Bacterioplankton diversity and pollution levels in the estuarine regions of Chaliyar and Anjarakkandi rivers, Kerala, India

Rivers and the estuarine regions play crucial roles in the environment by controlling the nutrient cycling, waste disposal, and also in supporting biodiversity. However, the estuarine regions of rivers are highly susceptible to disruptive changes by anthropogenic pollutants and eutrophication. Bacterioplankton diversity is the best indicators of the pollution level and eutrophication status of the rivers. The present study evaluated the eutrophication status and bacterioplankton diversity of the estuarine regions of Chaliyar and the Anjarakkandi originated from the Western Ghats. The present study observed the presence of increased incidence of bacterioplankton comprising of proteobacteria, actinobacteria and cyanobacteria in the estuarine regions of Anjarakkandi river compared to that of Chaliyar river. Further, the percentage incidence of faecal bacteria including Bacillus subtilis and E. coli, were also found to be in high in the Anjarakkandi river; in corroborating with this, the diversity of nitrogen metabolizing bacteria was also higher in the estuarine samples of Anjarakkandi river. Corroborating with this, the levels of water nutrients including nirates, nitrites and phosphates were high in the Anjarakkandi compared to the Chaliyar river. Together, it is possible that there might be increased faecal contamination and subsequent increased eutrophication in the estuarine regions of Anjarakkandi river. Altogether, the study concludes that the Anjarakkandi river may be more polluted and which is partly contributed by faecal contaminants and also responsible for the change in the bacterioplankton community of the estuaries.

Download Full-text

Climbing Behavior in the Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799) (Colubridae: Natricinae) in the Western Ghats, India

Russian Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.30906/1026-2296-2019-24-1-73-74 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 73

Author(s):

Pushkar Umesh Phansalkar ◽

Gaurang Girish Gowande

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

Climbing Behavior ◽

Water Snake ◽

The Western Ghats

Download Full-text

Campylobacter in waterborne epidemics in Finland

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2004.0026 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 39-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M.-L. Hänninen ◽

R. Kärenlampi

Keyword(s):

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Water Samples ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Risk Level ◽

Source Water ◽

Indicator Organisms ◽

Faecal Contamination ◽

E Coli ◽

July August September

The sources for drinking water in Finland are surface water, groundwater or artificially recharged groundwater. There are approximately 1400 groundwater plants in Finland that are microbiologically at a high risk level because in most cases they do not use any disinfection treatment. Campylobacter jejuni has caused waterborne epidemics in several countries. Since the middle of the 1980s, C. jejuni has been identified as the causative agent in several waterborne outbreaks in Finland. Between 1998 and 2001, C. jejuni or C. upsaliensis caused seven reported waterborne epidemics. In these epidemics approximately 4000 people acquired the illness. Most of the outbreaks occurred in July, August , September or October. In four of them source water and net water samples were analysed for total coliforms or fecal coliforms, E. coli and campylobacters. We showed that large volumes of water samples in studies of indicator organisms (up to 5000 ml) and campylobacters (4000–20,000 ml) increased the possibility to identify faecal contamination and to detect the causative agent from suspected sources.

Download Full-text

Assessment of the exposure of swimmers to microbiological contaminants in fresh waters

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1997.0727 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 35 (11-12) ◽

pp. 157-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

G. J. Medema ◽

I. A. van Asperen ◽

A. H. Havelaar

Keyword(s):

Geometric Mean ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

The Other ◽

Pollution Level ◽

Intestinal Infection ◽

E Coli ◽

Faecal Pollution ◽

Run Off ◽

Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽

Mean Concentration

As part of a prospective cohort study among triathletes to determine a relationship between the microbiological quality of fresh bathing water and the risk of acquiring an intestinal infection, the exposure of the triathletes to microbiological contaminants was assessed. Waters were collected at seven triathlons (swimming course 1–1.5km) held in the summer of 1993 and 1994 to have a range of water qualities. All were influenced by sewage effluents, most also by agricultural run-off. Samples were collected several weeks before the event to establish a sampling programme (1993) and during the actual exposure of the triathletes (1993 and 1994) and examined for thermotolerant coliforms alone (samples preceding the event) and for E. coli, faecal enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, F-specific RNAphages, enteroviruses (1993 and 1994) and for thermophilic Campylobacter, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1993). The samples taken in the weeks before the exposure showed significant differences in thermotolerant coliform concentration between locations, depths and times. Also during swimmer exposure, significant differences occurred in microorganism levels at the different sampling points over the swimming course. As the triathletes swam as a group, they were exposed to approximately the same water at the same time. The geometric mean concentration was used to characterise each site. In the epidemiological study, the risk of an intestinal infection correlated with the concentration of thermotolerant coliforms and E. coli but not with the other parameters. The geometric mean concentration of thermotolerant coliforms at the triathlons ranged from 11–330/100mL and 54–1,200/100mL E. coli. Ranking of the seven sites by faecal pollution level, based on the geometric mean concentration of a faecal indicator, resulted in a different ranking for each indicator. At the fresh water sites studied, only the ratio between the geometric mean density of E. coli and thermotolerant coliforms was constant. The ratio between the other parameters related to faecal pollution (faecal enterococci, F-specific RNA phages, enteroviruses) varied considerably. Water quality standards relating to faecal pollution can only be based on parameters that show a significant correlation with risk of intestinal illness.

Download Full-text

History, Biogeography, Biodiversity and Bioprospecting: Scenario from the Western Ghats

South Indian Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.22205/sijbs/2016/v2/i2/100320 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 292 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giby Kuriakose ◽

Jis Sebastian

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

The Western Ghats

Download Full-text

New locality records and call description of the Resplendent Shrub Frog Raorchestes resplendens (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.5994.12.11.16502-16509 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 16502-16509

Author(s):

Sandeep Das ◽

K.P. Rajkumar ◽

K.A. Sreejith ◽

M. Royaltata ◽

P.S. Easa

Keyword(s):

Endangered Species ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Small Area ◽

Grassland Ecosystem ◽

Critically Endangered Species ◽

Controlled Burning ◽

New Locations ◽

Southern Western Ghats ◽

First Time ◽

The Western Ghats

Abstract: The Resplendent Shrub Frog, Raorchestes resplendens Biju, Shouche, Dubois, Dutta, & Bossuyt, 2010 is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats and was considered to be restricted to a three-square kilometer patch atop Anamudi summit. In this study, we report 36 new locations of the species from the Anamalai massif of the southern Western Ghats. Niche-based prediction modelling suggests that the species is restricted to Anamalai massif. The call description of this frog is also provided for the first time. The preferred microhabitat of the frog is Chrysopogon grass clumps in the marshy/swampy montane grassland ecosystem. Restricted to a small area with controlled burning management practiced in its habitat, R. resplendens needs immediate attention.

Download Full-text