Seasonal stress on semen quality profiles, seminal biochemical and oxidative stress attributes in endangered Teressa goat of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Objective:To measure seasonal effects on semen quality profiles,seminal biochemical and oxidative stress attributes in fresh and liquid stored semen in monsoon and dry seasons.Methods:A total of 10 Teressa bucks(3-4 years)were selected from breeding farm,ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute,Port Blair,Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India.Semen samples(n=25 per season)were collected through artificial vagina method and preserved at refrigerated temperature(5℃)for 48 h using Tris citrate glucose based extender.We detected semen quality parameters[volume,mass activity,pH,sperm concentration,total motility,viability,total sperm abnormality,and plasma membrane,acrosomal and nuclear integrities],biochemical profiles[aspartate amino transferase(AST),alanine amino transferase(ALT)and total cholesterol],and oxidative stress markers[total antioxidant capacity(TAC)and malondialdehyde(MDA)]during monsoon and dry seasons.Results:Semen quality parameters significantly differed between seasons(P<0.05)and among storage periods(P<0.05).Volume,pH,mass activity,motility,viability,acrosomal,plasma membrane and nuclear integrities,and TAC were significantly higher(P<0.05).Sperm concentration,sperm abnormalities,MDA,AST,ALT and total cholesterol were significantly lower in fresh semen of monsoon than dry season(P<0.05).Motility,viability,acrosomal,plasma membrane and nuclear integrities,and TAC were significantly decreased(P<0.05)while sperm abnormality,AST,ALT,total cholesterol and MDA were significantly increased as liquid semen storage period advanced(P<0.05).Conclusions:Monsoon season has higher beneficial effects on semen quality profiles and liquid stored semen remained usable for upto 48 h.Good quality ejaculates with higher TAC and lower MDA can be cryopreserved and will be used for artificial insemination.

Facies analysis and paleoenvironmental interpretation of Piacenzian carbonate deposits from the Guitar Formation of Car Nicobar Island,India

Facies characterization of Piacenzian(late Pliocene) carbonate sediments of the Guitar Formation in Car Nicobar Island, India and the subsequent integration of paleoecological data have been applied to interpret the paleoenvironment of the coralline algal-reef deposits. Thin-section analysis reveals that Amphiroa, Corallina and Jania are the dominant geniculate corallines, while Lithothamnion, Mesophyllum, Phymatolithon, Lithophyllum, Spongites and Lithoporella are the major non-geniculate corallines contributing to the sedimentary facies. Numerous small and larger benthic foraminifera also dominate the biogenic assemblages. Corals, barnacle shells, echinoid spines, fragments of bryozoans, mollusks and ostracodes are the subordinate constituents. Grainstones dominate the studied facies while packstones and boundstones(with wackestone elements) are the sub-lithofacies showing a fair representation. Six carbonate facies presenting a complete reef complex have been distinguished that were deposited in shallow intertidal, back-reef shelf/lagoon, reef and deeper fore-reef shelf settings. Evidences of coralline algal and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, taphonomic signatures of abrasion and fragmentation, grain size, angularity and encrustation indicate a shallow to relatively deeper bathymetric horizon of approximately 10-60 m that corresponds to a regime of high to moderate hydrodynamic conditions.

A Short Report on Decompression Sickness Incidents in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Objectives: Due to presence of extensively fascinating coral reef ecosystem in the continental shelf of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, people from all over the world visit these islands of India to indulge in recreational diving. An increased participation figure has also elevated the number of divers at risk for Decompression Sickness (DCS). Despite this, no scientific data are available on DCS incidents from India. Present study is aimed to evaluate the DCS incidents reported in these islands, treatment provided, and the outcome of the treatment. An attempt has also been made to calculate the approximate frequency of DCS in comparison to the participation figure. Methods: Study design is retrospective data analyses of a recompression chamber. Naval Diving Unit Port Blair has the only active decompression chamber available in the islands, and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital Port Blair was used to collect information on DCS incidents that occurred during the mentioned period. Due to lack of authenticated generalized documents of divers’ health history and dive logs, the scanty information was gathered from the dive centres on the basis of personal interviews/communications among the SCUBA diving instructors. Results: A total of nine cases were reported during the span of last four and half years, and thus approximate frequency of DCS in Andamans was 0.2/10000 divers year. All of the patients recovered completely after receiving the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), with no residual symptoms. Conclusions: Incident rate of DCS in Andamans is lower than that in many other parts of the world;possible reason could be under-reporting of less severe DCS cases. During the study period, the number of DCS type II incidents presented for the treatment was higher than that of DCS type I incidents. HBOT proved a complete success in treating DCS cases in the island.

Effect of Moringa oleifera on semen quality profiles in endangered Teressa goat under tropical humid island ecosystem

Objective:To investigate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on semen quality parameters in Teressa goat buck.Methods:A total of 25 semen samples from six bucks were selected for the study.Spermatozoa of 150×10^(6) were incubated in 0,300,500 and 700μg of leaf extract as groupⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ,respectively.Liquid stored semen samples were analysed for motility,viability,total sperm abnormalities,plasma membrane,acrosomal and nuclear integrities,seminal plasma intracellular enzymes[aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)]and total antioxidant capacity(TAC)and spermatozoa malondialdehyde(MDA)and cholesterol efflux in comparison with the control group(groupⅠ)for up to 72 h.Results:Moringa oleifera leaf extract(500μg/150×10^(6) spermatozoa)-treated semen had significantly higher motility,viability,plasma membrane,acrosomal and nuclear integrities,and TAC(P<0.05),and had significantly lower total sperm abnormalities,AST,ALT,LDH,MDA production and cholesterol efflux compared to those in other Moringa oleifera leaf extract treated(300 or 700μg/150×10^(6) spermatozoa)and control groups at different hours of liquid storage(P<0.05).Semen quality parameters and TAC showed an increasing trend and total sperm abnormalities,MDA production,leakage of intra-cellular enzymes and cholesterol efflux showed a decreasing trend from group Ⅰto group Ⅲand then an opposite trend from group Ⅲ to group Ⅳ at different hours of liquid storage.Conclusions:Moringa oleifera leaf extract 500μg/150×10^(6) spermatozoa can be used for liquid semen preservation in Teressa goat at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

晚中新世以来孟加拉-尼科巴扇跷跷板式沉积转换及其源-汇成因机制

利用沉积转换事件再造关键变革期的构造活动和气候演变是源-汇系统研究的新动向和切入点。新生代以来,印度大陆与亚洲大陆的汇聚隆升以及喜马拉雅-青藏高原的剥蚀、向孟加拉湾的物质输入,形成了当今世界上最大的源-汇系统(喜马拉雅-孟加拉湾源-汇系统)。利用3D地震数据和IODP 354与362航次获取的碎屑锆石数据揭示了晚中新世以来孟加拉-尼科巴扇沉积转换事件及其源-汇成因机制。研究认为尼科巴扇和孟加拉扇经历了此消彼长的沉积建造过程:尼科巴扇经历了“晚中新世快速进积→上新世缓慢建造→第四纪相对静止”的建造过程;而孟加拉扇经历了“晚中新世相对静止→上新世缓慢建造→第四纪快速进积”的沉积建造过程。喜马拉雅-孟加拉湾源-汇系统碎屑锆石年龄核密度统计结果显示:晚中新世以来,指示古布拉马普特拉河迁移演化路径的60~0 Ma碎屑锆石在若开-尼科巴扇呈现出逐渐减少的变化趋势,而在孟加拉扇呈现出逐渐增多的变化趋势。这一碎屑锆石年龄核密度变化特征表明:(1)在晚中新世,古布拉马普特拉河主沉积物分散路径靠近孟加拉湾东部一侧发育且大量碎屑颗粒向尼科巴扇搬运分散,形成“快速进积的尼科巴扇和相对静止的孟加拉扇”;(2)在上新世初,青藏高原隆升所诱发的西隆高原抬升使古布拉马普特拉河向西迁移分流,在古西隆高原北缘Mikir山附近分流为东西两支,东支向尼科巴扇搬运分散的碎屑颗粒开始减少,而西支向孟加拉扇搬运分散的碎屑颗粒开始增多,形成“以缓慢建造为演化特征的尼科巴-孟加拉扇”;(3)在第四纪初,印度板块-亚洲板块最强碰撞造成青藏高原最强隆升并达到最大海拔高度,古布拉马普特拉河东支袭夺废弃,向尼科巴扇卸载的沉积物相应显著减少,而古布拉马普特拉河西支与恒河并流后向孟加拉扇卸载的沉积物亦相应显著增加,形成“相对静止的尼科巴扇和快速进积的孟加拉扇”。由此可见,尼科巴-孟加拉扇“此消彼长的跷跷板式沉积转换事件”是古布拉马普特拉河沉积物分散路径迁移演化的源-汇响应;其在上新世-第四纪之交发生了一起最为显著的沉积转换事件,其是上新世晚期印度板块-亚洲板块碰撞的源-汇响应。

Season modulates endocrinological profiles and sex behavioural characteristics in indigenous male goats under tropical humid island ecosystem

Objective:To measure the seasonal effect on endocrinological profiles and sex behavioural profiles during rainy and dry summer seasons in male Andaman local goat in Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India.Methods:Ten adult male Andaman local goats were selected from the goat breeding farm,ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute,Port Blair,Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India.Endocrinological profiles such as follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),testosterone,thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),triiodothyronine(T3),thyroxine(T4),cortisol and prolactin were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.Sex behavioural profiles such as libido score,mating ability score and sex behavioural score were measured during rainy and dry summer seasons in male Andaman local goat.Results:Endocrinological profiles as well as sex behavioural profiles differed significantly between rainy season and dry summer season(P<0.05).The levels of FSH,LH,testosterone,TSH,T3,and T4 were significantly higher in rainy season than in dry summer season whereas cortisol and prolactin were significantly higher in dry summer season than in rainy season(P<0.05).The ratio of T3:T4 was significantly higher in rainy season than in dry summer season.Similarly,libido score,mating ability score and sex behavioural score were significantly higher in rainy season than in dry summer season(P<0.05).Conclusions:Rainy season has significantly higher beneficial effects than summer season on reproduction and artificial breeding programmes in semi-intensive management of goat under the tropical humid island ecosystem in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Distribution of Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) in Selected Islands of Marine National Park, Port Blair, South Andaman, India

The present study enhances the knowledge on the diversity, abundance and depth distribution of larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) from six different islands in Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (MGMNP), where meagre anthropogenic impact existed. Very few works have been reported on the Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) on this Island environment, as this region also falls under Marine Protected Area (MPA). Development of database on this study has a validity for pristine nature of LBF environment. Modern LBF hotspot diversity is often overlooked and no data are available to date on tropical regions. Out of 105 MPA’s existed in this Island, MGMNP encompasses about 15 islands, out of which six islands were considered for the study. These six islands are Snob Island, Grub Island, Boat Island, Hobday Island, Belle Island and Jolly Buoy Island. The study revealed presence of 22 taxa of modern LBF and the most common families are the Amphisteginidae, Calcarinidae, Nummulitidae, Peneroplidae and Soritidae. The purpose of this study was to document the distribution of LBF species prevailing in this area, as well as develop the baseline environmental information of its existences to facilitate further continuous monitoring the changes occurring in this island environment. The environment suggested that the presence of major LBF species studied are Calcarina calcarinoides, Calcarina defrancei, Calcarina hispida, Calcarina spengleri, Neorotalia calcar and Neorotalia gaimardi exhibited the availability of good coral cover with commendable macro algal coverage or sparsely sea grasses, as they prefer such substratum for their epiphytic association.

A comparative study of mangrove floras in China and India

Species compositions in the mangrove habitats of China and India, especially on Hainan Island (China) and on the Sundarbans and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (India), are of interest, showing several similarities and differences. The total mangrove areas of India cover about 6419 km 2 with 43 species (23 major and 20 minor species), while the mangrove areas of China cover about 150 km 2 with 26 speices (19 major and 7 minor speices). We carried out a comparison of mangrove floras in the Indian Sundarbans, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and in Hainan Island. The mangrove areas of the Indian Sundarbans comprise about 66.5% of the total Indian mangroves, presently covering an area of 4267 km 2 with 35 species from 22 genera and 16 families. There are 34 species from 17 genera and 13 families in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Hainan Island is considered a distribution center of mangroves; it has the largest number of mangrove species in China, i.e., 25 species from 15 genera and 12 families, accounting for about 96% of the total number of mangrove species in China. The mangroves of Hainan Island and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands belong to island types, while those of Sundarbans belong to inter-tidal deltaic types. Differences in soil type, rainfall, temperature, tidal fluctuation and other climatic features possibly cause variations in floristic composition of these regions.

安达曼群岛

安达曼群岛(Andaman Islands)是印度安达曼-尼科巴群岛(Andaman and Nicobar Islands)的组成部分,行政区划上属于印度安达曼-尼科巴群岛中央直辖区(Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands)。地理位置为10°30′39″N–13°40′36″N,92°11′55″E–94°16′38″E[1]。