Influence of Chemical Parameters on Artemia sp. (Crustacea: Anostraca) Population in Al Wathba Lake in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE

Long term monitoring programme on Brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) is being carried out by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (EAD) with the prime purpose of understanding the population dynamics, ecology and habitat requirements of Artemia at Al Wathba Lake, situated within Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is an artificial wetland near Abu Dhabi City. The present study, being a component of this programme, intends to understand the influence of chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia and total organic carbon on Artemia biomass and cyst production at different sites of the Al Wathba Lake. The study was carried out by sampling lake water quarterly for a period of 5 years from 2010 to 2014. The Artemia population was found to have direct impact of the above mentioned parameters on its abundance. The abundance was highest during the year 2010. Further, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and cadmium were found to be the most crucial parameters for production of Artemia. The study further aimed to determine the significant relationship between physico-chemical parameters and Artemia sp. population dynamics and cyst production

The alwathba wetland reserve lake in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and its ostracod (seed shrimp) fauna

Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (AWWR) lake, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is an artificially created water body in a natural wetland region that experienced seasonal flooding before the establishment of the lake. The lake is mostly fed by treated waste water, and became a protected wetland reserve after the Greater Flamingo started to successfully breed in the area in 1998. Detailed monitoring of several hydrochemical parameters and water depth at nine stations and two inlets of treated water in the lake was conducted over a period of seven years starting in January 2010. As a result, the seed-shrimps (Ostracoda: Podocopida) Heterocypris salina, previously reported from a late Miocene location in the UAE, and Cyprinotus cingalensis were recorded for the modern fauna of the UAE for the first time. The presence of the ostracods only at the station with the lowest salinity in the AWWR Lake shows that their distribution is predominantly controlled by the salinity of the water which covered an extremely large range of more than two orders of magnitude (1.45-457%) at the different sampling sites and inlets during the monitoring period. Thus, the lake represents an interesting and important ecological research laboratory under semi-natural conditions

Religious restrictions and cultural taboos related to menstruation in adolescent girls: A school-based cross-sectional observational study

Introduction: The period of adolescence needs special attention because of the turmoil an adolescent faces at different stages ofdevelopment, different circumstances and needs, and diverse problems. In India, there are multiple restrictions and taboos related tomenstruation. In many communities, the mention of the topic is taboo even today. Objective: To evaluate the religious restrictions andother taboos practiced during menstruation by adolescent school girls. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conductedin four schools. Girls in the age group of 13-18 years, who have attained menarche and gave verbal consent to participate, were includedin the study. A pre-designed, validated questionnaire that captured information on the cultural taboos practiced during menstruation wasadministered to the participants. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 15 and the percentage of menstral taboos that were practicedon average was determined. Factor analysis was done to determine the most practiced taboo. Results: A total of 1522 adolescent girlsparticipated in the study. The average age of attaining menarche was 13.08±3.5 years. 81.2% (n=1236) of the participants, predominantlyfrom the Hindu community, did not attend religious functions during menstruation. More than half of them (56.6%) did not sleep intheir usual place during menstruation. 40.1% of them (n=611) were not allowed to enter the kitchen. 69.3% (n=1054) of the participantshad restrictions on certain food items. Only 5.4% (n=82) of them did not go to school during menstruation. Factor analysis showed thatthe two most important factors contributing to the taboos were restrictions on religious functions and on sleeping in the same place.Menstrual taboos were prevalent more in younger and less-educated girls (p=0.037 and 0.000, respectively). Conclusion: Restrictionsduring menstruation are still prevalent in many communities. The two most important cultural taboos are sleep restrictions and religiousrestrictions. Cultural taboos are prevalent more among less-educated and younger adolescent girls

Ant-lion fauna recorded in the Abu Dhabi Emirate (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

The desert areas of the Abu Dhabi Emirate supply suitable habitats for a species-rich ant-lion fauna. A faunistic survey was conducted for adult myrmeleontids, using light traps in 11 desert sites of Abu Dhabi during a five-year period between 1993 and 2004. A total of 27 species were found, of which 24 are recorded in Abu Dhabi for the first time. They belong to 14 genera: Centroclisis, Iranoleon, Lopezus, Myrmecaelurus, Ganguilus, Creoleon, Distoleon, Gepus, Geyria, Neuroleon, Quinemurus, Solter, Cueta, and Palpares. A short diagnosis of each species is given and their geographic ranges are noted

International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation Full Length Research Paper Diversity and seasonality of some of the ground dwelling invertebrates in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A study was conducted to understand the diversity, distribution, abundance and seasonality of ground dwelling invertebrate species in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi Emirate, from March 2010 to February 2011. Pitfall traps were used for this study in two sites with distinct micro- habitats in the Eastern Region of the Emirate. The site includes a wadi habitat at Jebel Hafit, Al Ain and another one is a gravel plain habitat at Mezyad, Al Ain. Beetles (Coleoptera) of the family Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles) are a conspicuous element of these arid and semi-arid environments. Variable stalker beetle (Adesmia cancellata cothurnata) was the most abundant Tenebrionid among twenty species collected using pitfall traps in the wadi of Jebel Hafit whereas opossum beetle (Mesostena puncticollis) was the most abundant Tenebrionid among twenty in the sandy gravel plain habitat of Um Ghafa, Mezyad

Taxonomy of a new Ichneumonid Genus from the Middle East

This article does not have an abstract

Influence of Chemical Parameters on Artemia sp. (Crustacea: Anostraca) Population in Al Wathba Lake in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE

Long term monitoring programme on Brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) is being carried out by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (EAD) with the prime purpose of understanding the population dynamics, ecology and habitat requirements of Artemia at Al Wathba Lake, situated within Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is an artificial wetland near Abu Dhabi City. The present study, being a component of this programme, intends to understand the influence of chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia and total organic carbon on Artemia biomass and cyst production at different sites of the Al Wathba Lake. The study was carried out by sampling lake water quarterly for a period of 5 years from 2010 to 2014. The Artemia population was found to have direct impact of the above mentioned parameters on its abundance. The abundance was highest during the year 2010. Further, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and cadmium were found to be the most crucial parameters for production of Artemia. The study further aimed to determine the significant relationship between physico-chemical parameters and Artemia sp. population dynamics and cyst production

First record of Epipactis veratrifolia Boiss. & Hohen. (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae, Neottieae, Limodorinae) from an arid wadi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Epipactis veratrifolia is recorded for the first time from Jebel Hafeet, a mountain in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This species had been previously recorded from the northern part of the UAE and other areas on the Arabian Peninsula. The occurrence of E. veratrifolia in Jebel Hafeet expands the eastern distribution limits of the species and underlines the importance of biodiversity in the region. The new record fills a gap in the distribution of this species on the Arabian Peninsula

Vitamin B12 deficiency presenting as pancytopenia in a young boy--Helicobacter Pylori, a novel causative agent

Deficiency of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a well-known cause of megaloblastic anemia. It is a reversible cause of bone marrow failure and demyelinating nervous system disorder, hence early detection and prompt treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency is essential. After diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency, tracking down its root cause is important in individualizing the treatment approach. Helicobacter pylori-related (H. pylori) B12 deficiency presenting as pancytopenia in pediatric age groups has been reported. However, vitamin B12 deficiency presenting as retinopathy in pediatric age groups has been rarely reported in the medical literature. We herein present the case of an adolescent male with pancytopenia  and retinopathy, secondary to vitamin B12 deficiency-associated H. pylori infection

Alien species recorded in the United Arab Emirates: an initial list of terrestrial and freshwater species

Little is documented on the alien terrestrial and freshwater species in the United Arab Emirates. To address this, an assessment of terrestrial and freshwater alien species was conducted using various techniques such as a questionnaire, fieldwork data, networking with relevant people, and a detailed literature review. The results of the initial assessment show that there are 146 alien species recorded in the following seven major taxonomic groups: invertebrates 49 species, freshwater fish five species, amphibian one species, reptiles six species, birds 71 species, mammals six species and plants eight species. To inform decision makers a full list of the 146 species identified in this assessment is presented. </div