Greenhouse Gas Emission from Inland Open Water Bodies and Their Estimation Process—An Emerging Issue in the Era of Climate Change

The persistent rise in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the earth’s atmosphere is responsible for global warming and climate change. Besides the known source of GHGs emissions like energy, industry, and agriculture, intrinsic emissions from natural inland water bodies like wetland, rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, etc. have also been identified as other hotspots of GHGs emission and gaining the attention of the scientific communities in recent times. Inland fisheries in India are threatened by climate changes such as a change in temperature, precipitation, droughts, storm, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, floods that affect mostly the production, productivity and ultimately affect the fishers’ livelihood. There are, however, different mitigation and adaptation strategies to cope with the effects of climate change. Carbon sequestration and other related management interventions are one of the options available minimizing GHGs emissions from inland open waters, particularly the wetlands and coastal mangroves which are well known worldwide for their significant role in the storage of carbon. Assessment of C efflux from exposed sediments in dry streams, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and ponds into the atmosphere can be considered imperative for a better understanding of their role as a C-sink or as a C-source to the atmosphere.

Characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila through RAPD-PCR and SDS-PAGE Analysis

Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from fish (Labeo rohita), pond water, river water, raw meat of chicken and mutton and raw cow milk were characterized through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) of cellular proteins. RAPD-PCR amplification of bacterial DNA was done by using ten random primers (OPA-01 to 10) and found some distinct banding pattern on agarose gel. RAPD profile was studied with each isolate and absolute polymorphism indicating its application as an ideal tool for molecular characterization. Other methods like morphological, serological and biochemical characterization gives contradictory results and total cellular protein profiling does not show any significant polymorphism for identification and discrimination.

Ecosystem Responses in the Distribution of Black Clam (<i>Villorita cyprinoides</i>) Beds in Vembanad Estuary during Environmental Changes Using GIS and RS

The biomass and distribution of black clam (Villorita cyprinoides) in Vembanad, a tropical estuary located along the southwest coast of India varied significantly. Sampling was done in freshwater-dominated zone in the south (distal) and brackish water zone in the north (proximal), during pre and post monsoon seasons. Clam biomass was estimated from samples, collected from different stations during the study period. Water transparency and temperature were measured at the sample sites. Water samples were collected and analysed for salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and hardness. There was a significant difference in the clam biomass during the two seasons in the distal zone, and those collected from the distal and proximal zones during pre-monsoon season. The data were further analysed to determine the factors affecting the clam biomass distribution in the two zones and seasons. Factor analyses, comparing the distal zone during two seasons and zonal variations were similar to earlier observations. Step wise regression analyses found that dissolved oxygen (adjusted R2 = 0.3) is the only variable affecting clam survival during pre-monsoon period in the distal and proximal zones. A geographic map of the region obtained from the Indian satellite sensor LISS (Linear Image Self Scanner) was used along with in situ data to map the results using inverse distance weightage model.

Planktonic Scenario of the River Ganga&Yamuna at Prayagraj in COVID-19 Lockdown:A Case Study

Ganga is the most prestigious river of India.The COVID-19 lockdown may have forced us to stay indoors,but it has been boon for pollution-ridden Ganga and Yamuna.Plankton is tiny organisms drifting with water current,influenced by river physical and chemical factors.During lockdown anthropogenic factors were reduced which affected water and plankton quality.Plankton samples were collected from the upstream of the river Ganga(Shankerghat,latitude 25030’28”N and longitude,81052’10”E)and Yamuna(near boat club,latitude 25024’29”N and longitude 81054’50”E)at Prayagraj,during national lockdown.In the before lockdown period(2019),total 28 planktonic taxa were recorded from the river Ganga,among them 10 taxa from Bacillariophyceae,15 from Chlorophyceae and 3 from Myxophyceae.While during LD period total 54 genera with 86 species was recorded(Bacillariophyceae 10 taxa,Chlorophyceae 23 taxa,Myxophyceae 9 taxa,Euglenophyceae 2 taxa,Dianophyceae,1,Rotiferea 7 taxa,Protozoa 2 taxa).Various species of green algae were observed in this small period of lockdown,some species were not observed since a long,like Pediastrum tetras,Scenedesmus abundans,Ankistrodesmus fusiformis,and Brachionus angularis.Various species of phytoplankton and zooplankton were in reproductive phase because river was flowing silently,without any internal and external disturbance.Ganga was more affected by anthropogenic activity and factory discharge than Yamuna So lack of chemicals in the water and minimum human interference favoured auto rejuvenation of Ganga in terms of plankton quality,diversity and reproduction behaviour.Such type of environmental changes may stimulate for origin of new species and disappear or reappear of various aquatic species.

Recycling of isabgol(Plantago ovata Forsk.)straw biomass and mineral powder with bio-inoculants as an effective soil amendment for isabgol cultivation

Efficient utilization of isabgol(Plantgo ovata Forsk.)straw biomass through preparation of bio-active organic fertilizer in a natural composting process has not been studied.In this study,phosphate rock and silicate mineral(mica)powder were used as natural sources of phosphorus(P)and potassium(K),respectively.Cow dung slurry as a natural decomposer was mixed with the straw biomass at a 10:1(weight/weight)ratio along with mineral powder.Then,nutrient-mobilizing bio-inoculants were used in the composting process after attaining thermal stabilization.The agronomic effectiveness of the resulting bio-active compost(BAC)as a bio-organic fertilizer was compared with that of conventional organics(farmyard manure and vermicompost)and chemical fertilizer(CF)by growing isabgol under field conditions.Composting with the natural sources of P and K along with the bio-inoculants increased the total nitrogen(13.6 g kg^(-1)),P(38.7 g kg^(-1)),and K(31.2 g kg^(-1))contents in the final product(i.e.,BAC)compared with composting without the mineral powder and bio-inoculants.Application of BAC remarkably improved the seed yield(2.5%)and husk quality of isabgol in comparison with conventional organics and CF.Compared with CF,BAC significantly boosted the economic yield of isabgol by improving the husk recovery(2.5%)and mucilage yield(4.12%).Furthermore,BAC significantly improved the soil quality by increasing organic carbon(C),available nutrients,and microbial biomass C contents,as well as enzyme activity.The positive correlation between soil and plant parameters also highlighted the benefits of BAC for isabgol production through soil quality improvement.Therefore,it can be considered as a zero-waste technology,whereby a large quantity of straw biomass generated from isabgol cultivation,which contains essential nutrients,can be recycled back to the soil.Furthermore,BAC can be effectively used as a bio-active organic fertilizer,particularly in systems where chemical inputs are restricted,such as organic agriculture.

A preliminary study of dietary protein requirement of juvenile marbled flounder (Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae)

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the optimal dietary protein level for juvenile marbled flounder.Five semi-purified test diets were formulated to contain different protein levels(CP)including 42.7%,47.4%,53.3%,58.8%,and 64.5%(dry matter),named as CP42.7,CP47.4,CP53.3,CP58.8,and CP64.5,respectively.Five hundred and twenty-five juveniles(6.0±0.1 g)were randomly distributed into 15 tanks(300 L tanks),resulting in 35 fish per tank(n-3 tanks).Fish were fed the test diets 5 times per day until satiation.The CP58.8 resulted in the highest gain in weight and the best efficiency in feed utilization among the tested protein levels(P<0.05).Fish fed the CP58.8 diet showed significantly higher whole-body protein and lipid contents than the fish that were fed the other diets(P<0.05).Fish fed the CP53.3,CP58.8,and CP64.5 diets showed a significantly higher dorsal-muscle lipid content than the fish that were fed the CP42.7 and CP47.4 diets(P<0.05).The one-slope straight broken-line regression analysis on the results of the thermal growth coefficient and feed conversion ratio indicated that the estimated optimum dietary protein level was 58.8%.Taken together,it is suggested that the dietary protein level of 58.8%is optimal for better growth and high efficiency in feed utilization for the juvenile marbled flounder.