Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 

About: Applied Ecology and Environmental Research is an academic journal published by Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Yield (engineering) & Environmental science. It has an ISSN identifier of 1589-1623. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 3350 publications have been published receiving 21260 citations. The journal is also known as: AEER.

A review on phytoremediation of heavy metals and utilization of its byproducts.

Abstract: This review presents the status of phytoremediation technologies with particular emphasis on phytoextraction of soil heavy metal contamination. Unlike organic compounds, metals cannot be degraded, and cleanup usually requires their removal. Most of the conventional remedial technologies are expensive and inhibit the soil fertility; this subsequently causes negative impacts on the ecosystem. Phytoremediation is a cost effective, environmental friendly, aesthetically pleasing approach most suitable for developing countries. Despite this potential, phytoremediation is yet to become a commercially available technology in India. This paper reports about the mobility, bioavaliability and plant response to presence of soil heavy metals. It classifies the plants according to phytoextraction mechanism and discusses the pathway of metal in plants. Various techniques to enhance phytoextraction and utilization of by-products have been elaborated. Since lot of biomass is produced during this process, it needs proper disposal and management. It also gives an insight into the work done by authors, which focuses on high biomass extractor plants. High biomas weeds were selected to restrict the passage of contaminants into the food chain by selecting non-edible, disease resistant and tolerant plants, which can provide renewable energy. Thus making phytoextraction more viable for present utilization. Keywords. heavy metals, phytoextraction, hyperaccumulator, indicator, excluder species

Nonylphenol, an integrated vision of a pollutant. Scientific review

Abstract: Nonylphenol is a metabolic intermediate from the microbial transformation of detergents used worldwide. While nonylphenol shows some acute toxicity, it is also able to mimic important hormones resulting in the disruption of several processes by interfering with the signals that control the overall physiology of the organism. This work perform a critical reviews on the origin, environmental fate, microbial transformation, ecosystems impact and endocrine disruption capacity of nonylphenol. Due to mass production of parent products and potential toxicity, nonylphenol is an example of a microbial decay product that may pose an environmental risk. The analysis supports the need for better tests to evaluate, model and monitor the potential long-term environmental impact of single compounds produced as a result of an environmentally- mediated degradation. Keywords. Nonylphenol, toxicity, Daphnia, transformation, ecosystem, environment, pollution

Assessing mutagenicity of textile dyes from pali (rajasthan) using ames bioassay

Abstract: In Rajasthan state particularly, textile mills represent an important economic sector. Pali district in Rajasthan has got largest number of textile industries in the State i.e.989 units, mostly engaged in cotton and synthetic textile printing and dyeing. These industries liberate a variety of chemicals, dyes, acids and alkalis besides other toxic compounds like heavy metals, which are known for their hazardous properties. However, excessive and indiscriminate use of dyestuffs has become increasingly a subject of environmental concern. These dyes can enter the environment through the industrial effluents of dye manufacturing plants and from textile dyeing and printing operations, as wastewater effluents. Assessment of genotoxicity of dyes is therefore of utmost importance. Short-term genetic bioassays have proved to be an important tool in such studies because of their simplicity, sensitivity to genetic damage, speed, low cost of experimentation and small amount of sample required. A total of 7 dyes were tested for their mutagenicity, by Ames assay, using strain TA 100 of Salmonella typhimurium. Only 1 dye, Violet showed absence of mutagenic activity. The remaining 6 dyes were all positively mutagenic.

Growth and reproduction of eisenia foetida in various animal wastes during vermicomposting

Abstract: The effect of various animal wastes on growth and reproduction of an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida was studied under identical laboratory conditions. For each waste, viz., cow, buffalo, horse, donkey, sheep, goat and camel, five hatchlings per 100 g of waste were inoculated and monitored for biomass gain, mortality, sexual maturity, cocoons production periodically for 15 weeks. No mortality was observed in any waste. The earthworms grew rapidly in cow, sheep, and goat wastes. Maximum weight gain and highest growth rate were attained in sheep waste. Net biomass gain/earthworm in different animal wastes was in the order of: sheep > donkey > buffalo > goat ≈ cow ≈ horse > camel. The number of cocoons produced per earthworm per day in different wastes was in the order: sheep > cow ≈ horse ≈ goat > camel > donkey > buffalo. Increase in the number of earthworms was 39.5-fold in horse waste and 26-fold in cow waste. Keywords. Eisenia foetida, animal waste, physicochemical characteristics, biomass, cocoon

Microbial ecology of methane emission in rice agroecosystem: a review

Abstract: Methane has profound impact on the physico-chemical properties in atmosphere leading to global climate change. Out of the various sources of CH4, rice fields are the most significant contributors. The processes involved in the emission of CH4 from rice fields to the atmosphere include CH4 production (methanogenesis) in the soil by methanogens, methane oxidation (methanotrophy) by methanotrophs and vertical transfer of CH4 via plant transport and diffusion or ebullition. In the overall methane dynamics rice plants act as : a) source of methanogenic substrate, b) conduit for CH4 through well developed system of inter cellular air space (aerenchyma), and c) potential methane oxidizing micro-habitat in the rhizosphere by diffusing oxygen which favour the growth and multiplication of methanotrophs. Apart from mechanistic uncertainties, there are several other uncertainties in the estimation of CH4 flux. Methane dynamics in the paddy field is controlled by a complex set of parameters linking the biological and physical characteristics of soil environment like temperature, carbon source, Eh, pH, soil microbes and properties of rice plants, etc. It has now become possible to isolate, detect and characterize the methanogens and methanotrophs by using molecular biological tools like PCR, FISH, etc. techniques. The apparent half saturation constant (Km) and maximum oxidation rate (Vmax) are distinctive parameters which determine the ability of bacteria to survive on atmospheric methane. Keywords. methane; methanotrophs; methanotrophy; methanogens; molecular tools