Biotechnological interventions for sustainable conservation of plant genetic resources in the scenario of climate change

Climate change is an unequivocal fact and its impacts are already perceptible today. Climate change will profoundly alter the present conditions of agriculture in almost all countries with variable severity from region to region. On one hand unpredicted changes in climatic parameters are likely to threaten the production and productivity of economically important plant species particularly that of food crops, at the same time agriculture productivity requires significant increase to meet the expected growth in demand for food by the ever increasing world population. Conservation and sustainable use of diversity present in plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge of germplasm within and among plant species represent economic, scientific and societal value which has tendency to solve the food security problems erupt due to expanding global population. An advance made in biotechnology field such as in vitro culture technology, cryopreservation and molecular markers technology has generated significant contributions to improve the methods of conservation of rare and endangered plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge of germplasm and their valuable management in an effective way. A strategic and forward vision for conservation of plant genetic resources and traditional knowledge of germplasm and sustainable use of plant resources in the 21st century is of far reaching significance for sustainable development.

Communities of aquatic organisms in the system of ecological monitoring of streams at the Vostochny Cosmodrome (Russia)

The current data on the ecological state of streams at the launch site of the Vostochny Cosmodrome with the use of biological indicators are presented. Recommendations on the surface water biomonitoring of the cosmodrome and the booster rocket drop zones are given. It is shown that the system of biological monitoring of the cosmodrome, as a part of the Roscosmos environmental monitoring, should be coordinated with the Roshydromet monitoring.

Time plots, trends and seasonal growth/ decay of Cr removal in vertical subsurface flow sewage treatment wetland

The present research work aimed at analysing the time series and estimation of seasonal growth/ decay of heavy metals dynamics in the vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSFCWs) planted with Typha, Phragmites, Vaccha, Arundo and Vetiver on gravel media. Monthly plant and wastewater samples were collected for 15 months from the VSSF CWs. Plant and water samples were pre-treated in the laboratory, digested using diacid and their heavy metal concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer after filtration. The Main results indicated that the maximum uptakes of metals by plant occurred in summer while the minimum plant uptakes were recorded in winter, regardless of metal concentrations applied and the trends showed a slightly stable profile irrespectively to the level of concentration applied. For the adsorption processes of Cr in the media (gravel) of the constructed wetlands, it appeared that this process was not significantly changing as function of time, except for Cr 1.5 ppm.

Why do birds matter to us-a perspective from Kashmir valley, India in light of declaration of 2018 as the year of birds?

The year 2018 has been declared as the Year of Birds with the aim of celebrating and protecting them. Birds are mysterious, cheerful and a marvellous creation with some unique and peculiar features. They are ecologically crucial in maintaining the balance of many ecosystems by sustaining various food chains and energy cycles. With their colourful bright plumage they enrich the natural scenic beauty of earth. Their migration, foraging, singing, breeding and nesting behaviour is quite astonishing. Birds make a variety of calls, sounds and songs with a language as complex as any spoken words that have many meanings, purposes and uses. Birds are the indicators of climatic conditions, natural calamities and bio-indicators of potential human impact and environmental degradation. Birds are facing continuous natural and anthropogenic threats due to multiple problems in the environment. The unregulated and unsustainable tourism and poaching threatens the habitat of so many game birds. Climate change, chemical use, loss of food source, overharvesting are the other impacts on bird loss. Awareness about stopping of habitat destruction, indiscriminate poaching birds, and regulated bird watching is the need of the time. We need to use more resources and put more sincere efforts for their management and conservation in view of the changing environment. Climate change has already altered the biological life on this planet, it would be interesting to know how climate change threatens bird’s life and survival. That will enable us in true sense to fulfil the objectives of the year of birds.

Survival and growth performances of Clarias gariepinus (Teleotei: Clariidae) fingerlings according to the hormone type in recycled water in South Cameroon

In order to compare effects of the of hormone type (Ovaprim and pituitary extracts) on survival and growth performances of African catfish Clarias gariepinus in recycled water; this study was conducted from April to August 2016, in the South Region Cameroon. The main results are as follows: The survival rate was higher in fish from females treated with pituitary extracts regardless of stage of development, without significant differences (P> 0.05) between treatments. The fish treated with Ovaprim, expressed higher mass and linear growth performances than those treated with pituitary extracts, but not significantly (P> 0.05) regardless the considered stage of development. The relative growth rate (TCR) showed that fish grow faster at the fry stage than at the juvenile stage for both hormone types. Growth was negative Allometric type and K factor was ˂ 1 during breeding. It was concluded that the use of the synthetic hormone is not essential for optimum production of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.

A new multifunctional coastal classification for eco-system-service assessments

Based on GIS data sets an add-on for a coastal classification system was developed which takes Ecosystem Services (ESS) into account. The coastal area is segmented and afterwards classified. The segmentation is based on Google Earth. Each segment can be characterized by 10 different features including ecosystem services perpendicular to the coastline. If one of the features is changing a new segment will be specified. Therefore, a world-wide application is possible. Tests show that the classification can be easily done. The included ESS can be used to develop a vulnerability index for future development, e.g. for the years 2050 and 2100, based on scenarios for climate and demographic land use change.

Optimum Groundwater Pumping Rate in Safwan-Zubair Area, Basrah Province, Using Simulated Annealing Technique

Safwan-Zubair area is located in the south –west part of Basrah Province in the south of Iraq, this area is involved within the Dibdibba plain which is considered as a part of Iraqi Western Desert. Dibdibba formation consists mainly from sand and gravel with some cementing materials like silt and clay, especially in the west of Zubair area. A linked simulation-optimization model for obtaining the optimum pumping rate of groundwater is presented in this paper. Processing Modflow for Windows (PMWIN v.5) is selected to simulate the aquifer behavior being studied. This model is integrated with an optimization model which is based on the simulated annealing (SA) technique. The calibrated values of hydraulic conductivity vary over the range (15-150) m/day; while, the calibrated values of specific yield vary over the range (0.125-0.45). The objective function converges to a maximum value of (0.636925E+8 m3/year). The percentage ratio of inactive wells is 10.9 %, many wells in the study area that occupy incorrect positions, these wells must be turn off for obtaining optimum pumping rate in the study area.

Temporal variation of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stock and concentration along land use, species and elevation gradient of chilimo dry afromonate forest and adjacent land uses, ethiopia

Forests play a vital role in the natural global carbon cycle by capturing carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and converting it into forest biomass. Forests sequester and stores more carbon than any terrestrial ecosystem and act as sources as well as sinks of CO2. However, the increasing rate of deforestation and the impact of changes in land use require a critical and updated look at what is happening in the tropics. This work emphasized the temporal variation of bulk density, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stock and concentration in four land-use categories: natural forest, tree plantations, crop-land and degraded soil along elevation gradient and soil depth. The study was conducted in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia, where deforestation and human pressure on native forests are exacerbated and erosion has caused extensive soil loss. We hypothesized that, there is temporal variation of C and N concentrations and stocks in native forest along elevation gradient, land use type, species and soil depth. Carbon and N concentrations and stock and bulk densities in mineral soil were analysed as repeated measures in an irregular vertical space ranging from 0–10 cm, 10–30 cm, 30–50 cm and 50–100 cm, using a linear mixed model approach in two-time scale period 2012 - 2017. Double observations in 2012 and 2017, were made from the forest floor were analysed by a general linear mixed model. There is significant variation in organic carbon and nitrogen stock along elevation gradient for forest floor. Results also indicated that soil depth is more important factor than elevation gradient in native forests, though C and N concentrations and stocks diminished near human settlements. Native forest stored on average more nitrogen than bare soil, cropland and plantations, respectively. Conversion of crop and degraded land into plantations ameliorated soil degradation conditions, but species selection did not affect carbon and nitrogen stocks. Thus, appropriate forest management options should be applied in order to increase productivity and carbon sink of Chilimo dryafromontane forest and adjacent land use. Temporal monitoring and reporting of carbon stock and concentration is also important to understand the role of Chilimo dryafromonate forest in climate change mitigation and adaptation agendas.

Use of Industrial Wastes in Geotechnical Engineering

The growing population of the world, which leads to increased production and consumption, result in an significent increase in solid wastes. This increase threatens environmental are human heath and harms the economics of countriesTo counteraction these negative outcomes, both the supply of wastes to the country's economy and the less use of natural resources can be considered. In this study, studies focus on the evaluation of industrial wastes in the geotechnical engineering are examined and discussed.

ASSESSMENT OF LONG TERM CLIMATIC VARIABILITY OF UTTARAKHAND

A trend analysis was performed for historic (1901-2002) climatic variables (Rainfall, Maximum Temperature and Minimum Temperature) of Uttarakhand State located in Northern India. In the serially independent climatic variables, Mann-Kendall test (MK test) was applied to the original sample data. However, in the serially correlated series, prewhitening is utilized before employing the MK test. The results of this study indicated a declining trend of rainfall in monsoon season for seven out of thirteen districts of Uttarakhand state. However, an increasing trend was observed in Haridwar and Udhamsingh Nagar districts for summer season rainfall. For maximum and minimum temperature, a few districts exhibited a declining trend in monsoon season whereas many districts exhibited an increasing trend in winter and summer season. Mountain dominated areas (as Uttarakhand state) are specific ecosystems, distinguished by their diversity, sensitivity and intricacy. Thus the variability of rainfall and temperature has a severe and rapid impact on mountainous ecosystems. Nevertheless, mountains have significant impacts on hydrology, which may further threaten populations living in the mountain areas as well as in adjacent, lowland regions.