Search

In fragile transitional freshwater ecosystems, such as wetlands, the increasing anthropogenic and natural pressures, including climate change and industrialisation, have impacted the land use/land cover (LULC). The present study aims to identify the LULC changes occurring in Loktak Lake, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, included in the Montreux Record between 2009 and 2020 using LANDSAT imageries. In order to quantify the LULC, a Maximum Likelihood Classifier was carried out in Arc GIS 10.8.1. A total of six land use classes were classified viz., open water body, athaphum, phumdi, built up, agriculture and barren area. It also attempts to undertake landscape modelling to look at the fragmentation of phumdi class through FRAGSTATS utilising the Number of Patches (NP), Patch Density (PD), Largest Patch Index (LPI) and Cohesion metrics. An overall decline in phumdi, athaphum, agriculture and open water body land uses at the rate of 5.9, 14.54, 110.1 and 1%, respectively, was observed. Meanwhile, built-up and barren land uses showed an overall increase at the rate of 18.31 and 31.25%, respecively. These LULC changes observed have been primarily because of anthropogenic factors, which threaten an already fragile ecosystem. The landscape modelling exercise showed that phumdi is aggregated at the innermost portions of the lake. It also showed that the patches of phumdi were higher in years 2011 and 2020, which may be due to the use of phumdi strips in athaphum (fish farms on the lake). The study indirectly revealed the effectiveness of past management actions by relevant organisations, as remotely sensed information requires ground validation. It also highlighted the absence of baseline data information and emphasised integrating present, past and future LULC modelling for management purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backfilled open cast coal mines are subjected to reclamation and restoration as per the mining and mine closure policies of India. The present paper discusses a case study on restoration of 15 acres land of backfilled open cast mine in the Bharat Coking Company Limited (BCCL) located at Barora, Dhanbad district, India. Through this study an attempt has been made to quantify return of ecosystem services in terms of growth rate and survival rate of native species planted, nutrient replenishment, biodiversity conservation with insect diversity as an indicator. The paper briefs the stepwise methodology used for ecological restoration and results on early success indicators of successful reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally the inland urban freshwater wetland biodiversity is facing threat due to anthropogenic activities. Scientists worldwide understand the complex linkages between ecological impacts due to human induced pollution. Wetland systems are susceptible to changes in quality and quantity of water. The paper will focus on water quality based stressors and indicative changes in biodiversity including resident and wintering avifauna density. The avifauna is an indicator towards wetland and health of its ecosystem services. The present study provides an overview of a tropical inland wetland (Najafgarh Jheel) in Delhi, India which is exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors. The wetland is a proposed bird sanctuary and is facing acute conservation issues due to expanding urbanization and extensive agriculture. We measure the data for number of birds at nine census transect points. The census was conducted once a month for a period of one year (2017), early morning 6 am-9 am. To each census transect we associated eleven points for water quality parameters. The wetland is organically loaded with agricultural runoff and unregulated sewage drains deteriorating quality of water. Therefore, water quality is an immediate local stressor for the resident and wintering birds. The water quality parameters were partially correlated and further modelled with yearly bird density. The generalized linear mixed models depicted that DO, BOD and TDS have higher effect on conglomeration of birds. Further, CCA plot between wintering birds and water quality from two consecutive year data was plotted. The analysis depicts the inter-linkages of wintering birds with specific stressor. The combination of these multiple stressors has synergistic and antagonistic effects that are decisive for management and restoration of a lake. The current hypothesis based on understanding short term freshwater research, implication towards local management policy and baseline for long term comprehensive studies with holistic approaches. The concept of understanding short-term linkages using multivariate data analysis between water quality and bird density is relatively untested in urban tropical wetlands of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess nitrogen is a pollutant and global problem that harms ecosystems and can severely affect human health. Pollutant nitrogen is becoming more widespread and intensifying in the tropics. There is thus a requirement to develop nitrogen biomonitoring for spatial mapping and trend analysis of tropical biodiversity and ecosystems. In temperate and boreal zones, multiple bioindicators for nitrogen pollution have been developed, with lichen epiphytes among the most sensitive and widely applied. However, the state of our current knowledge on bioindicators is geographically biased, with extensive research effort focused on bioindicators in the temperate and boreal zones. The development of lichen bioindicators in the tropics is further weakened by incomplete taxonomic and ecological knowledge. In this study we performed a literature review and meta-analysis, attempting to identify characteristics of lichens that offer transferability of bioindication into tropical regions. This transferability must overcome the different species pools between source information – drawing on extensive research effort in the temperate and boreal zone – and tropical ecosystems. Focussing on ammonia concentration as the nitrogen pollutant, we identify a set of morphological traits and taxonomic relationships that cause lichen epiphytes to be more sensitive, or more resistant to this excess nitrogen. We perform an independent test of our bioindicator scheme and offer recommendations for its application and future research in the tropics. [Display omitted] • Nitrogen pollution is increasing in the tropics. • Tropical biodindicators are limited by taxonomic knowledge and regional research. • Knowledge generated from Europe and North America is transferable. • Traits and taxonomy can be used in bioindication. • There are knowledge gaps for improving tropical bioindicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Involving persons with schizophrenia and their families in designing, implementing and evaluating mental health services is increasingly emphasised. However, there is little information on desired outcomes from the perspectives of these stakeholders from low and middle income countries (LMIC). Aims: To explore and define outcomes desired by persons with schizophrenia and their primary caregivers from their perspectives. Method: In-depth interviews were held with 32 persons with schizophrenia and 38 primary caregivers presenting for care at one rural and one semi-urban site in India. Participants were asked what changes they desired in the lives of persons affected by the illness and benefits they expected from treatment. Data was analysed using thematic and content analysis. Results: Eleven outcomes were desired by both groups: symptom control; employment/education; social functioning; activity; fulfilment of duties and responsibilities; independent functioning; cognitive ability; management without medication; reduced side-effects; self-care; and self-determination. Social functioning, employment/education and activity were the most important outcomes for both groups; symptom control and cognitive ability were more important to persons with schizophrenia while independent functioning and fulfilment of duties were more important to caregivers. Conclusions: Interventions for schizophrenia in India should target both clinical and functional outcomes, addressing the priorities of both affected persons and their caregivers. Their effectiveness needs to be evaluated independently from both perspectives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]