Observations on the social behaviour of free ranging groups of tame Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus Linn)

This study is based on 645 hr of observations on the social behaviour of tame elephants maintained at three wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur, Mudumalai and Anaimalai in South India. These elephants are wild captured adults, and their calves born in captivity. The observations were carried out when the elephants are left free for grazing in their natural habitat, where they often intermingle with wild herds. The adult females always stay together when there are calves present: while the adult males graze by themselves. The calves position themselves between adult females and juveniles closer to their mother. All females rush together when a calf sounds alarm. The adult females stand guard over calves lying down for rest thereby accepting considerable reduction in the amount of time devoted to feeding. The 'allomothers' suckle other calves when they have no calf of their own, sometimes as much as the mother herself. The acts of social communication are largely initiated by the calf touching the breast or body of an adult female with its nostril. There is much variation in the extent of communication and suckling from one allomother to another with a mother definitely preferring her own calf

Coastal and marine floral biodiversity along the Karnataka coast

Assessment of floral biodiversity along the Karnataka coast carried out during 2005-2006 revealed the occurrence of 53 phytoplankton, 78 seaweed and 2 seagrass species from estuary, intertidal, open sea and island ecosystems. Phytoplankton from Karnataka coast was dominated by diatoms and five species of toxic forms. The phytoplankton diversity was found to be the richest in estuarine areas than in sea and intertidal regions. Among the 78 species of seaweeds belonging to 52 genera and 28 families, exploitable quantity of commercially important seaweeds were algin yielding Sargassum ilicifolium from grids 8 and 9 and agaroid yielding Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis from grids 3 and 4. Seagrasses were represented by Ruppia maritima and Halophila beccarii from the Swarna - Sita, Chakra, Haladi and Kollur estuarine systems including Venkatapur. The study is the first comprehensive account of the floral biodiversity occurring along the entire Karnataka coast. Occurrence of red seaweed Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis in certain estuarine areas indicates the possibility of its farming in the estuary

Occurrence of spotted sardinella along north Andhra Pradesh coast

Gill nets operated off Lawsons Bay, Visakhapatnam landed an estimated 530 kg of spotted sardinella Amblygaster sirm fWalbaum) during November - December 1992. This species was not observed earlier in the sardine catches from this area. Subsequent to this observation the species was reported in the trawl catches of Kakinada during December. While the catches were very poor during January and February, March recorded an estimated 581 kg and 2331 kg of A. sirm in shrimp trawl and gill nets respectively, at Visakhaptnam. By April this species disappeared from the fishery. The meristic and morphometric details are give

Optimization of certain physical parameters for the mariculture of Gracilaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva in Minicoy lagoon (Laccadive Archipelago)

Mariculture of the agar-yielding, red seaweed, Gracilaria edulis (Rhodophyta) was conducted in Minicoy lagoon during 1990–1992. Experiments were conducted on dry matter accumulation, effects of planting density, depth of water above culture nets, periodic cleaning for removal of epiphytes, grazing and the yield as well as regeneration of G. edulis after successive harvests to understand the optimum requirements of this seaweed. Six culture methods were tested and the yields obtained were compared to arrive at a culture method suitable for Minicoy lagoon

Discovery of fringing reefs off Karnataka Coast

Recently, Mangalore Research Centre has completed the field work along Karnataka coast under the consultancy programme "Survey, inventorying and database creation of marine and coastal aquatic biodiversity" for the Karnataka Biodiversity Board

National Seminar on Biodiversity Regime: Emerging challenges and opportunities 22 May 2008

National seminar on Biodiversity Regime: Emerging challenges and opportunities 22 May 200

Fecundity and viability of eggs in wild breeders of spiny lobsters, Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758), Panulirus versicolor (Latrielle, 1804) and Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius, 1798)

Berried lobsters collected from landing centres and lobster holding centres were used for larval rearing of the spiny lobsters, Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758), Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius, 1798) and Panulirus versicolor (Latrielle, 1804). Fecundity of the lobsters used for larval rearing was calculated as the number of eggs deposited on the ovigerous setae on the pleopods. The number of eggs in a single brood ranged from 1,20,544 to 4,49,585 in P. homarus. 5,18,181 to P.ornatus 1,979,522 and that of P. versicolor as 1,70,212 to P.versicolor 7,33,752. The tropical lobsters are reported to and therefore breed two times or more in a year. The absolute (annual) fecundity of these lobsters is expected to be higher. The phyllosoma larvae released, as percentage of fecundity, was maximum in P. homarus 85.7, 49.7 in P. ornatus and 74.0 in P. versicolor. Handling of lobsters at the landing and holding centres and aerial transport resulted in high percentage of eggs in arrested development, complete or partial shedding of eggs and release of weak phyllosoma larvae. Severe bacterial infection leading to complete shedding of eggs was recorded in a few breeders collected from holding centres

Sea turtle research and conservation

Five species of sea turtles are known from the Indian Seas and all are today protected and are placed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which prohibits trade in turtle products places these species in Appendix I of the Convention. AUfive species have very wide distribution and there has been a traditional subsistence fishery for the green turtle Chelonia mydas along the Tuticorin Coast which has now been phased out. A new event in the recent past was the explosive development of an outlet for the olive ridley in the Calcutta-Howrah markets chiefly from the Orissa Coast, despite the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. This happens mainly during the mating and mass nesting of this species along the Gahirmatha Coast of Orissa and the capture is mainly in the gillnet fishing operations. This has been reported in detail in Marine Fisheries Information Service, Technical and Extension Series, No. 50 of this Institute. Incidental catch of turtles in fishing operations has been a matter of great concern and only an intensive extension programme can help to minimise the mortality from this source

“We want more”: perspectives of sarcopenic older women on the feasibility of high-intensity progressive resistance exercises and a whey-protein nutrition intervention

This qualitative study is nested within a 12-week pilot randomized-controlled, two-arm trial involving high-intensity progressive resistance training (PRT) or PRT with a multi-nutrient, whey-protein supplementation (PRT+WP) in sarcopenic older adults (trial registration no: TCTR20230703001). The aim was to investigate sarcopenic participants' perceptions and barriers to this multi-modal intervention strategy that may accelerate “real-world” implementation. Eighteen older adults (one man) with possible sarcopenia were invited to join the study, of whom 16 women were randomized to a thrice-weekly PRT (n = 8) program (80% of 1-repetitive maximum, six resistance band exercises) only or PRT plus daily weekday milk-based WP supplementation (PRT+WP, n = 8). Muscle strength (handgrip and 5-times sit-to-stand), mass (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), performance (Short Physical Performance Battery and stair ascent-descent), and nutrition status (Mini Nutritional Assessment) were assessed for changes. We randomly selected eight women for the semi-structured interview. Post-intervention, eight (50%) women were sarcopenia-free, six (38%) remained in possible sarcopenia, one (6%) improved to sarcopenia, and one (6%) deteriorated from possible to severe sarcopenia. There were no significant between-group differences, but significant within-group improvements (p < 0.05) were detected for handgrip strength (PRT+WP 5.0 kg, d = 0.93; PRT 6.1 kg, d = 0.55), 5-times sit-to-stand time (PRT 2.0 s, d = 1.04), nutrition score (PRT+WP 3.44, d = 0.52; PRT 1.80, d = 0.44), and stair ascent time (PRT+WP 0.97 s, d = 0.77; PRT 0.75 s, d = 0.97). Our thematic analyses identified four main themes, namely, (1) perceived benefits, (2) sustaining behavior changes, (3) challenges in participating, and (4) improved wellbeing. Participants expressed how they initially were skeptical and doubted that they could complete the exercises or tolerate the milk-based WP supplements. However, they reported positive experiences and benefits felt from strength gains, increased confidence, and better physical abilities. Participants were surprised by the zero adverse effects of WP supplements. The women wanted more nutritional information and structured, guided exercise programs and suggested a community-based implementation. In conclusion, our findings showed PRT was well received and may support reduced risks of sarcopenia. No added benefits were seen with the addition of WP supplementation, but a larger sample is required to address this question. Overall, older (previously sarcopenic) Malay women indicated that they want more multi-modal programs embedded in their community

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