagar followed by Baigul and Dhaura reservoirs. The percentage of genetic variation within (86.83) and among (13.17) all the stocks based on coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst= 0.131) indicated moderate genetic differentiation likely to be associated with small gene exchange responsible for weak sub-stucturing of stocks in all three reservoirs.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58652
Title: Lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of some Sida species due to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.
Author: D S Preethidan, G Arun, M Prathyusha Surendran, S Prashanth, A Sabu, C Sadasivan, M Haridas.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 232-236.
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Inhibitory activity, lipoxygenase, molecular docking, Sida species.
Abstract: Lipoxygenase (LOX) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, postulated to play an important role in the pathophysiology of several inflammatory and allergic diseases. The study of LOX inhibitory activity of some Sida species, its isolation, structure elucidation and characterization of the active compound are reported. The LOX inhibitor from Sida species was di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate with LOX was demonstrated by its kinetics, isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking studies. In vitro studies and molecular docking showed that di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate was binding perfectly into the active site of LOX to inhibit it.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58651
Title: Growth response of conifer trees from high-altitude region of Western Himalaya.
Author: Somaru Ram, H P Borgoankar.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 225-231
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Conifer trees, growth response, high-altitude region, ring-width index, soil moisture.
Abstract: Tree-ring width index chronologies of some species (Abies pindrow and Picea smithiana) of Western Himalaya are sensitive to the moisture availability and amount of soil moisture of the region. The first principal component among the site chronologies explaining 61.2% of the common variance is strongly correlated with Palmer Drought Severity Index during summer season (May-July). Whereas increased temperature of the region had significant adverse effect on tree growth. The moisture availability, especially in the growing season is found more conductive in developing the annual tree-ring width compared to rainfall during the season. Moreover, the increasing temperature and vapour pressure during November and December of the previous year might play an important role for early snow melt over region, which maintains enough soil moisture favouring trees as well as in physiological processes.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58650
Title: An analytical study on daily solar radiation data.
Author: Indira Karakoti, Prasun Kumar Das, R Bansopadyay,
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 215-224
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Clearness index, direct normal irradiance, gobal radiation, gobal titled radiation, solar energy.
Abstract: Solar energy being an unlimited source of energy is rapidly increasing in importance amongst the various energy sources. for the effectiive and efficient utilization of any solar energy system, the site specific data on solar radiation are the prime need. In the present communication, we have conducted an analytical study on available solar radiation data at Solar Energy Centre, Gwal Pahari, India. The study is carried out for daily global radiation on horizontal and tilted suface and for direct normal irradiance (DNI). An attempt is also made to analyse the clearness index as it is important factor for the installation of any solar energy system. Additionally, three statistical parameters- standard deviation, kurtosis and skewness are worked out for these solar radiation parameters. Futhermore, the sunshine hours are computed exploiting the data of DNI. A comparison is also made between the ground measurements and satellite derived data - global and DNI.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58649
Title: Satellite images indicate vegetatiion degradation due to invasive herbivores in the Andaman Islands.
Author: Rauf Ali, Neil Pelkey.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 209-214
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Invasive herbivores, remote sensing, satellite imagery, vegetation degradation.
Abstract: Recent studies have documented changes in vegetation cover due to invasive herbivores in the Andaman Islands. In this study we demonstrate that the change is large enough and rapid enough to be detected by remotely sensed data. Using the freely available Normalised Difference Index (NDVI) imagery, we examined changes in vegetation cover due to the presence of invasive herbivores in the Andaman Islands. Two time-periods were analysed using different types of imageries. Changes between 1985 and 1995 and also between 2001 and 2005 across four sites with different combinations of introduced chital (spotted deer) and elephants were examined. Results indicate that areas with deer have faster rates of degradation than those without them. The maximum rate of degradation occured at sites with both elephants and deer, and the minimum where neither of the two animal species occured. Besides wild pig, all the other herbivores on the islands are invasive, and there is a need to eliminate these invasive herbivores in the islands.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58648
Title: Robust inversion of carbon dioxide fluxes over temperate Eurasia in 2006-2008
Author: P S Swathi, N K Indira, P J Rayner, M Ramonet, D Jagadheesha, B C Bhatt, V K Gaur.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 201-208
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Bayes theorem, carbon flux, inversion, sources and sinks, temperate region, TRANSCOM.
Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes over the temperate Eurasian region have been estimated robustly for the period 2006-2008 using the time-dependent inversion component of the TRANSCOM protocol. Data from six CO2 measuring stations in temperate Eurasia, including the Indian station at Hanle along with 75 others from different parts of the world have been used. A careful analysis of a posteriori errors and model resolution shows that temperate Eurasia is a major residual sink of CO2 with a value of 1.5 Gigatonnes of carbon/year.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58647
Title: Large igneous provinces - global perspectives and prospects in India.
Author: S Sensarma, Debajyoti Paul, N V Chalapathi Rao.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 182-192.
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Crust mantle interaction, India, large igneous-province, plume, precambrian.
Abstract: The origin and emplacement of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) is a challenging research frontier in earth sciences that has implicatiions for understanding: (a) the dynamic and evolution of earth ' s mantle. (b) atmosphere and climatic shifts, (c) redistribution of land and oceans, (d) biosphere involving transfer and migration of flora and fauna and mass extinctions, (e) metallogeny, and (f) source of hydrocarbons. In this review, we appraise contemporary models fotr the origin of LIPs (plume versus non-plume ) to evaluate their strengths and limitations. We also examine vexed issues (e.g. nature and extent of mantle heterogeneity, role of fluids in LIP genesis, relation among carbonatites, kimberlites and LIPs, linkage of dyke swarms to LIPs and continental reconstruction and metallogeny) which are not readily explained by any of the models. Pursuable research frontiers in Indian igneous provinces (e.g. identification of new LIPs in the Precambrian, Fe-enrichment, fertility and thermal state of mantle below India, detailed study of lava stratigraphy and palaeomagnetism, assesment of duration of LIP activities, irrespective of compositional variability ) are identified for the future study. Despite large-scale magma generation, crust-mantle interaction and geodynamic evolution of South Asia through the Phanerozic, research on modern lines on India LIPs is limited. Research on LIPs deserves a major thrust in India for better understanding of the evolution of large magmatic provinces in the Peninsular and Extra-Peninsular regions.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58646
Title: Performance of the Ocean State Forecast sytem at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
Author: T M Balakrishna Nair, P Sirisha, K G Sandhya, K Srinivas, V Sanil Kumar, L Sabique, Arun Niherakkol, B Krishna Prasad, Rakhi Kumari, C Jeyakumar, K Kaviyazhahu, M Ramesh Kumar, R Harikumar, S S C Shenoi, Shailesh Nayak.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 175-181.
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Ocean State Forest system, spectral wave model, tropical cyclone, wave fields.
Abstract: The reliability of the operational Ocean State Forest system at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) during tropical cyclones that affect the coastline of India is described in this article. The performance of this system during cyclone Thane that severely affected southeastcoast of India during the last week of December 2011 is reported here. Spectral wave model is used for forecasting the wave fields generated by the tropical cyclone validation of the same is done using real-time automated observation systems. The validation results indicate that the forecasted wave parameters agree well with the measurements. The feedback from the user community indicates that the forecast was reliable and highly useful. Alerts based on this operational ocean forecast system are thus useful for protecting the property and lives of the coastal communities along the coastaline of India. INCOIS is extending this service for the benefit of the other countries along the Indian Ocean rim.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58645
Title: Kedarnath disaster: facts and plausible causes.
Author: D P Dobhal, Anil K Gupta, Manish Mehta, D D Khandewal.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 171-174.
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Kedarnath, disater, facts, glacier, river burst.
Abstract: Recent climate changes have had significant impact on high-mountain glacial environment. Rapid melting of snow/ice and heavy rainfall has resulted in in the formation and expansion of moraine dammed lakes, creating a potential danger from dammed lake outburst floods. On 16 and 17 June 2013, heavy rains together with moraine dammed lake (Chorabari Lake) burst caused flooding of Saraswati and Mandakini Rivers in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand (Figure 1a). Prolonged heavy downpour on 16 and 17 June 2013 resembled ' cloud burst ' (except for amount of precipitation of 100 mm/h) type event in the Kedarnath valley and surrounding areas that damaged the banks of the River Mandakini for 18-km between Kedarnath and Sonprayag, and completly washed away Gaurikund (1990 m asl), Rambara (2740 m asl ) and Kedarnath (3546 m asl) towns. The roads and footpath between Gaurikund and Kedarnath were also damaged. There are reports of loss of large number of human lives and damage to the property and livestock.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58644
Title: Resource partitioning between two ' near threatened ' heronry species - a case of nest sharing between Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) and Black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus).
Author: Irshad N Theba, Virag R Vyas.
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 169-170.
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Resource partioning, near threatened, heronry species, nest sharing, Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Black headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
Abstract: Slection of a nest site can be viewed as an adaptive trade-off between the cost of searching and defending the site and the reproductive benefits of selecting a site enhancing reproductive success. Differential resource selection is also one of the major factors allowing the coexistence of the species. However, when a species has a specific nesting requirement, suitable nesting locations may be difficult to obtain, which may cause the overlap of nesting sites.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 58643
Title: Influence of the Arabian Sea tropical cyclone and the Western disturbance on the appearance of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici virulence Ug99-TTKSK in Iran in 2007
Author: S Nagarajan, H J Kogel
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2013
Publisher: Current Science Association
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol 105(no.2), pp 164-166
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Arabian sea, tropical cyclone, Western disturbance, Puccinia graminis f. sp., tritici virulence Ug99-TTSK, Iran.
Abstract: In Iran wheat was sown over 6.5 million hectares (m ha) in 2012, of which 4.0 m ha has access to irrigation and the rest is rainfed. Irrigated wheat is cultivated under four different environments and the total wheat production of Iran is about 14.6 million tonnes. This includes the long duration/winter-type durum grown in western parts Cus-Cus and bulgur, etc. Wheat in the plains is grown during November as an irrigated crop and is harvested by early May, Faculative, long-day bread wheat is grown in the middle elevations, whereas at higher elevations where snowfall is common, winter wheat is grown from October to July-August. There is also the much longer duration wheat that is grown in the hills of Iran. Iran Cultivates barley (Hordium Vulgare), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum (T. durum) and Khapli (T. dicoccum) are also cultivated in Iran, which are vulnerable to Puccinia graminis tritici (Pgt) that causes stem rest on wheat.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None