A preliminary study on the environmental factors triggering frequent bloom of diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis (Castracane) Round 1990 along west coast of Bay of Bengal

A time-series observation of Asterionellopsis glacialis (Castracane) Round 1990 bloom in the surf zone of east coast of India and associated physico-chemical parameters, was carried out during pre-monsoon period (May 2018). This study also reviews the species status as a surf-zone diatom and its temporal characteristics. Referring to the earlier study, the temporal characteristic of A. glacialis bloom in Indian context can be classified as "sporadic" due to the alteration of blooming community and may be also further investigated for its seasonality as the bloom mostly observed during the pre-monsoon season. Among the nutrients, silicate is identified as a major factor controlling the bloom of A. glacialis. The present study highlights the introduction of biogenic silica attributed to precipitation induced land runoff and the effect of wind as important environmental factors responsible for A. glacialis proliferation in nearshore waters of east coast of India

Mass beach stranding of blue button jellies (Porpita porpita, Linnaeus, 1758) along Odisha coast during summer season

1093-1096Beach stranding of the jelly Porpita porpita (Linnaeus 1758) was observed in stretches from Astaranga to Puri (Odisha) during May 2016. A study was carried out by taking environmental parameters to decipher the possible causes. These jellies were abundant in the coastal waters during this period. It was found out that this jellyfish was observed in large numbers in this coast during March-May (summer season). From the satellite derived current and wind data, it was observed that the beach stranding was due to drifting of the jellyfishes favoured by shoreward current and wind.

A preliminary study on the environmental factors triggering frequent bloom of diatom <i>Asterionellopsis glacialis</i> (Castracane) Round 1990 along west coast of Bay of Bengal

533-541A time-series observation of Asterionellopsis glacialis (Castracane) Round 1990 bloom in the surf zone of east coast of India and associated physico-chemical parameters, was carried out during pre-monsoon period (May 2018). This study also reviews the species status as a surf-zone diatom and its temporal characteristics. Referring to the earlier study, the temporal characteristic of A. glacialis bloom in Indian context can be classified as ―sporadic‖ due to the alteration of blooming community and may be also further investigated for its seasonality as the bloom mostly observed during the pre-monsoon season. Among the nutrients, silicate is identified as a major factor controlling the bloom of A. glacialis. The present study highlights the introduction of biogenic silica attributed to precipitation induced land runoff and the effect of wind as important environmental factors responsible for A. glacialis proliferation in nearshore waters of east coast of India

COVID-19 impacts and adaptations in Asia and Africa's aquatic food value chains

The COVID-19 pandemic is a shock affecting all areas of the global food system. We tracked the impacts of COVID-19 and associated policy responses on the availability and price of aquatic foods and production inputs during 2020, using a high frequency longitudinal survey of 768 respondents in Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Myanmar, Nigeria. We found the following: (1) Aquatic food value chains were severely disrupted but most effects on the availability and accessibility of aquatic foods and production inputs were short-lived. (2) Impacts on demand for aquatic foods, production inputs, and labor have been longer lasting than impacts on their supply. (3) Retail prices of aquatic foods spiked briefly during March-May 2020 but trended down thereafter, whereas prices of production inputs rose. These trends suggest a deepening ‘squeeze’ on the financial viability of producers and other value chain actors. (4) Survey respondents adapted to the challenges of COVID-19 by reducing production costs, sourcing alternative inputs, diversifying business activities, leveraging social capital, borrowing, seeking alternative employment, and reducing food consumption. Many of these coping strategies are likely to undermine well-being and longer-term resilience, but we also find some evidence of proactive strategies with potential to strengthen business performance. Global production of aquatic food likely contracted significantly in 2020. The importance of aquatic food value chains in supporting livelihoods and food and nutrition security in Asia and Africa makes their revitalization essential in the context of COVID-19 recovery efforts. We outline immediate and longer-term policies and interventions to support this goal.Additional co-authors: Arun Padiyar, Suresh Rajendran, A B C Mohan, Ravi Babu, Michael Joseph Akester, Ei Ei Phyo, Khin Maung Soe, Ajibola Olaniyi, Sunil N Siriwardena, Michael Phillips, Shakuntala H Thilste

Alpha-tocotrienol is the most abundant tocotrienol isomer circulated in plasma and lipoproteins after postprandial tocotrienol-rich vitamin E supplementation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tocotrienols (T3) and tocopherols (T), both members of the natural vitamin E family have unique biological functions in humans. T3 are detected in circulating human plasma and lipoproteins, although at concentrations significantly lower than α-tocopherol (α-T). T3, especially α-T3 is known to be neuropotective at nanomolar concentrations and this study evaluated the postprandial fate of T3 and α-T in plasma and lipoproteins.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten healthy volunteers (5 males and 5 females) were administered a single dose of vitamin E [526 mg palm tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) or 537 mg α-T] after 7-d pre-conditioning on a T3-free diet. Blood was sampled at baseline (fasted) and 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 24 h after supplementation. Concentrations of T and T3 isomers in plasma, triacylglycerol-rich particles (TRP), LDL, and HDL were measured at each postprandial interval.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After TRF supplementation, plasma α-T3 and γ-T3 peaked at 5 h (α-T3: 4.74 ± 1.69 μM; γ-T3: 2.73 ± 1.27 μM). δ-T3 peaked earlier at 4 h (0.53 ± 0.25 μM). In contrast, α-T peaked at 6 h (30.13 ± 2.91 μM) and 8 h (37.80 ± 3.59 μM) following supplementation with TRF and α-T, respectively. α-T was the major vitamin E isomer detected in plasma, TRP, LDL, and HDL even after supplementation with TRF (composed of 70% T3). No T3 were detected during fasted states. T3 are detected postprandially only after TRF supplementation and concentrations were significantly lower than α-T.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Bio-discrimination between vitamin E isomers in humans reduces the rate of T3 absorption and affects their incorporation into lipoproteins. Although low absorption of T3 into circulation may impact some of their physiological functions in humans, T3 have biological functions well below concentration noted in this study.</p

Zooplankton community distribution along offshore transects of some Indian estuaries of east coast: A taxonomic investigation during a summer cruise

1781-1791<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Zooplankton abundance and composition were studied by selecting offshore transects of seven estuaries <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">viz. Pennar, Krishna, Godavari, Gosthani, Rushikulya, Devi and Mahanadi along east coast of India during April, 2011. During the study period, sea surface temperature (SST) varied from 27.9°C to 28.3°C with an average of 28.1°C. Salinity varied from 33.0 to 35.0 PSU with an average of 34.5 PSU.  Different zooplankton groups belonging to 13 phyla were recorded from seven transects. Copepods dominated the community with 50.5 to 96.8%. Calanoids, namely Paracalanus parvus, P. aculeatus, Temora turbinata were common in all the transects studied. <span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"="" lang="EN-GB">The Shannon’s diversity index (H´) was found highest in Pennar (2.666) and lowest in Godavari transect (1.785). From cluster analysis and non-parametric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), it is observed that the species composition was changing from north to south of the study area. </span