Volume 10, Issue 3, 2010 July-September
| Volume 10, No 3 | Pages: |
| 2010 July-September | Articles: 3 |
Chemical and microbiological quality of drinking water in Gaza Strip, Palestine
Yousef Salah Abu Mayla, Salem Saleem Abu Amr
Israel and the Gaza Strip shares the southern Mediterranean coastal aquifer with Israel. Long-term overexploitation in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a decreasing water table, accompanied by the degradation of its water quality. Due to high levels of salinity, most of the ground water is not suitable for both domestic and agricultural consumptions. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the chemical and microbiological qualities of the drinking water in Gaza Strip. The rapid rate of population growth in the Gaza Strip and dependence upon ground water as a single water source presents a serious challenge to future development. Data were collected from the Palestinian Ministry of Health on the concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride (Cl-) and nitrate (NO3-) in drinking water wells, and contamination of total and faecal coliforms in water wells and distribution networks. From the collected data on chemical water analysis, we obtained that the average concentration of TDS (1687 mg/l), Cl- (577 mg/l) and NO3- (131 mg/l) were higher than that of the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, i.e., 1000, 250 and 50 mg/l, respectively. Upon microbiological water analyses, total and faecal coliform contamination percentages were found to exceed that of the WHO standard, i.e., <5% for total coliform and free (0%) for faecal coliform for all water wells and networks distribution system, and the level of contamination in water networks were higher than that in wells. The chemical and microbiological qualities of drinking water thus deteriorated in Gaza Strip, and water demand is increasing rapidly due to rapid population growth and absence of alternative water resources. This may result in adverse human health impacts.
Occurrence of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) in Meghalaya, NE India
Lalramliana , Arun Kumar Yadav
In the present study, the entomopathogenic nematodes were recorded from 89 samples (5.37%) out of 1656 samples collected from 20 sites representing ecologically diverse types of habitats in Meghalaya, India. Out of 89 positive samples, the frequency of occurrence of Steinernema spp. was found to be more (73.03%) than Heterorhabditis sp. (26.97%). All the EPN positive samples were from the forest soils except the one isolated from banana plantations near teak forest in Jorabat. No entomopathogenic nematodes were isolated from dryland, jhumland (burned and cultivated land) and wet land (water-saturated soil). Steinernema spp. were mostly isolated from sandy loam soils while Heterorhabditis sp., was isolated from red loamy soil. The isolates were identified as Heterorhabditis indica, Steinernema thermophilum and S. glaseri using morphometric analysis and scanning electron microscopic studies.
Assessment of grass diversity in the western part of Aizawl, Mizoram, India
Lalchhuanawma , H. Lalramnghinglova
Study of Grass species diversity was conducted under humid and tropical climatic condition in Mizoram University Campus, western part of Aizawl, Mizoram, India. A total of 22 species under 19 genera of 2 families of grass were collected and identified. The study area falls under the tropical semi-evergreen forest and was divided into two experimental sites on the basis of disturbance gradients; disturbed site harboured 22 species, 19 genera and 2 families whereas in undisturbed site 4 species, 3 genera and 2 families were observed. Taxonomically, Poaceae was the dominant family in the study area. The most dominant grass species with highest Important Value Index (IVI) in disturbed site and undisturbed site were Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Reuschel and Ichnanthus vicinus (Bail.) Merr., respectively.
MIPOGRASS News
The 13th MIPOGRASS General Conference was successfully held on 20 August 2010 (Friday) at I&PR Auditorium, Aizawl. New leaders for 2010-2012 were elected under the guidance of MJA. Dr. Lalnundanga, Associate Professor & Dy. Director of Academic staff College, Mizoram University, presented his paper on the topic "Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity". Certificate of Appreciation were handed over to one member Dr. Liansanga Pachuau for his Ph.D. award and Dr. Lalramliana, Dr. H. Lalthanzara, H.T. Lalremsanga and Saipari Sailo for their description of new species.
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