Theme 4: Conservation, Restoration and Management of Ecosystem

Theme 4: Conservation, restoration and management of ecosystem

T4_Oral_01

Leelavathi D

M.E.S College, Malleswaram, Bangalore-560003

LavandulaangustifoliaL. is a perennial shrub belonging to the family Lamiaceae. It is in great demand for the lavender oil it yields which is used in perfumery, cosmetics, flavouring and pharmaceutical industries. In order to meet the growing demand of lavender oil, in vitro techniques are being used as alternative method for large scale multiplication and ex-situ conservation. In the present investigation, in vitroaxillary bud explants of Lavandulaangustifolia were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with BAP 8.88µM and NAA 2.68µM to induce multiple shoots. Further, these shoots were subcultured on the same medium to produce more number of multiple shoots. Well developed multiple shoots were cultured on MS basal medium fortified with BAP 8.88µM, IBA 4.92µM and NAA 2.68µM for root formation. The hardened regenerated plants were acclimatized - andwere transferred to soil with 90% survival frequency.

The in vitroaxillary buds were used for synthetic seed production using Sodium alginate and Calcium chloride as matrix and complexing agent for encapsulation of axillary buds ofLavandulaangustifolia.

Keywords: Lavandulaangustifolia L., in vitro propagation, hardening and encapsulation.

T4_Oral_02

Anamika Singh and M.H.Fulekar*

ResearchScholar, Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory,

*Corresponding Author- Professor of Environmental Biotechnology

Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Santacruz (E), Mumbai- 400 098, India

Email:

Heavy metal contaminants are commonly found in terrestrial and aquatic environment from various sources. The remediation of heavy metals by phytoremediation is an advanced biological approach for decontamination of metals from the environment. In the present research, the phytotoxicity study of the selected heavy metals, viz. Cadmium, lead and zinc has been done at various concentrations ranging from 0,5,10, 20, 50, 75 and 100 ppm using Medicago sativa as a potential candidate. During the experiment the growth of the plant was observed for a period of 15 days and morphological characteristics- wereassessed in terms of plant growth by determining the length of root and shoot for each metal exposure. The results showed that the higher concentrations, i.e. 75 and 100 ppm was toxic to the plants and found inhibitory for plant growth and survival. Therefore the heavy metal concentrations ranging from 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ppm were taken for phytoremediation experiment in a developed mycorrhizal soil by pot culture technique. The seeds of M. sativa were grown in heavy metals amended mycorrhizal soil for a period of two and half months for phytoremediation. The bio-accumulation of metals was found increased with increasing concentrations of respective metals. Metals studied were found having higher- concentration in roots as compared to the shoots. The study of lipid peroxidation shows the tissue damage with increasing exposure of metals, whereas the antioxidative enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbateperoxidase (APX), guaiacolperoxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) were also increased with increasing period of phytoremediation. The release of enzymes shows the detoxification of metals by plants. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were found decreased with increasing period of phytoremediation. The mechanism of phytoremediation highlights that the heavy metals can be remediated within a range of 5, 10, 20, 50 ppm. The higher concentration would be toxic to the plants- M. sativa to remediate the metals. Phytoremediation of heavy metals in mycorrhizosphere has been found enhanced as compared to non mycorrhizal soil due to symbiotic associations of bacteria, fungi and Actinomycetes in rhizosphere. The present research- phytoremediation of heavy metals in mycorrhizal soil has been proved effective, low-cost and eco-friendly technique to remediate heavy metals from contaminated terrestrial environment. This Mycorhizoremediation technique would be directly applicable for the restoration of ecosystem.

Keywords:Phytoremediation, heavy metals, mycorrhizosphere, antioxidativeenzyme, Medicago sativa

T4_Oral_03

M H Fulekar**, TanviGodambe*, Darshana Nair*, HansaBoricha

*Research Scholar, Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory

**Professor of Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Life Sciences,

University of Mumbai, Santacruz (E), Mumbai-400098, India

Email:

The Petrochemical Industry generates the hazardous waste comprising organic and inorganic compounds. The present treatment methods include physico-chemical and biological measures. Inspite of such methods being used, the waste discharged is found to contain complex organic compounds and heavy metals which cause an impact on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. The treatment strategy needs to be developed for remediation of hazardous compounds persisting in environment.

In the present research, Packed Bed Bioreactor has been developed wherein solid activated charcoal packed for interaction with the pollutant. The microbial culture developed from the animal waste (cow dung) has been characterized using 16SrDNA technology and used as novel source of biomass for remediation of selected organic compound viz. Benzene as case study. Benzene is taken in the first reactor with microbial culture for primary treatment and passed through Packed Bed Bioreactor using a peristaltic pump. Benzene interacted with activated charcoal and remediated under the influence of microbial consortium in the PBR. The remediated compound is then collected in the third reactor and analysed for the biodegradation. Benzene was found biodegraded into its intermediate catechols and converted finally into environmental friendly compounds.

This research has developed a technique to reduce the impact of hazardous compound like Benzene which would be applicable to treat the hazardous wastes to restore the ecosystem.

T4_Oral_04

GitanjaliKanwar

Reserach Personnel

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

Email:

Social Impact Assessment of local communities on wetland. To assess the quality of wetland ecosystem to suggest mitigatory measures if wetland is deteriorating.
Methodology: - Sampling was done at two levels; At village level: Questionnaire survey to know Socio-economic status of people .Resource use pattern -Their attitude towards the conservation of the wetland -atforest level -Transects were laid out to know:- Flora & Fauna.Human Impact Assessment Results:-Communities living around the wetland are socio- economically well.Their dependence on wetland resources is minimal.Major anthropogenic pressure on Kanjli wetland is on the land under wetland reserve, because of the agrarian community around wetland. People are not involved in the management or any conservation effort for wetland but have got positive approach towards wetland conservation or any other conservation related activity.Weed species form the major ground cover along wetland which is a threat to the natural wetland ecosystem. Minimal cases of cutting or lopping of trees by humans were recorded.No migratory bird sighting.Pesticide load is exceeding whereas Lead and Zinc levels have fallen significantly in comparison to previous years.BOD & DO has also fallen down significantly.

T4_Oral_05

B. Hemambika* and V. Rajesh Kannan

Rhizosphere Biology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology,

Bharathidasan University, Tiruchchirappalli – 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India

*E-mail:

In this study, the chromium resistant-plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) of Pseudomonas sp. was isolated from an electroplating industry soil samples at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, that tolerated chromium concentrations up to 500 mg Cr6+/L in Luria-Bertani medium (LB) and their ability for the production of IAA was assessed. IAA production by PGPB was believed to play an important role in plant-bacterial interactions and further, it promotes root growth by directly stimulating the plant cell elongation or cell division and may indirectly promote metal accumulation by increasing the plant biomass in metal contaminated soils. The growth of chromium resistant Pseudomonas sp. in Dworkin and Foster (DF) salts minimal medium supplemented with (NH4)2SO4 to provide N source revealed the intrinsic ability of the strain for plant growth promoting activities. Production of IAA by Pseudomonas sp. was estimated in LB medium amended with tryptophan at definite time intervals. The growth and IAA production increased simultaneously and a maximum IAA production was 105.7 µg/mL at 120 h. Thus, the innate capability of this chromium resistant Pseudomonas sp. for the production of IAA could be exploited as a bacterial inoculum for the improvement of plant growth in metal contaminated soils for the management of environmental problems.

Keywords: PGPB, Chromium, IAA, Tryptophan, Pseudomonas, Plant growth promotion

T4_Oral_06

VishalPatil*, BhumikaVaghela*, NaineshModi and NileshMulia

*Department of Climate Change and Impacts Management,

Gujarat University, Ahmedabad

Department of Botany, M. G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad

Email:

Gujarat is a western state of India which enjoys a tropical climate. The major concentration of forests is found all along the eastern border of the state and the hilly portion of Saurashtra. Gir is the jewel of Saurashtra. Spread over 1412 sq. km., of undulating land with dry deciduous forest, Gir is best known as the last – respite forthe Asiatic lion (Patheraleopersica) in the wild. Gir has a topography made up of succession of rugged ridges, isolated hills, plateaus and valleys. Besides, being the last abode of Asiatic lions, Gir also forms a unique habitat for leopard, rusty spotted cat, pangolin, ruddy mongoose, civets, paradise flycatcher etc. This work deals with the analysis of soil samples collected from different areas of Gir forest. Stratified Random Sampling was employed to collect soil samples from surface as well as 10, 20 and 30 cm depths. The collected samples were analysed for macronutrients, micronutrients,, organic carbon and organic matter. The amount of carbon sequestered was also calculated. Significant variations were seen in organic carbon content among samples collected from different places as well as from different depths. The micronutrients also showed marked variations at different places and depths. The average organic carbon content in % was 0.63 kg/hac. The average pH content of the soil samples was 6.5 to 7.5. The average phosphorus content was less than 1 ppm and average potash content was 15 to 25 ppm.

T4_Poster_07

AnupArjun S M

Dept. of Bio Technology, Shridevi Institute of Engineering & Technology,

Sira road, Tumkur 06, Karnataka, India.

Contact No.: 9742921405 Email Id.:

Today, people are becoming more aware of the importance - ofdrinking water, with that awareness comes the concern about the quality of water they are drinking for water that looks drinkable can contain harmful substances that may cause illness if ingested. Communities get their water from rivers and lakes (surface water), from springs and wells (groundwater) or from surface and ground.These sources of fresh water makes up less than 1% of the total water resources on earth. About 97% of the water on earth is found in the oceans. Most of the rest is frozen in the polar ice caps and in glaciers.

Water can also extend the life of our septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The smaller the amount of water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by communitywide household water conservation.

Now the concept of Conservation gains moreweightage. So we are here to discuss the water conservation techniques - for betterment of human race

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T4_Poster_08

Ashitha Suresh, Seema Raman and DishaDinesh andShubhakara.G

Christ Junior College,Hosur Road, Bangalore- 29

Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals in environments controlled by humans with restricted settings such as wildlife preserves, zoos and other conservation facilities.Sometimes the process is construed to include release of individual organisms to the wild, when there is sufficient natural habitat to support new individuals or when the threat to the species in the wild is lessened.

Simplifying that, it is a process where the animal is brought in and raised under human supervision, taught to fend for itself and released back into the wild to breed and increase its number.

As we can see, captive breeding is more of an emergency tactic than a real solution to correct the mistake we have made in destroying the habitat. In this paper we are exploring the significance of captive breeding, its uses, advantages and disadvantages.

Key words: Captive breeding, Conservation of species

T4_Oral_09

N. NandiniGautam, Kripal Singh, Bajrang Singh

National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, UP, India

The present status of this experiment includes valuable results of a decade of study on ex-situ conservation of tree species. During the climatic and demographic changes we need to protect those species which are not coming in the que of RET (Red data list/Endangered/Threatened) but are most essential to maintain our ecosystem structure and function. They mediate flows of energy which are associated with the diversity of processes which include primary productivity of ecosystems, optimum levels of pollutants, global changes in increase and decrease of CO2 & Oxygen, biogeochemical cycles, soil nutrient richness, erosion control, and spread of pest & diseases. Ex- situ conservation of species provides the flexibility to respond the unforeseen environment changes and consequent impacts on habitat conservation & utilization of wild plant species. The establishment of experimental design is a crucial step because collection of wild species from different forests is quite difficult due to unavailability of seeds, seedlings or vegetative germplasm in altering seasons. The collections consist of 64 tree species from their original habitat. To avoid the prolonged germination process we used the small seedlings of plants and after acclimatization upto certain stage of growth we planted them on barren sodic lands (pH 8.5 to 9.6) in set of 5 / 10 / >10 in randomized blocks. Mortality caused in many species due to high level of sodium salts and failure of adaptation to specific Electrical conductivity and pH conditionswhile regeneration of some species through sexual or asexual reproduction also takes place. The total number of trees is currently 365 in which 3 species showed complete failure for ex-situ conservation. The species with high number of plants representing new germplasm for adaptation to new ecoclimatic conditions. And through the use of such highly sodic lands we can emerge a new horizon for conservation of wild Phytodiversity simultaneously improving soil health.

Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, Tree species,Sodic lands

T4_Poster_10

RESPONSIBLE FISHING IN CHILKA LAGOON FOR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

M.P. Remesan*, P.Pravin and B. Meenakumari**

Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Matsyapuri-P.O, Cochin -29, Kerala

*

**DDG(Fy), Indian Council of Agricultural Research KAB II, Pusa, New Delhi – 110012

“Chilka” is a Rajasthani word which means “shining”.It is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia located in the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts in Orissa. The area of the lagoon varies between 1165 and 906 sq. km during the monsoon and summer, respectively. The rich biodiversity of the lagoon comprises about 2200 flora and fauna which come under 19 groups. There are about 300 species of fish and shellfishes in the lagoon which support the livelihood ofmore than 2,00,000 fisherfolk. Based on its rich biodiversity and socio-economic importance, Chilika lagoon was designated as a Ramsar site in 1981 and it is also included in the list of Wetlands selected for intensive conservation and management by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Looking at the catch statistics of the lagoon from 1985 the maximum production was in 2003-04 (about 14,053t) which reduced to 10,702t in 2008-09. There may be multiple reasons for declining the catch which has to be addressed properly to have a sustainable yield. The original mouth of the lagoon was closed due to littoral shift which would have affected the biodiversity drastically. There are several fixed bag nets and long leader walls of prawn traps near the new mouth which would adversely affect the migration of fishes into the lagoon. Prawn seed collection for aquaculture in the lagoon will affect the capture of fishery. Proper input- output control should be implemented and all other steps suggested to check the habitat degradation should be followed to have sustainable fisheries as well as to conserve the biodiversity of the lagoon. Responsible fishing methods and nets with appropriate mesh sizes to facilitate the escape of juveniles can help in conservation of the biodiversity in the long run.