Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES)

The comparative metal uptake and phytoremediation capacity of Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, and Jatropha multifida in heavy metal contaminated soil from a dumpsite in Ibadan Nigeria were studied. Plants were transplanted into polythene pots containing 2kg of soil (control and dumpsite), using a 3×2 factorial laid out in complete randomized designed. Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni concentration was determined in the soil before planting and after harvesting as well as in the roots and shoots of the plant after 12 weeks using the standard method. The heavy metal levels in the control soil are within the permissible limits of WHO/FAO while only Cr and Ni in the contaminated soils are within the limit. The heavy metals concentration in the root of the plants ranged from 0.27-63.14 mg/kg (Cu), 4.82-54.18 mg/kg (Zn), 0.48-3.47 mg/kg (Cr), 1.75-72.37 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.05-3.23 mg/kg (Ni); in the shoots, the concentration ranged from 0.25-33.36 mg/kg (Cu), 5.40-12.48 mg/kg (Zn), 0.29-1.45 mg/kg (Cr), 0.58-8.26 mg/kg (Pb) and 0.05-3.23 mg/kg (Ni). Cd was not detected in the root and shoot of the three Jatropha species. Analysis of variance shows heavy metal uptake was influenced by the interaction of contamination level and Jatropha species. Bioaccumulation factor and Translocation factor ranged from 0.07-0.16 and 0.53-0.6 (Cu); <0.01-0.03 and 0.21-0.30 (Zn); 0.07-0.18 and 0.41-1.01 (Cr); 0.01-0.35 and 0.11-0.32 (Pb); <0.01-0.04 and 0.64-0.97 (Ni) respectively. More accumulation occurs in the root than shoot, therefore, Jatropha spp exhibit species variation in the uptake of heavy metals.

This study investigated the distributional patterns of species in response to salinity gradients. The vegetation was systematically sampled using a quadrat of 50 x 10 m. Vegetation variables were measured. At depths of 0 – 15 and 15 – 30 cm, sediment samples were dug and analyzed using standard methods. Fourteen species were encountered. Rhizophora mangle and Mytragyna ciliata had highest and least density values of 6664±687.16 and 3.00±0.42 st/ha. The most frequent species were Rhizophora mangle and Nypa fruticans (100 %). Rhizophora mangle and Mytragyna were tallest (12.45±1.20 m) and shortest species (3.11±0.24 m). Elaeis guineensis and Alchornea cordifolia had the largest (1.79±0.05 m2/ha) and least (0.008±0.0002 m2/ha) basal area values. Highest crown cover value was recorded by Rhizophora mangle (9.14±0.08 m2/ha) while by Alchornea cordifolia had the least value (0.04±0.001 m2/ha). Gradient analysis revealed that Ipomoea involucrata, Paspalum vaginatum, Dracaena mannii, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Elaeis guineensis, Staudtia stipitata, Alchornea cordifolia, Terminalia superba and Mytragyna ciliata belonged to ecological group 1 with ecological optima of 8.14, respectively. Acrostichum aureum (ecological optimum of 29.32), Avicennia africana (ecological optima of 19.56 and 30.12) and Phoenix reclinata (ecological optima of 8.14 and 29.32) belonged to ecological group 4 while Nypa fruticans (ecological optima of 8.14 and 29.32) and Rhizophora mangle (ecological optima of 19.56 and 30.12) belonged to ecological group 0. This study provides information on species adaptation and performance in relation to environmental stress and will form the basis for the future and effective management of this ecosystems.

Relation between elephant and man in India is ancient; no other animal had such a close association with the human. Pre mature elephant deaths by train collision, electrocution and drowning were common nowadays and painful disturbances in elephant population due to conflict have been described more from time to time in the outlying areas of all over India and in Uttarakhand apart from poisoning, gunfire, forest fire, diseases etc. This research paper communicates in detail cases of elephant conflict death, its root cause and its preventive actions.

Recent environmentalism in Cameroon and forest reserve creation has been varied in implementation and management between community and national stakeholders and policies. Good national intents for hot spot conservation saw the 1953 creation of the Bafut-Ngemba production forest reserve on the Bamenda Highlands, where today’s accelerated urbanization and development has largely engulfed. Pressure on the forest reserve resources has thwarted its spatio-temporal natural tree cover climax. The study uses a field survey and secondary data treatment methodology to probe how communities at the reserve fringe have responded to unmet natural wood demands by pushing in eucalyptus tree plantations to result in forest reserve reversal. Varied income-driven circumstances generated an overwhelming embrace of a eucalyptus culture swallowing up the natural trees. A thirty-year evaluation of the tree cover revealed a near 40% loss the reserve trees while eucalyptus laden-farmland have been gained ascendancy. This ecological colonization scramble was timid in the 1980s, then rapid in the 1990s and then exponential by 2018. There is a direct relationship between this spatial gains from the eucalyptus and population growth demand trends. The study therefore opts for a quick revisit of the initial forest reserve philosophy that is now being diluted in this eucalyptus embrace. These eucalyptus trees are ecological terrorists that should never be permitted to terrorize production forest reserves.

Soil contamination by with heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) has been a major environmental challenge for decades and escalating with industrialization development which is considered as a hindrance of socioeconomic development. Nevertheless, cost and time-effective, and sustainable in-situ remediation technologies remain facing technical and operational lacking. Magnetic nanomaterials have shown promising means of an innovative in-situ remediation strategy for the removal of PTMs contaminated soil. Magnetic adsorbent having high efficiency and capacity towards the removal of PTMs, and enormous reusability. Also, magnetic nanocomposite has improved with functionalization of groups on their large surface which increase the adsorption capability of the adsorbent. Nanotechnology development sector or enterprises as lack of field application of magnetic nanomaterials at commercial scale due to non-availability of required tools and materials. This information may support further environmental na notechnology for contaminated soil.

Air pollution is continuously increasing severe health problems in all over the world conscientious for copious diseases and deaths. Extensive economic growth, especially in urban areas of China, has led to escalating episodes of severe air pollution. In the past few decades, continuous industrialization and urbanization in China improved the living standards of their people but also increase the air pollution, which badly affected on health. In early 2002, China has carried out certain steps for the management and control of air pollution, but unfortunately there approaches towards implementation and governance is unsatisfied, after passing the so many years still have haze and other serious air pollution issues, which not only damage the environment but also destroy the people health. Recent, development, industrialization, and urbanization, air pollution has become one of the major and critical problems. Thus, it is very important to examine the cause and source of air pollution, treatment and effectively resolve the problems. Based on the causes and treatment of urban air pollution, this short communication would be a guideline for further control measures and technology development.

The Ecosystem Services concept has been developed in recent decades through both academic and international institutions. Nowadays, most of the literature agrees that ecosystem services constitute a crucial contribution to human well-being. Most studies focus on final ecosystem services which are directly identifiable amongst society’s consumption habits. Ecosystem services generally named “Provisioning Services” seem to be the masterpiece of ecosystem services provided by nature, and their contribution to human well-being is linked to their economic relevance. In most cases this can be easily determined as there are markets already developed to evaluate these services. Nonetheless, final ecosystem services are supported by often-overlooked Intermediate Ecosystem Services, which do not have a structured market and yet hold an economic relevance that could directly affect society. Similarly, cultural ecosystem services are often difficult to economically assess as it is very difficult to put a price on intrinsic values. T hough Regulating and Cultural Ecosystem Services are difficult to value, they are of vital importance to society and must be evaluated when making any assessment locally or regionally. In order to yield a better understanding of the importance of all ecosystem service categories, we propose a spatial-temporal limited study to pinpoint the synergies and trade-offs between Ecosystem services, Biodiversity conservation, and Commodity production in Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, and to highlight the possible environmental and economic outcomes according to different management scenario

Present study was aimed to investigate the community structure and size distribution of Icthyoplankton sampled from Kuantan River, Malaysia. Sampling was conducted from May 2015 to August 2015 using modified bubu light trap in Kuantan river and its immediate tributary (Belat river). A total of 78 larvae representing 4 families and 6 genus were sampled and size distribution were measured using Dino capture 2.0v portable microscope. Significant influences of selected water quality parameters on the distribution of Icthyoplankton were observed (p < 0.05). Representatives of larvae belong to gobiidae, eleotridae ambassidae and leiognathidae were recorded during sampling and few larvae were unable to be distinguished morphologically and hence stored for further DNA barcoding. Modified bubu light trap method designed and adopted in this study can be successfully used to sample Icthyoplankton in rivers where the depth and turbidity are the key limiting factors during sampling.

Environmental pollution by heavy metals is a serious threat to human and ecosystem. Accumulation of heavy metals in the biota may pose hazardous impact on public health and other living organisms. By using gastropods Neritasp as bio-indicator, the levels of heavy metals in their soft tissues can determine the contamination of heavy metals in the Tanjung Lumpur Mangrove along the Kuantan River. The aim of this study is to identify copper, cadmium, chromium and iron accumulated in the tissue of Neritasp, to investigate the concentration of the copper, cadmium, chromium and iron in the molluscan tissue among the different sizes of gastropod Neritaspand to compare the concentrations of heavy metals in a gastropod Neritasp tissue among the different stations of Kuantan River, Pahang. Gastropods of Neritasp were randomly collected along the river. The tissues of gastropods were digested with nitric acid. Then, concentration of copper, cadmium, chromium and iron were analyzed by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) model Perkin Elmer SIMAA 6100 graphite furnace. Neritasp accumulate copper the most in their tissues compared to other heavy metals. The concentrations are around 189.8 µg/ L – 247.95 µg/ L. The highest concentration of copper is in Station 3 which is at 241.67 µg/ L. The second highest concentration is iron or ferrum where the concentrations are around 121.25 µg/ L – 174.55 µg/ L. Station 3 was identified to have the highest concentration of iron at 161.12 µg/ L. Followed by, chromium which the concentrations are around 23.49 µg/ L – 46.15 µg/ L. The highest concentration of chromium is Station 1 at 34.82 µg/ L. The lowest concentration of heavy metals is cadmium which is around 8.69 µg/ L – 18.46 µg/ L. Also, Station 1 showed the highest concentration of cadmium at 17.56 µg/ L. This study can be used to identify contamination of heavy metals in marine zone by using bio-indicator to avoid environmental perturbation.

A study on physicochemical parameters and distribution of phytoplankton communities was carried out at Kuantan estuary, Pahang, Malaysia. The study was carried out in September, 2011 and November, 2011 to determine the spatial distribution of phytoplankton from three different stations during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The phytoplankton and water quality were analyzed using standard method outlines by APHA, 1998. The temperature recorded was between 27.29 oC to 29.33 oC, pH was from 6.96 to 8.24, conductivity range from 33.50mS/cm to 47.85mS/cm, dissolved oxygen ranged was from 4.25 mg/L to 5.84 mg/L, biochemical oxygen demand was from 3.37 mg/L to 1.60 mg/L, salinity range from 21.01 ppt to 30.72 ppt, total dissolved solids range from 21.80 g/L to 31.60 g/L and total suspended solids range from 0.024 to 0.044. The nitrite concentration was range from 0.078 mg/L to 0.088 mg/L during monsoon while in the pre-monsoon seasons the range was from 0.018 mg/L to 0.025 mg/L. Similarly, ammonium concentration was from 0.3056 mg/L to 0.0670 mg/L. The phosphorus content was range from 0.0110 mg/L to 0.0897 mg/L. The pre-monsoon season phytoplankton (1466 Cells/L) was found to be higher than the monsoon season phytoplankton (644 Cells/L).