Climate Change

Soil microbial properties and plant growth responses to carbon and water addition in a temperate steppe: The importance of nutrient availability

To examine the effects of C and water additions on soil microbial properties and plant growth, we conducted an experiment lasting two years in a temperate steppe of northeastern China. We found that soil C and water additions significantly affected microbial properties and stimulated plant growth. Carbon addition significantly increased soil microbial biomass and activity but had a limited effect on microbial community structure.

Publication Date: 
05/04/2012
Linna Ma, Wenwen Huang, Chengyuan Guo & et al
PLoS ONE
7
4
1-12
Tags:
Climate Change, Soil Resources, Flora, Micro Organisms, Green House Gases, China, Climate Impacts, Rainfall
Environment

Radionuclide Analysis on Bamboos following the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

In response to contamination from the recent Fukushima nuclear accident, we conducted radionuclide analysis on bamboos sampled from six sites within a 25 to 980 km radius of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Maximum activity concentrations of radiocesium 134Cs and 137Cs in samples from Fukushima city, 65 km away from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, were in excess of 71 and 79 kBq/kg, dry weight (DW), respectively. In Kashiwa city, 195 km away from the Fukushima Daiichi, the sample concentrations were in excess of 3.4 and 4.3 kBq/kg DW, respectively.

Publication Date: 
04/04/2012
Takumi Higaki, Shogo Higaki, Masahiro Hirota & et al
PLoS ONE
7
4
1-4
Tags:
Nuclear Accidents, Flora, Bamboo, Japan
Biodiversity

Life blossoms again in ravaged Aravallis

Land in Vasant Vihar which is part of the Aravalli ecosystem was wrecked by stone mining. Scientists are now restoring greenery to attract lost species and trap pollutants.

Publication Date: 
02/04/2012
Times Of India (New Delhi)
Tags:
Biodiversity, Aravalli Range, Delhi, Ecosystems, Forests, Flora, Environment Management
Environment

Assessment of cumulative impacts of hydroelectric projects on aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity in Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins, Uttarakhand

This assessment of cumulative impacts of hydroelectric projects in Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins in Uttarakhand. It takes into account impact of 70 Hydro Electric Projects of which 17 are existing, 14 are under-construction and 39 are proposed.

Publication Date: 
01/04/2012
Asha Rajvanshi, Roshni Arora, Vinod B. Mathur, & et al
Wildlife Institute of India
Tags:
Hydroelectricity, Alakananda, Bhagirathi, River Basin, Uttaranchal (Uttarakhand), Biodiversity, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Flora, Fauna, Aquatic Animals
Climate Change

Seasonal dynamics of mobile carbon supply in Quercus aquifolioides at the upper elevational limit

Many studies have tried to explain the physiological mechanisms of the alpine treeline phenomenon, but the debate on the alpine treeline formation remains controversial due to opposite results from different studies. The present study explored the carbon-physiology of an alpine shrub species (Quercus aquifolioides) grown at its upper elevational limit compared to lower elevations, to test whether the elevational limit of alpine shrubs (

Publication Date: 
30/03/2012
Wan-Ze Zhu, Min Cao, San-Gen Wang & et al
PLoS ONE
7
3
Tags:
Climate Change, Climate Impacts, Flora, China
Water Resources

Water Ministry mulls review of court order on linking of rivers

Grappling with the Supreme Court order to set up a special committee for implementation of the rivers inter-linking project, the Water Resources Ministry is consulting the Law Ministry on seeking a review of the order.

The Ministry, it is reliably learnt, is seeking opinion for review of the mammoth committee that has to be set up under the directions of the court. Not only does it want the numbers pruned but also keep non-official members out so that the secrecy of the decisions can be maintained.

Publication Date: 
30/03/2012
Gargi Parsai
Hindu (New Delhi)
Tags:
River Linking, Supreme Court, Ministry Of Water Resources, Planning Commission, Water Policy, Flora, Fauna, Biodiversity, Water Resources
Dams/ Irrigation

Hydel projects: HC seeks report

The High Court has directed the petitioners to file a report regarding the impact on wildlife, if one of the mini-hydel power projects is allowed to continue at Kencha­nk­umari and Yedakkumari reserve forests of the Western Ghats.

Hearing a petition by Prashanth Yavagal and Western Ghats Environmental Forum, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna continued the status quo order in connection with establishing the plant by the respondent power company - Maruthi Powergen Private Limited - and directed the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF)

Publication Date: 
15/03/2012
Deccan Herald (Bangalore)
Tags:
Western Ghats, Hydroelectricity, High Court, Ministry Of Environment And Forests (MOEF), Wildlife, Forests, Flora, Fauna, Dams, Dams/ Irrigation, Karnataka
Biodiversity

Wildfires in bamboo-dominated Amazonian forest: Impacts on above-ground biomass and biodiversity

Fire has become an increasingly important disturbance event in south-western Amazonia. We conducted the first assessment of the ecological impacts of these wildfires in 2008, sampling forest structure and biodiversity along twelve 500 m transects in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, Acre, Brazil. Six transects were placed in unburned forests and six were in forests that burned during a series of forest fires that occurred from August to October 2005. Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) calculations, based on Landsat reflectance data, indicate that all transects were similar prior to the fires.

Publication Date: 
09/03/2012
Jos Barlow, Juliana M. Silveira, Luiz A. M. Mestre & et al
PLoS ONE
7
3
1-11
Tags:
Forest Fires, Bamboo, Amazon, Biomass, Biodiversity, Flora, Fauna, Soil Capability
Biodiversity

Unabated deforestation threatens flora and fauna of Barak Valley

Rampant felling of trees without any resistance from the forest department have unsettled the habitats of birds and animals

SILCHAR: Serious concern has been expressed at the unabated deforestation in the valley of Barak, threatening the flora and fauna. The recently concluded international seminar organized by the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, and the related research papers have pointedly focused on the loss of greenery or green cover in the forests of the three districts of Cachar

Publication Date: 
06/03/2012
Sentinel (Guwahati)
Tags:
Barak Valley, Cachar, Flora, Fauna, Deforestation, Trees, Birds, Ecology, Timber Smuggling, Forest Encroachments, Amphibians, Wildlife Act 1972, Forests, Biodiversity, Assam
Biodiversity

Arunachal mulls Bill to conserve flora and fauna

Itanagar: Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, a known conservationist, is going to ink another record soon with the objective of protecting and conserving the rich flora and fauna of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Arunachal Pradesh Forest & Wildlife Protection Bill, once it gets the nod of the assembly, would provide additional teeth to state’s environment & forest department (E&FD) to initiate tangible steps in that direction.

Publication Date: 
05/03/2012
Shillong Times (Shillong)
Tags:
Flora, Fauna, Environment, Budget, Wildlife, Tiger, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry Of Environment And Forests (MOEF), Namdapha NP, Tiger Reserves, Biodiversity

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