Indian Journal of Biology

 Almost every ecosystem maintains its own environmental insurance system. In order to maintain this system, an ecosystem needs three kinds of diversity: biological, genetic and functional. Biological diversity refers to the richness of species in a particular area; genetic diversity refers a way for a particular species to adapt itself to changing environments while functional diversity equates to the biophysical processes that happen within the area. One of the most important impacts of genetic diversity is that it acts as a buffer against the variability of environmental conditions particularly in the medium and long terms.

Keywords: Biological Diversity; Genetic Diversity; Ecosystem; Conservation; Values; Society.

 Moringa oleifera leaves, seeds, bark, roots, sap, and flowers are widely used in more than 80 countries to relieve mineral and vitamin deficiencies. It supports a healthy cardiovascular system, promote normal blood-glucose levels, neutralize free radicals {thereby reducing malignancy}, provide excellent support of the body’s anti-inflammatory mechanisms, enrich anemic blood and support immune system. It also improves eyesight, mental alertness and bone strength. It is one of the richest plant sources of Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. The vital minerals present in Moringa include Calcium, Copper, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Zinc. It has more than 40 natural anti-oxidants. Moringa is an edible extremely safe plant. It can be easily and cheaply cultivated. Besides, Moringa has a direct impact on agriculture, water, sanitation, biodiversity and environment. Moringa responds to environmental and financial sustainability, realism and results, innovation, biodiversity, education and awareness. A wide variety of polyphenols and phenolic acids as well as flavonoids, glucosinolates, and possibly alkaloids is extracted from its different parts and believed to be responsible for biological activities including antioxidant, tissue protective (liver, kidneys, heart, testes, and lungs), analgesic, antiulcer, antihypertensive, radio protective, and immuno modulatory actions. Standardization of products is an issue before its wide application in human beings.

Keywords: Moringa Oleifera; Parts; Benefits; Nutritional Value; Therapeutic Use; Safety Case.

 The understory crop in an agroforestry system exoerience varied effect of trees besides the modified microenvironment. Under changing climatic scenarios and crunch of narural resources agroforestry is proved boon. The positive interactions at the tree-crop interface are reduction of heat load and proper nutrient balance. For wheat, ingeneral shading caused decrease in yield and yield components due to low photosynthetic leaf area. This paper discusses the Modification of aerial microenvironment in an agroforestry systems.

Keywords: Wheat (Triticum Aetivum L.) ; Crop Growth; Modified Aerial Microenvironment; Agroforestry

 Though rivers are not the great place for bird watch, specially for migratory birds, still the river Jalangi is different from other rivers of West Bengal with respect to avian diversity. The present article deals with the avian diversity and seasonal avifaunal abundance at the Jalangi river within Nadia district (WB) during April 2014 to March 2015, in which more than fourty five species of birds belonging to different families were recorded. Maximum species were sighted during winter season, some birds were found to be migratory, some birds were residential migratory and some other resident. Variation in food availability in different seasons affects on avifaunal diversity in study area and the variation of food availability is controlled from behind by the factors like rate of photosynthesis within river, soil fertility, physicochemical parameters, ion concentrations of river water etc. The avifauna is important for the ecosystem as they play various roles as scavenger, pollinators and predators of insect and pest.

Keywords: Birds; Jalangi; Diversity.

 Amylases (EC 3.2.1.1, 1, 4--D-glucan glucanohydrolase) are one of the most important and oldest industrial enzymes that hydrolyze starch at -1, 4 glycosidic bond in the interior of the starch molecule, and hold the maximum market share of enzyme sales. Amylases are ubiquitously produced by plants, animals and microorganisms, however, microbial sources are the most preferred for large scale production and industrial use. The production of - amylases from microbes depends on the strain, physical (pH, temperature, aeration) and nutritional (carbon, nitrogen, mineral ions) factors. Keeping this in view, the present study aimed to investigate effect of different concentrations (control, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0% w/V) of five carbon sources viz starch, glucose, maltose, fructose and sucrose on growth and enzyme production from B. licheniformis JAR-26. Among the tested carbon sources, maltose proved best carbon source for amylase production and maximum amylase production was recorded at 2% maltose (4.181 U/ ml of medium). At this concentration growth/OD was 1.529 and bacteria could utilize 98.2% of the available sugar in the medium. After maltose, starch was second suitable source for enzyme production and 2% starch showed 3.622 U/ml enzyme production. Glucose and fructose resulted in higher biomass yield (maximum biomass at 2% glucose, OD=1.741) in comparison to other sources but amylase production was very poor (lowest at 4% fructose, 0.710 U/ml). From comparison of the various treatments, it is suggested that for maximum biomass production of B. licheniformis JAR-26, growth medium may be supplemented with 3% glucose whereas to achieve maximum amylase production culture medium may be supplemented with 2% maltose under submerged fermentation.

Keywords: Amylase Production; Submerged Fermentation; Bacillus licheniformis; Carbon Source; Maltose.

Culture of fish involves various processes like preparation and management of pond, liming, removal of weeds and weedivorous fish, nurturing the desirable species in a scientific manner and harvesting the fish. Profitability depends upon proper management of all the operations involved in the fish cultural activities. It also depends on factors like productivity, cost of production, and market price of the product. Minimization of cost and maximization of productivity help to improve the profitability. This paper highlights the production, productivity and profitability of fisheries in and around Burdwan based on the results of a primary survey conducted among the selected fishermen household units (Samudragarh (23°34’N and 88°32’E); Dhatrigram (23°27’N and 88°31’E) and Kalna (23°22’N and 88°34’E).

Keywords: Fish Culture; Production; Profitability Analysis; Burdwan; West Bengal; India.

 Commercial aquaculture is growing worldwide. With fisheries reaching a stagnating phase, India will have to look to aquaculture in different way, in the future to provide fish products that will likely be needed. In view of this, a study on water quality management was done which specifically looked at the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) on fish population growth and increase of body mass. The study was done by using Molly (Poecilia sphenops) in fresh water habitat. In the case study, 120 molly of 0.5 - 1 g. in weight were reared in replicate at 40%-100% DO levels in different aquarium of 10 liter capacity. Every alternate day 5 gm of food was given. The DO was regularly measured by Wrinkler’s method. The subsequent effect of oxygen saturation levels on growth and feed conversion ratios were taken in three, six, nine and twelve months. The results showed that oxygen saturation level had an effect on the reproduction, growth and food conversion ratio. Below 60%, the population growth was comparatively lower. Feed conversion ratio was higher at 60% and above, compared to lower oxygen level. However it is found that at highest DO level the body mass increase is little lower than medium DO level (75.1%). The rate of population increase is highest at DO 88 % but the body mass increase is little lower (91%) in that DO. The conclusion is that oxygen saturation level has a positive correlation with population growth and food conversion to body mass ratios of fish. But at high DO condition the fish probably increase its activity and metabolism.

Keywords: Dissolve Oxygen; Fish; FCR; Molly; Physiology; Respiration

 Brassica occupy third place among the various oilseed species but their productivity, growth and oil production are greatly reduced due to salinity. Amphidiploid Brassica species includes B. napus (AC genome), B. juncea (AB genome) and B. carinata (BC genome) are more tolerant to salinity as they are derived from diploid species which include B. campestris (AA, n=10), B. nigra (BB, n=8) and B. oleracea (CC, n=9). Screening of available local cultivars may facilitate us in identification of varieties suitable for that particular area. Therefore, in the present study different parameters such as growth, electrolyte leakage, K+ /Na+ ratio, chlorophyll, protein, malondialdehyde and proline content were used to study the effects of 200 mM NaCl for 24 h on the seedlings of available local three amphiploid Brassica species i.e., B. juncea L. cv Pusa Bold, B. carinata cv Pusa Gaurav (DLSC 1) and B. napus var Neelam (HPN-3). Correlation amongst the different parameters tested for screening salinity tolerant was also studied. In the present investigation, growth, chlorophyll and protein content of the seedlings decreased sharply in all the species upon salinity treatment. Electrolyte leakage analysis indicated that membrane damage of B. juncea seedlings was least whereas endogenous K+/Na+ ratio was found to be higher. Strong positive correlation between the electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content analysis has been obtained (r=0.9). The response of all the three amphiploid Brassica species under salinity condition differed significantly (p ï‚£ 0.01). Amongst the three amphiploid species B. juncea L. cv Pusa Bold was found to be more tolerant.

Keywords: Abiotic Stress; Brassica; Electrolyte Leakage; Lipid Peroxidation; Proline

 A survey was conducted on biodiversity of fish fauna and their conservation status around Kalna and its adjacent area. Burdwan district, West Bengal, India with an objective to prepare a register of fresh water fishes and assess their conservation status. Regular bi-monthly sampling was conducted from January, 2015 to December, 2016 by the help of fishermen using indigenous fishing methods and by using different types of nets. Fishes were also collected from local fish markets. We have collected 28 fish species belonging to 7 orders, 13 families and 24 genera. Order Cypriniformes was the dominant group with 11 species followed by Perciformes 7 species, Siluriformes with 5 species, Osteoglossiformes with 2 species and Clupeiformes, Beloniformes and Synbranchiformes each with 1 species. Out of 28 species, 20 species are least concern, 4 species are near threatened, 2 are vulnerable and 1 each are under not evaluated and data is deficient category as per IUCN (2013) Red List category. According to CAMP (1998) conservation status, 13 species are at lower risk near threatened, 5 species are under not evaluated, 4 species are vulnerable, 3 at lower risk least concern, 2 species are endangered and 1 species is under exotic category. The maximum species richness (26) was recorded at Dhatrigram and low species richness (22) was recorded at Kana. The highest Shannon value was recorded to be (3.107) at Samdruagarh. The low Shannon value was (2.831) at Kalna.

Keywords: Fish Diversity; CAMP; IUCN Status; Biodiversity Indices; Kalna; West Bengal.