UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
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Study on the Impact of Aniline on Antioxidant Enzymes, Biochemical Contents and Hormonal Analysis on Testis of Male Albino Rat
Get PDFBackground: Aniline, common aromatic amine, has been linked to hormonal imbalances and reproductive toxicity.
Aim: This study examines its effects on body weight, organ weight, anti oxidant enzymes, and hormone levels and biochemical components in albino rats.
Method: The rats were categorized into a control group and an aniline-treated group. Body weight, testis weight, and serum testosterone, LH and FSH levels were measured, and anti oxidant enzymes were measured.
Results: Aniline treated rats showed reduced weight gain, lower testis weights, and decreased testosterone, LH and FSH levels. oxidative stress damages was induced in the testis.
Conclusion: Aniline exposure negatively impacts male reproductive health by altering hormone levels and testicular structure. Further research is needed to assess its relevance to human health
Effect of Seasonal Incidence of Major Insect Pests of Mustard Crop in Relation to Abiotic Factors
Get PDFRapeseed-mustard is a key oilseed crop in India, contributing 11% to global production, ranking third after Canada and China. However, mustard crops face threats from over several insect pests, including aphids, sawflies, painted bugs, leaf webbers, and leaf miners. A field study conducted in Kanpur during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Rabi seasons examined the seasonal incidence of these pests and their correlation with weather parameters. Mustard aphid infestations peaked in February, with population fluctuations negatively correlated with temperature. Similarly, the painted bug infestation peaked in December-January, with significant negative correlations with maximum and minimum temperatures. The mustard sawfly and leaf miner also showed seasonal fluctuations influenced by temperature and humidity. Their populations varied seasonally, with correlations to temperature, humidity, and rainfall
Population, Time Activity Budget and Habitat Utilization of Nilgiri Langur (Semnopithecus johnii) in Nilgiri Forest Division, Tamil Nadu, Southern India
Get PDFThe aim of the study was to understand population, time activity budget and habitat utilization of Nilgiri langur (semnopithecus johnii) in Nilgiri Forest Division from June to October 2018. Totally 57 Nilgiri langur troops comprising 535 individuals with an average group size of 9.38±3.65 individuals were recorded from six forest ranges altogether. The sex ratio between an adult male and an adult female of Nilgiri langur was 1:1.09. Similarly, the sex ratio between sub adult male and sub adult female was 1:1. An adult female and young one sex ratio was 1:2.9. Out of 153 hours of observation, it was found the Nilgiri langurs utilized six different habitat types for its various ecological purposes. Among them, the shola forest was effectively utilized by them to fulfill their all ecological requirements including feeding, resting and moving, etc. The Nilgiri langurs fed eighteen plant species of which, five of them were highly preferred food plants. It is very important and management point of view to note that except Syzigium cumini others are exotic plant species namely Acacia mearnsii, Acacia melanoxylon, Pinus wallichiana and Cupperssus macrocorpus. The fruiting phenology of Syzigium cumini occurs in stipulated period of time in the year unlike other exotic plants and its availability also comparatively lesser than other exotic plants. Most of the exotic plant species’ parts are edible to Nilgiri langurs which minimized the movement of the animals to get their nutritional requirements. Therefore, this study suggests eradication of exotic species is highly needed of the hour. Because the effects of secondary components on Nilgiri langurs is not known if the animals are forced to feed such exotic plant parts continuously
Effect of Dietary Organic Acids Supplementation on Laying Performance, Egg Quality Traits and Economic Efficiency of Commercial Layer Hens
Get PDFOrganic acids have been demonstrated as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production; however, research is still being conducted due to the contradictory results in the biological and economic performances of poultry birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic acids on laying performance, egg quality traits, and economic efficiency of commercial layer hens. In a complete randomized design, 260, 25-week-old layer hens weighing an initial body wieght of 1609 ± 18. 5g were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups consisting of 4 replicates. Treatments were basal diets without any additive (T1); with 30mg oxytetracycline (T2), with 16gm citric acid (T3), 8gm malic acid (T4); and a combination of 8g citric + 4gm malic acid (T5) per kg of basal diets. The result revealed that a significantly higher difference (p<0.001) was observed in hen day egg production, egg quality traits, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) recorded among treatment groups in body weight gain and feed intake. Layer hens fed on organic acid diets improved the hen-day egg production by 85.51% to 86.54% as compared to T1 (77.75%) and T2 (80.07%). Overall, mixed acid (T5) reflected the highest performance in terms of FCR, albumin weight, egg mass, total return, and net profit. T5 improved the profitability by 13.26% and 11.82% and relative economic efficiency by 16.83% and 17.40% than T1 and T2, respectively. In conclusion, all dietary organic acids supplementation can replace the antibiotic effectively, but mixed organic acid does the best in terms of both the biological and economic performance of layer hens
Post-Harvest Losses of Vegetables Caused by Pests: A Review
Get PDFInsect pests indeed present a major challenge to the storage and processing of vegetables, spices, and ornamentals. Insects, pests and diseases are the major biotic constraints to vegetable production. They not only degrade the quality of the products but also pose serious food safety risks and result in crop loss of about 10-30%. Some of the insect pest responsible for PHL in storage are cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), drug store beetle (Stegobium panicum), Potato Rubber Moth (Phthorimaea operculetta), sweet potato weevil (Cylus formicarius) red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), Indian meal moth, bean weevils (Acantboscelides spp.). The instant, pattern and causes of post-harvest loss specifically due to insect pests are studied. The review revealed that yield losses occur due to major, invasive and emerging insect pests in vegetable crops. For instance, Leucinodes orbonalis cause 70–75% damage in brinjal. Plutella xylostella cause 52% damage, and Pieris brassicae causes 42% damage in cabbage. Furthermore, Maruca vitrata causes 36% flower and pod damage in cowpea. Epilachna vigintioctopunctata cause 13–88% leaf damage in cowpea. Again, Eariasvitella, E. insulana is responsible for 35% damage in okra, Helicoverpa armigera causes 50–80% damage in tomato, Diaphinia indica cause 23% damage in cucumber and lastly, Thrips parvispinus cause 22.8 % and Polyphagotarsonemus latus cause 50% damage in Chillie. The paper highlighted the importance of grain crops in the global food supply, emphasizing the need to understand grain crop losses and implement efficient management strategies. Additionally, it underscored the essential role of grains in the human diet and the severe consequences of grain loss on food and nutrition security. The study is expected to offer valuable insights into the complexities of agricultural product losses, their effects on food and nutrition security and the specific importance of addressing losses in grain crops
Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Hopea erosa Leaves against Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats
Get PDFThe study investigates the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of Hopea erosa leaves against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Liver damage was induced using a high dose of paracetamol (1000 mg/kg), and the therapeutic effects of Hopea erosa at two different doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) were compared with a standard hepatoprotective drug, silymarin (100 mg/kg). Preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of active compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and steroids in the extract. Acute toxicity studies indicated the safety of the extract up to 2000 mg/kg. The study observed significant biochemical changes in liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and total bilirubin in the paracetamol group, which were reversed with Hopea erosa treatment, especially at the higher dose. Histopathological examination showed that liver damage (necrosis, inflammation, cirrhotic nodules) caused by paracetamol was notably reduced in the extract-treated groups, with the high-dose group exhibiting near-normal liver architecture. The findings suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of Hopea erosa may be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents. This research provides scientific support for the traditional use of Hopea erosa in liver-related ailments and suggests its potential for further development into plant-based liver therapeutics, although additional pharmacological and clinical studies are needed to isolate and characterize its active components
Reassessing Environmental Impact Assessments in India: Implications for Species Conservation and Biodiversity Governance
Get PDFEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) serves as a foundational instrument in contemporary development planning, offering a structured approach to integrating environmental considerations at the inception of project design and execution. In the Indian context, EIA acts as a preventive and regulatory framework designed to mitigate ecological degradation by systematically assessing the potential environmental consequences of proposed activities on critical components such as air, water, soil, biodiversity, and public health. While EIA has contributed to advancing sustainable development and enhancing environmental accountability, its application in the realm of wildlife conservation—especially concerning birds and other ecologically sensitive species—remains fraught with limitations. A significant proportion of EIAs fail to adequately address the long-term, cumulative, and spatially diffuse impacts on species that navigate both protected and unprotected landscapes. These oversights are aggravated by the limited deployment of scientific tracking tools, insufficient ecological modelling, and a lack of attention to habitat connectivity. Migratory birds and wide-ranging species are particularly vulnerable to such gaps in assessment, often facing habitat fragmentation and ecosystem disruptions. To harmonize developmental objectives with the imperatives of wildlife conservation, it is essential to strengthen the EIA process through the incorporation of advanced ecological methodologies, real-time wildlife tracking, and landscape-level planning. Enhancing stakeholder participation and embedding species-specific conservation strategies within EIA protocols can further ensure that development does not come at the cost of biodiversity loss. Such an integrated and science-informed approach to EIA would support the ethical imperative of safeguarding wildlife, promoting ecological balance, and securing a sustainable future for both human and non-human life. Biodiversity plays a vital role not only in maintaining ecological balance but also in supporting agriculture, livelihoods, and the traditions of indigenous communities. Despite this, increasing human activities such as deforestation, pollution, infrastructure expansion, habitat fragmentation, and climate change are accelerating species extinction at an alarming rate
Buckthorn Leaves and Fruits: A Comparative Study of Their Hepatoprotective Effects in Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Disorders in Rats
Get PDFAn overdose of carbon tetrachloride by injection leads to liver damage and massive hepatocellular necrosis, whereas sea buckthorn leaves and fruits have hepatoprotective properties. The aim of this study was to compare the hepatoprotective effects of sea buckthorn leaves and fruits in hepatotoxic rats induced by chlorocarbon. The experiment was carried out in an animal enclosure. Before the start of the experiment, all rats were given a basic diet for one week. The rats were then divided into six groups, each group comprising six rats. The 1st group received only a basic diet for twenty-eight days and served as the rats\u27 normal negative control (C -ve). The other groups of rats (thirty in total) were administered carbon tetrachloride. The groups were divided into five groups, with four groups receiving BL (5% and 10%) and BF (5% and 10%) and one group acting as a control group that suffered from the disease but did not follow the experimental diet. In contrast to the control group (+), all liver values of the rats given different diets showed significant mean reductions. Group "4" (hepatotoxic rats fed ten percent BL) had the highest FI, BWG and ARR compared to the control group (+). For ALP, insignificant differences were found between groups "4" and "6". Mathematically, the best management considering the serum albumin has been documented for group"4" (rats fed on 10% BL) in comparison with control (+) group. Research results indicate its positive effect on the liver and improvement in the condition of liver tissue. It is important to recognise that research on sea buckthorn is still ongoing and further investigation is needed to validate its potential therapeutic applications and determine the appropriate dosages
Observations on the Composition and Diversity of Ant Communities in Different Habitats in a Campus Ecosystem
Get PDFAnts are more sensitive to ecosystem changes and their fast response to habitat alterations enable them as a useful tool for natural areas restoration efforts. A preliminary investigation was conducted to determine the diversity and distribution of ants from various habitats selected across the campus of Sree Narayana College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State. A total of seventeen species belonging to four subfamilies, fourteen genera and 234 individuals were collected. The subfamily Myrmicinae is the most diverse followed by Formicinae, Ponerinae and Dolichoderinae. In the present study, Diversity Index, Dominance index and Evenness index of ant species were determined. Diversity varied from 0.49 to 0.82 indicating low diversity. Dominance index value ranged from 0.17 to 0.47 while Evenness index value from 0.63 to 0.92. The results showed low diversity and dominance of ant species in the campus area indicating the severity of human interference in the campus ecosystem
Assessment of the Impact of Monocrotophos on the Haematological and Histological Parameters of the Freshwater Fish Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)
Get PDFThis study investigated the acute sublethal toxicity of Monocrotophos on the behavioural, haematological, and histological parameters of the freshwater fish Labeo rohita. Fish exposed to Monocrotophos (10 ppm and 100 ppm) exhibited notable behavioural alterations, including loss of equilibrium, frequent surfacing, heightened mucus secretion, irregular locomotion, and erratic swimming behaviour. The 96-hour LC50 value for L. rohita was determined to be 48.50 ppm. Sub-lethal concentrations (10, 20, 40, and 60 ppm) were employed to assess the effects of acute exposure over a period of 30 days. The increase in Monocrotophos concentrations led to a consistent decrease in total RBC count and haemoglobin levels, although the total WBC count showed a proportional rise with both concentration and length of exposure. Histopathological analysis revealed significant structural damage to the gill and liver tissues in the treated fish relative to the controls. The findings highlight the substantial behavioural and physiological alterations caused by Monocrotophos exposure in L. rohita. In order to reduce the adverse impact of this chemical on aquatic ecosystems, stringent regulation and attentive application are essential