ID: 65026
Title: Transformative impact of various groundwater recharge and water conservation measures on different aquifer systems in India
Author: Subhra Satapathy, Mohanavelu Senthil Kumar, Ranjan Kumar Ray, Ratikanta Nayak and Sunil Kumar
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 (9) 1005-1007 (2023)
Subject: Transformative impact of various groundwater recharge and water conservation measures on different aquifer systems in India
Keywords: Aquifer systems, artificial recharge, groundwater, transformative impact, water conservation
Abstract: Groundwater contributes to 9% of India’s GDP; 64%
of irrigation, 85% of rural water supply and over 50%
of urban water demand. Over the last decade, 54% of
India’s shallow wells became defunct due to declining
groundwater levels and thus deep wells have been constructed. This shift to deeper wells has led to more
groundwater withdrawal than natural recharge resulting
in over-extraction. Most of States and Central Government agencies focus on groundwater recharge and
conservation to address sustainability through schemes
like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and MGNREGA. These interventions between 2017 and 2020 led to a notable 12.46 bcm
increase in groundwater resources in hard-rock aquifers. This study’s findings would assist policymakers and
administrators in evaluating the effectiveness of schemes
for different aquifer, and drawing their attention to
suggests design changes for more effective recharge of
groundwater.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: GoI, Groundwater Resource Estimation Methodology-2015. Report
of the Ground Water Resource Estimation Committee (GEC-2015),
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Government of India,
October 2017, p. 137; http://cgwb.gov.in/Documents/GEC2015_
Report_Final%2030.10.2017.pdf (accessed on 15 March 2023).
GoI, Aquifer system of India, Ministry of Water Resources, CGWB,
Government of India, 2012, p. 103; http://cgwb.gov.in/AQM/India.pdf
(accessed on 15 March 2023).
Literature cited 2: GoI, National compilation of dynamic ground water resources of India.
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, June 2017, p. 280; http://cgwb.gov.
in/GW-Assessment/GWRA-2017-National-Compilation.pdf (accessed
on 15 March 2023).
GoI, National compilation of dynamic ground water resources of India.
Ministry of Jal Shakti, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,
Government of India, June 2021, p. 401; http://cgwb.gov.in/documents/
2021-08-02-GWRA_India_2020.pdf (accessed on 15 March 2023).
ID: 65025
Title: Nimbia: the discoid organisms from Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone of Jodhpur Group, Marwar Supergroup, western India
Author: Hukmaram, Anshul Harsh, Pawan Kumar and V. S. Parihar
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 (9) 999-1004 (2023)
Subject: Nimbia: the discoid organisms from Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone of Jodhpur Group, Marwar Supergroup, western India
Keywords: Discoid organisms, fossil remains, hydrodynamic forces, Nimbia species
Abstract: In this study, we report well-preserved fossil remains
of Nimbia from the Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone of Jodhpur Group, Marwar Supergroup in the Sursagar area
of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, western India. Here, two
species of Nimbia, namely Nimbia occlusa and Nimbia
dniesteri, have been recorded on medium- to fine-grained
sandstone bedding surfaces. The N. occlusa forms are
circular to ovate and elliptical imprints with a smooth
and flat central part and enclosed by a single thick,
annular marginal rim, whereas the N. dniesteri remains
are circular to sub-circular discoid impressions with a
trapezoidal structure. Here, the recorded N. occlusa is
common compared to the N. dniesteri fossil forms in the
Ediacaran Sonia Sandstone. These Nimbia fossil forms
are found in the Sonia Sandstone in terrestrial to marginal marine habitats with moderate hydrodynamic f
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Narbonne, G. M., The Ediacara biota: Neoproterozoic origin of animals
and their ecosystems. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet Sci., 2005, 33, 421–
442.
Xiao, S. and Laflamme, M., On the eve of animal radiation: phylogeny, ecology and evolution of the Ediacara biota. Trends Ecol.
Evol., 2009, 24, 31–40.
Literature cited 2: Laflamme, M., Darroch, S. A. F., Tweedt, S. M., Peterson, K. J.
and Erwin, D. H., The end of the Ediacara biota: extinction, biotic
replacement, or Cheshire cat? Gondwana Res., 2013, 23, 558–573.
. Liu, A. G., Brasier, M. D., Bogolepova, O. K., Raevskaya, E. G.
and Gubanov, A. P., First report of a newly discovered Ediacaran
biota from the Irkineeva Uplift, East Siberia. Newsl. Stratigr.,
2013, 46(2), 95–110.
ID: 65024
Title: Predicting potential distribution, range change and niche dynamics for Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: a threatened medicinal plant under climatic change
Author: Monalisa Jena , Manas Ranjan Mohanta , Bipin Charles , N. A. Aravind, G. Ravikanth and Sudam Charan Sahu
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 (9) 989-998 (2023)
Subject: Predicting potential distribution, range change and niche dynamics for Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde: a threatened medicinal plant under climatic change
Keywords: Climate change, distributional changes, ecological niche models, niche overlap, Saraca aso
Abstract: In the Anthropocene era, understanding the impact of
climate change on niche shift, species distribution, and
habitat change is increasingly important for the conservation of biodiversity. In this respect, species distribution
models have been considered an important tool over
the last decade. The present study illustrates distributional change, niche dynamics and climatic shifts of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde in India, a proven medicinal
plant and a listed threatened species by IUCN, under
different climate change scenarios using MaxEnt. The
robustness of the model was satisfactory (AUC = 0.936),
indicating a good fit. There could be a significant gain
in suitable habitat between the present and future scenarios, ranging from a minimum of 52,275.17 km2
(RCP 2.6) to a maximum of 95,994.62 km2 (RCP 4.5). In
the future, the suitable habitat range would shift towards
colder regions of India, where cultivation of S. asoca
could be taken up, thus enabling effective management
of the natural habitat and population of the species.
This study will help understand the effects of climate
change on S. asoca and its implications for conservation
of the species
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Patwardhan, A. et al., Distribution and population status of threatened
medicinal tree Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde from Sahyadri–
Konkan ecological corridor. Curr. Sci., 2016, 111(9), 1500–1506.
Bhalerao, S. A., Verma, D. R., Didwana, V. S. and Teli, N. C.,
Saraca asoca (Roxb.), De. Wild: an overview. Ann. Plant Sci., 2014,
3(7), 770–775.
Literature cited 2: Sabita, Sheel, R. and Kumar, B., Qualitative and quantitative
screening of phytochemicals in polar and non-polar solvent extracts
of stem bark and leaves of Saraca indica (L.). IOSR JBB, 2018,
4(5), 18–29.
Haridasan, K., Anupam, S., Bhuyan, L. R., Hegde, S. N. and
Ahlawat, S. P., SFRI Information Bulletin No. 16 – Field Manual
for Propagation and Plantation of Medicinal Plants, State Forest
Research Institute, Itanagar, 2003.
ID: 65023
Title: Factors hindering the adoption of innovations in the arid agro-ecosystems of India
Author: Shirish Sharma, N. P. Singh and P. C. Ranjith
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 (9) 983-988 (2023)
Subject: Factors hindering the adoption of innovations in the arid agro-ecosystems of India
Keywords: Adoption of innovations, agricultural technologies, arid agro-ecosystems, rural development.
Abstract: This study deals with the factors hindering the adoption
of innovations in the arid agro-ecosystems of India.
Adoption of agricultural technologies helps increase
agricultural output, which can impact poverty levels
and environmental degradation. The present study was
conducted in Rajasthan, India, to identify the technology
adoption of agricultural households and various socioeconomic and socio-personal factors affecting the same.
Among several coping strategies for climate vulnerability,
other than a shift towards rainfed crops, reducing the
number of irrigations, deepening existing wells and advancing or delaying irrigation were common in the arid
ecosystems. Some important policy measures have been
drawn from this study. First, the sustainable development
of groundwater resources, particularly in the low-productive eastern region, would go a long way in improving
agricultural productivity in the country. Agricultural
productivity can also be improved by increasing fertilizer use. Second, it proves cost-reducing technologies
and creates awareness of better resource-saving options
for better returns. Finally, advisory services and the
availability of extension personnel are important in rural
development.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Meinzen-Dick, R., Raju, K. V. and Gulati, A., What affects organization and collective action for managing resources? Evidence from canal
irrigation systems in India. World Dev., 2002, 30(4), 649–666.
Dasgupta, B., India’s green revolution. Econ. Polit. Wkly, 1977, 12,
241–260.
Literature cited 2: Carletto, C., Savastano, S. and Zezza, A., Fact or artifact: the impact
of measurement errors on the farm size–productivity relationship. J. Dev.
Econ., 2013, 103, 254–261.
Foster, A. D. and Rosenzweig, M. R., Microeconomics of technology
adoption. Annu. Rev. Econ., 2010, 2(1), 395–424.
ID: 65022
Title: Tectonic restoration of the Achankovil Suture Zone, South India: correlation with Ranotsara Shear Zone, Madagascar
Author: Mallipeddi Prasanthi Lakshmi*, Thadikonda Sambasivarao and Shaik Parveen Begum
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 (9) 955-969 (2023)
Subject: Tectonic restoration of the Achankovil Suture Zone, South India: correlation with Ranotsara Shear Zone, Madagascar
Keywords: Aeromagnetic data, lithological units, magnetic anomaly, suture zones, tectonic restoration.
Abstract: The total magnetic intensity (TMI) image of the southernmost part of the Indian peninsular shield exhibits a
conspicuous NW–SE trending mega lineament of 200 km,
associated with Achankovil Suture Zone (AKSZ) across
the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT) that evolved
during East African Orogeny. This crustal scale anomaly
of 200 nT amplitude, is significant to understand the
regional tectonics and the possible linkage between
AKSZ and Ranotsara Shear Zone (RSZ) of Madagascar.
The structural trends are inferred from magnetic data
surrounding AKSZ and RSZ to reconstruct the Gondwana fragments of the SGT and south Madagascar.
The aeromagnetic images of conjugate rifted fragments
of this part of India and Madagascar are connected
well on both sides: the Madurai block with Antananarivo
domain and Trivandrum block with Anosyan domain,
north and south of AKSZ–RSZ respectively. Magnetic
modelling across AKSZ reveals a hidden subsurface
basic body suggesting a deep geofracture. We infer the
sequence of tectonic development of the AKSZ as: (i) the
subduction–accretion process in amalgamation of continental fragments to form Gondwana supercontinent
during the Late Neoproterozoic and (ii) Pan-African
exhumation of anomalous sub-crustal material.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Stern, R. J., Continental collision in Neoproterozoic East African
Orogen: implications for the consolidation of Gondwanaland. Annu.
Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 1994, 22, 319–351.
Chetty, T. R. K., Proterozoic shear zones in Southern Granulite
Terrain, India. In The Archaean and Proterozoic Terrains of Southern India within East Gondwana (eds Santosh, M. and Yoshida,
M.), Gondwana Research Group Memoir, Field Science Publications, 1996, vol. 3, pp. 77–89.
Literature cited 2: Drury, S. A. and Holt, R. W., The tectonic framework of the South
Indian craton: a reconnaissance involving LANDSAT imagery. Tectonophysics, 1980, 65, T1–T5.
Dhanunjaya Naidu, G., Manoj, C., Patro, P. K., Sreedhar, S. V. and
Harinarayana, T., Deep electrical signatures across the Achankovil
shear zone, Southern Granulite Terrain inferred from magnetotellurics. Gondwana Res., 20
ID: 65021
Title: Preliminary insights into the impact between photovoltaic installations and climate change
Author: Roshan R. Rao and Monto Mani
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 (9) 945-954 (2023)
Subject: Preliminary insights into the impact between photovoltaic installations and climate change
Keywords: Ambient temperature, climate change, failure probability, performance and service life, solar photovoltaics
Abstract: Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are growing exponentially globally, with a rising fraction of solar PVs in
the renewable energy mix. Climate change is also expected to influence PV installations worldwide. Understanding the climate change impact on PV installations
has been the scope of many recent studies. This article
reviews recent studies on climate change impacts on
PV installations based on the present scenario, and examines the effect of rising temperatures on the performance
and service life of PV installations. On the contrary,
PV installations may also cause an increase in the local
ambient temperature. The impact of PV installations
on the local and global climate is yet to be established.
Comprehensive studies need to be undertaken to examine
the impact between climate change and the performance
of PV installations.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Turconi, R., Boldrin, A. and Astrup, T., Life cycle assessment
(LCA) of electricity generation technologies: overview, comparability
and limitations. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 2013, 28, 555–565
Weckend, S., Wade, A. and Heath, G., IRENA and IEA-PVPS,
end-of-life management: solar photovoltaic panels. International
Renewable Energy Agency and International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems. IEA-PVPS Report Number T12-06, 2016
Literature cited 2: Ludt, B., How to decommission a solar array, and why is it important
to plan ahead? 2019; https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/
2019/03/how-to-decommission-a-solar-array-and-why-its-important to-plan-ahead/.
Nemet, G. F., Net radiative forcing from widespread deployment of
photovoltaics. Environ. Sci. Technol., 2009, 43, 2173–2178
ID: 65020
Title: Maintaining agricultural sustainability through carbon footprint management
Author: Sumit Sow, Shivani Ranjan, Biswaranjan Behera, Mainak Ghosh, Sanjay Kumar and Swaraj Kumar Dutta
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 (9) 939-944 (2023)
Subject: Maintaining agricultural sustainability through carbon footprint management
Keywords: Agricultural management, carbon footprint, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health.
Abstract: Global awareness of climate change issues, particularly changes in air temperature, has increased
dramatically over the last half a century. Concerns regarding ecosystem sustainability and human
existence on Earth arise due to population expansion, rising surface temperatures and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agriculture accounts for approximately 18% of the total GHG emissions, largely in the form of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. As a result, limiting GHG
emissions is critical to alleviating the consequences of climate change, which is attainable if the
concept of carbon footprint is understood. Cereal production produces more GHG emissions than
other farming methods, including vegetables and fruits. ‘Carbon footprint’ is a popular term in agriculture and environmental research due to its involvement in environmental impact assessments and
global climate change. GHG emissions are influenced by changes in land use, soil type and agricultural management approaches. Therefore, it is important to consider how agricultural management
practices, particularly those involving the soil and related systems, affect the relationships between
photosynthesis and GHG emissions. This study deals with the concept of carbon footprint in agriculture and various mitigation measures for its management
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Babur, E. and Dindaroglu, T., Seasonal changes of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon in different forest ecosystems. In
Environmental Factors Affecting Human Health, IntechOpen,
2020, vol. 1, pp. 1–21.
Udara Willhelm Abeydeera, L. H., Wadu Mesthrige, J. and Samarasinghalage, T. I., Global research on carbon emissions: a scientometric
review. Sustainability, 2019, 11, 3972; doi:10.3390/su11143972.
Literature cited 2: Gao, T., Liu, Q. and Wang, J., A comparative study of carbon footprint and assessment standards. Int. J. Low-Carbon Technol., 2013,
9(3), 237–243; doi:10.1093/ijlct/ctt041.
Ozlu, E. and Arriaga, F. J., The role of carbon stabilization and
minerals on soil aggregation in different ecosystems. Catena, 2021,
202, 105303; doi:10.1016/j.catena.2021.105303.
ID: 65019
Title: Camera-trapping records of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the semi-arid western Indian landscape
Author: Prayas auddy, Kaushik koli , Ayan sadhu, Sedu ram Yadav ,Alok nath Gupta, Qamar qureshi Yadvendradev V. Jhala
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 (9) 820-825 (2023)
Subject: Camera-trapping records of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the semi-arid western Indian landscape
Keywords: Camera-trapping records of Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata Shergarh, Wildlife Sanctuary, semi-arid, western Indian landscape
Abstract: Indian pangolins or thick-tailed pangolins,
Manis crassicaudata (the word crassicaudata derived from Latin words crassus
(thick or heavy) and cauda (tail)), are medium-sized mammals weighing between
and 18 kg. They primarily feed on termites
and ants, and their specialized feeding habit,
known as myrmecophagy, has led to specific morphological adaptations such as a long
sticky tongue and long sharp claws1
. The keratinized scales of pangolins act as an
armour, protecting them when they curl up
into a ball (referred to as ‘pengguling’, a
Malay word meaning ‘rolling up’) in response to threats
. Ironically, these scales,
which evolved to protect pangolins against
predators, now drive them to extinction as
thousands of pangolins are killed for their
scales every year by humans
. Indian pangolins face extreme risk of extinction due
to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation
. Their habitat extends from northern
Burma and the southern Yunnan Province
in China to the eastern parts of Punjab and
Sindh in Pakistan, as well as most of India,
Nepal, and Bangladesh5
. Despite the wide
range of pangolins, little is known about
their distribution and status, except for a
few presence records obtained from the
semiarid regions of western India
, moist
deciduous forests of North Bengal
, tropical moist forests of the Western Ghats10 and
the lower Shivalik hills of Himachal Pradesh
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Karawita, H., Perera, P. and Pabasara, M.,
In Proceedings of International Forestry
and Environment Symposium, 2016, vol.
21, p. 34.
Mahmood, T., Mohapatra, R. K., Perera,
P., Irshad, N., Akrim, F., Andleeb, S. and
Panda, S., In Pangolins: Science, Society
and Conservation (eds Challender, D. W.
S., Nash, H. C. and Waterman, C.), Academic Press, London, UK, 2020, pp. 71–88;
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815507-
3.00005-8
Literature cited 2: Yasmeen, R., Aslam, I. and Gondal, A.,
Pak. J. Sci., 2021, 73(3).
Baillie, J., Challender, D., Kaspai, P.,
Khatiwada, A., Mohapatra, R. and Nash,
H., Manis crassicaudata, Indian pangolin,
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,
eT12761A45221874, 2014; https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-2.RLTS.T1276-
1A45221874.
ID: 65018
Title: Learning botany in the field: can we afford to give it a miss?
Author: Sunil Dutta Purohit
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 (9) 930-931 (2023)
Subject: Learning botany in the field: can we afford to give it a miss?
Keywords: Learning botany in the field
Abstract: The throbbing and rich discipline that Botany
is today is due to its founders who travelled
across the Earth studying plants growing
in different parts and geographical niches
of the world. Equipped with a keen sense
of observation, they helped develop the
discipline of field botany that records the
habit and habitat of a plant and assists in
the taxonomic identification of plants, including those that appear similar but, in reality,
are different. Field study is an essential and
integral part of learning about living organisms, including plants, animals and the
teeming microbes that outnumber all plants
and animals taken together. Learning biology
in field settings is a real-time experience
which helps develop creativity, environmental awareness and a sense of accountability
towards nature among students. Observations on the natural habitats, plant habits,
ecology, growth cycle and biology provide
deep insights regarding plants that are important sources of food, fuelwood, timber
and medicine. Since neither the environment
nor the diverse living organisms inhabiting
a constantly changing interconnected world
remain the same, field botany is never static
and requires monitoring by the days, weeks,
months and years.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Dayton, P., In The Way of Natural History
(ed. Fleischner, T. L.), Trinity University
Press, 2011, pp. 65–80
Literature cited 2: Mogk, D. W. and Goodwin, C., In Earth and
Mind II: A Synthesis of Research on Thinking and Learning in the Geoscience (eds
Kastens, K. A. and Manduca, C. A.), Geological Society of America, Special Paper
No. 486, 2012, pp. 131–163
ID: 65017
Title: Study of morphological changes and natural degradation in agarwood (Acquilaria agallocha Roxb.) bark-based Sanchi manuscripts of Assam, North East India
Author: U.Das
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 (8) 801-907 (2023)
Subject: Study of morphological changes and natural degradation in agarwood (Acquilaria agallocha Roxb.) bark-based Sanchi manuscripts of Assam, North East India
Keywords: Agarwood, cellulose crystallinity, lignocellulosic degradation, morphological changes, traditional manuscripts.
Abstract: No experimental study has been done so far on the
natural degradation of the traditional Sanchi manuscripts made from the bark of agarwood (aloeswood,
i.e. Acquilaria agallocha Roxb., locally known as Sanchi
tree in Assam, North East India). In this study, SEM,
FTIR, XRD and stress–strain test using UTM were
carried out on lignocellulosic Sanchi manuscripts to
determine cellulosic variations. Reduction of crystallinity index of cellulose, decrease in tensile strength
and toughness indicated the natural degradation of
Sanchi manuscript. The study reveals that the Sanchi
manuscripts are highly vulnerable to natural degradation, and therefore need scientific techniques and
treatments to prolong lignocellulosic changes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Agrawal, O. P. and Barkeshi, M., Conservation of Books, Manuscripts and Paper Documents, INTACH Conservation Institute,
Lucknow, 1997, pp. 32–35.
Giuliani, M. R. and Nugari, M. P., A case of fungal biodeterioration
on an ancient textile. In Pre‐prints of the Ninth Triennial Meeting of the
ICOM Committee for Conservation, Washington DC, USA, 1993,
pp. 305–307.
Literature cited 2: Gupta, K. K., An introduction to the traditional practices for the
control of bio-deterioration of manuscripts. In Indigenous Traditions
and Manuscript Preservation, National Mission for Manuscripts,
New Delhi, 2006, pp. 35–59.
Rowell, R. M., Chemical modification of lignocellulosics. In Proceedings of the International Workshop on Frontiers of Surface
Modification and Characterization of Lignocellulosic Fibers (eds
Gatenholm, P. and Chihani, T.), Fiskebackskil, Sweden, 30–31
May 1996, pp. 31–47, ISBN 91-7197-593-4; https://www.fpl.fs.
usda.gov/documnts/pdf1996/rowel96c.pdf
ID: 65016
Title: Circulation of A2 subclade of Avipoxvirus in pigeons of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Author: Sujatha Tamilvanan, Arun Kumar De*, Jai Sunder, Gayatri Samaddar, Perumal Ponraj, Sneha Sawhney, Debasis Bhattacharya and Eaknath Bhanudasrao Chakurkar
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 (8) 896-900 (2023)
Subject: Circulation of A2 subclade of Avipoxvirus in pigeons of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Keywords: Avipoxvirus, chicken, clade and subclade, fowlpox virus, pigeon.
Abstract: Genus Avipoxvirus, an important member of the family
Poxviridae, has 12 species which have been recognized
by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
(ICTV). Fowlpox virus and pigeonpox virus are two
important species that may affect other species of birds,
besides chicken and fowl. Hence, accurately identifying
species, clades and subclades of Avipoxvirus is vital to
design and implement adequate control strategies. The
present study was carried out in a pigeon colony showing
symptoms of pox. A fragment of viral Pan-genus 4b
(P4b) gene was amplified and sequenced. As an equivocal
and prototype species, sequence information of fowlpox
virus isolated from an infected bird was also generated.
The generated sequence information was compared with
those of previously reported strains. It was found that
both fowlpox and pigeonpox viruses belonged to clade
A, and there was circulation of A1 and A2 subclades in
chicken and pigeon respectively. From India, one report
showed the circulation of A1 and A3 subclades in Indian chickens and pigeons respectively, since the other
reports were based on clinical symptoms, histopathological examination and comparison of sequence information
with those available without distinct demarcation of clade
and subclade of Avipoxvirus. This study describes the
findings of the novel A2 subclade of Avipoxvirus and
the existence of pigeonpox in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, India.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Williams, R. A. J., Truchado, D. A. and Benitez, L. A., Review on
the prevalence of poxvirus disease in free-living and captive wild
birds. Microbiol. Res., 2021, 12, 403–418.
Lefkowitz, E. J., Dempsey, D. M., Hendrickson, R. C., Orton, R. J.,
Siddell, S. G. and Smith, D. B., Virus taxonomy: the database of
the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Nucleic
Acids Res., 2018, 46, D708–D717
Literature cited 2: Walker, P. J. et al., Changes to virus taxonomy and the Statutes ratified
by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, Arch. Virol.,
2020, 165, 2737–2748.
Adams, M. J. et al., Ratification vote on taxonomic proposals to the
International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Arch. Virol.,
2016, 161, 2921–2949.
ID: 65015
Title: Utilizing machine learning algorithm, cloud computing platform and remote sensing satellite data for impact assessment of flood on agriculture land
Author: Himanshu Kumar, Rohan Kumar , Sujay Dutta , Magan Singh and Sateesh Kr. Karwariya
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 (8) 886-895 (2023)
Subject: Utilizing machine learning algorithm, cloud computing platform and remote sensing satellite data for impact assessment of flood on agriculture land
Keywords: Agriculture, cloud computing platforms, floods, machine learning algorithm, remote sensing data.
Abstract: Floods are one of the most devastating natural disasters
that cause immense damage to life, property and agriculture worldwide. Recurring floods in Bihar (a state in
eastern India) during the monsoon season impact the
agro-based economy, destroying crops and making it
difficult for farmers to prepare for the next season. To
mitigate the impact of floods on the agricultural sector,
there is a need for early warning systems. Nowadays,
remote sensing technology is used extensively for monitoring and managing flood events, which is also used in
the present study. The random forest (RF) machine
learning (ML) algorithm has also been used for land-use
classification, and its output is used as an input for flood
impact assessment. Here, we have analysed the flood
extents and their impact on agriculture using Sentinel-1
SAR, Sentinel-2 and Planet Scope optical imageries on
the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. The present study shows that floods severely impacted a large part of Bihar during the monsoon seasons
of 2020 and 2021. About 701,967 ha of land (614,706 ha
agricultural land) in 2020 and 955,897 ha (851,663 ha
agricultural land) in 2021 were severely flooded. An
inundation maps and area statistics have been generated
to visualise the results, which can help the government
authorities prioritize relief and rescue operations.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Freer, J., Beven, K., Neal, J., Schumann, G., Hall, J. and Bates, P.,
Flood risk and uncertainty. In Risk and Uncertainty Assessment for
Natural Hazards (eds Rougier, J., Sparks, S. and Hill, L.), Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 2013, pp. 190–233; https://doi.org/
10.1017/CBO9781139047562.008.
Kumar, H., Karwariya, S. K. and Kumar, R., Google earth engine-based identification of flood extent and flood-affected paddy rice
fields using Sentinel-2 MSI and sentinel-1 SAR data in Bihar state,
India. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sensing, 2022; https://doi.org/10.1007/
s12524-021-01487-3
Literature cited 2: . Torres, R., Snoeij, P., Geudtner, D., Bibby, D., Davidson, M., Attema,
E., Potin, P. and Traver, I. N., GMES Sentinel-1 mission. Remote
Sensing Environ., 2012, 120, 9–24; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.
2011.05.028.
Schumann, G. J., Brakenridge, G. R., Kettner, A. J., Kashif, R. and
Niebuhr, E., Assisting flood disaster response with earth observation
data and products: a critical assessment. Remote Sensing, 2018, 10(8),
1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10081230.
ID: 65014
Title: Impact of floods and landslides on beneficial soil microbes and nutrients in selected high ranges of Kerala, India
Author: A. Haseena, K. Surendra Gopal and S. Sandeep
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 (8) 878-885 (2023)
Subject: Impact of floods and landslides on beneficial soil microbes and nutrients in selected high ranges of Kerala, India
Keywords: Floods, high-range areas, landslides, microbial community, soil nutrients
Abstract: To ascertain the impacts of flood-affected and landslide impacted soils on the microbial community and soil
nutrient status, an assessment between disturbed and
undisturbed soils was conducted. Without discernible
differences between soils impacted by flooding and
landslides, the total bacterial and fungal population
had decreased in disturbed soils. The lack of organic
carbon and copper in flood-affected soils profoundly
impacted the bacterial population. The disturbed soils
were found to have reduced organic carbon, nitrogen and
micronutrients. The microbial isolates that persisted
even in these degraded conditions may be considered potential bioagents for the restoration of disturbed soils
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rodriguez, R. and Durán, P., Natural holobiome engineering by using native extreme microbiome to counter act the climate change
effects. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 2020, 8, 568; doi:10.3389/
fbioe.2020.00568.
Walker, L. R., The Biology of Disturbed Habitats, Oxford University
Press, Oxford, 2012
Literature cited 2: Shiels, A. B., Walker, L. R. and Thompson, D. B., Organic matter
inputs variable resource patches on Puerto Rico landslides. Plant
Ecol., 2006, 184, 223–236; doi:10.1007/s11258-005-9067-2.
Walker, L. R., Zarin, D. J., Fetcher, N., Myster, R. W. and Johnson,
A. H., Ecosystem development and plant succession on landslides
in the Caribbean. Biotropica, 1996, 28(4a), 566–576; doi:10.2307/
2389097.
ID: 65013
Title: Difference in synonymous polymorphism related to codon degeneracy between co-transcribed genes in the genome of Escherichia coli
Author: Pratyush Kumar Beura , Piyali Sen , Ruksana Aziz , Chayanika Chetia , Madhusmita Dash , Siddhartha Shankar Satapathy and Suvendra Kumar Ray
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 (8) 871-877 (2023)
Subject: Difference in synonymous polymorphism related to codon degeneracy between co-transcribed genes in the genome of Escherichia coli
Keywords: Base substitution, codon degeneracy, co-transcribed genes, replication and transcription, synonymous polymorphism
Abstract: In our study, we compared synonymous polymorphism
in co-transcribed gene pairs within five well-known
Escherichia coli operons (rpoB/C, lacZ/Y, kdpA/B, araB/A
and bcsA/B). Interestingly, the transition to transversion
ratio between gene pairs were different due to their
compositional differences of two-fold and four-fold degenerate codons. The differences in polymorphism spectra were more pronounced in four-fold and six-fold
codons compared to two-fold degenerate codons. Notably,
rpoB and rpoC showed significant distinctions in UCC,
GUA, CCG, GCU, GGC and CGC codons. Similar
trends were observed in other gene pairs, particularly
in higher degenerate codons. Notably, two-fold degenerate codons primarily exhibited synonymous polymorphisms through transitions, while higher degenerate
codons encompassed both transition and transversion
events. This underscores the intriguing role of degenerate
codons in molecular evolution.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Rocha, E. P. C., Touchon, M. and Feil, E. J., Similar compositional
biases are caused by very different mutational effects. Genome
Res., 2006, 16(12), 1537–1547.
Kino, K. and Sugiyama, H., Possible cause of G.C→C.G transversion mutation by guanine oxidation product imidazolone. Chem.
Biol., 2001, 8, 369–378.
Literature cited 2: Lobry, J. R., Asymmetric substitution patterns in the two DNA
strands of bacteria. Mol. Biol. Evol., 1996, 13, 660–665.
Bulte, J. W., Zhang, S., van Gelderen, P., Herynek, V., Jordan, E.
K., Duncan, I. D. and Frank, J. A., Neurotransplantation of magnetically labeled oligodendrocyte progenitors: magnetic resonance
tracking of cell migration and myelination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA, 1999, 96(26), 15256–15261
ID: 65012
Title: Pollination efficiency of stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) on greenhouse cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Linnaeus)
Author: Sourav Sen, Shimantini Borkataki , Pranjit Sutradhar , Ritu Ranjan Taye , Badal Bhattacharyya , P. S. Saranya , S. P. Nanda and M. Devender Reddy
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 (8) 865-870 (2023)
Subject: Pollination efficiency of stingless bee, Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith) on greenhouse cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Linnaeus)
Keywords: Cucumber, foraging activity, pollination efficiency, stingless bee, yield.
Abstract: The present study deals with the foraging activities
and pollination efficiency of Tetragonula iridipennis in
cucumber (Cucumis sativus) under protected conditions.
Experiments were conducted during two seasons (summer and winter) with three different treatments: open
pollination (OP), pollinator exclusion (PE) and stingless
bee pollination (SBP) in Assam, North East India. The
foraging activity of T. iridipennis was checked in SBP
treatment at different timings after installing a 15,504 cm3
beehive. The pollination efficiency of T. iridipennis was
also examined among the three selected treatments. The
peak period of visitation on cucumber flowers was recorded during 0800-0900 h of the day during both seasons.
The yield increase of SBP over PE during both seasons
was five times higher. These findings indicate the significance of T. iridipennis as an effective pollinator in
greenhouse cucumbers.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Guerra-Sanz, J. M., Crop pollination in greenhouses. Bee Pollination in Agricultural Ecosystems, Oxford University Press, New York,
2008, vol. 3, pp. 27–47.
Azmi, W. A., Samsuri, N. U., Hatta, M. F., Ghazi, R. O. and Chau,
T. S., Effects of stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) pollination on
greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Malays. Appl. Biol., 2017,
46(1), 51–55.
Literature cited 2: de Oliveira, C. D. and de Oliveira, C. A., Polinização por abelhas
em cultivos protegidos. Curr. Agric. Sci. Technol., 2009, 15, 1–4.
Hanh, T. T. M., Sharma, S. K. and Rana, M. K., Pollination efficiency of native bee pollinators of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
in India. J. Apicult., 2014, 29(3), 199–205