Food utilization in the fish Channa striatus exposed to sublethal concentrations of DDT and methyl parathion

Sublethal concentrations of DDT and methyl parathion (MP) in the medium significantly affected the rates of feeding, absorption and conversion in Channa striatus. Fish exposed to 250 ppb DDT or MP consumed 23 or 50% less food than those exposed to pesticide-free water. Correspondingly, absorption rate also decreased from 120 cal/g live fish/day in the control to 88 and 59 cal/g/day in those exposed to 250 ppb DDT and MP. Efficiency to convert the absorbed food into body substance dropped from 30% in the control to 6 and 12% in the 250 ppb DDT and MP groups. Metabolic rate of the control averaged to 84 cal/g/day; whereas exposure to DDT did not significantly affect the metabolic rate, a concentration of 250 ppb MP depressed the rate to 52 cal/g/day

Effects of the Po2 on surfacing activity and food utilization in the air-breathing perch Anabas scandens

Fed Anabas scandens surfaced 555 times, swimming 278 m/day in non-aerated water (PO2 66 rnm Hg) and 855 times, travelling 428 m/day in aerated watcr (PO2: 147 mm Hg). Consumption, assimilation, production and metabolism of either series averaged 22. 18. 5 and 13 mg dry substance/g live fish/day, respeclively

Effects of the Po<SUB>2</SUB> on surfacing activity and food utilization in the air-breathing perch Anabas scandens

Fed Anabas seandens surfaced 555 times, swimming 278 m/day in non-aerated walcr (Po2: 66 rnm Hg)' and 855 limes, travelling 428 m/day in aerated watcr (Po2: 147 mm Hg). Consumption, assimilation, production and metabolism of either series averaged 22, 18, 5 and 13 mg dry substance/g live fish·day, respeclively. The high Po2 elevated metabolism, increased surfacing and swimming activities but failed 10 alter food utilization. Culturing A. scandens in aerated waters offers no special advantage. Starved fish in non-aerated and aerated waters surfaced 330 times and swam 164 m/day, expending 1.5 mg/g ·day

An account on light-fishing for the Carangid

The article reports on an accidental adoption of light fishing for the Carangid, Selar crumenophthalmus at Trivandrum coast of Kerala. Fishes enticed by the light to the surface were caught by employing the type of hooks and line known locally as 'achil'. A modest estimate of these catches during the fortnight goes well beyond 2,000 tonnes

Culture of micro-organisms on cellophone membrane

This article does not have an abstract

Gender preferences among antenatal women: a cross-sectional study from coastal South India

Background: A balanced sex ratio is essential for a stable society.Objective: The main objective of the present research was to study the perceptions of women attending the antenatal care (ANC) facility regarding their gender preferences and family composition.Method: In this cross-sectional study 132 antenatal women were interviewed in their preferred language using a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire. The collected information was analyzed using SPSS version 11.5.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 27.2 ± 4.1 years. The majority of the antenatal women (60.6%, n=80) did not have any gender preferences. Among those who had a gender preference (39.4%, n=52), male and female preference was reported by 55.7% (n=29) and 44.3% (n=23) of the participants respectively. The overall son preference index was observed to be 1.3. No consistent relationship could be established between the socio-demographic factors and the preference for gender. The mean preferred family size in our study was 1.85±0.531 and more than half of the participants had a balanced gender preference. The majority of the participants were aware that the adverse sex ratio can lead to fall in the number of brides and that it would bring about a social imbalance.Conclusion: As a developed society we need to ensure that both the genders get equal respect and are free from any sort of preferences and prejudices. To achieve this, more and more people need to be made aware of the consequences of gender imbalance and adverse sex ratio in a society.Keywords: Gender preferences; family composition; antenatal women; coastal South Indi

Some observations on light fishing off Thiruvananthapuram coast

The artisanal fisheries of the Thiruvananthapuram coast axe of considerable importance in the fisheries of Kerala State due to their significant contributions to the catch of resources like tunas, anchovies, ribbonfish, caranglds, perches and cephalopods

The Stardust – a successful encounter with the remarkable comet Wild 2

On January 2, 2004 the Stardust spacecraft completed a close flyby of comet Wild2 (P81). Flying at a relative speed of 6.1 km/s within 237km of the 5 km nucleus, the spacecraft took 72 close-in images, measured the flux of impacting particles and did TOF mass spectrometry