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Objectives: Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 virus dynamics in the human body and its correlation with disease severity and biomarkers have not been elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the viral load in the blood sample of COVID-19 patients and viral load association with disease severity and progression.Methods: Blood samples from COVID-19 positive inpatients were collected sequentially, at admission, and during hospitalization. Depending on the clinical presentation, the patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe categories. The blood samples were subjected to SARS-CoV-2 Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); positive samples were then tested for viral load using digital drop RT-PCR. Patients were followed up until they were discharged.Results: Of 83 enrolled patients, 15 (18.1%) were mild, 45 (54%) were moderate, and 23 (27.7%) had severe symptoms. The blood PCR in 21 patients was positive (rate was 25.3); one was mild, four moderate, and 16 severe on the day of admission. The mean cycle threshold (CT) of RNAemia in these 21 patients was 24.7+3.1. The viral load was significantly higher in patients with severe symptoms than others. Serum ferritin, D-dimer, and plasma fibrinogen were found raised along with lymphopenia in all patients. Viremia was found persistently detectable (or even rising) in patients in the severe category and associated with a fatal outcome.Conclusion: A prolonged elevation of D-dimer, serum ferritin, and plasma fibrinogen together with lymphopenia lead to a greater risk of mortality and morbidity. Quantitative estimation of virus in blood has a clinical significance which may help in prognostication and management of patients of COVID-19. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 11(3):116-123.

Chromosomes are the quintessence of biological dynamism. As carrier of genes, they are the controllers of varied biological activities – the basis of life. Their precise movement during cell-division and their amazing power of replication are a few instances of extreme vitality. In some ways, however, we can get an even more vivid picture of liveliness of chromosomes if we examine them beyond the designated phases of mitosis and meiosis or at times, when they do not go after the preset norms. One of such inconsistencies is change in structural arrangement of chromosomes which either brings about speciation or, by conferring heterozygote vigor, sustains polymorphism in populations. In order to work out the chromosomal make-up of certain species of birds and to ascertain the presence of true variability, if any, in natural breeding populations, five species of birds viz. Turnix suscicator, Ceryl rudis, Merops orientalis, Sturnus contra and Treron phoenicoptera were selected for the current investigation. The harvesting of chromosomes was done, in vivo, from the bone-marrow cells as per Garg [1, 2, 3]; Garg & Garg [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] and Garg et. al. [15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26]. The size distinction between the macro - and micro - chromosomes was sharp in all species, except Ceryl rudis and Merops orientalis wherein, owing to continuing drop in the size of autosomes, it became difficult to draw a line of demarcation. Finally, we relied on the criterion of De Boer (1976) to separate out the macrochromosomes from microchromosomes. In all species, sex determination was found to be ZZ-ZW type - the female being heterogametic. Nonetheless, in T. suscicator, it was unfeasible to individualize Z & W, from a cluster of large autosomes, as both of them (sex chromosomes as well as autosomes) had similar morphology. Four out of five species, worked out during the present investigation, had 82 number of chromosomes (n = 41) and all of them were monomorphic. Conversely, T. phoenicoptera alone had nine diverse karyological combinations (table-9) because of two separate pericentric inversions - one in chromosome - 1 and another in chromosome - 2. Presence of such an extensive polymorphism in T. phoenicoptera should aptly be described as an incidence of multiple chromosomal heteromorphism.

The present communication covers certain cytological aspects of a Coraciiform bird, Merops orientalis. Chromosome preparations were obtained from bone-marrow cells, following the air-drying technique of Garg [1, 2, 3]; Garg & Garg [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14] and Garg et. al. [15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26]. Based on the criterion of arm ratio/centromeric index, chromosomes were classified according to the scheme proposed by Levan et al. (1964). The bone-marrow cells of five male and three female specimens yielded thirty two well spread metaphase plates for cytological investigation. The diploid count varied between 80 and 85 with the most prominent peak at 82. There were 17 pairs of macrochromosomes, divisible into three groups : metacentric {only Z}, sub-telocentric {8 pairs} and telocentric {8 pairs}. Z was found to be the largest chromosome (LR = 9.54%), whereas W was a sub-metacentric chromosome, measuring 3.99%. The remaining 24 pairs, most of them were either telocentric or acrocentric, together constituted 28.98% of Total Chromosomal Length.

Bhopal waters are under severe environmental stress owing to agricultural run-offs, human encroachments, siltation and growth of aquatic weeds.In order to maintain Upper Lake as healthy water resource for drinking purposes, Lower Lake as recreational ground for boating, water sports, tourism and surface transport and Mansarovar Reservoir (Shahpura Lake) as a pisciculture station, certain remedial measures have been formulated to restore the spoilt lakes and check the water sheds from getting eutrophicated further.

Three lentic water resources of Bhopal viz. Upper lake, Lower lake and Shahpura lake were studied for their limnochemical and biological characteristics. By adding different concentrations of urea, in microcosms developed from these reservoirs, an effort has been made to evaluate the effect of nitrogen on hydrobiological parameters. On treatment with urea, microcosmal waters exhibited erratic fluctuations in the amount of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (21.0-33.6 mg/l, UL; 33.6-49.4 mg/l, SL). Concentration of nitrate was more in treated microcosms than the controlled ones. Bioassay response depicted numeric reduction in total phytoplankton with the passage of time. Addition of urea resulted in two antithetic reactions-inhibition of ground water dominant chlorophytes and stimulation of cyanophytes.

Influence of phosphorus on composition, abundance and taxonomic diversity of phytoplankton of Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake has been investigated under field as well as microcosmal conditions. Consequent upon enrichment the lake waters indicated consistent loss of filamentous green algae with corresponding increase in the population of cyanophytes.

Microcosmal studies were conducted on three central Indian reservoirs viz Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake Bhopal by assaying their limnochemical and hydrobiological parameters. The effects of nutrients on algae as conjoint and cumulative of various physico-chemical and biotic factors have been envisaged.

The study was carried out on an Indian wild bird, the northern green barbet, Megalaima zeylanica caniceps (Franklin) Piciformes : Aves. In natural population of this bird, three distinct karyotypes exist due to an unequal translocation between the largest macrochromosome AB and one of the microchromosome CD, giving rise to two new chromosome AC and BD.

Microcosmal studies were conducted for three major water resources of Bhopal viz. Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake. The experiments were conducted for 30 days and at one stretch, only one nutrient was taken. Such experiments were performed in five replicates, one for each nutrient viz calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. In all fifteen sets, five for each lake, with a total of sixty model ecosystems were developed for a total spell of 15 months.The results so obtained were extrapolated at field level to set the limits.

The use of genetically designed organisms has sparked significant controversy in many areas. Some groups or individuals see the generation and use of GMO as intolerable meddling with biological states or processes that have naturally evolved over long periods of time, while others are concerned about the limitations of modern science to fully comprehend all of the potential negative ramifications of genetic manipulation. Labeling legislation has been introduced and rejected several times since 1996 on the grounds of ‘restraint of trade’ due to the cost of labeling. The controversy erupted again in 2009 when Graincorp, the U.S. largest grain handler, announced it would mix GM Canola with its unmodified grain. Traditional growers, who largely rely on GM-free markets, had been told that they would have to pay huge money to get endorsement on their products as GM free. Outside the U.S., the entire European Union and other countries such as Australia, China, Japan, and Russia require GMO labeling. In Australia, multiple surveys have shown that while 45% of the public accept GM foods, some 93% demand all genetically modified foods be labeled as such. In 2007, a survey by the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand depicted that 27% of Australians looked at the label to see if it contained GM material. There are other countries that make GMO labeling voluntary and many other countries have plans to introduce GMO labeling. In May 2012, the U.S. State of California voted on the labeling of genetically modified food. They opined that consumers have a right to know the content of their food and have a choice to avoid it if they do not wish to eat. On the other hand, advocates such as Du Pont, Monsanto and the Council for Biotechnology Information, which represents agribusiness, call it an attempt to scare consumers and make them feel that the food is unsafe. Though Biotechnology labeling is not enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), yet it has been adopted by over 40 countries. The present report summarizes an all-inclusive account of the virtues of labeling GMO products.

There has been a constant surge of interest on impact of Genetically Modified Food (GM) on humans, so as to compare its harmful effects with a diet without GM foods. Governments, all over the world, are attempting to assess the risks associated with the release of genetically modified organisms and the marketing of genetically modified food [1-5]. Though there is now broad scientific consensus that GE crops on the market are safe enough to eat, yet some scientists and advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund have concerns that GM food may not be safe enough and that contemporary testing regimes are not adequate to ensure sufficient safety. There is also a widespread sense that social and technological change is speeding up and people feel powerless to affect this change. The current communiqué presents a construal of scientific confab on this international concern. According to a study carried out in 2003, only 2% of Britons were said to be "happy to eat GM foods", and more than half of Britons were against GM foods being available to the public. However, opposition to GMO in Europe seems to have declined over the decade. Now, approximately half of European consumers have accepted gene technology, particularly when benefits for consumers and for the environment could be linked to GMO products. 80% of respondents seem unafraid of health risks from GMO products and most European consumers did not keep themselves away from GMO products while shopping. US National Academies of Sciences (2004) stated, “To date, no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population.” The Pew survey (2005) also showed that despite continuing concerns about GM foods, American consumers do not support banning new uses of the technology, but rather seek an active role from regulators to ensure that new products are safe. Similarly, The Royal Society of Medicine (2008) noted that GM foods have been eaten by millions of people worldwide for over 15 years, with no reports of ill effects. The 2010 "Eurobarometer" survey found that "cisgenics, GM crops produced by adding only genes from the same species or from plants that are crossable by conventional breeding, evoke a different reaction than those with genes from more distant species. In 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) released a scientific opinion addressing the safety assessment of plants developed through cisgenesis and intragenesis in response to a request from the European Commission. It also opined, “While the frequency of unintended changes may differ between breeding techniques and their occurrence cannot be predicted and needs to be assessed case by case, similar hazards can be associated with cisgenic and conventionally bred plants, while novel hazards can be associated with intragenic and transgenic plants.” That means, cisgenic approaches should be considered similar in risk to conventional breeding approaches, each of which is less risky than transgenic approaches. These appraisals and many more indicate a leeway for GMO as future food of human beings.

The present memoir deals with the upshot of nutrient enrichment on inland waters. Small level functional ecosystems were developed in laboratory by inoculating quantum sufficit of water, soil and planktonic flora. Of some hundred nutrients known to cause eutrophication, five (Ca, Mg, K, N, P) were selected for present study. Different dosages of these nutrients were administered separately and their impact on free floating plant life was assessed, in terms of species diversity, density and relative growth, over a period of one month. Results were suggestive of the fact that algal strains flourished well upto a definite concentration of nutrients (Ca=101.6; Mg=31.0; K=95.0; TKN=49.4; TP= 10.0), beyond which the microcosmal water could not sustain planktonic life except for certain eutrophic taxa viz. Anabaena ornaldii, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria amphigranulata. Exposure to nutrients not only checked the development of Chlorophyceae during colonization but also initiated major shifts in the sociology of phytoplankton after a short time. Supply of nutrients upto 5 mg/l concentration did not affect the vegetation significantly, however, further enrichment largely supressed the inland water dominants i.e, Chlorophytes. Conditions, similar to controlled ones, prevailed in treated microcosms too, but for those treated with 10 mg/l and 15 mg/l of nutrients where blue-green forms dominated at the cost of prevailing green algae. In all cases, Crucigenia crucifera, C. rectangularis, Scenedesmus abundans (UL & LL), S. bijugatus, S. dimorphus (UL, LL & SL), Characiopsis longipes, Crucigenia quadricauda and Scenedesmus armatus (SL) registered their presence for most of the period whereas, certain strains viz. Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Scenedesmus obliques, S. parisiensis, S. quadricauda, Amphora ovalis (UL), Eudorina elegans, Oocystis crassa, Staurastrum gracile, S. orbicularae, Tetraedron minimum, Cosmarium granatum (LL), Coelastrum microporum, Pediastrum tetras and Selanastrum gracile (SL) could not withstand the nutritional changes and perished earlier.

Our ancient religious texts and epics give a good insight into the water storage and conservation systems that prevailed in prehistoric days. Over the years, rising populations, growing Industrialization, and expanding agriculture have pushed up the demand for water. Efforts have been made to collect water by building dams and reservoirs and digging wells. Some countries have also tried to recycle and desalinate (remove salts) water. Water conservation has become the need of the day. The idea of ground water recharging by harvesting rainwater is gaining importance in many cities. In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground as vegetation breaks the fall. This groundwater in turn feeds wells, lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water 'catchments'. In ancient India, people believed that forests were the 'mothers' of rivers and worshipped the sources of these water bodies. The Indus Valley Civilization, that flourished along the banks of the river Indus and other parts of western and northern India about 5,000 years ago, had one of the most sophisticated urban water supply and sewage systems in the world. The fact that the people were well acquainted with hygiene could be seen from the covered drains running beneath the streets of the ruins at both Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Another great example is the well-planned city of Dholavira, on Khadir Bet, a low plateau in the Rann in Gujarat. One of the oldest water harvesting systems is found about 130 km from Pune along Naneghat in the Western Ghats. A large number of tanks were cut in the rocks to provide drinking water to tradesmen who used to travel along this ancient trade route. Each fort in the area had its own water harvesting and storage system in the form of rock-cut cisterns, ponds, tanks and wells that are still in use today. A large number of forts like Raigad had tanks that supplied water. In ancient times, houses in parts of western Rajasthan were built so that each had a rooftop water harvesting system. Rainwater from these rooftops was directed into underground tanks. This system can be seen even today in all the forts, palaces and houses of the region. Underground baked earthen pipes and tunnels to maintain the flow of water and to transport it to distant places, are still functional at Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, Golkunda and Bijapur in Karnataka, and Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

There is growing scientific consensus that an average global warming of 2°C above the pre-industrial level, which is around 450 ppm atmospheric carbon dioxide equivalent (IPCC 4th Assessment Working Group I), would constitute a dangerous level of climate change with serious implications for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other Rio Conventions. Global greenhouse gas emissions are on an accelerating trend and if left unchecked, could lead to a 6.4°C (11.5° F) temperature increase by the end of the century, exceeding conservative estimates (The Copenhagen Diagnosis: Climate Science Report). It is now widely recognized that climate change and biodiversity are interconnected, not only through the effects of climate change on biodiversity, but also through changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that affect climate change. The carbon cycle and the water cycle, arguably the two most important large scale processes for life on Earth, both depend on biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment identified climate change as a dominant driver of future biodiversity loss and indicated that it would adversely affect key development challenges, including the provision of clean water, energy services, & food; maintenance of a healthy environment; and conservation of ecological systems, their biodiversity, and associated ecosystem goods and services (Ecosystems & Human Well-being : Policy Responses).

Economic value of water has been assessed with reference to expansion of management schemes related to water resources. Restoring water quality in lakes and reservoirs and preventing pollution or any other kind of water degradation, have been examined from an economic viewpoint. The concepts of water scarcity and economic value, as well as of externalities and other aspects associated with the allocation of water among uses and users, have been emphasized. Evidences have been presented on the economic impacts of eutrophication through the estimation of costs and benefits of reducing eutrophication or improving water quality in general. The evidences include different examples from the U.S.A., Europe, and developing countries. The idea of economic instruments for prevention and control of eutrophication has been developed. Examples of implementation of taxes or effluent charges from selected European countries, U.S.A., Mexico, and Brazil have been cited. The international practice shows that the effluent charges can be reasonably effective to improve water quality. It is suggested that the rates for the taxes or effluent charges need to be set at a sufficiently high level so they become a real incentive for abatement. Information has also been provided on sound methodologies of benefit/cost analysis as a mechanism to evaluate or prioritize different initiatives of prevention and control of eutrophication, for restoration of eutrophic lakes and reservoirs and for improvement of water quality. Economic valuations of market and non-market resources, which are not treated within formal markets and/or that may have no price at all, have been discussed. The results indicate that effective planning and management of lakes and reservoirs depend not only on a sound understanding of the physical and biological systems of these water bodies, but also of their value to people and the institutions that govern them. An understanding of economic benefits, costs, and policy instruments has been found vital for effective management.

Cytological studies were carried out on Himalayan green pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera (Columbidae : Columbiformes : Aves). Sixteen males and twelve females were sacrificed and their bone-marrow cells extracted through a sternal puncture. Cells were treated in hypotonic saline, fixed in 1:3 aceto-alcohol and stained in Giemsa. Chromosomes were classified according to Levan et al (1964). In all, one hundred thirty three cellular plates were examined and the modal diploid count was found to be 76+3. There were seven pairs of macrochromosomes, including a pair of sex element (ZZ in case of male and ZW in case of female individuals). All, with clearly defined size and centromeric position, could be easily recognized. A total number of thirty-one pairs formed a gradated series of elements, whose morphology could not be resolved, and have been included in the category of microchromosomes. They comprised 45.6% of TCL. Both the sex chromosomes - Z & W has centromeres at their median point, however, Z is a macrochromosome { Relative Length (LR) = 11.82% ; IC = 49.19 }, whereas, W is the largest microchromosome (LR = 6.67% ; IC = 40.45). Among the twenty eight adult individuals examined, eight karyotypic combinations, irrespective of sex, were observed. In majority of cases, chromosome I and II had centromere in their median region. However, owing to gradual shift in the position of centromere, 8 different chromosome morphs ( Im Im IIm IIm, Im Im IIm IIst, Im Im IIst IIst, Im Ist IIst IIst, Ist Im IIm IIm, Ist Ist IIm IIm, Ist Ist IIst IIm, Ist Ist IIst IIst ) were encountered. According to Garg & Garg [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] and Garg et. al., [10] [11] [12], presence of such widespread inversion polymorphism in Treron phoenicoptera suggests that it may confer an adaptive advantage on the species.

Cyanophytes encompass an old subdivision of minuscule organisms, settled in a large variety of environments such as freshwaters, sea, oceans, rocks, soil and hot springs. In freshwaters, some are benthic, but many are found on the surface, floating at the mercy of winds and water currents. Under enriched conditions, these unicellular microscopic entities multiply profusely, amassed together and form scums. On lysis, they produce toxins that are not easily inactivated by laboratory equivalents of water purification process viz. flocculation-filtration-chlorination treatment. Even activated carbon, in small doses, falls short to yield desirable results. However, vast amount of charcoal can do so. Besides, activated carbon filtration, in combination with ionization, has been found effectual in neutralizing toxins. As a rule, slow sand-filters are considered to be more dependable than high-speed filters in doing away with phytoplankton. Albeit, the slow filters do not take out color from water as some cyanophytes succeed in penetrating the filtration bed. Moreover, Microcystis aeruginosa, at the ultimate stages of bloom formation secretes substantial amount of organic compounds with polysaccharide base. This dross is seldom removed by conventional treatments like sand-filtration, Al2(SO4)3 coagulation, FeCl3 flocculation, sedimentation, etc. and much of it goes into the water supply, making the water obnoxious to users. Though toxic degradations are possible, yet the current state of practice seems insufficient to exterminate cent-per-cent algae from raw water entering the supply system. Although there is no way to deal with these nuisance microphytes, use of blue stone CuSO4 in chunk or granular form can be suggested as an algicide. However, the same cannot be used further than a certain limit and that too in a large basin. Obviously, ionization at the end of filtration may be a good permutation to get rid of plant organisms with their associated organoleptic properties.

Fatal intoxications of fish, water birds and domestic animals in aquatic habitats are frequently observed with blooms of cyanobacteria. The latter produces two types of toxins : cytotoxins & biotoxins and a few antibiotics (allelopaths) such as acutiphycins, indolcarbazoles, tantazoles, tolytoxins etc. Cytotoxins exhibit a wide spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi, algae and mammalian cell lines whereas biotoxins commonly produce intoxications in animals and man. Two different kinds of biotoxins produced by cyanobacteria have been investigated: neurotoxins and hepatotoxins. It was observed that blooms of algae secreting hepatotoxins are almost twice as common as neurotoxic ones. Statistical associations were frequent between hepatotoxicity and occurrence of Microcystis aeruginosa, M. viridis, M. wesenbergii, Anabaena flos-aquae and A. spiroides. Hepatotoxins mainly target liver in mice where they form marked congestion and necrosis in the parenchymal cells around the central vein. Their LD50 values were found between 140 to 160 µg/kg bw. Neurotoxicity was, by and large, linked with prevalence of certain species of the genera Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Oscillatoria and Trichodesmium. Of these neurotoxins, saxitoxin (STX) and neosaxitoxin, also termed as 'aphantoxins' are produced by Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Anatoxin-a (ANTX-a) is an alkaloid neurotoxin produced by Anabaena flos-aquae, A. spiroides and Oscillatoria. The LD50 in mice is about 200 µg/kg body weight as against 10 µg/kg dosages of aphantoxins. Mice injected intraperitoneally with lethal doses of ANTX-a die from respiratory arrest within some minutes showing symptoms like muscle fasciculation, heavy abdominal breath, cyanosis, convulsions and collapse. Another neurotoxin - Anatoxin-a(s) {ANTX-a(s)} has similar properties to an organophosphate insecticide, being a potent inhibitor of cholinesterase. On treatment with 20 µg/kg bw of dosage (LD50) animals show marked salivation, mucoid nasal discharge, ataxia, diarrhea, dyspnea and cyanosis. Anatoxin-b (ANTX-b), a neurotoxin with acetocholinesterase activity; is more toxic than anatoxin-a and a(s). However, its exact nature and pharmacological action have yet to be worked out.

Microcosmal studies were carried out on three inland reservoirs – Upper lake, Lower lake and Shahpura lake, Bhopal, by housing definite amount of water and soil aliquota from natural waters. Changes in physicochemical and limnobiological parameters were recorded at an interval of 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 30 days. Exposure to nutrients not only checked the development of Chlorophyceae during colonization but also initiated major shifts in the sociology of phytoplankton after a short time. Supply of nutrients upto 5 mg/l concentration did not affect the vegetation significantly, however, further enrichment largely supressed the ground water dominants i.e, Chlorophytes. Conditions, similar to controlled ones, prevailed in treated microcosms too, but for those treated with 10 mg/l and 15 mg/l of nutrients where blue-green forms dominated at the cost of prevailing green algae. In all cases, Crucigenia crucifera, C. rectangularis, Scenedesmus abundans (UL & LL), S. bijugatus, S. dimorphus (UL, LL & SL), Characiopsis longipes, Crucigenia quadricauda and Scenedesmus armatus (SL) registered their presence for most of the period whereas, certain strains viz. Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Scenedesmus obliques, S. parisiensis, S. quadricauda, Amphora ovalis (UL), Eudorina elegans, Oocystis crassa, Staurastrum gracile, S. orbicularae, Tetraedron minimum, Cosmarium granatum (LL), Coelastrum microporum, Pediastrum tetras and Selanastrum gracile (SL) could not withstand the nutritional changes and perished earlier. Both calcium and magnesium acetate evinced no drastic effect on diatom community, however, depletion in nutrients rendered a regular decline in number with respect to duration. Further, Melosira granulata, which was abundant in natural lakes, propogated successfully in enriched waters and expressed itself to be a eutrophic form. Other species, which indicated a positive correlation with magnesium, include Fragillaria, Navicula cryptocephala, Nitzchia closterium & Tabellaria sps. in Upper lake and Cymbella affinis & Synedra ulna in Lower lake microcosms. Among Cyanophytes, initial growth mainly consisted of Arthrospira massartis (UL & SL), Anabaena sps, Merismopedia punctata (LL & SL), Nostoc microscopicum and Oscillatoria amphigranulata as in natural waters but after addition of nutrient there occurred a sudden spread of Microcystis aeruginosa. It was, atleast in part, due to changed competitive situation where Microcystis sps succeeded in surpassing other forms. Dinophytes underwent swift decline and finally succumbed within a fortnight.

Blue-green algae comprise an old subdivision of microscopic organisms, settled in a large variety of environments such as freshwaters, sea, oceans, rocks, soil and hot springs. In freshwaters, some are benthic, but many are found on the surface, floating at the mercy of winds and water currents. Under enriched conditions, these unicellular microscopic entities multiply profusely, aggregate together and form scums. On lysis, they produce toxins that are not easily inactivated by laboratory equivalents of water purification process viz. flocculation-filtration-chlorination treatment. Even activated carbon, in low doses, falls short to yield desirable results. However, colossal amount of charcoal can do so. Furthermore, activated carbon filtration, in combination with ionization, has been found effective in deactivating toxins. Though toxic degradations have been likely, yet the present state of techniques seem inadequate to exterminate cent-per-cent algae from raw water entering the supply system. Normally, slow sand-filters are considered to be more dependable than fast filters in doing away with phytoplankton. Albeit, the slow filters do not remove color from water as some cyanophytes succeed in penetrating the filtration bed. Moreover, Microcystis aeruginosa, at the closing stages of bloom formation secretes substantial amount of organic compounds with polysaccharide base. This dross is seldom removed by traditional treatments like sand-filtration, Al2(SO4)3 coagulation, FeCl3 flocculation, sedimentation, etc. and much of it goes into the water supply, making the water distasteful to users. While there is no way to deal with these nuisance microphytes, use of blue stone CuSO4 in block or granular form can be recommended as an algicide. However, the same cannot be used beyond a certain limit and that too in a large basin. Of course, ionization at the end of filtration may be a good permutation to get rid of plant organisms with their associated organoleptic properties.

The present monograph deals with hydrobiological surveillance of Upper lake, Lower lake and Shahpura lake, Bhopal. Small level functional ecosystems were developed in laboratory by inoculating quantum sufficit of water, soil and planktonic flora. Of some hundred nutrients known to cause eutrophication, five (Ca, Mg, K, N, P) were selected for present study. Different dosages of these nutrients were administered separately and their impact on free floating plant life was assessed, in terms of species diversity, density and relative growth, over a period of one month. Results were suggestive of the fact that algal strains flourished well upto a definite concentration of nutrients (Ca=101.6; Mg=31.0; K=95.0; TKN=49.4; TP= 10.0), beyond which the microcosmal water could not sustain planktonic life except for certain eutrophic taxa viz. Anabaena ornaldii, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria amphigranulata.

Microcosmal studies were conducted on three central Indian reservoirs viz Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake Bhopal by assaying their limnochemical and hydrobiological parameters. The effects of nutrients on algae as conjoint and cumulative of various physico-chemical and biotic factors have been envisaged.

Nutrient enrichment studies were conducted on three reservoirs of Bhopal. On the basis of diversity index and the range of tolerance, eutrophication sensitive and tolerant species were identified.

Microcosmal studies were conducted for three major water resources of Bhopal viz. Upper Lake, Lower Lake and Shahpura Lake. The experiments were conducted for 30 days and at one stretch, only one nutrient was taken. Such experiments were performed in five replicates, one for each nutrient viz calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. In all fifteen sets, five for each lake, with a total of sixty model ecosystems were developed for a total spell of 15 months. The results so obtained were extrapolated at field level to set the limits.