Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are becoming an increasing problem to human health and environment, including harmful effects on natural and cultured resources, tourism and ecosystems all over the world. Marine raphidophycean algae, Chattonella spp., have been implicated in major fish deaths in various parts of the world and are regarded as the most noxious HAB species in Japan and China. 

Original Source

Temperate climatic condition of Kashmir is well suited for bivoltine sericulture. The sericulture in Kashmir valley sustains on tree type of mulberry. These plants are available on roadside, river bund and the borders of agricultural fields as they can grow under
diverse climatic conditions. The present trend is towards establishing intensive tree type of mulberry plantations, which will serve as a source of leaf for the rearers and will have positive effect on the environment.

Corvid birds, including many species of crows, are known to exhibit behaviours indicative of their superior brain capacity in the avine world, with high cognitive abilities comparable to the non-human primates. In recent years, crows have been the focus of studies by behavioural biologists and animal psychologists who have studied their capacity of context dependent tool using, tool making and metatool use, observational learning and cultural transmission, to discriminate food by nutritional value and
conspecific competitors based on their knowledge state.

Glaciers of the Himalaya contribute significantly in the processes linking atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere, thus need to be monitored in view of the climatic variations. In this direction, many studies have been carried out during the last two decades and satellite-based multispectral data have been used extensively for this purpose throughout the world.

Analysis of the features attributed to grassroots innovation shows them to be common to all innovations whether in rural, industrializing or industrial locations and does not justify splitting innovation into one with the suffix ‘grassroots’ and another without it as done in India’s current innovation policy. Examples and experience from industrialized countries bring out that innovation policies should adopt an integrated approach for all innovations irrespective of the location or process they emerge from.

The Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) has remained remarkably stable during the last 140 years. The ISMR has varied between 70% and 120% of the long-term average of about 85 cm. Monsoon seasons with ISMR of less than 90% of the average are considered to be droughts, whereas those with more than 110% rainfall are considered as excess rainfall seasons. Although the variation is not large (Figure 1), it has a substantive impact on our agriculture and gross domestic product (GDP).

Upadhye et al. have discussed an interesting aspect of Ayurvedic medicines. They have considered ‘involuntary adulteration’ in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines due to the use of plant species which have the same or similar names, but are essentially different constituently. (Correspondence)

This article compares the land use in solar energy technologies with conventional energy sources. This has been done by introducing two parameters called land transformation and land occupation. It has been shown that the land area transformed by solar energy power generation is small compared to hydroelectric power generation, and is comparable with coal and nuclear energy power generation when life-cycle transformations are considered.

The concern of Hegde and Subhash Chandra about the environment and cost economics of river diversion schemes is
commendable; however, given the limitations of the proposals recommended by the authors, the river diversion schemes
could be inevitable for the reasons mentioned in this note. In addition, it is pertinent to look at the water problem from
a river basin perspective where better options with long-term perspectives can be searched to manage the water crisis of
Bangalore city.

Increase in the human population, indiscriminate growth of cities, industrialization and agricultural practices have led
to an increased accumulation of waste materials. As nature is unable to degrade the huge quantity of wastes in a short period of time, these materials can act as a secondary host of diseases and pests. All these problems forced us to revive the old traditional techniques of compost production and organic farming, which are nature’s ways for the renewal of life.