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Several anti-nutritional substances are found in plant derivatives for example phytate, that make the nutrients and minerals unavailable to fish, hence leading to poor growth performance. Presence of the anti-nutrient factor such as phytate is a chelated compound and need enzyme for its breakdown and availability of nutrients to improve fish growth. This research work was performed to check the improvement of overall performance of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings by the help of phytase addition in Moringa oleifera by- products based diet. Combination of Moringa seed meal and Moringa leaf meal was utilized as test ingredient to formulate seven test feeds, containing graded levels of phytase (0, 500, 650, 800, 950, 1100 and 1250 FTU kg−1). In feeding trial of 70 days, fingerlings were given feed two times in a day at the rate of 4% of wet weight of their bodies and faeces were collected. According to current results, it was found that growth performance parameters i.e. weight gain; 25 g, specific growth rate; 1.67 and feed conversion ratio; 1.10 were improved to maximum at 950 FTU kg−1. Digestibility of nutrients (crude protein; 73%, crude fat; 71% and gross energy; 67%) and minerals absorption was also maximum (Ca; 70%, Zn; 66%, K; 74%, Mn; 66% and P; 71%) at 950 FTU kg−1. Lowest growth efficiency, nutrient digestibility and mineral absorption were observed in fingerlings fed at control diet (0 FTU kg−1). Results of the current study, proved that 950 FTU kg−1 is the most optimum level of phytase to formulate economical and ecofriendly feed for improved growth of C. carpio fingerlings as it decreases the discharge of minerals and nutrients in water bodies.

Human population is increasing exponentially and activities to either fulfil basic life necessities or improve lifestyle of masses result in production of more waste materials. These waste materials have unintentional and negative impacts on life, and the urban habitats being highly populated are more prone to their deleterious effects. However, the approaches towards wastes are contrary as wealthy citizens often consider the wastes to be an environmental issue while many people in developing countries, about 15 million around the globe, consider wastes as an important income source. These people collect, categorize, recycle and sell materials thrown by others. Similarly, many good practices have been employed in various cities of the world with approach of rethinking of waste to become wealth, refuse to become resource and trash to become cash. Rising ecological awareness, limited funds and declining natural resources have urged scientific communities to deal with waste disposal practices. Proper waste disposal includes economical, technical, communal, political and administrative aspects right from household to the entire country. This chapter focuses on various approaches such as minimization, recycling and proper disposal of urban wastes.

Rapid urbanization and industrialization urged scientific communities to address several environmental concerns as the wastes from cities, towns, and industries are poured into the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems without treatment. Aquatic ecosystems are more prone to these environmental hazards as ultimately almost all the pollutants gain entry into the natural water bodies. Although several physical, chemical, and biological methods have been proposed for the bioremediation of aquatic pollutants, all these methods have certain advantages as well as disadvantages. The conventional chemical methods used for the decontamination of wastewaters are either less effective or very expensive. Nowadays, the use of microalgae is being practised to treat the wastewaters safely. The exploited use of microalgae for the remediation of wastewaters is advantageous over other wastewater decontamination techniques due to their high surface to volume ratio, high removal capability toward toxic pollutants, higher biosorption capacity, adaptability to different environments, and cost-effectiveness. This chapter focuses on the sustainable utility of various microalgal species for the remediation of toxic metal ions, cyanides, hydrocarbons, pesticide residues, endocrinal disruptors, inorganic nutrients and reduction of BOD and COD from wastewaters.

The present research was conducted to assess the anthropogenic impacts on avian diversity around the river Chenab, Pakistan. The avian diversity was recorded on different landscapes along the river Chenab, that is, forest, agricultural, rural, and urban habitats. The data on diversity and distribution of various avian species were collected through linear count along with direct count methods viz. personal observations and sound records and indirect count methods viz. presences of carcasses and meeting with local communities. The habitat preferences of birds varied significantly. A decline in avian diversity was observed from forest habitat to urban landscapes. One year of bird surveys compiled a total of 150 species from all habitats along the river Chenab. Computed statistical data show that Shannon's index provides a quantitative report of diversity which was highest at forest habitat (4.261) followed by rural forest habitat (3.746), agri–rural habitat (3.746), agriculture habitat (3.623), WLH (2.723), urban vegetative habitat (3.215), and very least at urban nonvegetative habitat (2.247). It can be concluded from the present study that many of the avian species have specific habitats and also noted that corridors and connections among different landscapes are important for the conservation of avian diversity.