ID: 59283
Title: Ecological status of three micro watersheds in western Himlaya.
Author: T V Ramachandra, N V Joshi, G R Rao, G Dhanpal, K V Guraja, Amit S Yadav.
Editor: P P Bhojvaid.
Year: 2014
Publisher: The Indian Forester
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Indian Forester Vol. 140(no. 4) 331-347, 2014.
Subject: The Indian Forester.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Ecological status, Floral and Faunal diversity, Watershed, Altitudinal gradients, Western Himalaya.
Abstract: Ecological status of a particular region is determined by assessing its biodiversity, prevailing conditions of the environment and their interactions. Biodiversity assessments in micro watershed across altitudinal gradients of Western Himalaya reveal that phytodiversity includes a total of 2276 indivduals from 75 woody species belonging to 38 families. Among the three micro watershed, Mandhala was species followed by Moolbari (39) and MeGad (9). In Mandhala most species are thorny shrubs and rarely attain tree form due to severe anthropogenic disturbances, which also yielded very low basal area. Moolbari had the highest basal area, which had dominant species Quercus leucotricophora and Q. glauca. MeGad, a high altitude area was mostly dominated by Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana and Pinus wallichiana.
Faunal investigations enumerated 115 butterfly species, 14 amphibian and 136 bird species. Butterflies in the region were oriental and palaearctic in origin representing nine families. Similarly, 14 species amphibians belonging to 5 families were sighted during the field investigations. Paa minica is vulnerable and Amolops chakrataensis is data deficient according to IUCN status and these two are endemics of Himalayan foot hills. Among the three watersheds , Mandhala, lying in Shivaliks has higher faunal diversity followed by Moolbari. Amphibians were not encountered in MeGad microwatershed during Aug-Sept 07. In total 136 bird species were recorded from three watersheds, the maximum number of bird species occurred in Mandhala region (104) followed by Moolbari (57) and MeGad (35).
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59282
Title: Predatory drilling in Teritary larger foraminifera from India.
Author: Rosina Syed, Sampa Sarkar, S Sengupta.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1130-1133, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Kutch, larger foraminifera, Middle Eocene, Nummulites obtusus (Sowerby), predation.
Abstract: Evidence of predatory drilling in the microspheric tests of Middle Eocene larger foraminifera Nummulites obtusus (Sowerby) from the Indian Teritary sequences. Evidence in the form of repair structures present in this communication from western Kutch is reported in this communication from the Indian Teritary sequences. Evidence in the form of repair structures present in the foraminiferal wall and indicative of post-attack healing, has been described and illustrated. While biological identity of the predator remains enigmatic at the present stage of investigation, this report is likely to throw light on similar instances of predator-prey interaction in previously accounted Teritary larger foraminiferal assemblages of India.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59281
Title: Occurrence of native gold and gold-silver alloy in the olivine gabbro of layered cumulate sequence of Naga Hills ophiolite, India
Author: N C Ghose.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1125-1130, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Anorthite, gold-silver alloy, layered olivine gabbro, ophiolite, native gold.
Abstract: Occurence of native gold and gold-silver alloy formed in high-temperature olivine gabbro of a layered cumulate body is reported 2 km northwest of Sutsu. It lies close to a major fault in the central part of Late Cretaceous-Eocene Naga Hills ophiolite (NHO). The amphibole-bearing olivine gabbro is composed of serpentine (Mgo-28.91), anorthite (An93), clinopyroxene (En46Fs8Wo46), edenite (Mg# 76), magnesiohornblende (Mg# 78), accessory minerals, viz., chlorite (Mg# 75), epidote, sulphides (chalcopyrite and millerite) and gold. The formation of noble metals in olivine gabbro is related to partitioning of Au into intercumulus sulphides and silicates in magma and their deposition along grain boundaries and fractures. It was carried out by hydrothermal fluids by transportation and concentration of immiscible sulphide phases,and depositing these in suitable locales during final stages of crystallization. Gold mineralization in layered gabbros of cumulate bodies opens a new avenue towards primary source of precious metals in NHO. Alternative secondary source of precious metals in NHO, e.g. (i) basal conglomerate of cover sediments derived from ophiolite (Jopi or Pokhphur Formation) and (ii) placers of arterial Tizu River in Nagaland, may be considered as favourable repository.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59280
Title: A Study on channel migration of the Subansiri river in Assam using remote sensing and GIS technology
Author: Chinmoyee Gogoi, Dulal C Goswami.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1113-1120, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Channel migration, erosion, flood, sedimentation, Subansiri river.
Abstract: The Subansiri is a major Trans Himalayan tributary of the River Brahmaputra, characterized by its extremely dynamic and unstable alluvial channel in Assam. In this study, the pattern of channel shifting as well as various other changes of the Subansiri river have been studied for the period from 1828 to 2011. Five different types of channel shift have been observed in the Subansiri river. They are (i) alternate bar-induced shifting, (ii) neck cut-off, (iii) chute cut-off, (iv) meander shift and (v) avulsion or rapid diversion. The channel pattern of the Subansiri river in Assam changes continuously with large number of channels being abandoned and new channels developed in the course of a few years. Large discharge and heavy sediment load during floods cause the river to be
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59279
Title: Mahogany seed - a step forward in deciphering autoration.
Author: Mukul Rao, Dhruv C Hoysall, Jagadeesh Gopalan.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1101-1109, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Autorotation, computational approach, flight characteristics, mahogany seed.
Abstract: This article presents and experimental approach for evaluating the various flight characteristics of a mahogany seed in its autorotative descent. Analytical formulae proposed by Yasuda and Azuma are used to interpret the results. The findings are used in the development of a sophisticated blade element computational model, primarily to analyse planar autorotating systems. This approximate computational approach is then used to predict the flight performance of mahogany seeds and the results are compared with experimental data. The potential use of the computational model in the design of autorotating systems is then brought to light.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59278
Title: Development of fast image analysis technique for All-Sky images.
Author: A K Sharma, D P Nade, S S Nikte, R N Ghodpage, P T Patil, M V Rokade, R S Vhatkar, S Gurubaran.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1085-1093, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: All-sky imager, equatorial plasma bubble, nightglow emissions, zonal drift velocity.
Abstract: This article describes the possibility of using the fast image analysis technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis of equatorial plasma bubble obtained using All-sky imager (ASI) data. Automated image processing (generally) is useful for identification of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) and its parameters. We have developed a fast (and efficient) analysis technique essential to study the data of images. The present work reports the results of a statisticall study of the zonal plasma bubble velocities using nightglow OI 630.0 nm emission data, acquired by ASI (FOC 140?) at the low-latitude station Kolhapur (16.42? N, 74.2?
E and 10.6? N dip lat.). Based on the observation of 15 nights made in January 2012, we have determined the velocity of EPB using our new method. The daily mean values of the EPB using our new method. The daily mean values of the EPB velocity match well with those of earlier studies made at Kolhapur. We have found that, generally, the mean zonal drift velocities of the plasma bubbles tend to decrease with local time (after midnight). The most significant finding from this work is that the calculated velocities of plasma bubble using fast and scanning methods are nearly equal.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59277
Title: Bisphenol A migration study in baby feeding bottles of selected brands available in the Indian market.
Author: N D Shrinithivihahshini, D Mahamuni, N Praveen.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1081-1084, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bisphenol A, endocrine disruptor, feeding bottles, polycarbonate.
Abstract: The wide applications of polycarbonate (PC) and other polymers in the kitchen ware and food storage containers increase the risk of human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), mainly through food and water. BPA results in endocrine disorders in humans; health impacts caused by the chemical vary with body weight and exposure dosage. The present study aims to test the safety of using PC bottles, for feeding infants with respect to BPA and the migration rate of BPA from the containers, while storing hot water at 70 C, for 1h. Three different popular brands of PC baby feeding bottles were subjected to the tests. BPA residues were extracted with ethyl acetate and quantified using HPLC, with PDA detector. The test reveals that BPA residues were extracted with ethyl acetate and quantified using HPLC, with PDA detector. The test reveals that BPA migrates from PC baby feeding bottles at 19 ng ml-1 of hot water (70 C), stored for 1 h.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59276
Title: Are pollen herbaria redundant? Their utility in botanical studies.
Author: Arti Garg.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1049-1050, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Pollen herbaria, redundant, botanical studies.
Abstract: While on one hand, the modern trends of taxonomic researches have recognized the significance of palynological findings in resolving various complexities and pollen integrated taxonomic studies are gaining momentum, on the other hand, the essentials of pollen herbaria are woefully veiled crippling many ailed offshoots of botanical studies. The everexpanding taxonomic vistas are witnessed to encompass micro-morphological and molecular methods in substantiating and evolving more lucid taxonomy wherein palynology, although a young science, has a pronounced role in solving intricate taxonomical problems where normal macro-morphological methods get plugged.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59275
Title: Are the Himalayan glaciers retreating?
Author: I M Bahuguna, B P Rathore, Rupal Brahmbhatt, Milap Sharma, Sunil Dhar, S S Randhawa, Kireet Kumar, Shakil Romshoo, R D Shah, R K Ganjoo, Ajai.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1008-1013, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Ablation, glacier, Himalaya, retreat, snout.
Abstract: The Himalayan mountain system to the north of the Indian land mass with accurate strike of NW-SE for about 2400 km holds one of the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions in its high-altitude regions. Perennial snow and ice-melt from these frozen reservoirs is used in catchments and alluvial plains of the three major Himalayan river systems, i.e. the Indus, Ganga and Bhramaputra for irrigation, hydropower generation, production of bio-resources and fulfilling the domestic water demand. Also, variations in the extent of these glaciers are understood to be sensitive indicator of climatic variations of the earth system and might have implications on the availability of water resources in the river systems. Therefore, mapping and monitoring of these fresh water resources is required for the planning of water resources is required for the planning of water resources and understanding the impact of climatic variations. Thus a study has been carried out to find the change in the extent of Himalayan glaciers during the last decade using IRS LISS III images of 2000/01/02 and 2010/11. Two thousand and eighteen glaciers representing climatically diverse terrains in the Himalaya were mapped and monitored. It includes glaciers of Karakoram, Himachal, Zanskar, Uttarakhand, Nepal and Sikkim regions. Among these, 1752 glaciers (86.8%) were observed having stable fronts (no change in the snout position and area of ablation zone), 248 (12.3%) exhibited retreat and 18 (0.9%) of them exhibited advancement of snout. The net loss in 10,250.68 sq. km area of the 2018 glaciers put together was found to be 20.94 sq. km or 0.2% (2.5% of 20.94 sq. km).
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59274
Title: Hydrogeochemical assessment of groundwater in karst environments, Bringi watershed, Kashmir Himalayan, India.
Author: Nadeem A Bhat, Gh. Jeelani, M Yaseen Bhat.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 1000-1007, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Bringi watershed, hydrogeochemistry, Karst springs, Kashmir Himalayas.
Abstract: Hydrochemical assessment of precipitation, stream and springs of Bringi watershed, SE Kashmir has revealed that Ca and HCO3 are the dominant ions, making up more than 50% of the total ions, which indicates carbonate lithology as the dominant ions, making up more than 50% of the total ions, which indicates carbonate lithology as the dominant source of ionic species. However, increased Na in some samples, particularly Kongamnag, indicates the impact of silicate weathering on water chemistry. The dominant order of cations and anions in the water samples is Ca> Mg> Na> K and HCO3> SO4> Cl respectively. In both streams and springs, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), Ca, HCO3 are high during winter when the discharge is low and low during summer when the discharge is low and low during summer when the discharge is high. However, Kokernag and Achabalnag springs also show higher concentrations during July. resulting from piston effect. The springs show a significant variability of TDS, with highest value of 180 mg/l observed at Achabalnag followed by Kokernag (130 mg/l) and Kongamnag (90 mg/l). The high variability of TDS indicates rapid and strong reaction of Achabalnag to hydrological events followed by Kokernag and Kongamnag.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59273
Title: The expansion and impact of cement manufacturing units and mining areas in Lumshnong, Jaintia hills, Meghalaya.
Author: Kasturi Chakroborty, S Sudhakar.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 997-1000, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Cement industry, land-use change, loss of vegetation, mining activities, remote sensing.
Abstract: With the rapid developmental process taking place accross the globe, there are several pockets widespread in North East Region of India which are becoming hotspots of land-use change. Industrial expansion is one of the main reasons for conversion of land-use/land-cover classes, particularly from forest to non-forest. This study focuses on the impact of the cement industrial and mining activities leading to the loss of the forest cover in Jaintia hills district, Meghalaya, NE India. The region owing to its large natural resource store is becoming the zone of forest to non-forest conversion at a much faster rate. In this study, remote sensing has been used as as tool to observe the extent of land-use change using an automatic change detection software, DeltaCue to map the expansion of the cement industrial units and their impact on the vegetation in the immediate vicinity. The present study highlights the spread of the industrial units from 2005 to 2011 and the loss of vegetation.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59272
Title: Botanical Survey of India. (1971-2010): a scientometric analysis.
Author: Manohar Pathak, Kumar Avinash Bharati.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 964-971, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Botanical survey of India, botany, mapping, scientometric, taxonomy.
Abstract: The present study reports on the research performance of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) between 1971-2010, based on number of parameters. including publications, citations, impact in terms of average citation per paper, international and national collaboration output, share of publication, most preferred journals, highly cited papers, authorship pattern and most productive authors. The study analyses 40 years (1971-2010) of publication data drawn from Web of Science (SCI-expanded). A total of 423 papers were published in 40 years (10.57 papers per year), which recieved 892 citations with an average of 2.1 citations per paper, h-index of 12 and a p-index of 12.34. It has been observed that during 1977-1986, number of publications was comparatively better. Between 1987 and 2005, a long recession was observed; again it is on rise from 2006 onwards, the citations were following almost the same trend. BSI has published 72 and 38 colaborative papers with involvement of 56 national and 22 foriegn institutions respectively. Current Science is the most preferred journal. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is major domestic collaborator (21 papers), University of Rhode Islandd, Kingston is the major collaborator (11 papers), USA is the major collaborator country (16 papers) and BSI, Kolkatta has contributed maximum number of publications (41%).
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59271
Title: Age of Himalayan cedar outside its natural home in the Himalayas.
Author: Ram R Yadav, Krishna G Misra, Bahadur S Kotlia, Neha Upreti.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 932-935, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Age of Himalayan Cedar, Himalayas.
Abstract: The Himalayan cedar popularly known as deodar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don) is endemic to Hindu Kush, Karakoram and western Himalaya. Natural distribution of this species in the western Himalaya is restricted to areas recieving winter snow and summer monsoon rainfall. With the decreasing amount of winter snowfall from northwest to eastern part of the Himalaya, the deodar gradually disappears in natural forests. In scientific studies, Garhwal is taken as the natural eastern limit of Himalayan cedar in the western Himalaya. But, exceptions to this also exist in the literature as indigenous forest of Himalayan cedar were reported in 1924 in Karnali Valley, West Nepal.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59270
Title: Diverse palynoflora from amber and associated sediments of Tarkeshwar lignite mine, Surat district, Gujrat, India.
Author: Hukam Singh, Bandana Samant, Thierry Adatte, Hassan Khozyem.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 930-932, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: Diverse palynoflora, amber, sediments, Tarkeshwar lignite mine, Surat district, Gujrat, India.
Abstract: Amber, a complex compound of terpenoids and phenolic derivates is a fossilized resin produced from the trunk and the roots of some trees. It acts as a good preserving agent for micobiota and yielding insect remains from Permian onwards. In India, pioneering work on the insect remains from amber was started by Shukla and co-workers. They recorded well-preserved, fossilized remains of insects from amber pieces of Tertiary age from Mahudanra valley, Palamu, Bihar. Since the last decade several insect remains have been reported from amber, especially from the Cambay basin of western India.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 59269
Title: Notes on conservation of ' RET ' plants in India.
Author: Sauris Panda.
Editor: R Srinivasan
Year: 2014
Publisher: Current Science Association, Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: Current Science Vol. 106(no. 7) 916-916, 2014
Subject: Current Science.
Keywords: consevation, RET plants, India.
Abstract: Conservation of rare, endangered and threatened (RET) plant species is and important issue. Hundreds of RET plants in India have already been recorded and their conservation suggested. The Red Data Book has enlisted 622 vascular plant species (VPS) of Indian flora till 1990; this red figure rose to 1255 VPS till 2003, and it is on the increase day by day. In India, the RET species constitute 7.7% of known VPS. Globally, 13.8% of VPS are RET. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the current species extinction rate is between 1000 and 10,000 times higher than it would naturally be. Once a species becomes extinct, the particular genetic resource is lost forever.
Location: TE 15 New Biology Building
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None