Assess the human and environmental vulnerability for coastal hazard by using a multi-criteria decision analysis

This study provides an integrated approach using geographical information system (GIS) based on a multi-criteria approach (MCDA) to assess coastal vulnerability, resulting from human activity, population density, erosion, and climate change-induced sea level rise. A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) for erosion and floods was calculated and mapped (～24 km in length; ～400 m in width, and 11.47 km² in surface) for the lagoon barrier of Nador located on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Results suggest that 54% (～13 km) of the shoreline is moderately vulnerable, while 42% (～10 km) is highly vulnerable and only 4% (1 km) present a low vulnerability. The vulnerability map of the socio-economic activities indicates that most wetlands and forest areas 83% (～31 ha) and 50% (～440 ha) respectively, present low vulnerability. 52% percent of artificial areas (～23 ha), 73% of agricultural land (～128 ha), and 41% of natural areas (～363 ha) present moderate vulnerability. However, the level of vulnerability of the remaining artificial and agricultural areas classifies from high to very high. The north-western sector was classified as the most vulnerable area, characterized by an erosion (?0.6 m/yr to ?1.20 m/yr) for 70% of this area, while the south-eastern part shows a low to moderate vulnerability marked by an erosion (?0.1 m/yr to ?1m/yr) for 40% of this area. Coastal vulnerability maps have potential as decision tools to prepare and respond to sea level rise, and identify exposed coastal zones, as such contributing to national climate action and disaster risk reduction sustainable development goals (goals 13 and 11, respectively).     

Distribution of seagrasses along the Indian coast

Seagrass environments, from the main coast of India, Lakshadweep and Andaman Islands, were surveyed for seagrass and marine algal composition. Extensive seagrass meadows and the maximum number of species (seven genera and 12 species) occurred along the Tamil Nadu coast. Seagrasses were observed from intertidal to subtidal regions down to 8 m depth. Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenberg) Aschers. and Cymodocea serrulata (R. Brown) Aschers. & Magnus were the dominant seagrasses in the subtidal zones. Halophila beccarii Aschers. was restricted to the intertidal mudflats in association with mangroves. The rich growth of seagrasses along the Tamil Nadu coast and Lakshadweep can be attributed mainly to high salinity, clarity of the water and sandy substratum. One hundred species of marine algae were recorded from the seagrass environments of India.     

Diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis Isolated from Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu State, India

The Western Ghats of India is the one of the world’s 10 “Hottest biodiversity hotspots” that runs along the western part of India through four states including Tamil Nadu. The only biodiversity reserve in the Western Ghats is the Nilgiri biosphere located in the Tamil Nadu state. In the present study, 525 soil samples were collected from all the 14 different divisions of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu state, India. A total of 316 new isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that produce parasporal crystalline inclusions were isolated from 525 soil samples. Seven different types of crystalline inclusions were observed in the 316 new isolates of Bt. Cuboidal inclusion was predominantly present in 26.9% of the Bt isolates when compared to other shapes. Further characterization of 70 of the 316 Bt isolates for crystal protein profile through SDS-PAGE revealed six different types of crystal protein profile viz., 135 and 65, 135, 95, 65, 43, and 30 kDa crystal proteins. Variation in the mass of crystal protein(s) purified from the isolates of Bt revealed molecular diversity of this bacterium prevalent in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India.     

First report of a hymenopteran parasitoid complex on jackfruit shoot and fruit borer Diaphania caesalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from India

ABSTRACT

A survey of the species composition and relative abundance of Diaphania caesalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in plantations of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) in three southern states along India’s western coast recorded thirteen species of primary parasitoids and one species of a hyperparasitoid, namely Tetrastichus pantnagerensis Khan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Apanteles stantoni Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the most dominant parasitoid and found in 35% of the parasitised host larvae in Karnataka, 38.5% in Kerala, and 33.1% in Tamil Nadu whereas the overall level of parasitisation, involving all the different parasitoids recorded, was approximately 41%–45% and did not vary significantly with location.     

A new species of Sporobolus (Poaceae) from southeastern India

A new species of Sporobolus, S. hajrae , from coastal Tamil Nadu in southern India is described and illustrated.     

Assessing the geographical distribution of carnivorous and planktivorous fishes in the western Bay of Bengal

There is a clear distinction in the feeding habits of fishes between the northeastern and southeastern Arabian Sea (west coast of India) — the north is carnivorous, and the south is planktivorous —, but such a distinction is not available for the western Bay of Bengal (BoB; comprising the east coast of India and the coasts of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). We address this question by using publicly available landing data of finfishes for the four Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal) located along the western boundary of the BoB. Our analysis shows that the southwestern BoB is rich in fisheries and is more planktivorous compared to the northwestern BoB, which is more carnivorous. North–south variability exists even within the group of fishes such as anchovies and carangids. The meagre landing information for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh suggests that they show planktivorous and carnivorous characteristics of the southwestern and northwestern BoB, respectively. We show that monthly data and clarity on where the fish were caught are necessary to link the climatic conditions to the fishery along the western BoB. The landings on the Arabian-Sea and Gulf-of-Mannar part of the Tamil Nadu coast must be separated from the landings on its BoB coast. This separation can not be done with existing landing data and should be the first step in analysing fisheries data from the western BoB. The challenges in delineating the distribution of finfishes using available data illustrated here deliver guidance for future data collection and analysis at higher spatial and temporal scales for sustainable fisheries resource management in the region.     

海平面上升对粤港澳大湾区沿海生境脆弱性评估

全球气候变暖所导致的海平面上升和快速城镇化将对沿海生境的分布和景观格局造成重大影响。评估海平面上升影响下的滨海湿地的脆弱性是对区域生态环境进行修复治理的重要依据。以粤港澳大湾区为例,基于SLAMM模型和Fragstas模型,针对六种海平面上升和土地利用耦合情景,对红树林、盐沼和潮滩三类海岸生境在2100年的面积变化、分布状况和脆弱程度进行了预测和分析。结果表明:1) 随着海平面上升,红树林和潮滩生境遭受严重退化。其中,红树林高脆弱性区主要分布在西江口、珠江口和黄茅海东岸。潮滩高脆弱性区则平均分布在大湾区沿海地带。相比之下,盐沼生境受海平面上升的影响较小。2) 与红树林和潮滩相比,土地利用模式对盐沼生境的影响最为显著。在保护已开发用地的情景下,珠江口西侧的盐沼面积大幅增加,脆弱性程度低。在保护所有旱地的情景下,盐沼生境面积虽然基本维持,但景观格局破坏严重,脆弱性程度高。本研究建议针对高脆弱区,动态调整土地利用策略,清理沿海湿地向内迁移的空间,增强沿海生境应对海平面上升的适应性。本研究可为沿海湿地的管理和保护提供科学支持。     

海平面上升影响下广西钦州湾红树林脆弱性评价

全球气候变化所导致的海平面上升等现象对海岸带产生显著影响。红树林是生长在热带、亚热带沿海潮间带的生态系统,对海平面上升极为敏感。以广西钦州湾红树林生态系统为对象,采用SPRC(Source-Pathway-Receptor-Consequence)评估模式分析了气候变化所导致的海平面上升对红树林生态系统的主要影响。构建了以海平面上升速率、地面沉降/抬升速率、生境高程、日均淹水时间、潮滩坡度和沉积速率为指标的脆弱性评价体系。在GIS平台上量化各脆弱性指标,计算脆弱性指数并分级,建立了定量评价红树林生态系统脆弱性方法,实现了在不同海平面上升情景(近40年来广西海平面平均上升速率、IPCC预测的B1和A1FI情景)和时间尺度下(2030年、2050和2100年),广西钦州湾红树林生态系统脆弱性的定量空间评价。研究结果表明,在近40年广西海平面平均上升速率与B1情景下,钦州湾红树林在各评估时段表现为不脆弱。而在A1FI情景下,至2050年研究区域41.3%红树林为低脆弱,至2100年增加至69.8%。研究采用的SPRC评估模型、脆弱性评价指标体系和定量空间评估方法能够客观定量评价气候变化所导致的海平面上升影响下红树林生态系统脆弱性,可为制定切实可行的应对措施和保障海岸带生态系统安全提供科学依据。     

Costs Analysis of a Population Level Rabies Control Programme in Tamil Nadu,India

The study aimed to determine costs to the state government of implementing different interventions for controlling rabies among the entire human and animal populations of Tamil Nadu. This built upon an earlier assessment of Tamil Nadu''s efforts to control rabies. Anti-rabies vaccines were made available at all health facilities. Costs were estimated for five different combinations of animal and human interventions using an activity-based costing approach from the provider perspective. Disease and population data were sourced from the state surveillance data, human census and livestock census. Program costs were extrapolated from official documents. All capital costs were depreciated to estimate annualized costs. All costs were inflated to 2012 Rupees. Sensitivity analysis was conducted across all major cost centres to assess their relative impact on program costs. It was found that the annual costs of providing Anti-rabies vaccine alone and in combination with Immunoglobulins was $0.7 million (Rs 36 million) and $2.2 million (Rs 119 million), respectively. For animal sector interventions, the annualised costs of rolling out surgical sterilisation-immunization, injectable immunization and oral immunizations were estimated to be $ 44 million (Rs 2,350 million), $23 million (Rs 1,230 million) and $ 11 million (Rs 590 million), respectively. Dog bite incidence, health systems coverage and cost of rabies biologicals were found to be important drivers of costs for human interventions. For the animal sector interventions, the size of dog catching team, dog population and vaccine costs were found to be driving the costs. Rabies control in Tamil Nadu seems a costly proposition the way it is currently structured. Policy makers in Tamil Nadu and other similar settings should consider the long-term financial sustainability before embarking upon a state or nation-wide rabies control programme.     

Book Review

To study the variability and to identify the species of Begomovirus associated with yellow mosaic disease of blackgram in Andhra Pradesh, India, infected blackgram samples were collected from six districts belonging to three regions of Andhra Pradesh. The total DNA was isolated by modified CTAB method and amplified with coat protein gene-specific primers (RHA-F and AC abut) resulting in 900?bp gene product. The PCR products were cloned, sequenced and deposited in GenBank. The sequence analysis of six clones showed that the size of amplified CP gene of YMV was 920?bp. Based on nucleotide sequence identity of six isolates representing three regions of Andhra Pradesh, the isolates from Rayalaseema and Telangana region are the same variant of YMV (>99.5% identity) and isolate from coastal Andhra is another variant of YMV (>95.4%) when compared with other region isolates. Comparison of CP gene sequence of YMV-TPT isolate with 27 other isolates in database revealed more than 93.2 and 86.2% identity with MYMIV isolates and less than 80 and 64% identity with MYMY isolates that originate from Indian sub-continent and South-East Asia at nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. Phylogenetic tree based on CP gene sequences of six isolates with other isolates from GenBank formed unique cluster with MYMIV. Hence the YMV infecting blackgram in Andhra Pradesh is caused by MYMIV rather than MYMY as reported in Tamil Nadu which is adjoining state in southern India.     

A survey of die-back disease of neem in Tamil Nadu,India and PCR-based confirmation of the isolates

A survey of die-back disease of neem was done in different agro climatic regions of Tamil Nadu, India using Global Positioning System (GARMIN 12). Twigs of Azadirachta indica (Neem) infected with die-back were collected from different regions of Tamil Nadu, India and they were further analyzed to determine the pathogen. Phomopsis azadirachtae the causal organism was isolated on malt extract agar from die-back infected neem twigs. They were identified by conventional and molecular methods. Phomopsis genus specific primers (5.8S r-DNA) were then used for the confirmation of P. azadirachtae – the causative agent of die-back of neem by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Studies revealed the amplification of expected 141bp DNA in P. azadirachtae isolated from the diseased trees of different regions of Tamil Nadu confirming the causal organism of die-back of neem. Studies revealed a very high incidence of die-back in most of the places of Tamil Nadu. Hand held GPS was used in the study which would help in continuous monitoring of the diseased trees.     

Diagnostic analysis of conservation zones using remote sensing and GIS techniques in wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats – An ecological hotspot, Tamil Nadu, India

This study highlights spatial characterization of evergreen forests of the Western Ghats – an ecological hotspot in Tamil Nadu, India – using remote sensing and GIS-based analysis in conjunction with ground-based phytosociological data. The evergreen forests of Tamil Nadu are distributed in four distinct hill ranges, Nilgiri, Anamalai, Palni and Tirunelveli, having different topographic, bioclimatic and disturbance levels. The evergreen forests in these four hill ranges are characterized for their uniqueness in terms of patch characteristics and phytosociology. A vegetation type map was prepared using IRS LISS III satellite data and was used to study the patch characteristics in terms of patch size, number, shape, porosity and landcover diversity (LD). The phytosociological characteristics, namely species richness, diversity, similarity and community assemblages, were studied using ground data collected from 95 sample points of 0.1 ha size. Patch size and number revealed distinct intactness and disturbance levels in these four hill ranges. Evergreen forests in the Tirunelveli hills comprising 216.09 km² are distributed in 306 patches, and in the Palni hills, with 285 km², forests are distributed in 1029 patches, indicating a high level of fragmentation. LD, indicating the spatial heterogeneity of landcover, was very high in the Nilgiri hills and low in the Tirunelveli hills. The spatial analysis helped to delineate homogenous large patches of evergreen forest, which can be adopted for appropriate conservation strategies. A total of 342 tree species belonging to 4490 stems were evaluated for phytosociology. Only 15–28% of similarity in terms of species distribution was found across the hill ranges. Conjunctive analysis of patch characteristics and species distribution showed high species richness in less fragmented evergreen forests and vice versa. The study identified the areas of prioritization in terms of ecorestoration and conservation based on patch and phytosociological characteristics.     

Reproductive pattern,perinatal mortality,and sex preference in rural Tamil Nadu,south India: community based,cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To study reproductive pattern and perinatal mortality in rural Tamil Nadu, South India. DESIGN: Community based, cross sectional questionnaire study of 30 randomly selected areas served by health subcentres. SETTING: Rural parts of Salem District, Tamil Nadu, South India. SUBJECTS: 1321 women and their offspring delivered in the 6 months before the interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of pregnancies, pregnancy outcome, spacing of pregnancies, sex of offspring, perinatal and neonatal mortality rates. RESULTS: 41% of the women (535) were primiparous; 7 women (0.5%) were grand multiparous (> 6 births). The women had a mean age of 22 years and a mean of 2.3 pregnancies and 1.8 live children. The sex ratio at birth of the index children was 107 boys per 100 girls. The stillbirth rate was 13.5/1000 births, the neonatal mortality rate was 35.3/1000, and the perinatal mortality rate was 42.0/1000. Girls had an excess neonatal mortality (rate ratio 3.42%; 95% confidence interval 1.68 to 6.98; this was most pronounced among girls born to multiparous women with no living sons (rate ratio 15.48 (2.04 to 177.73) v 1.87 (0.63 to 5.58) in multiparous women with at least one son alive). CONCLUSIONS: In this rural part of Tamil Nadu, women had a controlled reproductive pattern. The excess neonatal mortality among girls constitutes about one third of the perinatal mortality rate. It seems to be linked to a preference for sons and should therefore be addressed through a holistic societal approach rather than through specific healthcare measures.     

Book notes

Abstract

Marriage in Indian society is a religious duty. Consanguineous marriage is common, where individuals prefer to marry within their clan (a unilateral kin group based on either matrilineal or patrilineal descent). Keeping in mind that this form of marriage has certain disadvantages for social and biological as well as demographic aspects of individuals and families, the present study examines the influence of mate selection (i.e., close relatives, distant relatives, not related) on female age at marriage, pregnancy wastages, and survival status of the first child. The study was designed based on the information collected on a sample size of 3,948 married women aged 13–49 in Tamil Nadu, India, by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 1992. Results suggest that 48 per cent of women in Tamil Nadu marry their relatives. This practice of marrying relatives is high in rural areas, among Hindus, Scheduled Castes/tribes, and illiterate women as compared to urban areas, among non‐Hindus, non‐SC/ST, and educated women, respectively. The bivariate analysis reveals that women marrying their close relatives had low age at marriage and experienced a higher per cent of pregnancy wastage and child loss (first child) as compared to those women marrying their distant relatives or nonrelatives. The result is found to be consistent even after controlling for selected background variables through multivariate techniques (applied separately for age at marriage, pregnancy wastages, and the survival status of first child). Hence, this study suggests that steps should be taken to inform people about the problems of marrying close relatives through appropriate IEC programs in Tamil Nadu.     

Religion and intensity of inbreeding in Tamil Nadu,South India

Abstract

A representative random sample of 11,628 rural couples and 8,998 urban couples from North Arcot District of Tamil Nadu in South India are under follow up since 1969 in a study of inbreeding eflFects. This paper describes the level of inbreeding and its relationship to religion of the couples. Wright's F for autosomal genes in the rural and urban areas were 0.0371 and 0.0205, respectively. The F for sex‐linked genes was significantly higher than that for autosomal and was 0.0411 in the rural areas and 0.0228 in the urban. Hindus had the highest inbreeding coefficients as compared to Muslims or Christians for both autosomal and sex‐linked genes, but there were significant variations among the different castes. The level of inbreeding among Muslims and Christians was similar and fairly high. Significant rural‐urban differentials persist in all religions. There is no appreciable change in the level of inbreeding over the past few decades in any religion, although minor declines are observed in certain castes in the urban areas.     

A386G transition in DAZL gene is not associated with spermatogenic failure in Tamil Nadu, South India

The DAZ-like (DAZL) gene located on the short arm of autosomal chromosome 3 (3p24), an essential master gene for the premeiotic development of male and female germ cells, is the father of the Y-chromosome DAZ gene cluster and encodes for RNA-binding proteins. Reported instances of positive association of DAZL gene mutations with infertility in men have been found in a Taiwanese population but not in Caucasians. There is no study from Tamil Nadu, South India, to demonstrate the role of DAZL gene in male infertility; we, therefore, analyzed a total of 287 men, including 147 infertile and 140 normozoospermic fertile controls from rural areas of Tamil Nadu, South India, to assess the phenotypic effect of DAZL mutations in this region of the world. Interestingly, all our samples showed absence of the A386G (T54A) mutation that was found to be associated with spermatogenic failure in the Taiwanese population. Therefore, we suggest that the A386G (T54A) mutation is not associated with male infertility in Tamil Nadu, South India.     

Distributional ecology of snails (Gastropoda: Mollusca) in seasonal ponds of Tamil Nadu,South India

The present study was focused to examine diversity and distributional pattern of freshwater snails and to identify the schistosome infected snails in ten different ponds of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, South India. Snails were collected from native substrates in ponds using dip net from Madurai North, Tamil Nadu province of south India and microscopic examination for detecting cercariae larvae in snails were assessed. In total, 1250 individuals belonging to six species under five families of freshwater snails were collected. The alpha and beta diversity analyses were calculated for estimating the diversity of snails. The cercariae infection was observed in four collected freshwater snail species. Of four infected snails, Lymnaea luteola had the highest percentage of cercariae infection. Statistical tests showed that the environmental factors of total dissolved solids, pH and salinity were significantly related with snail distribution and cercariae infection rather than spatial factor. The study demonstrated that the salinity, conductivity and total dissolved solids of pond water play a key factor for the distribution of snails and cercariae infection. The findings of our study will improve the understanding of the dynamics of schistosomiasis transmission and would ease the implementation of integrated disease control measures based on ecological knowledge of schistosomiasis vector in Madurai and Tamil Nadu zones.     

Correlates of female sterilization regret in the southern states of India

This study analyses factors associated with the incidence of sterilization regret in the four south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Using data from the National Family Health Surveys, in all four states the incidence of regret was found to be less than 10% and the factors significantly associated with it were child loss experience and quality of services. Hence, there is a need to improve the quality of services, both in terms of counselling and service provision, and women need to be counselled about the permanent nature of sterilization in order to avoid future regret.     

闽三角城市群生态环境脆弱性及其驱动力

生态安全是地区社会经济可持续发展的基本前提之一,而生态环境脆弱性会威胁地区的生态安全,进行生态环境脆弱性评价具有重要意义。以闽三角城市群为例,分别选取2000年和2015年的高程、坡度、岩性、土壤类型、NDVI、年均降水量、年均温、人口密度、人均GDP、路网密度、景观多样性、土地利用程度和工业固体废弃物排放量等13个指标,基于空间主成分分析法,并结合全局Moran'I和LISA聚类图,从整体特征、空间差异、空间集聚、地类脆弱性分异以及驱动力5个方面,探讨闽三角城市群的生态环境脆弱性及其驱动力。结果表明:2000—2015年间,闽三角城市群的生态环境脆弱性整体处于中度脆弱,但呈现出由中度脆弱向重度脆弱过渡的趋势;2000—2015年间,生态环境脆弱性呈现出由东南沿海向西北内陆逐渐增强的整体趋势,并存在明显的地带性特征,东南沿海增长不明显,部分地区有所下降,而西北内陆增长明显;生态环境脆弱性存在显著的空间自相关性,且为显著正相关,在西北部山区地带为显著的高高聚集,在东南沿海平原地带为显著的低低聚集,16年间集聚性特征在空间上有所迁移和扩张;2000—2015年间,生态环境脆弱性在各地类存在着一定的异质性,其生态环境脆弱性指数大小顺序始终为:林地未利用地草地耕地水域建设用地,整体由中度脆弱向重度脆弱过渡;2000—2015年间,生态环境脆弱性的驱动力有所变化,但人口密度、景观多样性、岩性和土壤类型一直是闽三角城市群生态环境脆弱性主要的驱动力。     

海平面上升影响下长江口滨海湿地脆弱性评价

研究滨海湿地对气候变化的响应,评估气候变化对其影响,并提出切实可行的应对策略,是保障海岸带生态系统安全的重要前提.本研究以长江口滨海湿地为对象,采用“源-途径-受体-影响”模型和IPCC脆弱性定义分析了气候变化引起的海平面上升对滨海湿地生态系统的主要影响.构建了基于海平面上升速率、地面沉降速率、生境高程、生境淹水阈值和沉积速率为指标的脆弱性评价指标体系.在GIS平台上量化各脆弱性指标,计算脆弱性指数并分级,建立了海平面上升影响下滨海湿地生态系统脆弱性的定量空间评估方法,实现了在不同海平面上升情景（近30年长江口沿海平均海平面上升速率和IPCC排放情景特别报告中的A₁F₁情景）和时间尺度（2030和2050年）下,长江口滨海湿地生态系统脆弱性的定量空间评价.结果表明： 在近30年长江口平均海平面上升速率（0.26 cm·a^-1）情景下,至2030年,研究区轻度脆弱和中度脆弱的滨海湿地分别占6.6%和0.1%;至2050年,轻度脆弱和中度脆弱的滨海湿地分别占9.8%和0.2%.在A₁F₁ （0.59 cm·a^-1）情景下,至2030年,轻度脆弱和中度脆弱的滨海湿地面积比例分别为9.0%和0.1%;至2050年,轻度脆弱、中度脆弱和高度脆弱的面积比例分别为9.5%、1.0%和0.3%.