Current Fish Fauna of Mandulog River, Iligan City, Philippines | InformativeBD

Anylin P. Sanchez,  from the institute of the Philippines. Frandel Louis S. Dagoc, from the institute of the Philippines . Jaime Q. Guihawan, from the different of the Philippines . Wella T. Tatil, from the  institute of the Philippines.  Corazon V. Ligaray, from the institute of the Philippines . and Armi G. Torres, from the institute of the Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Current Fish Fauna of Mandulog River, Iligan City, Philippines. Entitled, Current fish fauna in Mandulog River, Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, Philippines. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and EnvironmentalSciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

This paper provides the current fish species richness, composition, distribution, and conservation status in the Mandulog River Iligan City, Philippines, highlighting its ecological significance and the impact of anthropogenic activities. A total of Fourteen species from 13 families were recorded, consisting of- 12 native and two introduced species from three sampling sites (upstream, midstream, and downstream). Native species dominated the fish assemblage, with Fibramia thermalis (44.22%) and Planiliza subviridis (18.03%) being the most abundant. This study confirmed the first record of Barbodes tumba, a threatened endemic species confined to upstream areas, reflecting their vulnerability to habitat disturbance. Conservation assessments of the 12 native revealed that ten species (85.7%) are classified as “Least Concern”, one as “Endangered” and another one species as “Data Deficient”. This study also documented two invasive alien species, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias batrachus. The recent findings underscore significant threats to the Mandulog River’s biodiversity, including pollution, quarry mining, sedimentation, and invasive alien species. Recommendations emphasize conservation strategies targeting habitat restoration, invasive alien species management, and community-driven biodiversity monitoring to sustain the river’s ecological health and align with global conservation goals.

Read more : Physicochemical Properties of Locally Sourced Root Crop-Based Culture Media | InformativeBD

Introduction

Freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers, play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and providing ecosystem services to human and natural systems. They are essential habitats for various aquatic species, including fish that contribute to the ecological balance, support livelihoods, and serve as indicators of environmental health (Jamandre, 2023). Among these, rivers in the Philippines, including the Mandulog River in Iligan City, stand out due to their rich ichthyofauna, comprising native and endemic species. However, these ecosystems face mounting challenges from human-induced disturbances such as overfishing, pollution, and invasive alien species environmental degradation (Guerrero, 2023).

The Mandulog River traverses urban and rural areas and supports diverse freshwater fish species. This river system, previously studied by Sempio et al. (2013), Vedra et al. (2013), and Tampus et al. (2015), has been a focal point for understanding the impacts of human activities such as quarrying, urbanization, unregulated fishing activities and landscape alterations on freshwater biodiversity. Quarrying activities, sedimentation, and pollution from surrounding communities significantly threaten aquatic habitats, as Buot et al. (2014) and (Vedra and Ocampo, 2016) highlighted. These threats have led to declines in native and endemic fish populations, echoing trends observed in similar freshwater systems across the Philippines (Gonzalez et al., 2023; Macalisang et al., 2023; Guerrero, 2023).

Past research efforts across Philippine rivers emphasieze the need to understand fish species composition and abundance, particularly as many species remain threatened or poorly documented (IUCN, 2019). Thus, this study aims to build on existing knowledge by providing the current of fish species composition, abundance, distribution, and conservation status in the Mandulog River. This work addresses critical gaps in understanding the river's current ecological state, focusing on its biodiversity's sustainability. The study align with global conservation priorities under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6.6, which emphasizes the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, SDG 15.1, which focuses on the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems and their services, SDG 15.5, which seeks to protect habitats, halt biodiversity loss and safeguard species from extinction, and SDG 15.8 which aims for prevention, reduction, control, and eradication of invasive alien species (UN SDG 2024).

Reference

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Gonzalez JB, Gado VJH, Mantes BG. 2023. Freshwater ichthyofauna of wetlands in Tablas Island, Romblon, The Philippines. Academia Journal of Biology 45(1), 121–138.

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Macalisang MJCC, Mazo XJC, Gonzalez JB. 2023. Freshwater fishes of wetlands in San Agustin, Romblon, Philippines. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology 44(15), 55–63.

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Tampus AD, De Guzman CE, Valdez SAL, Tumang VMC, Moneva CSO, Canalita EE. 2015. Species composition and gut content analysis of fishes in Mandulog River System, Iligan City. Advances in Environmental Biology 9(19), 23–31.

Torres AG, Eza ND, Nacua SS, Gimena RV, Guerrero RD III, Kesner-Reyes K, Leander NJS, Ame EC, Gonzales JC, Gaerlan RSP, Palla HP, Ballad EL, Angeles IJP, Reyes AT, Guino-o RS II, Cecilio MAF, Garcia MPC, Mamalangkap MD. 2022. Barbodes tumba. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.

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Source : Current fish fauna in Mandulog River, Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, Philippines  

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Physicochemical Properties of Locally Sourced Root Crop-Based Culture Media | InformativeBD

Vicky A. Agpasa, from the different institute of the Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Physicochemical Properties of Locally Sourced Root Crop-Based Culture Media. Entitled, Physicochemical characteristics of the formulated culture media using locally available root crops. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB). an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study aimed to develop fungal culture media in dehydrated form utilizing selected locally available root crops such as cassava (Manihot esculenta), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), ube (Dioscorea alata L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and potato (Solanum tuberosum). Specifically, the objectives of the study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics of the formulated culture media such as the color, clarity, gel strength, ash, moisture, crude protein, crude fat and total carbohydrate contents. From the formulated combination, 39 grams of the formulated culture medium was suspended in 1000 ml of distilled water. The agar powder acted as a gelling agent for the medium. The resulting solution was boiled until all constituents were dissolved. It was autoclaved for 15 minutes at 121oC. The pH was adjusted based on the following requirement of the fungi: Saccharomyces cerevisiae 4-6, Aspergillus niger 5.5 and Rhizopus stolonifer 7-8. The media was dispensed into sterile Petri dish, taking care to distribute equally at approximately 20-25ml per petri dish. Based on the findings of the study: (1) the formulated culture media possessed the necessary physicochemical characteristics of culture media for the culture of fungi; and (2) Cassava, sweet potato, ube, taro and potato with dextrose and agar powder showed comparable effects on the growth of fungi under the study. For future researches and studies, the following may be considered: (1) the formulated fungal culture media utilizing local rootcrops are recommended for the cultivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus niger; and (2) a study may be conducted on the shelf-life of the formulated fungal culture media.

Read more : Microplastic Contamination in Chinnamuttom Coast Seawaters: An Investigative Study |InformativeBD

Introduction

Culture media play a pivotal role in any microbiology laboratory. They are widely employed for isolation, identification and sensitivity testing of different pathogenic microorganisms. Most of the laboratories usually prepare their own media for routine diagnostics as well as research purposes (Basu et al., 2005). Without high-quality media, the possibility of achieving accurate, reproducible and repeatable microbiological test results is reduced. A microbiological culture medium is a substance that encourages the growth, support, and survival of microorganisms.

Culture media contains nutrients, growth promoting factors, energy sources, buffer salts, minerals, metals, and gelling agents (for solid media). Culture media has been used by microbiologists since the nineteenth century. Even with the increased use of rapid methods the majority of techniques found in the pharmaceutical quality control laboratory require growth media. For the assessment of culture media, no one definitive standard exists.

Media containing high carbohydrate source, nitrogen source are required for the growth of fungi at pH range of 5 to 6, and a temperature range from 15 to 37˚C. There are two general types of fungal culture media: natural and synthetic. Natural media are composed of natural substrates, such as herbaceous or woody stems, seeds, leaves, corn meal, wheat germ, and oatmeal etc. Natural media are usually easy to prepare but they have the disadvantage of their unknown composition. Some examples include corn meal agar, potato dextrose agar, V-8 juice agar, and dung agar. Synthetic media, on the other hand, contain ingredients of known composition. These types of media can be duplicated with precision each time they are made and contain defined amounts of carbohydrates, nitrogen, and vitamin sources. Czapek- Dox medium, glucoseasparagine and Neurosporacrassa minimal medium fall in this category.

One of the standard approaches to the laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections is the cultivation of the causative fungus and its subsequent identification.

For any fungus to be cultivated for any purpose, it is necessary to provide the appropriate biochemical and biophysical environments. The biochemical or nutritional environment is made available as culture medium (ASM, 2019).

However, these culture media are not readily available and expensive and thus their usage in small diagnostic laboratories has undoubtedly decreased. With this situation at hand, the protocols of proper disease diagnosis which involves the isolation and identification of the etiologic agent in a disease has been commonly disregarded.

As a consequence, there is unnecessary and inadequate administration of medications that would possibly result to the development of resistance by these microorganisms. Analyzing such circumstances, simple culture media in dehydrated form with low cost using abundant naturally occurring resources such sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), cassava, (Manihot esculenta), ube (Dioscorea alata L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta), and potato (Solanum tuberosum) shall be formulated. Generally, the study aimed to develop fungal culture media in dehydrated form utilizing selected locally available root crops such as cassava (Manihot esculenta), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), ube (Dioscorea alata L.), taro (Colocasia esculenta), and potato (Solanum tuberosum). Specifically, the objectives of the study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics of the formulated culture media such as the color, clarity, gel strength, ash, moisture, crude protein, crude fat and total carbohydrate contents.

Reference

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Basu S, Bose C, Ojha N, Das N, Das J, Pal M, Khurana S. 2015. Evolution of bacterial and fungal growth media. Bioinformation 11(4), 182-184. Retrieved on December 6, 2019 from https:// ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC4479053

Basu S, Pal A, Desai PK. 2005. Quality control of culture media in a microbiology laboratory. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology 23(3), 159-163. Retrieved on April 30, 2021 from http://www. bioline.org.br/request?mb05047.

Boundless. 2021. Culture Media Retrieved on May 11, 2021 from https://bio.libretexts.org/ Bookshelves /Microbiology/Book%3A_Microbiology_(B67 Oundless)/6%3A_Culturing_Microorganisms/6.3% 3A_Culturing_Bacteria/6.3A%3A_Culture_Media.

Chalapathi V, Yuvaraj TV, Jaganathan A. 2010. Formulation of Paracetamol Tablets Using a Novel Binder Isolated from Manihote esculenta L. and its Evaluation. International Journal of Chem Tech Research 2(1), 406- 411, Jan-Mar 2010 ISSN: 0974-4290.

Ebuehi OAT, Babalola O, Ahmed Z. 2018. Phytochemical, nutritive and anti-nutritive composition of cassava (Manihot esculenta L) tubers and leaves. Nigerian Food Journal 23(1), 40-46. Nigerian Institute of Food 68 Science and Technology. Retrieved on April 22, 2020 from https://www.ajol. info//index.php/nifoj/article/view

Heuzé V, Thiollet H, Tran G, Boudon A, Lebas F. 2018. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers. Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. Retrieved on January 29, 2021 from https:// www.feedipedia.org/node/547.

Lehman S. 2020. Potato Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. Retrieved on January 29, 2021 from https://www.verywellfit.com/are-potatoes-good-for-you-2506382.

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Waisundara VY. 2017. Introductory Chapter: Cassava as a Staple Food. https://www. intechopen. com/books/cassava/ introductory- chapter-cassava-as-a staple-food. Retrieved on April 22, 2020 from https://www.intechopen.com/books/cassava/introductory-chapter-cassava-as-a staple-food

Wang S, Nie S, Zhu F. 2016. Chemical constituents and health effects of sweet potato. Food Res Int. 2016 Nov; 89(Pt 1), 90-116. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres. 2016.08.032. Retrieved on April 22, 2020 from https: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28460992

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Zimbro MJ, Power DA, Miller SM, Wilson GE, Johnson JA. 2009. Difco & BBL Manual. Manual of Microbiological Culture Media. Second Edition. ISBN 0-9727207-1-5.Retrieved on December 15, 2020 from google.com/search?q=difco+%26+bbl+manual+ 2nd+edition&safe.

Source : Physicochemical characteristics of the formulated culture media using locally available root crops 

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Microplastic Contamination in Chinnamuttom Coast Seawaters: An Investigative Study | InformativeBD

N. Sivalingitha, Jeni Chandar Padua, P. C. Jeba Preethi Jansi, and J. Agnel, from the different institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Microplastic Contamination in Chinnamuttom Coast Seawaters: An Investigative Study. Entitled, Microplastic footprints in the seawaters of Chinnamuttom Coast, Kanyakumari: An investigation. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study examines the microplastics contamination in marine waters along the Chinnamuttom coast. Density separation, filtration and sieving methods are employed to collect microplastics. The morphology, shape and colour of the microplastics collected were determined through visual analysis using microscopic identification. Microplastics were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and FT-Raman spectroscopic investigations. The study revealed the presence of microplastics smaller than 5 mm. Approximately 70 mg of dried microplastics were obtained per 5 liters of water. The microplastics primarily consisted of fibers, pellets, and fragments, exhibiting a range of colours including orange pellets, black filaments and fibers in blue, pink, white and purple hues. Particles as small as 20 µm in diameter were detected using scanning electron microscopy, while Raman spectroscopy identified polymers such as polystyrene and nylon through their distinctive vibrational peaks, confirming the presence of bonds like C-H, aldehyde and C=C. The extensive pollution underscores critical ecological issues facing the Chinnamuttom coastal environment, potentially intensified by nearby fishing and tourism practices. The results emphasize the critical necessity for approaches aimed at reducing microplastic contamination in these aquatic environments to safeguard marine biodiversity and the overall health of ecosystems.

Read more : Effect of Ginger Rhizome Sett Size on Plantlet Production for Planting Materials | InformativeBD

Introduction

Microplastics are defined as plastic fragments or particles that measure less than 5 mm in diameter, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic materials (Pellini et al., 2018). 

Microplastics are widespread in the environment, particularly in marine settings, as a result of hydrodynamic processes and transportation via wind and ocean currents. Large ocean gyres such as the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, along with polar regions and the equator, host them, stretching from coastal areas to the open seas (Galgani et al., 2013). Microplastics are characterized by a variety of morphologies, including foils, foams, fibers, granules, fragments, and microbeads (Klein et al., 2018).

Microplastics can be classified into two categories based on their original dimensions. Municipal effluent could directly introduce industrially produced particulates and powders, originally designed as plastic microbeads, into the ocean as primary microplastics (Cole et al., 2011). Various physical, biological, and chemical processes fragment and degrade substantial plastic pieces, resulting in smaller particles known as secondary microplastics that may enter marine ecosystems (Arias-Villamizar et al., 2018).

Secondary microplastics refer to the fragmentation of larger plastic materials resulting from various forms of degradation, including biological processes involving microbial species, photodegradation caused by solar ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion due to wave action. Mechanical damage, photodegradation, and oxidative degradation are all mechanisms that degrade fragile polymers into microplastics in the ocean (Wagner et al., 2014).

A diverse array of sources contributes to microplastic pollution in the marine environment, broadly classified as inland-based, sea-based, and air-based (Andrady, 2011; Browne et al., 2011). According to Lebreton et al. (2017), rivers are the most critical conduits for the transportation of microplastics from inland regions to the ocean. The terrestrial environment is the source of approximately 80% of the plastic debris in the ocean (Andrady, 2011; Mani et al., 2015). Rivers transport plastic debris from urban drainage systems and sewage effluents to the sea, while coastal tourists immediately dispose of their plastic garbage in the environment (Andrady, 2011). Marine sources come from fisheries, maritime transport, and offshore industry (Bell et al., 2017). Plastic debris may end up in the waterways due to broken or lost fishing or aquaculture gear (Law and Thompson, 2014). 

Due to their increased bioavailability and potential negative effects on marine ecosystems over the long term, microplastics are expected to garner significant public attention in the next few years (Velzeboer et al., 2014). Although the exact nature of microplastics (MPs) and the harm they do to marine life is still largely unknown, there is mounting evidence that these contaminants pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems (Chen et al., 2017). Measures and initiatives are necessary to address the issues arising from microplastics and enhance plastic waste management. Hence, the present study aims to classify the microplastics based on their shape, size, colour and to evaluate the chemical composition of microplastics found in the seawater of the Chinnamuttom coast.

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Velzeboer I, Kwadijk CJAF, Koelmans AA. 2014. Strong sorption of PCBs to nanoplastics, microplastics, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes. Environmental Science & Technology 48, 4869–4876.

Wagner M, Scherer C, Alvarez-Muñoz D, Brennholt N, Bourrain X, Buchinger S, Fries E, Grosbois C, Klasmeier J, Marti T, Rodriguez-Mozaz S. 2014. Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know. Environmental Sciences Europe 26, 1–9.

Wright SL, Kelly FJ. 2017. Plastic and human health: A micro issue. Environmental Science & Technology 51, 6634–6647.

Source : Microplastic footprints in the seawaters of Chinnamuttom Coast, Kanyakumari: An investigation  

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Effect of Ginger Rhizome Sett Size on Plantlet Production for Planting Materials | InformativeBD

Junifer Rey E. Tabafunda, and Genaro D. Omo, from the different institute of  Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Effect of Ginger Rhizome Sett Size on Plantlet Production for Planting Materials. Entitled, Capability of the different sizes of ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome setts in producing plantlets as planting materials. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) plants are perennials and the rhizomes have a pungent taste which is very important for flavoring various food products specifically in Asian cuisine. In ginger production, the matured rhizomes are commonly used as planting materials which contributes to the highest total production cost. Therefore, other kinds of planting materials could be considered, such as using plantlets. The most common method of rapid propagation in many crops is the tissue culture method, usually done in the laboratory. On the other hand, the use of certain plant parts has also the potential for rapid propagation. Moreover, they could be adopted by any farmer because it does not require expensive facilities and special skills, lower cost of production and the propagated plantlets can be directly transplanted in the field due to their quick adaptability to varied climatic conditions. Hence, this study aims to; evaluate the effects of the different sizes of rhizomes on the propagation of plantlets to be used as planting materials, and to determine the most productive size of rhizomes to produce plantlets. The result revealed that the 150g rhizome sett had the highest number of plantlets produced per sett (8.53) and the highest net income from recovered rhizome setts. (PhP 53,590.00) after gathering the plantlets, while the 50g sett has the highest number of plantlets produced per kilogram of rhizome sett with 85.67 plantlets.

Read more : Ecological Impact of Mining on the Cavally River in Western Côte d’Ivoire | InformativeBD

Introduction

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) plants belong to the family Zingiberaceae, perennials, and are endemic to tropical Southeast Asia (Adegbola and Olufunmilola, 2017). The rhizomes are very familiar as flavoring of foods and natural additives of other products due to their pungent taste for more than 2000 years (Bartley and Jacobs, 2000). The importance of the ginger rhizome is the flavor, which contains essential oils and oleoresins (Rhode et al., 2007). The odor is due to its components such as volatile oils zingerone, shogaols, and the gingerols which is 3% of the fresh weight of the ginger (Moghaddasi and Kashani, 2012). It is also an important home remedy for various illnesses. It thrives in various climatic conditions in tropical and semi-temperate countries. 

The worldwide production of ginger in 2020 reached 4.3 million tons, wherein India had the highest production which shared 43% of the total world supply. It was followed by Nigeria, China, and Nepal (FAO, 2021). In ginger production, the most common planting materials used by farmers in the Philippines and in some countries are the matured rhizomes. During planting season, the cost of rhizomes increases significantly. Likewise, the required volume of rhizomes needed is very high. 

On the other hand, it was reported that the tissuecultured plantlets can be used as planting materials. This method of propagation has been considered to be an effective means of eliminating pathogens from the vegetative source of the material. The propagation of plantlets by this method can be done throughout the year. However, the tissue-cultured plantlets are very expensive and they had poor success in outplanting in the field hampering its full commercialization (Freyre et al., 2019). The major reason that causes its high cost is the use of culture media such as agar-agar as a gelling agent, sucrose (as a carbon source), etc. Infrastructure, electricity, and maintenance contributed to the high cost of operation that hampers its success (Gupta and Verma, 2011). Tissue-cultured derived plantlets are a possible alternative planting material with uniform and disease-free material. However, tissue-cultured plantlets are much more expensive as compared to the seed rhizomes with possible lower yield during the first production cycle.

On the other hand, other methods have the potential for rapid propagation of plantlets, such as the sowing of certain plant parts like the rhizomes. Moreover, the production cost of this method is cheaper since it does not use expensive infrastructures, electricity, and maintenance and the procedure could be easily adopted by the farmers.

Hence, the aims of this study are; to evaluate the effects of the different sizes of rhizomes in the production of plantlets as planting materials, and to determine the cost and return of the different sizes of rhizomes on the production of plantlets.

Reference

Adegbola OD, Olufunmilola AA. 2017. Comparative study of the effect of dry and wet ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) spice on the proximate and microbial safety of soybean beverage. Croatian Journal of Food Science and Technology 9(2), 130 – 135.

Bartley J, Jacobs A. 2000. Effects of drying on flavor compounds in Australian-grown ginger (Zingiber officinale). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 80(2), 209-215.

Bhagyalakshmi B, Shanthi N, Singh N. 1994. The yield and quality of ginger produced by micropropagated plants as compared with conventionally propagated plants. Journal of Horticultural Science 69 (4), 645-651. https://doi.org/10. 1080/14620316.1994.11516496

Blay ET, Danquash EY, Anim-Kwapong G. 1998. Influence of set size and spacing on yield and multiplication ratio of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). Ghana Journal of Agriculture and Sciences 31, 175-180.

Flores S, Retana-Cordero M, Fisher PR, Freyre R, Gómez C. 2021. Effect of Photoperiod, Propagative Material, and Production Period on Greenhouse-grown Ginger and Turmeric Plants. HortScience 56(12), 1476–1485. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16025-21.

Food and Agriculture Organization. 2021. Ginger production in 2019. Crops/ Regions/World/Production/Quantity (from pick lists). FAOSTAT. FAO, Statistics Division. 2021.

Freyre R, Flores S, Gómez C, Fisher PR. 2019. Evaluation of edible ginger as a greenhouse crop. Acta Horticulturae 1251, 119-124. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic. 2019.1251.16

Gupta RK, Verma VS. 2011. Quality Planting Material Production through Efficient and Low-Cost Micro Propagation Protocol in Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.). http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:vetos&volume=24&issue=1&article=016

Hossain MA, Ishimine Y, Akamine H, Motomura K. 2005. Effects of seed rhizome size on growth and yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Plant Prod. Sci. 8, 86-94.

Mahender B, Reddy PSS, Sivaram GT, Balakrishna M, Prathap B. 2015. Effect of seed rhizome size and plant spacing on growth, yield and quality of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) under coconut cropping system. Plant Archives 15, 769-774.

Moghaddasi MS, Kashani HH. 2012. Ginger (Zingiber officinale): A review. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 6(26), 4255-4258. DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.787 ISSN 1996-0875

Nair KP. 2019. “Ginger as a Spice and Flavorant”, Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) – World’s Invaluable Medicinal Spices, Springer International Publishing. pp. 541–554. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29189-1_26

Rahman H, Alam M, Nishi NJ, Islam MS. 2022. Influences of Transplanting Approaches of Propagation on Growth, Yield and Economics of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) Cultivation. ISPEC Journal of Agricultural Sciences 6(4), 752-76.

Rhode J, Fogoros S, Zick S, Wahl H, Griffith KA, Huang J, Liu JR. 2007. Ginger inhibits cell growth and modulates angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 7, 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-7-44

Sengupta DK, Dasgupta B. 2011. Effect of weight of planting material on growth and yield of ginger (Zinger officinale Rosc.)  in the hilly region of Darjeeling district. Environment and Ecology 29(2), 666-669.

Source : Capability of the different sizes of ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizome setts in producing plantlets as planting materials 

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Ecological Impact of Mining on the Cavally River in Western Côte d’Ivoire | InformativeBD

Doffou Richard Jean Olive, Kamagate Bakagnan, Kouassi Koumoin Henry Delmas,  Boussou Koffi Charles, Add Zea Bi Ue Claver, and Bony Kotchi Yves, from the different institute of  Côte d’Ivoire. wrote a Research Article about, Ecological Impact of Mining on the Cavally River in Western Côte d’Ivoire. Entitled, Influence of mining on the ecological quality of the cavally river (Western Cote D’ivoire). This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the ecological quality of a section of the river Cavally through physico-chemical variables. These parameters were measured seasonally in situ between April 2015 and May 2017. At each sampling station, water temperature, conductivity, TDS, dissolved oxygen and pH were measured twice a day. The results obtained show that the spatial variation in physico-chemical parameters showed a significant difference between the mean values obtained upstream, in the mining area and downstream (Kruskall-Wallis ; p ˂ 0.05 ; ANOVA ; p ˂ 0.05). Overall, stream substrate varied from station to station. The mining zone was not positively correlated with any species. It is characterised by high water temperature and depth. The downstream zone, on the other hand, has high values for conductivity and canopy but is positively correlated with a number of species, notably Hepsetus odoe, Petrocephalus pellegrini and Heterobranchus longifilis.

Read more : Extreme Weather Events and Their Impact on Urban Crop Production in Kinondoni, Tanzania |InformativeBD

Introduction

Essential for life, freshwater plays a central role in the development of human civilizations because aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems do not function independently of each other (Omernick and Bailey, 1997). However, human influences on aquatic biotope and its biocenosis are very diverse. According to Ibarra (2004), water and soil use are based on the four main human activities that can impact hydrosystems. Changes in the morphology of rivers, their physico-chemical properties and different uses have consequences on water quantity and quality (Cooper et al., 1998). Aquatic biodiversity is threatened by anthropogenic activities mainly agriculture and mining that have intensified in recent years, especially in the Cavally basin and especially in the Ivorian part of its upper course at the level of the locality of Ity (Kamagaté, 2019). Among aquatic resources, fish are highly vulnerable to chemicals used in gold panning (Sanogo et al., 2012). Indeed, several rivers including the river Cavally (Zouanhounien) are impacted by this activity. 

The distribution of freshwater fish is subject to many influences. These influences are ecological in relation to the effects of anthropogenic activities (disappearance of specific habitats, species extinction, hybridization, etc.) (Kamelan, 2014; Kouassi et al., 2017).

Many research works (Konan et al., 2007; Aboua, 2012) have been conducted on the impact of agricultural and industrial activities and on fish populations in Côte d'Ivoire but very few concerned the impact of mining activities. The objective of this study is (1) to evaluate the impact of mining on the ecological quality of this portion of the Cavally River through the physico-chemical variables and (2) their influences on the organization of the ichthyological settlement.

Reference

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Aboua BRD, Kouamélan EP, N’Douba V. 2012. Development of a fish-based index of biotic integrity (FIBI) to assess the quality of Bandama River in Côte d’Ivoire. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 404(8), 1-19.

Barendregt A, Bio AMF. 2003. Relevant variables to predict macrophyte communities in running waters. Ecological Modelling 160, 205-217.

Bengen D, Lim P, Beland A. 1992. Qualité des eaux de trois bras morts de la Garonne : variabilité spatio-temporelle. Revue des Sciences de l’Eau 5, 131-156.

Brou LA. 2019. Modélisation de la dynamique hydrologique du fleuve Cavally sous influence de fortes pressions anthropiques dans la zone de Zouan-hounien (Côte d’Ivoire). Thèse de Doctorat, UFR Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire, 178p.

Cooper S, Diehl S, Kratz K, Sarnelle O. 1998. Implications of scale for patterns and processes in stream ecology. Australian Journal of Ecology 23, 27-40.

Earthworks FS. 2018. Hardrock Mining and Acid Mine Drainage. http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/FS_AMD.pdf

Edia OE. 2008. Diversité taxonomique et structure des peuplements de l’entomofaune des rivières côtières Soumié, Eholié, Ehania, Noé (Sud-est, Côte d’Ivoire). Thèse de Doctorat, UFR des Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 152 p.

Ettien DZ. 2005. Etude d’évaluation de l’impact des exploitations minières sur l’environnement et les populations en Afrique de l’ouest : cas de la mine d’or d’Ity dans la région semi-montagneuse de l’ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire. Apport du système d’informations géographique (SIG) et de la Télédétection. Thèse de Doctorat, UFR STRM, Université Félix Houphouët Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 163p.

Gbalo BMB. 2019. Diversité et statut de conservation de l’ichtyofaune du lac de Buyo à Guessabo (Bassin du fleuve Sassandra) au Centre-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire. Mémoire de Master de Biodiversité et Gestion Durable des Ecosystèmes Option: Gestion et Conservation de la faune sauvage, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire, 47p.

Ibarra AA. 2004. Les peuplements de poissons comme outil pour la gestion de la qualité environnementale du réseau hydrographique de la Garonne. Thèse de Doctorat, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Toulouse, France, 133p.

Kamagaté EAI. 2019. Diversité et dynamique des macroinvertébrés benthiques : outil d’évaluation de la qualité des eaux du bassin supérieur du fleuve Cavally sous influence d’activités minières (Ouest, Côte d’Ivoire). Thèse de Doctorat, UFR Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire, 214p.

Kamelan TM. 2014. Peuplement ichtyologique de quelques hydrosystèmes de l’espace Taï (Côte d’Ivoire). Thèse de Doctorat, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 277p.

Koffi B. 2017. Dimensionnement du canal de dérivation du fleuve Cavally à l’aide d’un modèle hydraulique 1D. Master Génie de l’environnement et de l’eau, UFR Environnement, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire, 50p.

Konan KF, Ouattara A, Ouattara M, Gourène G. 2007. Weight-length relationship of 57 fish species. Ribarstvo 65(2), 49-60.

Kouamé KA. 2010. Diversité biologique et habitudes alimentaires de quelques espèces de poissons dans le cours inférieur du bassin du fleuve Sassandra (Côte d’Ivoire). Thèse de Doctorat, UFR Biosciences, Université Cocody-Abidjan, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 219p.

Kouassi KL, Konan KF, Konan KS. 2017. Etat des lieux du fleuve Cavally dans le département de Zouan-Hounien (Ouest Côte d’Ivoire): Aperçu de la géomorphologie, l’hydrologie, l’hydrochimie et l’hydrobiologie. Rapport d’étude – SMI-ENDEAVOR MINING / UJLOG, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire, 58p.

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Lery S. 2009. Mesures en continu des températures sur quelques rivières des pays de la Loire. Rapport DIREN, 16p. Willis D.W. (Eds). American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland, USA: 83-120.

N’da AS. 2015. Biodiversité, structure du peuplement ichtyologique et relations trophiques d’un bassin du nord de la Côte d’Ivoire : cas de la rivière bagoé. Thèse de Doctorat, UFR Biosciences, Université de Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 220p.

Omernick JM, Bailey RG. 1997. Distinguishing between watersheds and ecoregions. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 33, 935-949.

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Ouéda A. 2009. Zooplancton et alimentation des poissons des lacs artificiels de Bagré et Loumbila (Burkina Faso). Thèse de Doctorat, Université de Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 156p.

Ouedraogo AH. 2010. L’impact de l’exploitation artisanale de l’or (orpaillage) sur la santé et l’environnement: Cas de l’utilisation du mercure dans l’exploitation artisanale de l’or et l’évaluation des impacts sur la santé et l’environnement au Burkina Faso. Mediaterre. Consulté le 05-08-2019. https://www.mediaterre.org/membres/Aboubakar.

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Sanogo Y, Traoré D, Samaké F, Koné A. 2012. Les communautés ichtyologiques de la rivière Baoulé dans le bassin du fleuve Niger au Mali. Tropicultura 30(2), 65-71.

Sonnenberg R, Busch E. 2009. Description of a new genus and two new species of killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) from West Africa, with a discussion of the taxonomic status of Aphyosemion maeseni Poll, 1941. Zootaxa 2294, 1-22.

Source : Influence of mining on the ecological quality of the cavally river (Western Cote D’ivoire) 

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Extreme Weather Events and Their Impact on Urban Crop Production in Kinondoni, Tanzania | InformativeBD

Asnath Alberto Malekela, and Pius Yanda, from the different institute of  Tanzania.. wrote a Research Article about, Extreme Weather Events and Their Impact on Urban Crop Production in Kinondoni, Tanzania. Entitled, Extreme weather events and their impact on urban crop production: A case of Kinondoni District, Tanzania. This research paper published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR). an open access scholarly research journal on Agronomy. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Extreme weather events are anticipated to increase the existing challenges and generate new combination of vulnerabilities, especially in developing countries. Agricultural sector is the most vulnerable due to overreliance on unpredictable rainfall. This study examined the impact of extreme weather events on urban crop production and its adaptation strategies applied by the farmers. Secondary data were collected through literature survey and primary data were collected using structured interviews, observations and focus group discussions. A total of 108 crop farmers were interviewed in two wards of Kinondoni District. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used to analyze the data and Pearson Chi-square was used to test the statistical significance between variables. The study observed that, farmers perceived extreme weather events including floods (39%), extreme temperatures (36%), and drought (25%). These extreme weather events affected negatively crop production leading damaging of crops and low yields (38%), outbreak of crop pests and disease (38%), drying of water sources (20%), and loss of soil fertility (4%). Crop farmers used various adaptation strategies such as crop diversification (28%), the use of pesticides (23%), changing of cropping patterns and planting calendar (16%), irrigation practices (18%) and replanting (10%). The study recommends for adoption of new farming systems such as vertical farming systems for better output with the use of limited water and land resources.

Read more : Sustainable Mass Production of Moina sp.: Optimizing Outdoor Cultivation Systems | InformativeBD

Introduction

Extreme weather events are having considerable impact on urban crop production which is the major basis of food and income to a large section of the urban population. The growing occurrence and severity of droughts, floods, increased temperatures and other extreme weather events rigorously affect the crop producers in various areas. Diverse types of weather extremes are anticipated to increase and become further recurrent in a number of regions worldwide due to climate change (IPCC, 2012). There is a correlation between extreme weather events (EWE) and climate change as since 1950’s, there has been increased temperatures. Climate change is affecting the intensity, frequency, and spatialtemporal extent of EWE (IPCC 2012). An increase of extreme and uncertain events is a characteristic of the most recent climate scenarios (Smith 2011; Fischer 2013). The extent of regions affected by droughts has also increased as precipitation over the land has slightly decreased while evaporation has increased due to warmer conditions. Also the numbers of profound daily precipitation events that lead to flooding have augmented. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events (EWE) related to climate change (CC) represents a severe threat to crop production (Motha, 2011; IPCC, 2007). Studies on climate modeling in diverse scenarios at both global and local scales points to a rise in the regularity of extreme weather events (Swaminathan & Rengalakshmi 2016; Solomon et al. (2007). 

Rapid urbanization in developed and developing regions has led to increased food insecurity. One response to food insecurity is the establishment of urban crop production. In these regions, urban farming plays an important role in diversifying urban diets and providing environmental services by greening the cities and making productive reuse of urban wastes and thus making cities a desirable areas to live (Oyedipe, 2009; Mlozi et al., 2014). Cities occupy a small percentage (4%) of the land globally but now are habitats for over half the global population (Potts, 2012; Seto et al., 2011). It has been estimated that by the year 2050, the world’s population is expected to grow to 9.7 billion people, while, about 6.4 billion people (64%) will be living in cities and thus, feeding it will be a huge challenge (UN, 2019). The increasing demand for food and the high rate of unemployment has further worsened the city situation. Traders, civil servants and artisans are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the high cost of living due to the stagnant income in the urban areas; all these have promoted crop production within the vicinity of the city (Olayioye, 2012). 

Extreme weather events associated with climate change create significant challenges for crop production in urban areas (Mlozi et al., 2014). Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) data shows for decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature in Dar es Salaam region over the past 30 years. It has been reported that, the total annual rainfall in 1986 was 1430.9mm, this had decreased to 782.9mm in 2016, while the minimum and maximum temperatures have increased steadily from an average monthly minimum temperature of 20.7°C in 1986 to 23.2°C in 2016 (TMA, 2017). These variations in temperature and rainfall affect crop production negatively. 

The general effects of the extreme weather events on crop production are complex predicaments that require an urgent effort to ascertain efficient and sustainable managing systems (Cogato et al., 2019). In the current decades, the attention of the scientific community on climate change and its impacts on various sectors has considerably augmented. The IPCC (2014) has reported for the increase in number of publications dealing with the impact of climate change on agriculture, its vulnerability and the best adaptation strategies has more than doubled between 2005 and 2010 and this increasing trend has sustained in succeeding years. The rising interest on the impact of climate change on agriculture is due to its importance in the global economy, especially in developing countries, provided that the majority of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. However, the global climate change impact requires a continuous perfection to forecast and adapt to extreme weather events.

Urban farming despite of its contribution to food security; the sector has been given less attention as some scholars discourage urban farming by referring to as a ruralization of urban settings. Most studies on extreme weather events and climate change impacts on agriculture have focused on rural farming. Herefore this study tintended investigate the impact of extreme weather events on urban crop production and its adaptation strategies.

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Source: Extreme weather events and their impact on urban crop production: A case of Kinondoni District,Tanzania

 

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