Indian Journal of Biology

 Crop growth simulation model is an efficient tool to predict the growth and yield of a crop. The modelsare good to simulate the effect of various crop management factors to obtain quick results and increase the efficiency of agronomic experiments in climate change conditions. The model has also been used for climate change impact on the soil N losses, like denitrification, volatilization, N2O emission increased. This paper discusses the importance of crop growth simulation models applications and their future projections under changing climatic scenarios. 

Keywords: Volatilization; Agronomic Experiments; Phenological Development; Phenophase.

 Platanista gangetica gangetica, the obligatory freshwater dolphin of Ganga river in the world and is distributed in the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna and Sangu–Karnaphuli River systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The diets include wide range of fish, turtles and birds, those are located around the Ganges river. Dolphins are considered as potential ecological indicator of ecosystem degradation of the river. Due to various anthropogenic interferences like poaching, water pollution etc this animal is at the face of extinction. There is no credible estimate of the range-wide numbers and this subspecies was listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List on 1996. 

Keywords: Gangetic Dolphin; Endangered Species; Bioindicator; Threats.

 Armigeres subalbatus is a day biting nuisance causing mosquito prevalent mostly in the rural area where the sanitation latrine exist. This study deals with the prevalence of larvae in different biotopes to get a comprehensive knowledge about its breeding spot with a view to control this menace. One year longitudinal survey indicate that in the study area sanitary chambers are the most favourite breeding sites of Armigeres subalbatus when statistical comparison is made between sanitary chamber and open drains connected with sanitary chamber. Sometimes larvae are found in domestic collection of foul water. In coconut shells and tree holes on rare occasions Armigeres subalbatus larvae are found. In the sanitary chambers Psychoda larvae are found to be associated with the larvae of Armigeres subalbatus. In the connecting drains its associates are the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and the larvae of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are found to be associated with the larvae of Armigeres subalbatus in coconut shells. 

Keywords: Armigeres Subalbatus; Larval Breeding Spot; Psychoda; Aedes Aegypti; Culex Quinquefasciatus; Sanitary Chamber; Open Drain.

 Trees contribute significantly to the aesthetic beauty of cities, thereby helping to maintain the
psychological health of the inhabitants. The most explosive urban growth is expected in India. In urban environments human alter these soil-forming factors by impacts associated with urban infrastructure. Gardens also improve localized air-cooling, help mitigate hooding and provide a harem for wildlife. Less favourable aspects include contribution of gardens and gardening to green house gas emission, misuse of fertilizers and pesticides and introduction of alien plant species Effective environmental planning, including urban greening, can assist greatly in improving the quality of the urban environment and the livelihoods of the people who live in urban areas. As a result of impacts associated with urban infrastructure, arborists and urban landscape managers perform remedial management actions to make urban soils more suitable plant-growing environments, remedial soil management actions include irrigation, aeration, radial trenching, mulching, and fertilization, all of which further alter the physical, chemical and biological properties and thus the nitrogen status of urban soils. In the present study Fresh weight/Dry weight percentage of Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek is calculated, grown in the selected tree canopy soil from college campus were analysed and the result were compared with the standard soil profile. 

Keywords: Tree Canopy Soil; Green Gram; Fresh Weight; Dry Weight; Percentage.

 Wetland ecosystems are one of the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world providing the key habitat environments for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. In recent times the wetlands are facing tremendous anthropogenic pressure, which can greatly influence the population structure. Sustainability of wetland ecosystem is necessary for various important functions such as food storage, water quality continuation and providing habitat for different species of flora and fauna. An inventory of wetlands of any region is a pre-requisite for their conservation and management. Ahiran Lake, a wetland of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, (approximately 400 hectare, 24° 26’ N to 24° 30’ S and 87° 58’ E to 88° 02’ W) serves as a habitat of large populations of resident and migrant water birds, fish, amphibian, reptiles and mammals. But information about the vertebrate diversity, composition and structure of the community in this wetland is scarce. In the present investigation documentation and assessment of the vertebrate diversity of Ahiran lake is conducted. Our study revealed 40 species of fishes, 56 species of birds, 6 species of amphibian, 8 species of reptiles, 2 species of mammals are frequently found at Ahiran wetland. The baseline documentation will provide useful data and new insights to establish and improve management systems for sustainable development of wetlands. 

Keywords: Vertebrate; Biodiversity; Ahiran Lake; Murshidabad; Wetland.

 Arsenic contamination in groundwater in the Ganga- Brahmaputra basin in India and Padma-Meghna basin in Bangladesh and its consequences to the human health have been reported as one of the world’s biggest natural groundwater calamities to the mankind. In India, seven states namely- West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Manipur and some parts in Chhattisgarh state have so far been reported affected by Arsenic contamination in groundwater above the permissible limit of 10 g/L. People in these affected states have chronically been exposed to drinking Arsenic contaminated hand tube-wells water. With every new survey, more Arsenic affected villages and people suffering from Arsenic related diseases are being reported, and the issues are getting complicated by a number of unknown factors. Arsenic is said to be absent in the surface water like rivers, lakes, ponds etc. A recent survey in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India reveals that arsenic contamination is also available in Ganga water and other surface water bodies. In river Ganga, at upper Murshibad region it is 0.0006 to 0.0013 mg/L, in its lower part the amount varies from 0.0008 to 0.0182 mg/L. The surface water bodies are also contaminated in varying degree (0.0014 to 0.0188 mg/L). The water supplies by the Berhampore municipality also contain 0.001 to 0.0444 mg/L. The probable source of contamination is the ground water. Huge amount of ground water is taken out by pumps for household purposes, this water is drained in the river without any treatment. In a study, it is found that the sewage falling in Ganga contain 0.0010 to 0.0444 mg/L arsenic. When arsenic is found in the surface water, it will definitely enter the food chain through plants and animals. The biological magnification poses greater threat to human being. 

Keywords: Arsenic; Ganga; Murshidabad; Surface Water; Food Chain.

 In this study the impact of the urban development on plant and wetland dependent bird population is compared between the two arms of the lake exposed to similar types of climatic and edaphic conditions but different anthropogenic pressure. Disturbances, specially that caused by human recreational activities, is a threat to water-birds, particularly since many recreational activities may be increasing in intensity and distribution. Wetlands plants provide important bird habitats and birds use them for breeding, nesting, and rearing young. Both wetland plants and water-birds are under intense pressure from human activities such as land claim, habitat destruction, pollution, hunting and recreation. As the wetland habitats are drained or altered, the ability of these areas to sustain bird populations decreases. The present investigation is a comparative study of the change in aquatic plant pattern and consequent displacement of the bird population vis-à-vis urban development on the two arms of an ox-bow lake Motijheel (24° 9’ 42" N, 88° 16’ 33" E) of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India. Along one arm of the ox-bow lake there is rapid urbanization whereas along the other arm there is little human activity. Total 67 bird species were available along one arm of the ox-bow lake where there is less anthropogenic pressure. However only 31 bird species were found along the other arm of the lake where there is urban development. 32 angiosperms were found to be associated with the water birds but many of them were not found in equal proportion along the two arms of the Motijheel Lake. 

Keywords: Aquatic Plants; Wetland-Dependent Bird Populations; Urban Development; Ox-Bow Lake .

 Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Daedaleopsis flavida, the two white rot fungal strains were considered very useful in the bleaching of unbleached kraft pulp. The reduction of kappa number and improvement of brightness of kraft pulp was evaluated during the solid state and submerged fermentation. P. cinnabarinus responsible for reduction of kappa number from 10.0 (10 days) to 8.3 (15 days) and 7.4 (30 days) during solid stated fermentation (SSF) while the brightness of the pulp which was initially 34% improved up to 58% in 30 days of incubation. The viscosity values were primarily 30.5 was reduced to 28.4 in 15 days and 27.1 in 30 days of incubations. The laccase enzyme of P. cinnabarinus caused for improvement of brightness from 33-55% and reduction of kappa number 10.2 to 7.3 and viscosity 28.4 to 25.3. The laccase of D. flavida was responsible for increase in brightness from 35-59% while reduction of kappa number 10.2 to 6.8 and viscosity 28.4 to 24.5. The influence of Dupont showed the reduction in kappa number from 10.8 to 0.98 and the hemicelluloses content was reduced from 42.7 to 19.8 in the last concentration (30g/100 Kg of pulp). With novozyme the lignin content was reduced from 0.130 to 0.085% in the 25g/100 Kg concentration. The kappa number was 14.4 in control reduced to 12.2 in the last concentration. The viscosity was reduced from 15.8 to 10.2 in final concentration after 60 minutes of incubation time. The energy and wood costs were drastically reduced in biological procedures. 

Keywords: Biobleaching; Unbleached Kraft Pulp; White Rot Fungi; Kappa Number; Viscosity; Pycnoporus cinnabarinus; Daedaleopsis flavida.

 Synthesis of green silver nanoparticle is carried out by many scientists. Most of them use extracts of plant or microb. In the present research unlike others no extract is used. Rather, seed exudates of Vigna radiata secreted during germination is used for synthesizing colloidal silver nanoparticle. The siver anoparticled were characterized using UV-Vis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All these characterization suggested formation of silver nanoparticle comparable with chemical synthesis using sodium borohydrate as reducer.

Keywords: Silver Nanoparticle; Vigna Radiata; Seed; Exudate; Green Synthesis.

 The paper deals an evaluation of repellent effect of neem seed oil formulated in a vanishing type cream base against Anopheles gambiae mosquito under laboratory conditions using human volunteers. The seed oil was extracted and then prepared in five different concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% w/ w respectively in a vanishing cream base. A commercially available repellent Deet was used as control. The result shows that concentrations 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% w/w and Deet (control) all repelled nightbiting Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes at three consecutive 10mins interval for every 5-min exposure time. The duration of protection of various concentrations of neem seed oil cream and control (Deet) was of the order 10.0%> Deet> 7.5%> 2.5%. The present study demonstrates potential of neem seed oil cream as mosquito repellent particularly at higher concentrations of 7.5 and 10.0% w/w respectively. This finding may lead to new and more effective strategies for protection from and control of mosquitoes. 

Keywords: Neem; Mosquitoes; Human; Concentrations. 

 The ichthyofauna in relation to water quality was studied on monthly basis from March 2014 to
February 2015, in the Damodar River, Burdwan district, West Bengal. The result of present investigation reveals the occurrence of 35 species of fishes belonging to 6 Order, 15 families and 23 genera were recorded. Among the collected species Order Cyprinidontiforms constituting 41%, Order Perciformes constituting 37%, Order Siluriformes constituting 16%, of the total fish species. The highest richness was found in sampling site- 1– Krisak Setu. The maximum species richness (33) was recorded in site- 1 and low species richness (27) was recorded in site-2. The highest Shannon value was recorded to be (3.29) in site- 2. The low Shannon value was (2.68) in site- 3. Water parameters such as temperature, pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, hardness, free CO2, salinity, total inorganic nitrogen, and phosphate were recorded and found suitable for fish production. Conductivity, transparency, and high chloride level are minor limiting factor that may needs rectification for improved fisheries management. 

Keywords: Fish Diversity; Water Parameters; Biodiversity Indices; Damodar River; Burdwan; West Bengal.

 Green leafy vegetables are important protective foods and highly beneficial for the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. Green leafy vegetables are valuable in maintaining alkaline reserve in the body and are valued mainly for their high vitamin, dietary fibre and mineral contents. Dry leaf extract of Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br. ex DC. was evaluated for biochemical compositions like total carbohydrate, starch, proteins, aminoacids, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2. The cooking qualities were also analyzed for total carbohydrate, starch and proteins at different intervals of time. The biochemical compositions obtained suggest that the leaves, as a cheap source and can be incorporated into human diet to meet the recommended daily allowances.  

Keywords: Biochemical; Mineral; Green Leaf.