Abstract: Transgenic crops are new products of agriculture biotechnology. The environmental risks and benefits of transgenic crops are topic of hot debate. Current agriculture management practices and ecosystems have their own impacts on the environment and further any additional negative effect of transgenic crops may mitigate their positive impacts as well as increase the background value of negative impacts due to new agriculture practices. Most of the risk assessment studies on transgenic plants have done observations on changes in their respective aboveground environment and its biota. Very few reports are available on the impacts of transgenic plants or their products (that they release in soil) on soil biota (both invertebrates and. microorganisms) and soil processes mediated by them. However, observations of these studies were not delivering anything conclusively and creating state of confusion also regarding impact of transgenic plants on soil ecosystem. As some of the studies suggested that If production and release of the transgene products from transgenic plants through different routes in soil exceed to its consumption/ biodegradation, may lead to their accumulation beyond threshold levels, which may have acute as well as chronic effect on soil ecosystem. Impacts of transgenic plants are also dependent upon spatial and temporal environmental variables. Whereas some of the studies observation suggests that transgenic plants don’t have any negative impact on soil ecosystem. Keeping this status in background we prepared this manuscript. Our manuscript is divided in two parts, first part comprises review of the available literature on impacts of commercialized transgenic plants on soil ecosystem and its diversity, and in second part keeping above information as background, a framework is proposed for future comparative impact assessment of transgenic plants and its non transgenic isoline on soil ecosystem. In this approach each transgenic crop along with its non-transgenic isoline should be dealt separately according to its construct. The proposed approach is precautionary at each step, if there is any doubt at any stage they should be clarified by repetition of experiments. This approach will be helpful in filling of information gaps, which still exists in impact assessment studies of transgenic plants on soil ecosystem. This approach suggested monitoring should be carried out prior as well as post release of transgenic plants. Impact assessment of transgenic plants with respect to soil ecosystem should be made mandatory in current regulatory framework of transgenic crops throughout the world, to assure the use of transgenic technology without affecting the diversity and functioning of soil ecosystem.

Keywords: Transgenic, soil, impact assessment, ecosystem

Abstract: This study evaluates the levels of heavy metal pollution in Antarctic marine ecosystem by monitoring gut microbial flora of seabird skua (Catharacta spp). Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria isolated from fresh faecal sample of skua were tested for their heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance pattern. More than 50% isolates were able to tolerate 200 g/ml concentration of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) and >80% isolates showed resistance towards Bacitracin. More than 50% isolates were resistance to multiple antibiotics (MAR) and the the traits were found to be plasmid-borne in nature. The elevated rate of tolerance to the heavy metals reflects an adaptive response to the toxic metals present in marine environment.

Keywords: Antarctica, skua, gut microflora, heavy metals

Abstract: Physico-chemical water quality parameters viz. temperature, pH, alkalinity, turbidity, total solids, DO, BOD, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide coupled with diversity and density of plankton were studied during different seasons (monsoon, winter, summer) for two consecutive calendar years in two lakes to find out whether differences in water quality are reflected in growth coefficient and relative condition factor of the major carp, Catla catla. Significantly higher levels of nutrients (phosphate, nitrate, nitrite) and ammonia, low plankton diversity, and significantly higher density of cyanophyceae were found in Yennehole lake (YL) compared to Belikere lake (BL). In addition, desmids were conspicuous by their absence in YL in contrast to their presence in BL. Concomitantly, growth factor (b) and relative condition factor (Kn) of C.catla were > 3 and > 1 respectively in YL whereas they were close to 3 (or > 3) and >1 respectively in BL in all the seasons in during the study period. The contrasting b and Kn values of the same species in two lakes differing in water quality provide an evidence that deterioration in water quality though not enough to cause death of fish, does adversely affect growth and well being of fish.

Keywords: Fish growth, water quality, Catla catla, relative condition factor, Algal bloom

Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the potentials of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Penicillium janthinellum and their mutants in degradation of crude oil in river Kaduna effluents after two weeks incubation at 30°C, Degradation potentials ranged from partial to good. A mixture of the pure strains and mutants (subjected to 10-minute irradiation) of the two micro-organisms, as well as the pure strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the best degradation. Five and fifteen minute mutants of the two microorganisms, as well as the pure strains of Penicillium janthinellum showed partial degradation. Against pristine and phytane as biomarkers, Carbon 23 (C23) did not appear in the chromatogram of effluents that had undergone partial or good degradation.All consortia were observed to have significant decreases in contents of phenol, oil and grease, phosphates, ammonia, nitrates, and sulphates after two weeks of incubation at 30°C. A comparative analysis of the effluent after two weeks of incubation in relation to FEPA specifications and KRPC treated waste water (TWW) after bioremediation, revealed that, in River Kaduna water sample the phosphate concentration of most consortia were greater than TWW, and FEPA limits, except for consortia G1 and H1 that were lower. Other physicochemical parameters showed a lower concentration compared to that of TWW. At the end of experiment, all the consortia except G1 and H1 were lower than the FEPA limits for oil and grease. Similar occurrence was observed in phenol concentration for all the consortia.

Keywords: Biodegradation, hydrocarbons, micro-organisms, physico-chemical characteristics

Abstract: Composting is one of the more economical and environmentally safe methods of recycling waste generated by the consumer society. Due to the complexity of substrates and intermediate products, microbial diversity and the succession of populations is a prerequisite to ensure complete biodegradation. In the present work, we studied the succession of microbial populations during composting process of organic fraction of Municipal Solid Waste and some physical and chemical parameters were followed during process, moisture content was maintained at 50-60% and temperature monitored daily, in order to study the effects of important environmental factors on microbial communities. The results showed that the substrate was colonized in major proportion by bacteria (44.6%), actinomycetes (32.3 %) and in lower number by fungi (23.1%), mainly represent by the following dominant genera: Bacillus, Streptomyces, Actinomyces, Pseudomonas and Azospirillum. The Multiple Regression Analysis, reveal that the environmental parameter that major influence made on the microbial groups mentioned was the temperature.

Keywords: compost, microbial communities, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi

Abstract: Grazers may influence nitrogen (N) pools and alter N inputs and outputs (losses) to the ecosystem in a number of ways. In this study, we evaluated N pools within the plant-soil system (0-30 cm) and soil N transformation under three different grazing intensities by yaks (light: 1.2, moderate: 2.0, and heavy: 2.9 yaks ha-1) in an alpine meadow on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Total plant and soil N at 0- 30 cm depth tended to increase as grazing intensity increasing (plant N: 26.6, 31.4 and 36.7 g m-2; soil N: 905, 939 and 1125 g m-2 for light, moderate and heavy grazing, respectively). Soil N transformation rates, such as net N mineralization, gross nitrification, denitrification and N2O emissions, generally increased under heavy grazing intensity. Results indicate that heavy grazing intensity accelerated the N cycling rates between system components and leaded to increases in plant-soil system N in this alpine meadow.

Keywords: biomass; grassland; N stocks; soil N transformation; Tibet Plateau

Abstract: Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the mining industry worldwide.This article summarizes the literature on the removal of heavy metals from acid mine drainage wastewater by various techniques. Investigation has been carried out across the world in order to control and decrease the level of heavy metals as pollutants from acid mine drainage wastewater.

Keywords: Treatment, effects, metals, coal mine waste

Abstract: Monocropping of rice is practiced in Assam (situated at north east part of India) throughout the year in different agro-ecosystems (upland and lowland) primarily under rainfed conditions. The estimation of methane emission has been realized investigating high yielding rice varieties viz. Ranjit and Mahsuri, grown under two different agro-ecosystems at Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam with sandy to sandy loam type of soil. Variety ‘Ranjit’ grown at monsoon (Sali) rice ecosystem at lowland rainfed condition showed higher seasonal integrated methane flux value compared to variety ‘Mahsuri’ grown at pre monsoon (Ahu) rice ecosystem. Both varieties showed two methane peaks, one at the active tillering stage and the second at the reproductive stage of the crop. The observed variation in methane emission peaks are contributed mainly by physiological characteristics of the rice plant such as leaf numbers, tiller numbers, plant height, root shoot biomass and leaf area index. Statistical analysis of these parameters showed a positive correlation with methane emission. These physiological parameters are in turn governed by plant genotypes and environment i.e., the field water availability and climatological factors (rainfall and temperature) during the growing season. While comparing the two ecosystems it was found that methane emission is significantly less from upland rainfed rice ecosystem and this ecosystem can be considered a suitable option for biological mitigation of methane from rice paddies.

Keywords: Assam; India; rainfed ecosystem; water regime; growth parameters

Abstract: The provision of uniform, artificial substrates for periphytic colonization has a long history, and it is the most widespread of all the techniques applied to study algal periphyton activity. The Yarqon River is one of the largest coastal rivers in Israel. An experiment for the determination of algal vegetative activity in the artificial pools, using the glass method, from the Yarqon River stations was conducted during the period from 8.11.06 till 6.12.06. During the experiment we revealed the colonization’s speed of substrates and the activity of self-purification processes at different stations of river. The artificial colonization of substrates by algae during the rainy period takes about 2-3 weeks. Chlorophyll, which was used as a trophic marker, revealed ultra-oligotrophic or oligotrophic levels in pool I. At pools II and III levels were either oligo-mesotrophic or eutrophic. These results corresponded to the gradient of organic matter in each experimental pool.The algal diversity found on glass slides represented about 10-15 species for each pool. During the experiment, cells from pool I were about 1-2.5 μm3, and at pool Ii cells were about 0.1-1.4 μm3. The increase of the ecosystem’s entropy is indicative of environmental stress. This criterion, which is based on diversity dynamics, cell counts, and biomass may be used for monitoring the quality of water and aquatic ecosystems in the rivers of Israel.

Keywords: glass side method, algae, diversity, density, artificial substrate, chlorophyll, ecology, Israel

Abstract: This work is the first part of a series of studies, which introduces the methodological possibilities of coenological and zoogeographical indication and – following the climate, vegetation and elevation zones – the pattern-describing analysis of the main Oribatid sinusia of the world explored till our days.This current work is a case-study, which displays the comparison of 9 examination sites from 3 different geographical locations. On each location, three vegetation types have been examined: a plain rain-forest, a mossforest and a mountainous paramo. Analyses are based on the hitherto non-published genus-level database and coenological tables of the deceased János Balogh professor. Occurrence of 18 genera is going to be published as new data for the given zoogeographical region.

Keywords: Oribatid mites, rainforest, mossforest, paramo, Costa Rica, Brazil, Papua New-Guinea, similarity pattern, coenology, community, assembly