Journal of Biodiversity and Ecological Sciences
Volume:1 Issue: 2, 2011

According to a multifunctionality perspective, green urban areas increasingly play an important role in the improvement of human quality life. The correct management of such areas needs an in-depth analysis of the resource’s economic aspects. Therefore the economic value assessment of commodities and non- commodities related to green urban areas is one of the strategic information which is able to influence planning choices according to a sustainable and multifunctional process. The present article focuses on eight different types of urban parks located in Florence in order to define their Total Economic Value (VET) and, in the same time, to underline some guidelines for assessment of these areas. As a matter of fact, through the linkage of the Contingent Valuation Method and the Visual Preference Method, questionnaires have been prepared and suggested to park’s users. Total Economic Value has been achieved by the elaboration of elicited data. Besides, another significant goal had been obtained by the attendances’ count in the different examined areas: the individuation of the yearly average user's number, which provides how the necessity of spending time in green urban spaces is noticed by people.

This paper presents a scenario of a relocation program carried out for the forest dwelling communities of Padampur Village of Chitwan National Park. The study was carried with an aim to identify the effect of such relocation programs on the conservation of the biodiversity – the park objective and on impact on the livelihood of people. In a more specific terms, the paper assesses the dynamics of access to and control over natural resources due to relocation and identifies the perceptions of the people involved in the relocation program itself and explores the extent that relocated people have generated or regained in terms of power for livelihood generation in new place. The findings showed that people’s accesses to the natural resources were limited after the relocation program and their roles over control of forest have increased. Relocated people were found with both opportunities and challenges to sustain their livelihood. However, the result also revealed a questionable implication of the relocation program; that is to say the site where the community from inside the park were resettled, happened to be actually the area, which also requires the conservation to achieve the objective of the park management.

Several soil borne Fusaria species were screened for cellulase activity, partial purification and characterization of cellulase from superior isolates. Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) and Wheat Straw (WS) were used as two sole carbon sources separately in a minimal culture medium. Released proteins and sugars were assayed three days after inoculation with their related reagents and then these actions were repeated three days intervals. Statistical analysis among tested Fusarium species showed significant variation in released sugars, but no significant variation in released proteins. The highest and lowest released sugars were produced by F. solani and F. oxysporium, respectively. The highest released sugars in F. solani isolates were observed 9 and 12 days post inoculation for WS and CMC media, respectively. Released proteins in F. solani indicated the highest increased in 12 and 6 days post inoculation on WS and CMC media, respectively. Optimal conditions for cellulase partial purification of F. solani grown in CMC and WS supplemented media were pH 6 and temperature between 40-50°C. The study on protein bands showed that, only one with molecular weight of 24 kDa, out of all tested protein bands on CMC medium, indicated the cellulase activity. Our observations showed that different Fusaria species have dissimilar behaviors and variable speeds in cellulose degradation. Also, WS medium showed high ability for producing cellulase enzyme that can be effectively used as a cheap organic waste medium. Characterization of cellulase F. solani showed that this strain produced a acidophilic, and thermostable cellulase.

Ecological equilibrium of upland rangeland is guaranteed by the conserving of vegetation structures which save an ecosystem from erosion. A range ecosystem can be safe with good condition of plant diversity and richness as symbols of ecosystem balancing. In this research, therefore, two aspects of northwest and northeast rangland from the highest uplands of mountain watersheds in northern Alborz [Javaherdeh - Ramsar] of Iran were selected. Vegetation status of rangeland habitats and soil erosion has been evaluated in two types of shrubland and grassland by the Daubenmire and the PSIAC methods. In order to determine the influence of plant diversity and richness on soil erosion and rangeland conditions, the data has been analyzed using multi regression technique and the mean between the two habitats have been compared using the T-test method using the SPSS software. The results showed that both grassland and shrubland habitats have not only had poor conditions but also much soil erosion. The research findings have also shown that the plant diversity and richness in both types are significantly related to soil erosion and rangeland conditions. Some vegetation factors have affected both the habitat condition and soil erosion. It appears that the desirable rangeland conditions can be achieved by control of animal grazing which can then lead to the reduction of soil erosion with the help of vegetation canopy cover.

Detailed surveys were conducted to identify the whiteflies breeding on teak in India. The whitefly infested leaves were collected from teak and permanent mounts of the puparia were prepared and their identity was confirmed. The study revealed the presence of seven species of whiteflies breeding on teak In India. They include earlier reported four species viz, Pealius splendens (David, Sundararaj & Regu), Martiniella fletcheri (Sundararaj & David), Aleurolobus sundararaji Regu & David and Aleurodicus dispersus Russell; two new records viz., Aleurolobus moundi David & Subramaniam and Pealius sairandhryensis Meganathan & David and a new species of the genus Aleurocanthus. The new species is described with illustration and other species are listed with their host range. Further, a suitable illustration of the puparium of each species is provided along with a key for identification.

Sustainability has become the key word of developing world and it’s evident inmany issues, the growing economy is facing nowadays. Sustainability is the needof the hour for the Indian economy to support our future generation with acleaner, safer environment. Legal framework implemented by governing bodiessuch as Pollution Control Board is also supporting the implementation ofsustainable development by new enforcements introduced then and there, but it’squestionable as to the effectiveness of this framework. Most of the enforcementsare focused to imply the sustainability in industries or equivalent organizationsbut not putting thrust on all polluting bodies, among which educationalinstitutions are one. Recent growth in educational scenario in India has increasedthe number of educational institutions to a large extent, thereby increasing theeffect on environment by their activities. Growth of educational sector and thenumber of institutions catering various fields of education is needed for India butthe growth should be optimized in a way that it’s sustainable and eco-friendly.Various methods are developed recently to find out the exact problemsassociated with the environment, Geographical Information System (GIS) is oneamong them taking a big leap in the recent years in the area of environmentalproblem identification. This paper provides the details of the environmentalimpacts of educational institutions with case studies and also suggests asustainable framework to make them environmental friendly through the use of(GIS).

The plant vigor hypothesis predicts that more vigorous plants or branches are preferentially selected by female galling insects for oviposition. The hypersensitivity reaction is a defense mechanism of some plants of brazilian Cerrado, where morphological and physiological changes cause the death of damaged tissue and the gall-inducing insect. We examine the abundance of Cecidomyiidae galls in Ouratea hexasperma in Caldas Novas, Brazil, aiming to answer the following questions: 1) Do galling insects prefer the more vigorous branches? 2) Is the hypersensitivity reaction more frequent in smaller and less vigorous branches? We sampled 24 individuals from the host plant and collected five branches of each, and measured the length of the branch, the number of leaves, the total number of galls and number of galls with hypersensitivity reaction. Linear regression analysis showed a positive relationship of abundance of galls with the plants vigor and the number of leaves per branch being the most important variable. The number of galls with a hypersensitivity was influenced both by the length of the module as the number of leaves per branch. As expected, smaller and less vigorous branches had more of a hypersensitivity reaction. Generally, these areas have high concentrations of tannins and phenolic compounds to protect them against attack from herbivores. Is expected to short and young branches have more hypersensitivity reactions of the larger branches. Thus, the preference of galling by more vigorous branches could be a leak from a hypersensitivity reaction and not simply a response to the vigor.

A method was developed for the determination of dissolved DNA in the pasturage soil. The method is based on the concentration of dissolved DNA by ethanol precipitation of 0.2 µm - pore size filtered water. The DNA concentrated extracts were quantified by the fluorescence of Hoechst 33258-DNA complexes. Fluorescence not attributable to DNA was corrected for by DNase I digestion of the extracts and averaged 25% of the total fluorescence for all samples. Concentration of dissolved extracellular DNA from a variety in soil ranged from 131.26 to 29.08 DNA ng/ml in 10 gr soil. The agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide (electrophoresis technique) was used for soil DNA dissolved. The method Hoefer TKO 100 DNA Mini-Fluorometer is simple, for extracellular DNA and more sensitive than previously described methods for the determination of extracellular DNA. The TKO 100 Mini-Fluorometer is designed specifically for the accurate quantitation of DNA in dilute samples. The unit can also be used for assaying protease, glucuronidase (GUS) and 1-galactosidase activity.

Studies were conducted in Northern Gedarif State at Gadambalia area during 2000/01-2001/02 seasons to evaluate the effects of neem leaves powder on groundnuts termites, Microterms thoracolis and white curbs, Phyllophaga crinitadamage and on yield under rainfed conditions. Data on numbers of pods/5 plants, dead plants, % damage, harvested plants and yield were recorded. Two varieties of groundnuts viz., Sodary and Barberton were sown on flat 60 cm. a part and 20 cm.between plants on July 21 in both seasons. Two dose rates of neem leave powder viz., 50 and 100 Kg/fedd were used and corporate with soil before sowing. Neem leaves powder at two dose rates was gave good performance forcontrolling groundnuts termites and white curbs. The data was analyzed by using software MSTAT.C program. ANOVA was used for significant differences of the treatments and Duncan`s Multiple Range Test for means separation.