NOPR Collection:

Assessment of ecological quality of Vellar and Uppanar estuaries, southeast coast of India, using Benthos

2014-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessment of ecological quality of Vellar and Uppanar estuaries, southeast coast of India, using Benthos Authors: Khan, S. Ajmal; Manokaran, S.; Lyla, P. S. Abstract: Number of polychaete species identified from Vellar and Uppanar estuaries were 52 and 14 species respectively. Diversity indices were high in Vellar estuary (H’log2-4.264±0.21, d-5.782±0.65, J-0.964±0.008, Lambda'–0.02±0.004 and sPhi+-1906±264.99) and low in Uppanar estuary (H’log2-0.941±0.27, d-1.130±0.42, J-0.418±0.05, Lambda'– 0.70±0.07 and sPhi+ 433±102.74). While the BI (AMBI–1.03±0.19) and M-AMBI (M-AMBI-0.90±0.06) values of Vellar estuary corresponded to the undisturbed nature and high/good estuarine ecological quality respectively, the above values in Uppanar showed the polluted (AMBI–4.47±0.14) and poor/bad status (M-AMBI-0.22±0.04) of estuarine ecological quality. Recently introduced tools such as AMBI & M-AMBI have clearly brought out the impaired health of Uppanar estuary and healthy nature of Vellar estuary. Page(s): 1989-1995

Phytoplankton community in the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal waters.

2014-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Phytoplankton community in the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal waters. Authors: El Din, Nihal G.Shams; El Khair, Ehsan M. Abo; Dorgham, Mohamed M. Abstract: Phytoplankton community was investigated quantitatively at three sectors along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast (Rosetta, Abu-Qir and Eastern Harbor) during winter, spring and summer 2008-2009. Phytoplankton count reported wide temporal and spatial variability between a minimum of 72 units/l and a maximum of 5.77x10⁶ units/l. Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae were the main components. More than 207 phytoplankton species were identified, but a few only demonstrated active contribution to total standing crop, such as the green algae Carteria sp. and marine Chlorella vulgaris, the diatoms Asterionella glacialis, Cylindrotheca closterium, Melosira granulata, Navicula cryptocephala, Pseudo-Nitzschia palea, Pseudo-Nitzschia sigma, Pseudo-Nitzschia delicatissima, Skeletonema costatum, and the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax spp.. Spring was characterized by the lowest plankton density along the whole area, with a minimum of 317units/l off Rosetta Sector, and summer sustained the highest phytoplankton count (2.075 x 10⁶ units/l) also at Rosetta Sector. The species diversity of phytoplankton community was quite high, being the most diversified (117 species) off Rosetta. Shannon index sustained values mostly less than 2, except off Rosetta during summer (2 -2.94 nats). Page(s): 1981-1988

Improved fixing and image interpretation techniques for counting chromosomes in Seagrass Halodule pinifolia (Miki) den Hartog.

2014-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Improved fixing and image interpretation techniques for counting chromosomes in Seagrass Halodule pinifolia (Miki) den Hartog. Authors: Vanitha, K; Dilipan, E; Thangaradjou, T Abstract: Cytogenetics is a pioneer technique used to differentiate the plants at species level including seagrasses. Present study consists an improved technique for staining of chromosomes of seagrass Halodule pinifolia (2n= 44). By modifying and updating old methods, an improved technique for counting chromosomes has been developed. Image interpretation techniques applied in the study in Photoshop CS2 ver.9 allowed to read the chromosomes apparently with high accuracy. Page(s): 1977-1980

Preliminary survey of diseases in the coral reefs of Burmanallah coast, Andaman’s

2014-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Preliminary survey of diseases in the coral reefs of Burmanallah coast, Andaman’s Authors: Ramesh, CH.; Mohanraju, R.; Murthy, K. N.; Karthick, P. Abstract: Present study consists the survey conducted on the several patterns of diseases in corals from Burmanallah coast of the Andaman Islands. It was observed that Porites sp. were found to be highly sensitive to coral diseases, as they were found with yellow spot disease, pink line syndrome, white line syndrome, white plague and black band diseases. Ring line syndrome was observed only in Acropora humilis and Acropora monticulosa, while abnormal growths were observed in both Acropora humilis and Porites sp. Beside these diseases, bleaching was commonly found in Porites sp. probably due to increase of temperature during the summer season and also may be due to change of salinity attributed to heavy rainfall during both the monsoons. Other factors that were found to cause inhibition of coral growth were sediment deposition, algal mat covers and presence of different bioeroders. Page(s): 1972-1976