Background
Mangroves are important tropical carbon sinks, and their role in mitigating climate change is well documented across the globe. However, the ecosystem carbon stocks in the mangroves of ...India have not been studied comprehensively. Data from this region is very limited for providing sufficient insights and authentic evaluation of carbon stocks on a regional scale. In this study, we evaluated the ecosystem carbon stock and its spatial variation in mangroves of Kerala, southwest coast of India.
Results
The mean biomass stored in mangrove vegetation of Kerala is 117.11 ± 1.02 t/ha (ABG= 80.22 ± 0.80, BGB =36.89 ± 0.23 t/ha). Six mangrove species were found distributed in the study area. Among the different species,
Avicennia marina
had the highest biomass (162.18 t/ha) and least biomass was observed in
Sonneratia alba
(0.61 t/ha). The mean ecosystem carbon stock of mangrove systems in Kerala was estimated to be 139.82 t/ha, equivalent to 513.13 t CO
2
e/ha with the vegetation and soil storing 58.56 t C/ha and 81.26 t C/ha respectively.
Conclusion
The present study reveals that Kerala mangroves store sizable volume of carbon and therefore need to be preserved and managed sustainably, to retain along with the increase in carbon storage. This features the need of broadening mangrove cover as well as restoring deteriorated land in the past 50 years. Although mangrove forests in this region are protected by the Kerala Forest Department, they have been frequently facing illegal encroachment, prawn cultivation, and coastal erosion.
Palms are integral structural and functional components of tropical forest ecosystems, and are one of the most economically important plant families. This monocotyledon lineage exhibits a pantropical ...distribution with approx. 2600 species. Palm genetic diversity is severely threatened by habitat degradation, fragmentation, extensive resource extraction, and the loss of mutualistic species. This genetic erosion could considerably reduce the adaptation potential and persistence of taxa under climate change, which could pervasively impact the functioning of tropical forest ecosystems. In this review, with the insight of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which emphasizes conservation and monitoring of genetic diversity, we summarize the impacts of anthropogenic interventions on palm populations, past decades of research on conservation genetics, and propose a future course of action using genomic and epigenomic approaches to conserve palm genetic resources in the context of climate change. Anthropogenic interventions in natural habitats have considerably reduced viable populations and altered the genetic characteristics of palm populations. Populations of many species are fragmented with disturbed mating patterns owing to the loss of reproductively active individuals and dispersal agents. Furthermore, climate change is predicted to have an adverse impact on current palm distribution, and assisted migration to suitable climatic niches is recommended. In this context, the integration of phenotypic, genetic, epigenetic, and genomic approaches in congruence with bioclimatic variables can enhance the adaptive potential and climatic resilience to implement effective conservation strategies in palms.
Korthalsia laciniosa (Griff.) Mart. is a climbing rattan used as a source of durable and flexible cane. In the present study, the draft genome of K. laciniosa was sequenced, de novo assembled and ...annotated. Genome-wide identification of MADS-Box transcription factors revealed loss of Mβ, and Mγ genes belonging to Type I subclass in the rattan lineage. Mining of the genome revealed presence of 13 families of lignin biosynthetic pathway genes and expression profiling of nine major genes documented relatively lower level of expression in cirrus when compared to leaflet and petiole. The chloroplast genome was re-constructed and analysis revealed the phylogenetic relatedness of this genus to Eugeissona, in contrast with its present taxonomic position. The genomic resource generated in the present study will accelerate population structure analysis, genetic resource conservation, phylogenomics and facilitate understanding the unique developmental processes like gender expression at molecular level.
•Draft genome of Korthalsia laciniosa was assembled and annotated.•Phylogenetic analysis revealed relatedness of Korthalsia and Eugeissona.•Divergence time of Korthalsia was estimated at 57.86 Mya in Palaeocene.•Loss of Mβ, and Mγ belonging to Type I MADS-Box genes documented in rattan-specific lineage.•Down-regulation of lignin biosynthetic pathway genes in cirrus documented.
ABSTRACT AstroSat is a multi-wavelength satellite launched on 2015 September 28. The CZT Imager of AstroSat on its very first day of operation detected a long duration gamma-ray burst (GRB), namely ...GRB 151006A. Using the off-axis imaging and spectral response of the instrument, we demonstrate that the CZT Imager can localize this GRB correctly to about a few degrees, and it can provide, in conjunction with Swift, spectral parameters similar to those obtained from Fermi/GBM. Hence, the CZT Imager would be a useful addition to the currently operating GRB instruments (Swift and Fermi). Specifically, we argue that the CZT Imager will be most useful for the short hard GRBs by providing localization for those detected by Fermi and spectral information for those detected only by Swift. We also provide preliminary results on a new exciting capability of this instrument: the CZT Imager is able to identify Compton scattered events thereby providing polarization information for bright GRBs. GRB 151006A, in spite of being relatively faint, shows hints of a polarization signal at 100-300 keV (though at a low significance level). We point out that the CZT Imager should provide significant time resolved polarization measurements for GRBs that have fluence three times higher than that of GRB 151006A. We estimate that the number of such bright GRBs detectable by the CZT Imager is five to six per year. The CZT Imager can also act as a good hard X-ray monitoring device for possible electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events.
Ochlandra
Thwaites, an economically exploited bamboo genus of the Western Ghats of India is severely affected by unsustainable extraction, natural habitat destruction and endangerment of species ...resources. This taxonomically challenging genus consists of a genetic mixture of 10 related polyploid species that are difficult to define and classify using traditional morphology. The present study investigated the probability of DNA barcoding using seven standard barcode regions recommended by CBOL as a supplementary tool to define true species boundaries. Distance (MEGA v.6.0) and sequence similarity (TaxonDNA) based approaches highlighted the discriminatory power of
psb
A
–trn
H intergenic spacer barcode region, but did not support true species entities. Neighbour-joining and Bayesian inference trees supported the existence of morphospecies complex in seven species of the genus owing to weak reproductive barriers among naturally coexisting species. Morphological affinities existing within genus might have stemmed from natural interspecific hybridization events and consequent reticulate evolution in morphospecies complex of genus
Ochlandra
.
Hard X-ray polarimetry with Astrosat-CZTI Vadawale, S. V.; Chattopadhyay, T.; Rao, A. R. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
06/2015, Letnik:
578
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
X-ray polarimetry is largely an unexplored area of an otherwise mature field of X-ray astronomy. Except for a few early attempts during the 1970s, no dedicated X-ray polarimeter has been flown during ...the past four decades. On the other hand, the scientific value of X-ray polarization measurement has been well known for a long time, and there has been significant technical progress in developing sensitive X-ray polarimeters in recent years. But there are no approved dedicated X-ray polarimetric experiments to be flown in the near future, so it is important to explore the polarimetric capabilities of other existing or planned instruments and examine whether they can provide significant astrophysical polarization measurements. In this paper, we present experimental results to show that the CZTI instrument onboard the forthcoming Indian astronomy mission, Astrosat, will be able to provide sensitive measurements of X-ray polarization in the energy range of 100−300 keV. CZTI will be able to constrain any intrinsic polarization greater than ~40% for bright X-ray sources (>500 mCrab) within a short exposure of ~100 ks with a 3-sigma confidence level. We show that this seemingly “modest” sensitivity can play a very significant role in addressing long pending questions, such as the contribution of relativistic jets to hard X-rays in black hole binaries and X-ray emission mechanism and geometry in X-ray pulsars.
The aim of the present study is to develop and demonstrate the correlation between in vitro and in vivo Plasma Protein Binding (PPB) using the ultracentrifugation method for its validation by using ...marketed compounds like atenolol, theophylline and phenytoin. In this study, in vitro PPB is carried out using ultracentrifugation, by spiking the selected marketed compounds at concentrations of 5 and 15 μM in plasma. In an in vivo study, rats (n = 3) were given a single oral dose (10 mg kg(-1)) and post-dose samples were subjected to ultracentrifugation to obtain the protein-free fraction. A rapid and highly sensitive method was developed and validated for determining the free fraction of marketed compounds in rat plasma using protein precipitation and analysis using an ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometer system (UPLC-MS/MS). The in vitro free fraction (fup) values were 0.93 ± 0.07 for atenolol, 0.31 ± 0.03 for theophylline and 0.09 ± 0.02 for phenytoin which correlated well with the corresponding in vivo values of 0.91 ± 0.03 for atenolol, 0.25 ± 0.02 for theophylline and 0.09 ± 0.01 for phenytoin with a coefficient of variation less than 11.06%, 11.45% and 13.67%, respectively. Therefore the validated high-throughput in vitro PPB study is expected to have a powerful impact on reducing the cost as well as time in the drug discovery process.
Frugivory and seed dispersal of Elaeocarpus munronii (Wight) Mast. were studied in the shola forest of Eravikulam National Park. The entire day was divided into four-time intervals: morning ...(07.00–10.00), midday (10.00–01.00), afternoon (01.00–04.00), and evening (04.00–07.00) for data collection. Eleven bird and animal species from 10 families feed on the ripened fruits of this endemic tree. The frugivores are Nilgiri wood pigeon (Columba elphinstonii), large-billed crow (Corvus macororhynchos), small green barbet (Megalaima viridis), red vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus), Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johni), lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), brown palm civet (Paradoxurus jerdonii), Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), grizzled Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura), and Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica). Lion-tailed macaques, Indian crested porcupines, Indian giant squirrels, and grizzled Indian giant squirrels were the seed predators. Diurnal animals had the most visits during midday (10.00 am-1.00 pm), while nocturnal animals had the most visits during late evening (7.00 pm-10.00 pm). Nilgiri langurs had the highest predation intensity (92.93%), and brown palm civets left the most intact seeds (76.34%). Frugivore visits were evenly distributed across various individual trees, highlighting the importance of E. munronii trees as a food source for many species.
Rattans, the spiny climbing palms of Arecaceae (Palmae) family exhibit high endemism to the biodiversity hot spots in India. Of the five rattan genera,
Calamus
is the only genus found in peninsular ...India with 15 of 21 species, endemic to the Western Ghats. The extensive utilization of rattans owing to their strength, durability and huge demand has resulted in depletion of their natural resources. Of the 15 endemic species,
C. nagbettai
is the most affected species on account of endemism, low population size and restricted distribution with fragmented populations. The present study revealed high amount of genetic diversity in the surviving scattered populations of the species using microsatellite markers. High gene flow (
N
m
= 1.498) observed across the populations resulted in low genetic differentiation (14%). A clear genetic admixture could be seen in Kerala as well as one of the Karnataka’s populations while the remaining two populations were genetically distinct. UPGMA, PCoA and STRUCTURE analyses showed significantly different genetic composition in Kerala population compared to other populations. Kerala and Karnataka populations of
C. nagbettai
were also unique in their genetic structure and allelic composition. Therefore, effective management and conservation strategies have to be implemented to preserve the rare alleles with adaptive potential to protect this economically valuable
Calamus
species from endangerment. Overexploitation, low seed set and poor regeneration, as well as habitat fragmentation can further threaten the survival of this endemic, narrowly distributed dioecious rattan species in the Western Ghats region.
Fruits are the nature’s gift to mankind, they are not only delicious and refreshing, but also nutritionally rich and supplementing the daily diet of the people. This paper reviews the ethnobotanical ...knowledge on wild edible fruits traditionally used by the tribal and rural peoples of the Western Ghats, India. There are 237 wild fruiting plants belonging to 136 genera, comes under 65 families used by tribal community for edible purpose, which includes 37 endemic and 11 red listed plants. Among 237 species majority were trees (107)
,
followed by shrubs (75), climbers (42) and herbs (13). The highest numbers of species in the families are Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Moraceae, Rutaceae etc. The wild edible plants are integral part of food sources of the tribals and rural peoples and are considered as the oldest food stuff of peoples and provide primary dietary constituents of their daily life. Moreover, it plays a vital role in combating food security also. Most of the wild edible plants have additional usages, some of them have medicinal properties while some others having anti-nutritional factors and are poisonous too. The uses of wild edibles are now mainly confined to tribal or allied community. Scientific research on suitable species is suggested to identify the competent species to replace/improve/substitute the common cultivated species in chemical constitutent, nutritional value and also to explore the possibilities of wild edible plants to provide food security for the growing population.
PDF
