ID: 55507
Title: Workplace heat stress in the context of rising temperature in India
Author: S K Dash and T Kjellstrom
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 101, No 4, 25 August 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Climate change heat stress outdoor exposure warm spells work capacity
Abstract: Heat stress is an important aspect in the lives of people working under exposed conditions for long hours. It is interesting to examine the impact of global warming on the occurrence of heat stress in India. This study uses India Meteorological Department (IMD) daily temperature gridded data to investigate the changes in frequency and episodes of extreme temperature events in seven temperature homogenous regions and the country as a whole by applying the guidelines suggested by the World Meterological Organization ' Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices ' . It is emphasized here that climate change may lead to significant increase of heat events and hence heat stress during the hot seasons in most parts of India. Heat stress may cause occupational health risks as well as reductions of work productivity that can have a negative impact on family income and the community economy. It is time to recognize the importance of heat stress as a public health issue and conduct more scientific studies in different parts of India to formulate guidelines for safety measures.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55506
Title: Temperature rise in the Bharathapuzha river basin, southern India
Author: P P Nikhil Raj, P A Azeez
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2011
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 101, No 4, 25 August 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55505
Title: Bengaluru, Bangalore, Bengaluru: Imaginations and their Times
Author: None
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55504
Title: European Cryptothallus mirabilis V. Malmb. matured in India - its morphological and LM & SEM palynological studies, with comments on utility for modern and fossil studies
Author: Asha Gupta
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Cryptothallus mirabilis, fossil studies, morphological-palynological studies, Scotland India
Abstract: The present communication provides an account of the Scottish Cryptothallus mirabilis - a unique, non chlorophyllous thalloid bryophyte which grows hidden underneath the ground layer. The studied plants were immature during collection, but have successfully matured during collection, but have successfully matured in India under the artificial conditions. Plants show unbranched-branched fleshy thalli and enlarged calyptra which protects the sporophyte. Palynological studies has shown that spores remain adherent in their tetrad after maturity, crytopolar type, showing irregularly reticulate sculpturing at exposed surface (i.e distal), which under SEM exhibits double ornamentation. This taxon is widely distributed but the extent of distribution is not certain due to subterranean habit. The present study will be useful in both modern and fossil studies.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55503
Title: Karlodinium veneficum in India: effect of fixatives on morphology and allelophathy in relation to Skeletonema costatum
Author: R K Naik, R R Chitari and A C Anil
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Allelopathy, cell extract, harmful algal blooms, Karlodinium veneficum, phytoplankton, Skeletonema costatum
Abstract: Dinoflagellates form an important component of marine and freshwater phytoplankton. They are a remarkably diverse and complex group with various modes of nutrition and ability to produce toxins, and are major contributors to harmful algal blooms. In the present work, we identigy the presence of Karlodinium veneficum in India. Its detection in the coastal waters of India was possible because of live sample analysis. This species has both toxic and nontoxic strains and due to its bloom-forming capability, it is known to influence the coexisting phytoplankton community structure. In this communication we provide a description of this species, possible methods for its identification in preserved samples and effect of its extracellular and intracellular extract on the growth of Skeletonema costatum, an important and abundant diatom in the phytoplankton community in the Indian waters.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55502
Title: Assessment of genotoxic potential of herbomineral preparations - bhasmas
Author: N V Vardhini, T N Sathya and P Balakrishna Murthy
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Bhasmas, comet assay, genotoxicity, herbal medicine, in vivo micronucleus assay
Abstract: The aim of this study was to generate and evaluate genotoxic data for herbomineral preparations (bhasmas), viz Abhrak (mica) bhasma, Mandura (iron) bhasma, Swas Kuthar ras (mercury, sulphur) and Smrit Sagar ras (mixture of metals), using in vivo micronucleus (MN) assay and comet assay in Wistar rats of both sexes. No significant increase in MN frequency or DNA damage percentage was recorded in the bhasma-treated animals compared to the vehicle control groups in both sexes, indicating that the bhasmas tested were non-genotoxic under the experimental conditions and the test system employed.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55501
Title: Photodissociation of water using colloidal nanoparticles of doped titanium (IV) oxide semiconductors for hydrogen production
Author: Kasem K Kasem and Melissa Dahn
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Aqueous colloids, hydrogen, nanoparticles, semiconductors, titanium oxide
Abstract: Selective photo-production of hydrogen was achieved with visible range solar radiation without application of any external potential. Aqueous solutions of TiO2 doped with different percentages of V2O5 were used to maximize the absorption of visible light. The effects of the hole-scavengers such as poly-anions and solvated-electron suppliers were studied. Studies show that in phosphate buffer, 5% V2O5 generated maximum photocurrent. Potassium ferrocyanide gives the most promising results as a solvated-electron supplier and electron exchanger in basic phosphate buffer. The aqueous nanosystems that we used retained their stability as indicated by the reproducibility of their photocatalytic activities. Solar-radiation assemblies of doped TiO2/[Fe(CN)6]4- sustained cyclic systems for continuous hydrogen production.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55500
Title: A new wind-erosion sampler for monitoring dust-storm events in the Indian Thar desert
Author: Priyabrata Santra, R S Mertia and H L Kushawa
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Dust storm, mass-height profile, soil loss, wind-erosion sampler
Abstract: Removal of soil particles by wind is an active land - degradation process in the Indian Thar Desert. To compute the loss due to wind erosion, eroded aeolian masses are mostlly collected by samplers, which are available with different designs at desert areas of the world. In the Indian Thar Desert, dust catcher in the design of Bagnold sampler was generally used to collect eroded masses at different heights from the surface, but this had a few drawbacks. Keeping in mind the constraints of the existing sampler, a new wind-erosion sampler was designed, fabricated, tested and installed in the Indian Thar Desert at Jaisalmer. This erosion sampler has the ability to adjust its orifice towards the wind direction and thus is capable of collectign aeolian masses from any direction. With this sampler, eroded aeolian masses were collected and analysed during several dust-storm events and periodic wind-erosion events during June-September 2009. Computation of mass flux (ML-2T-1) and soil loss from the collected aeolian mass data successfully captured the intensity of dust-storm / wind - erosion events and their variation within a season. Therefore, the new erosion sampler may be used as a tool to monitor and assess dust-storm events in the Indian Thar Desert.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55499
Title: Variations in soil organic carbon and litter decomposoition across different tropical vegetal covers
Author: J Dinakaran and N S R Krishnayya
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Litter decomposition, physical fractionation, soil organic carbon, soil respiration, tropical vegetal cover
Abstract: The present study shows variations in soil orgnic carbon (SOC) and litter decomposition across different vegetal covers. Tropical vegetal covers occupied by teak, bamboo and mixed species were used for the study. SOC was analysed in the soils up to a depth of 1.25 m at different intervals. Physical fractionation was done in the collected soil samples. Respiration was measured in the soils of the three types in summer, monsoon and winter. Litter-bag experiment was carried out to understand the process of decomposition in the three types of litter at three different depths, viz. top, 25 cm and 50 cm. SOC values from the three different types of vegetal cover followed by teak and bamboo. Litter-bad experiment showed that the litter got decomposed within a year on storage. Higher soil respiration in all the three vegetal covers supports faster rates of decomposition. The decomposition was faster in bags kept at the top layers of the soil compared to the ones in the deeper layers. There was an increase in SOC of samples from the litter-bag study, indicating that tropical soils can absorb additional carbon. Physical fractionation of SOC showed uniformity in the proportions of mobile and recalcitrant pools across soil profiles of the three vegetal covers. A proton NMR study carried out to understand the chemical nature of SOC revealed complete absence of carboxyl group, whose presence is generally reported in the SOC of temperate soils. The groups observed were alkyl, O-alkyl and aromatic. Fluctuations were seen in the proportion of alkyl groups. Uniformity seen in the chemical composition of SOC from the proton NMR study revealed that barring initial steps, decomposition of organic matter would follow more or less the same path in tropical soils, irrespective of differences in plant litter.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55498
Title: Old world ' s smallest frog discovered residing in killer plants
Author: K V Gururaja
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55497
Title: Sikkim silver brake fern at risk
Author: B S Kholia
Editor: P. Balaram
Year: 2010
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 99, No 8, 25 October 2010
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55496
Title: Employment potentials in harvesting of forest products in Western Himalayas
Author: Amar S Guleria
Editor: B. Gopal, P S Pathak, A Raman, S Y Lee
Year: 2007
Publisher: International Institute of Ecology, Vol 33, No 2-3, September 2007
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Keywords: GDP, growth, revenue-cost ratio, structural transformation and sustainable development
Abstract: An attempt has been made in this paper to study the current and potential absorption of labour in different activities. Further, an assessment of the current and potential employment avenues in harvesting of forest products in the North-West Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh in India has been made. Both primary and secondary data based on cross-sectional and time-series at micro and macro level have been used. Forest Department put forest area over 66% of the total geographical area in Himachal Pradesh as against the total agriculture land of only around 10%. About 70% of the total work force (2 million persons) is currently engaged in agriculture and around 0.9 million persons are unemployed in the state. We noted that some forest harvesting activities alone provide employment of about 14 million man-days as against the potential employment of over 23 million man-days. On the whole, wood products alone could enhance employment absorption to the extent of 250% of the current employment level. Similarly, non-wood forest products could provide additional employment of over 181% compared to its current employment level. Therefore, the aggregate unexploited employment potential attributes to over 70.6% in the forestry sector in this single state of western Himalaya. In the absence of actual data from forestry sector, our estimates of current employment can not be compared. However, the labour engaged in resin and timber extractio activities in the state were reported at 8,500 man- years or 2.6 million man-days by assuming 8 hours work per day for 300 days in a year as full employment. This accounts for only 19% of our estimated current employment in harvesting of all forest products. In this, our estimates of current and potential employment in harvesting activities of forest products accounts for 5 to 16 and 8 to 26%, respectively. This could be a significant contribution of the single harvesting activity of forest products in the state.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55495
Title: Threatened medicinal and aromatic plants of Sangla Valley in Himachal Himalaya - Causes and remedies
Author: Viraj Man Negi, Bhupender Dutt and N S Chauhan
Editor: B. Gopal, P S Pathak, A Raman, S Y Lee
Year: 2007
Publisher: International Institute of Ecology, Vol 33, No 2-3, September 2007
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Keywords: Conservation Assessment, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable
Abstract: India has been identified as one of the top twelve mega diversity countries in the world having 47,000 flowering plants and 6,500 vertebrate animal species. India is ranked sixth for having the largest number of threathened plant species. Approximately 70% of India ' s medicinal plants occur in tropical regions whereas in temperate and alpine areas their occurrence is less then 30%, but they include species of high medicinal value. With the increasing patronage of herbal medicine and their products and the establishment of various industries like hydropower projects, there is an urgent need to conserve the endemic diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants before it is wiped out. Keeping in view, the dual objective of conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal and aromatic plant wealth, the present study was carried out in Sangla Valley of Knnaur District (Himachal Pradesh). The study area, bounded on the Southwest by the Dhaula Dhar and on the Northeast by the huge Raldang Peak of the great Himalaya, supports a rich and diverse flora of threatened species of medicinal and aromatic plants. The paper highlights a total of 26 threatened species, belonging to 16 families and 22 genera of which 5 species are critically endandered, 7 endangered and 14 are vulnerable. The cause of threats as well as possible remedies for their conservation are discussed.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55494
Title: Deforestation and forest cover changes in the Himachal Himalaya, India
Author: Hemant K Gupta
Editor: B. Gopal, P S Pathak, A Raman, S Y Lee
Year: 2007
Publisher: International Institute of Ecology, Vol 33, No 2-3, September 2007
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Keywords: Forest cover assessment, Forest and tree cover, forest policy, forest degradation, deforestation , change Matrix
Abstract: The extent of forest cover resources on land surface governs many important earth system ecological processes and is the foremost requirement characterizing sustainable forest management. The extent of forest area and decline in forest resources due to deforestation and changes in forest cover have been estimated by conventional and remote sensing techniques by various agencies for India and state of Himachal Pradesh (HP) located in the Western Himalayas. The various forest cover assessments by National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) and Forest Survey of India (FSI) shows that deforestation has been halted since 1980s onwards and forest cover has been stabilized in HP. During the nine biennial forest cover assessment conducted by FSI since 1987 onwards the estimated forest and tree cover have shown an increase, until 2001 assessment and minor decline of 7 km2 during 2003 assessment in HP. The changes with in forest cover between dense forest to open forest however indicates decline in the productivity of forests. State of Forest Report (SFR) 2003 estimates 778.229 km2 (23.65%) of total geographical area of India under forest and tree cover, whereas, in HP recorded forest area constituted 66.52% of its geographical area and only 26.66% area is under forest and tree cover. National Forest Policy 1988 needs to be modified since analysis shows that in HP only 35.5% geographical area is capable of sustaining forest and tree cover against 66% envisaged by policy to be brought under forest and tree cover in mountainous and hill states of India.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 55493
Title: Land use changes in the Western Himalayan region - a study at watershed level in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India
Author: Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Prem Lall Sankhayan, Ole Hofstad, Ranveer Singh
Editor: B. Gopal, P S Pathak, A Raman, S Y Lee
Year: 2007
Publisher: International Institute of Ecology, Vol 33, No 2-3, September 2007
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Keywords: Cropping pattern, fodder, grazing, irrigation, land-man ratio, livestock
Abstract: Himachal Pradesh is one of the well-managed states in Western Himalayan region of India. Agriculture, horticulture and forestry are the main stay of its economy. More recently, fast economic, tecnological and institutional changes have affected the dynamics of land use that needs to be analyzed in a holistic way by incorporating constraints characteristic of hilly regions at micro watershed level with relatively homogenous conditions. Analysis of land use dynamics of Chabri watershed by using percentages and tables over the period 1970 - 2004 represents such an effort. Although the area under forests and other land uses remained stable during the period of analysis, more interesting changes occurred in cropping pattern with introduction of flower cultivation at the expense of area under maize and wheat crops. Declining land-man and land-livestock ratios are also observed. Best promise for sustainable use of and raising per capita incomes lies in developing off-farm employment, intensive farming and scientific management of forests.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None