Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume:20 Issue: 3, Summer 2022

The seasonal variation of phytoplankton, zooplankton (holoplankton) and ctenophore (Mnemiopsis leidyi) were investigated at eight transects from east to west in the South Caspian Sea. In spring (May), the most abundance of zooplankton was observed in the east area, where the temperature was over 19 °C, phytoplankton and M. leidyi were lower than 10 × 106 cells m-3 and 10 to 20 ind. m-3 respectively. In summer (August), the zooplankton and phytoplankton population increased by over 7000 ind. m-3 and over 50×106 cells m-3 in the east area respectively. When temperature was higher than 24 °C, M. leidyi increased in warm season (August) and also in November. Zooplankton and phytoplankton were elevated in winter and reached the maximum amount, while M. leidyi decreased sharply. In this study, we observed alterations in phytoplankton, zooplankton and M. leidyi in the South Caspian Sea from west to east along with the effects of temperature and seasonal variations on their distribution.

Plants that can accumulate metals to exceptionally high concentrations in their shoots are so-called hyper-accumulators. To further quantify potential interactions between Ni and Cu, the Alyssuem murale grown in soils with factorial additions of NiSO4·6 H2O (0, 50, 250, 500 and 750 mg kg-1 Ni = Ni-T0, 50, 250 and 750) and/or CuSO4·H2O (0, 50, 250 and 500 mg kg-1 Cu = Cu-T0, 50, 250 and 500) salts were investigated. The experiments were carried out in pots in a greenhouse under controlled temperature, light conditions and ambient humidity. The test plants for biomass production were harvested three times; 30, 60 and 100 days after germination. Ni and Cu concentrations in the digests were determined by flame atomic absorption. The results showed that by each different levels of Ni, the maximum amount of absorbed Ni was achieved at 50 mg kg-1 Cu concentration. Also, with elevation of Cu concentration, Ni uptake decreased. These results indicated that the Ni-T750   and Cu-T50 at the third time period had the maximum average of 1585 µg kg-1 and was significantly different from the other treatments. The statistical analysis indicated that by the increased Ni levels from zero to 50 mg kg-1 in soil, the performance of the plant dry matter was significantly declined at the all Cu levels. In addition, by the Cu-T50   in the soil, the dry matter amount at the all Ni levels were higher than that of Cu-T0, although the differences were not significant (p < 0.05).

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of spraying different levels of humic acid and nano-fertilizer in Khorramabad region in a temperate climate during 2017-2018 cropping year.  It was carried out in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized block design with three replications. The examined factors included humic acid in three levels (control, seed coating with humic acid and humic acid foliar application as H1, H2 and H3 respectively) and foliar application of nano-fertilizer in four levels (control, one, two, and three times nano-fertilizer spraying as N1, N2, N3 and N4 respectively). The results of mean comparison showed that non-application of humic acid and nano-fertilizer treatments had the lowest fruit yield (28400 kg ha-1). Also, by increasing the number of nano-fertilizer application, the fruit yield of pumpkin was elevated. The results showed that there was no significant difference between treatments of one, two and three times the application of nano fertilizer, however, the highest amount of protein and oil yield were 182.7 and 384.9 kg ha-1 in three treatments which obtained in nano-fertilizer application and the least amount of oil and protein was obtained in control treatment (distilled water). Overall, the results showed that three-time application of nano-fertilizer with humic acid foliar application as well as seed coating with humic acid could significantly improve the quality and quantity of pumpkin seeds. Therefore, using these fertilizer in the climatic conditions of Khorramabad is recommended.

The current study aimed to know the effects of oral administration of Moringa oleifera leaves powder which contains the active substances to prevent the harmful toxic effect of chromium Cr (potassium dichromate; VI) on some hormonal and biochemical tests, in addition to understand the relationship between active compound of Moringa oleifera on testes and liver tissues against chromium toxicity. Thirty-three healthy male white New Zealand rabbits were randomly distributed in three groups (11 rabbits in each group). The first group were orally drenched normal saline considered as a control group. The second, were treated with chromium (40 mg kg-1 body weight/day) to notice experimental toxicity on some blood parameters and tissues structure., The third with 300 mg Moringa oleifera powder /kg diet/day with the chromium (40 mg kg-1 body weight/day). Treating for all groups was continued for 60 days. The results showed negative effects as a significant decrease (p≤ 0.01) in testosterone and inhibin-B hormone, glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), by the increased level of FSH, alanin amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), liver cholesterol and malondialdehyde (MDA), in addition to histological variation in liver and testes in the rabbit serum dealt with chromium (group 2). In contrast, a positive effect was observed as a significant raise in testosterone, inhibin-B hormone, GSH and TAC, by decreased levels of FSH, ALT, AST, liver cholesterol and MDA in the serum dealt with Moringa oleifera (group 3), in addition to the improvement effects on testicular tissue and liver to be closed to normal concentration in control group.

Long-term exposure to large quantities of toxic gases and heavy metals emitted by brick kilns can affect directly or indirectly on farm lactating animals, which influencing human health through consumption of their dairy products. Therefore, we investigated concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) including cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), as well as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), antioxidants, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in addition to malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh milk. Totally, we selected 180 lactating cows; 140 reared / pastured near the active brick kilns as exposed group, and 40 cows existed at agricultural regions as control group during June-August 2021. The findings of exhibited a significant elevation in Cd, Pb, H2S and MDA, while decrease in CAT, GPx and SOD levels in exposed group. Among different age groups, there were variable significant values for the examined parameters. In the cases of  Cd, Pb and H2S levels, significant higher values were observed in a group of >8 year-olds in comparison with a group of < 4, while in the cases of CAT, GPx and SOD, significant drops were detected in the over 8-year-old cows than in the 4-8 and < 4.  Elevated values of MDA by age increasing were also observed. In conclusion, milk and its derivatives may likely exposed to HMs contamination. To date, available information is fragmentary; therefore, further studies of milky products are essential to monitor an existence of HMs regularly and to provide important information about their HM contents.

The aim of this study is to determine the optimum conditions for anthocyanins extracting from the peels of eggplant, onion, red cabbage and pomegranate. The effects of solvent type, ratio of the raw material to solvent, temperature, pH, duration of extraction, and absorbance readings to the range of wavelengths 360-700 nm were examined. For the solvent types, the results showed that the best extraction solvent was ethyl alcohol acidified with citric acid at a concentration of 5% with a pH of 2, followed by ethyl alcohol acidified with hydrochloric acid, then the absolute ethyl alcohol in the third place, and the least was water and acidified water as an extraction solvent. The highest amount of pigment was found in pomegranate peels using ethyl alcohol acidified with citric acid, a value of 76.10 mg 100 g-1 at a wavelength of 390 nm, while the water solvent exhibited the lowest amount extracted pigment of 5.44 mg 100 g-1 at a wavelength of 540 nm in red cabbage peels. The optimum raw/solvent ratio for extraction was 40:1 weight (W)/ volume (V) in onion and eggplant peels with a value of 122.01 and 79.72 mg 100 g-1, respectively, while the ratio of 1:20 (W/V) was the best for extracting both cabbage leaves and pomegranate peels. Temperature results indicated that the highest amount of anthocyanins is extracted at 60 °C for red cabbage, pomegranate and eggplant, with a value of 70.56, 96.21 and 118.43 mg 100 g-1, respectively. On the other hand the temperature of 50°C was the best for extracting onion peels, with pigment amount of 122.01 mg 100 g-1. Finally, the best time duration to extract the pigment is 60 minutes in all raw materials included in the study.

Welding workers exposed to various risks resulting in different harms, hazard health effects, and even, sometimes, death. Moreover, air pollution that results from welding operation leads to consequent human hurts. Therefore, this study comes to investigate the potential DNA damage as an indicator of health problems in welding workers. In this study, blood samples of forty welders and twenty non-welders were collected, and Oxiselect comet assay kit was used. The results showed that there were a significant change in low, and high comet percentage of control compared to welders, while there was no significant difference in medium comet percentage between control and welders.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health threats increased globally in this century. This study is aimed to determine the compounds with antimicrobial activity exhibited in Actinobacteria as a source for new antibiotic to treat highly-resistant bacteria. The Actinobacteria isolated from the soil around buckthorn and palm old trees using IPS4 agar media for first screening. ISP2 agar and broth media were used for Actinobacteria identification and fermentation and secondary metabolites production respectively. Secondary metabolites screening was done using extracellular crude extract against extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and beta lactam resistant Staphylococcus aureus by well diffusion method. The total number of Actinobacterial isolates was 10, most of them showed good antimicrobial activity appeared by a particularly good zone of inhibition around resistant bacteria. This finding gives a promise that Streptomyces in soil around buckthorn and palm old trees considered as a source for new antibiotics.

This study designed to establish a reference data and compare the reproductive hormone profiles of both sexes of dromedary camels in rutting and non-rutting seasons in Samawa Province, Iraq. Therefore twenty four adult healthy camels (12 males and 12 females) were used to determine reproductive hormone levels (estradiol, FSH, LH, progesterone and testosterone). Some electrolyte and minerals (Ca, K, Na, Cu, and Zn) were also measured to ensure their effects on sexual hormones. The antioxidant and stress status take in consideration by measured cortisol and glutathione peroxidase concentrations. The results revealed there were a significant difference in reproductive hormones between males (LH, progesterone and testosterone) and females (estradiol, FSH, LH, progesterone and testosterone) during rutting and non- rutting seasons, although no significant difference was found about electrolytes and minerals on both sexes. The antioxidant and stress status of both sexes also appeared non-significant effect for glutathione peroxidase and cortisol when compared to both sexes of camels. These results exhibited difference in reproductive hormones of male and female camels during the rutting and non-rutting seasons.

A field experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to study the effect of bacterial inoculation (non-inoculation, inoculation with Bacillus spp., Inoculation with A. chroococcum, inoculation with P. fluorescens, and co-inoculation) on the amount of major nutrients in maize. Two levels of salinity of irrigation water were 3 and 6 dSm-1 and four levels of phosphate fertilizer were 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg P. ha-1 in the form of superphosphate fertilizer (21% P) to investigate the weight of 100 grain of maize plants and its leaves content of N, P and K nutrients.   The results indicated that the co-inoculation with Bacillus spp., A. chroococcum and P. fluorescens was superior to increase the weight of 100 grains and the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the vegetative of maize plant by 44.99% and 12.98%, 156.5% and 39.5%, respectively, compared to the un-inoculated control irrigated with 6 dS m-1 saline water and not fertilized with phosphorus, and reduced the phosphate fertilizer recommend by 33%. The inoculation with Bacillus spp. treatment was not differ significantly from P. fluorescens inoculation in most of these traits.

Antipyretic drugs such as suspensions of mefenamic acid (ponstan), Ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) are the most common drugs that wildly used in children to decrease the fever, pain and inflammation. From clinical observations of children using these drugs, they cause gastrointestinal complications and from this, the idea of this research was to find the effect of these drugs on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract in Swiss albino mice. In the present study, we used 30 mice classified into five groups including G1 as control group, G2 received 15 mg/kg/day panadol, G3, 30 mg/kg/day ibuprofen, G4, 5 mg/kg/day ponstan and G5, a combination of panadol and ibuprofen in the same previously- mentioned doses for 7 days respectively. The gastric histological sections of G2 exhibited normal mucosal; G4 displayed mild mucosal glandular hyperplasia; while G3 and G5 e appeared flat mucosal surface with submucosal hyperplasia of gland mild atypical cells; and G2 revealed mucosal glandular hyperplasia. The intestine histological sections of G2 appeared normal intestinal villi with mild inflammatory cells infiltration; G3 showed dispersed slight shortening of intestinal villi with mild inflammatory cells infiltration; finally, G4 and G5 indicated villi hyperplasia with a slight widening of villi with mild inflammatory cells infiltration. NSAIDs are available over-the-counter drugs for adult and in paediatric population and are considered as a safe medicine if used in properly dose in the short-term. The decision to pick an antipyretic should be dictated by safety, efficacy, effectiveness, duration of action and the integrity of the patient gut.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the most important variables affecting the consumption of poultry white meat (PWM), as well as assessing the current situation of the production capacity of   PWM in Egypt. In addition, descriptive statistics was performed for the most important variables affecting the consumption of   PWM in Egypt. Besides, the most important variables influencing  the consumption of   PWM were determined  using factor analysis  model in the form of  Double logarithmic regression during the period of 2000-2020. To achieve the objectives of the study, descriptive and quantitative analysis methods were used, represented by using some of multiple statistical methods and models to estimate the linear regression in double logarithmic form and the factor analysis of the most important variables influencing the consumption of   PWM in Egypt. According to the results, the value of white meat amounted about 22.47 billion LE (£L = Egyptian pound) annually, representing 8.86% of the value of agricultural production during 2000-2020. Also, the results showed a significant relationship between exchange rate, per capita PWM, population, time, consumer price of municipal poultry meat and consumption of   PWM in Egypt, where a change by 1% in the exchange rate and per capita   PWM, population, time and consumer price of municipal poultry meat leads to an increase in the consumption of   PWM by about 0.056 thousand tons, which is an inverse relationship consistent with the economic logic in association with the exchange rate variable, as well as an elevated consumption of   PWM with about 0.817, 2.396 and 0.045 thousand tons, which is a direct relationship consistent with the economic logic with respect to the per capita variables of   PWM, population  and time, respectively, as well as the decrease in consumption of PWM by about 0.205 thousand tons, which is an inverse relationship consistent with the economic logic in relation to the consumer price variable for municipal poultry meat (according to the consumer's taste as well).

The present experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary magnesium on growth performance, proximate composition, and immune response of juvenile Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus. Fish were fed with six different rations including T1: 32, T2: 185, T3: 380, T4: 592, T5: 790, and T6: 935 mg kg-1 Mg in diet for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, samples were collected for estimating the proximate composition and immunological parameters. Results of the present study showed that dietary Mg level significantly influences on growth performance and proximate body composition. Body weight, BWI, and DG were increased by up to 592 mg kg-1 dietary Mg, while decreased by its higher levels. The significant increase in lysozyme activity (by 790 mg kg-1 of dietary Mg) and immunoglobulin (by 935 mg kg-1) were observed in fish fed with different levels of magnesium supplementation compared to control group, which may be due to immune enhancement. The dietary Mg level of 592 mg kg-1 was suitable for Persian sturgeon based on the growth performance.

Flavonoids were extracted from the leaves and stems of the Capparis spinosa (Caper) plant. The total flavonoids were detected with qualitative and quantitative assays. C. albicans isolates were isolated from patients infected with vaginal candidiasis and these fungal isolates revealed high levels of biofilm formation. Flavonoids isolated from the leaves and stems of the C. spinosa plant were found to have antibiofilm activity against all C. albicans isolates dependent on dose manner. In comparison to the control, flavonoids influence all C. albicans, at 400 µg mL-1, with percentages of biofilm inhibition ranging from 69 to 31%. These findings imply that flavonoids could be useful in treating biofilm-associated C. albicans infections to overcome the difficulties associated with multi-antibiotic resistance.

Damping-off and root-rot diseases of lupine are considered the main problem in lupine production in Egypt. In this study, the effect of two bioagents i.e., Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus megaterium, two chemical inducers i.e., salicylic and citric acid, and mycorrhizal fungus compared to the fungicide Topsin-M70 were tested in vitro, greenhouse and field conditions against Fusarium exysporium, F. Solani, and Rhizoctonia solani are the causes of root rot and damping-off of lupine plants. All of the tests were done in vitro. The tested linear growth of bacteria was significantly slowed by bioagents of the three pathogenic fungi, B. megaterium. The most significant reduction was induced by T. harzianum, which was followed by T. harzianum. Sowing lupine in the seeds soil artificially inoculated with any of the three pathogenic fungi with a large increase in fresh and dry weight. The incidence of pre-and post-emergence damping-off was significantly reduced compared to the control treatment. B.megaterium and Topsin-M70 exhibited the highest percentages of survived plants. In general, in all the tested bio-agents, chemical inducers, the mycorrhizal fungus, and Topsin-M70 under field circumstances, the incidence of damping-off was dramatically reduced. The data obtained revealed all the tested treatments. Peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and chitinase enzymes, which play critical roles in plant metabolism, saw a significant increase inactivity, defense mechanisms that work against pathogens infection.

This study was designed to evaluated the anti- cancerous, antiviral and antibacterial effects of Cymbopogon citratus aqueous leave extracts. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) staining assay has been applied to detect the cytotoxicity and the antiviral properties against measles virus (MV) using cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The antibacterial potency of the extract against Staphylococcus aureus (staph. aureus) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kleb. pneumoniae) was determined using disc diffusion method by means of agar overlay assay. The results showed that C. Citratus extract effectively destroyed Hela cell line after 72 h of exposure. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for the extract was found to be 500 µg mL-1 which exhibited the concentration of 600 µg mL-1 potent antivirus activity. The extract demonstrated antibacterial potency against Staph. aureus with mean inhibition zone 16.4 mm which was higher than that produced by Kleb. pneumoniae with mean inhibition zone of 10.7 mm. C. citratus was a favourable candidate as a natural herb to treat cervical cancers in vitro, restricted the MV replication and has potent antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and negative bacteria isolated from the respiratory tract.

The Azolla and duckweed and their mixture are one of the most important alternatives to feed in fish diets because they contain high levels of proteins and other nutrients and their role in improving production efficiency (2.5 and 5%, respectively), as well as their effects on the growth parameters of common carp during the experimental period (49 days). The experiment included feeding carp using seven experimental diets containing Azolla, duckweed and the mixture. The results of the statistical analysis indicated a significant superiority (P ≤ 0.05) for the seventh treatment (the mixture 5%) for each of the characteristics of final weight, total increase, daily increase, the relative growth, and the specific growth rate compared to the control diet and the rest of the other treatments. A significant superiority of the same seventh treatment (5% mixture) was observed on the amount of feed intake and the food efficiency ratio compared to the control group and the rest of the treatments. The seventh treatment also recorded a significant increase in the rate of protein intake and the percentage of protein efficiency compared to the control and the rest of the treatments. The protein deposited rate and the protein produced value in the second treatment (Azolla 2.5%) were significantly superior (P ≤ 0.05) in fish compared with the control and the rest of the treatments. It reached 7.25 g fish-1 and 58.70% respectively. The results of the statistical analysis of the chemical composition of the fish body after being fed on different experimental diets in the proportion of protein showed that there were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between the treatments, where the proportion of protein in the seventh treatment (the mixture 5%) increased significantly over the control and the rest of the treatments and amounted to 19.87%. There were no significant differences in the percentages of fat and ash among all treatments except for the control in the percentage of ash, which recorded a significant decrease compared to the rest of the treatments, amounted 1.89%. It is concluded that the mixture (Azolla and duckweed) can be used at a rate of 5% as a substitute for soybeans as the best growth criterion.

The current study aimed to estimate the efficiency of Cyperus papyrus for the accumulation of some heavy elements in Shatt al-Basrah Canal - southern Iraq. Six elements (Co, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe) were used during a seasonally period that extended from the autumn 2018 to the summer 2019. These elements were studied in the dissolved and particulate phase of water. In addition, the same elements were studied in the exchangeable and residual phase of the precipitate and in the tissues of C. papyrus. The current study also showed the mechanism of accumulation of heavy elements through water-sediments-aquatic plants. C. papyrus, which was well developed in the Shatt Al Basrah, was used. The system of abundance of elements in water in the dissolved phase was as follows: Ni < Pb < Cd < Cu < Mn < Fe. As for the exchangeable phase of the sediment, it was as follows: Ni < Pb < Cd < Mn < Cu < Fe. The abundance of elements in C. papyrus was as follows: Ni < Pb < Cd < Mn < Cu < Fe.    The study concluded that the accumulation of the studied elements follows the ascending system (water - sediment - aquatic plant). The bioaccumulation factor of the studied elements in the tissues of C. papyrus was as follows: 3.62, 11.27, 8.47, 10.37, 12.58, 11.08 once as much as their concentrations in water, respectively.

Current study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of applying cold and hot aqueous ginger extracts to control onion rot disease caused by Aspergillus niger. We observed significant effect of the cold aqueous ginger extract on reducing the averaged A. niger growth on PDA culture medium and also the decreased average of onion spoilage when dipping in this extract as it exceeded hot aqueous extract. Results showed that there was an inverse relationship between the concentration of ginger and the growth of the pathogenic fungus either on PDA or the average of onion spoilage when it dipped in both extracts. The elevated concentration of ginger extract, decreased its effect on A. niger and vice versa, as the low concentration of ginger extract was significantly exceeded the high concentration in the reduction of the growth of pathogenic fungus when 5 g L-1 resulted in 5.10 and 5.20 cm reduction for cold and hot extracts respectively. Using 30 g L-1 exhibited a reduction in the growth of fungus amounted to 6.45 and 6.70 cm for cold and hot extracts respectively.

The study reported the effect of contamination of Sesuvium portulacastrum L. after exposure to Ag and Pb for four weeks. The results showed that the total protein, chlorophyll, carotene, and biomass declined gradually by elevating   the heavy metal concentrations. Elemental analyses of the leaves were performed using scanning electron microscopy with energy–dispersive- X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The main mineral of control treatment contained 11 elements including carbon (57.50%) followed by oxygen (22.76%) and trace iron and lead. The minerals in the leaves treated with 100 mg L-1 Pb exhibited 12 elements with high levels of lead (52.03%). The leaves treated with 100 mg L-1 Ag showed 11 elements with high levels of silver (43.02%) followed by carbon (34.95%) and oxygen (11.18%). Anatomical study indicated that the Ag and Pb can accumulate in internal tissues and causes several alterations such as shape of leaves, stems and roots, as well as thickness and number of cortical parenchymal cells. In addition, unrecognized the endodermis, and exodermis, the root thickness was 663.21 µm in control group, while in Ag and Pb treatments were 498.32 µm and 375.61 µm respectively.

This study has been conducted to measure the heavy metal concentrations in different trademarks of tea leaves and tea infusion sold in the markets in Babylon Province, Iraq. The Cd, Pb, and Ni concentrations were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The study recorded that cadmium concentrations in dry samples of tea leaves or its hot drink were 2.43 ppm, while the lowest value was 0.2 ppm in T-5 sample as dry granules to gain colour. The samples of T-1 were grains for taste which recorded 0.2 ppm. It is within the normal limits allowed by the World Health Organization, but close to the limits allowed by the British Pharmacopoeia. On the contrary, the lead concentrations were outside the permissible limits for both. Statistical analysis did not show significant differences between cadmium concentrations in dried tea leaves and tea infusion. The lead concentrations in both groups were the highest: 17.24, 16.64, 15.46, and 14.27 ppm in T-1, T-2, T-3, and T-6 respectively. While the lowest value was recorded at 0.02 ppm in T-5. In the hot tea drink, Pb concentrations decreased (7.15 and 0.04 ppm) in T-3 and T-5 respectively. It showed significant differences that exceeded the permissible limits of WHO. Based on the results of the current study, the bioaccumulation of these elements in the leaves of the plant will contribute significantly to increase their level of accumulation in people who are accustomed to drink tea constantly, especially in the types with a high content that was grown in soils contaminated with toxic heavy metals. Then, the non-carcinogenic risks, quantifying the health risk to consumers, the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) of the examined heavy metal ingestion in the tea were determined. The THQs for individual metals were less than 1, which has been approved for human consumption. However, it is necessary to measure the toxic metals in all foodstuffs entering the country as part of quality inspection and food safety processes.

Wildcat, Felis lybica is one of the least-known cat species in Iran, in spite of the widespread distribution in the country. The molecular overview of the species using concatenated two mitochondrial markers (Cyt b, NADH5) with sampling throughout the range of the species in the country was examined. Mitochondrial DNA analysis and geographical distribution of the haplotypes indicated two well-supported subclades in the study area, comprising Asiatic wildcat, F. lybica ornata and African wildcat, F. lybica lybica (FST = 0.65; p-value < 0.001). Time-calibrated Bayesian phylogenetic analysis revealed divergence time between F. l. ornata and F. l. lybica dates to 340,000 years ago (HPD 95%: 192,000-489,000 years ago). Based on the results of dating phylogenetic tree, Central Asia is the origin area for distribution of Felis genus (Domestic Cat lineage). On the other hand, wildcat moved out of Central Asia towards Western Asia, Europe and Africa. Given estimated divergence times of less than one million years ago among wildcat subspecies, it seems that Pleistocene climatic fluctuations may have led to the diversification of this taxon. As our study does not prove hybridization between wildcat and its domestic congeners, further investigations should focus on this remarkable threatening factor.

The decrease in groundwater levels and the subsequent land subsidence of over 20 cm have now become one of the major environmental concerns in the plains of Alborz Province. On the other hand, over-extraction of groundwater resources in this province will cause a great catastrophe in the near future. To prevent this consequence, the installation of volumetric meters is one of the solutions in the province. Therefore, launching a water market is one of the best strategies that can be considered in this situation. This study was carried out in the Hashtgerd plain as the most important agricultural area of ​​ Alborz Province, which consumes 87% and 90% of surface water and groundwater resources in agriculture, to investigate the effects of water market simulation. So, a positive mathematical planning (PMP) model was estimated with the regional functions of Statewide Agricultural Production (SWAP) approach. A demand function was extracted using the information collected in the form of a questionnaire and through the relevant organizations. Accordingly, the equilibrium price of water is 3,394 Rials m-3 in the Hashtgerd plain, which will save over 26% in water consumption. The implementation of this policy, is dis-advantageous for water buyers while advantageous (beneficial) for water sellers. Therefore, there will be less reduction in the resulting benefit by implementing this policy, such as increasing the efficiency of irrigation systems, at the same time as launching a water market.

This parasite investigation has been carried out at three different places along the Euphrates River. Water and parasite samples were collected at half-monthly intervals between November 2021 and January 2022, with samples taken every two weeks.  Some chemical and physical factors of water were examined. The results showed that total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 460 to 1212 mg L-1, total suspended solids (TSS) 5 to 450 mg L-1, salinity (S‰) 0.37 ppt to 1.5 ppt, electrical conductivity (EC) 1120 μs cm-1 to 3050 μs cm-1, and pH 6.5 to 9. In the case of parasites, 12 taxa were identified. According to the Shannon–Wiener index, parasite species diversity ranged from 0.2 to 0.76 bits/individual, depending on the parasite type. According to Jaccard similarity index, the highest degree of similarity was found between site one and site two, with 0.75% of the total.