Applied Zoology

The study involves twenty-four (12) yearling West African Dwarf Goats. The goats were assigned randomly to three treatments viz: Cnidoscolus-Poultry Manure-Multinutrient Blocks (CPMNB), Cnidoscolus-Urea-Multinutrient Blocks (CUMNB) and control consisting of Panicum maximum and cassava peels. Each treatment consists of eight goats as replicates. They were adequately fed and provided with fresh and clean water. The hematological parameters and nutrient digestibility as influenced by the three treatments were evaluated. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) value for goats fed the experimental multinutrient blocks ranged from 25.25 + 1.25% in CUMNB to 20.25 + 2.25% in CPMNB and that of the control diet was 19.90 + 1.59%. The red blood cell varied from 545 + 116.0x106 mm-1 in CUMNB to 335 + 64.0 x 106 mm-1 in CPMNB with control having the value 222.58 +25.61 x106mm-1. The White Blood Cell (WBC) was highest in CUMNB (263.5 + 1.65 x 103 mm-1), followed by CPMNB (151.5 + 10.8 x103 mm-1 ) while the least value was recorded in the goat fed control diet (137.9 + 2. 75 x103mm-1). The haemoglobin concentration (HBC) was lowest in goats fed the control diet (5.92 + 0.18g 100 mm-1). The Monocytes (%) value for CUMNB was the highest (6.4 + 0.6), followed by CPMNB (5.0 + 0.00) and the control treatment has the least value (4.90 + 0.42) The Eosinophils (%) values varied from 2.0 + 0.25 in CUMNB to 1.83 + 0.17 in control treatment. The goats fed control diet showed the least values for the haemological variables. The percent digestible nutrient and coefficient of digestibility in the feed showed that goats fed supplemental Cnidoscolus- based multinutrient blocks had better nutrient utilization. Thus better rumen digestion and haematological performance than goats fed diet of Panicum- cassava peels ration.

The survey of the data with respect to giant African land snail Achatina fulica. The infestation communed with the onset of monsoon and remained active throughout the rainy season. It started declines gradually from the middle of September. The preferred host of giant African land snail Achatina fulica was Cabbage, Mulberry, Spinach, and Hibiscus etc. A marked preference for food was observed for snail of different sizes groups. Young snail preferred plant of soft texture and the increases in size. Achatina fulica laid 200-350 eggs in the depression of soil with large amount of mucous. The eggs are oval in shape and yellow in color. The clutch size varied from different eggs clutches .The survival data revealed that 50% young ones survival at the end of hatching period. After hatching, 83.14% survival and 20.27% of unservival was recorded up to 6-7 days.

Studies were undertaken on the zooplankton communities of the Androth Island. Major planktonic groups were copepods, decapods, amphipods, chaetognaths, mysids, fish eggs and larvae. Besides these foraminiferans, ciliates, cladocerans, ostracods, polychaete larvae, gastopod larvae, crustacean larvae and echinoderm larvae were also encountered during the present study. Copepoda was found to be the most abundant group. The study provides baseline information on the Zooplankton community structure, which could give new insight to the future ecological assessment of Androth waters.

Alive freshwater fishes Channa punctatus and C. striatus were collected from freshwater bodies of Cauvery delta and their s parameters were thoroughly studied. RBC and WBC count, haemoglobin content and haematocrit were showed slight fluctuation. The range of different in biochemical parameter of these species are RBC 3.29 ? 106 to 3.42 ? 106/cumm; WBC 4.3 ? 103 to 4.6 ?103/cumm; Hb 9.37 to 10.84 g/dl; PVC 34.42 to 36.14 %/dl; MCV 104.62 to 105.67 ?m3, MCH 24.09 to 28.48 Pg/dl; MCHC 27.22 to 29.99 g/dl. The serum protein, albumin and cholesterol were found to be slightly higher value in C. punctatus than C. striatus. The globulin and triglycerides showed elevated level in C. striatus. The average values of protein content showed higher value when compared to cholesterol and glucose. The present study suggested that these fishes are important sources of animal protein and good for human health.

Heavy metals contamination in river is one of the major quality issues in developing countries and metals enter these aquatic systems mainly through natural inputs such as weathering and erosion of rocks and anthropogenic sources including urban, industrial and agricultural activities, terrestrial runoff and sewage disposal. In the month of March CF > 6 in Copper indicated extremely contaminated as 9.333 in the water bodies. In the water bodies the month of March indicated that it is very high extremely polluted emphasized as 10.62 pollution load index. In the water sediments regarding in the month of March pointed out the pollution load index that it is very high extremely polluted as 17.28. The highest copper concentration was noticed in the water bodies during the month of March as 420±2.40 mg/l and the zinc as 260±3.04 mg/l which exceeded the shale value. The highest copper concentration was noticed in the water sediments during the month of March as 750±2.40mg/l and the zinc as 380±3.20 mg/l which exceeded the shale value. The Lead metal concentration was observed as 10 mg/l during all the months.

Using concentrations of 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8mg diatomaceous earth (DE) 100 mL-1 larval food medium, a mean LC50 value of 0.6636mg was determined for the 3rd-instar larvae of the housefly Musca domestica. Time-course mortalities of the larvae at the determined LC50 level were assessed at 24h, 48h and 72h post-treatments. Finally, DE-induced changes in such vital reproductive attributes as egg-laying, egg-hatch, larval duration, number of dead larvae, pupal duration, number of dead pupae, number of adults emerged and female ratios from parental through F2 generations were recorded. Results indicated that DE could be used as an efficient larvicide against M. domestica and it was capable of inducing deleterious effects on all the reproductive parameters at the determined LC50. These findings have potential implications because the present DE concentration might be utilized for the control of this important vector species under household as well as field conditions.

To investigate the antihepatotoxic ability of aqueous leaf extract of Cassia auriculata on antituberculosis drug, rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity. In the present study, the aqueous leaf extract of Cassia auriculata (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight) was examined for its antihepatotoxic ability against rifampicin induced liver injury. Fourty two healthy male albino wistar rats (150-180 g weight) were chosen and divided in to seven groups. Rifampicin and aqueous leaf extract were given 28 days according to the experimental design. After 28 days of treatment, hepatic serum marker enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation and liver histology were analyzed. Rifampicin induced liver damage showed significantly elevated activities of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol and bilirubin whereas protein level was decreased in serum. Moreover hepatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities were decreased whereas lipid peroxidation level was increased and also necrosis, vacuolization, space formation and loss of cell boundries were observed in liver when compared with control group. Administration of aqueous leaf extract of Cassia auriculata or silymarin could significantly restored to near normal by decrease the activities of serum hepatic marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation level where as enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes, serum protein and improving towards the normal liver hsitoarchitecture when compared with rifampicin alone treated rats. These present findings suggested that the aqueous leaf extract of Cassia auriculata exhibited antihepatotoxic ability against rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity compared to standard drug silymarin.

Three different concentrations (5.0 ppm; 10.0 ppm; 20.0 ppm & 50.0 ppm) of the aqueous solution of seed powder of Syzigium cumini (L) were used to treat the leaves of mulberry & fed to the fifth instar larvae of polyvoltine, crossbreed silkworm, Bombyx mori (L) (Race : PM x CSR2 ) for first three days; second day & third day; third day (only). The larvae fed with untreated & water treated leaves were also maintained. Bioassays of proteins (S.P. & T.P.) & enzymes (protease & amylase) were carried out on fifth day through the use of mid gut homogenate. Treating the mulberry leaves with herbal preparations (S. cumini ) & feeding them to fifth instar larvae was found reflected into significant improvement in the levels of proteins (S.P. & T.P.) & velocities of biochemical reactions catalyzed by protease & amylase. The pattern of increase in soluble proteins & total proteins in the mid gut tissue were 32.147 to 90.074 percent & 5.657 to 39.052 percent respectively. The activities of mid gut protease & amylase were increased by 21.444 to 83.706 percent and 14.54 to 52.257 percent respectively. The nutrient contents of seed powder of Syzigium cumini (L) serve to improve the digestibility & exert the influence of efficient metabolism in the fifth instar larvae of silkworm, Bombyx mori (L).The herbal formulation like Syzigium seed powder may gear overall biochemical constituency of silkworm larvae, through the significant improvement in the velocity of mid gut enzyme catalyzed biochemical reactions.

The host plant, Pentaslanceolata, constitutes 77% of complete pollinators. We observed and labored out a total of 536 visits to this host plant. Oecophyllasmaragdina had 218 visits with more affinity, Papiliodemoleus (198), Tirumalaseptentrionis (177), and Euploea core (159). We recorded the top pastimes between 8.30 hours and 12.30 hours. 75% of the traveling endeavor finished for the duration of this period. Among the found foragers, the majority were E.core, P.demoleus, T.septentrionis, and P.polytes having two top intervals of vigorous visits. (9.30 hours in the morning session and 14.30 hours in the afternoon session). Junoniaatlites were active all through early morning up to 9.00 hours and in the night after 17.00 hours. Among bees species, Amegilla sp. and Megacampsomerisgrossa confirmed a single height as energetic throughout the morning hours.

Newly developed vermicomposting model is eco-friendly, has low cost, minimum space requirement, protection from predators, minimum water requirement, self roof, easy management. This model tries to keeps constant temperature and humidity. Due to these favorable conditions earthworms feed voraciously, shows fast growth, increases rate of reproduction and vermicompost formation within short period (45-days), which is qualitative and quantitative. Vermicompost increases soil fertility, water holding capacity, healthy growth in plants and regulates the soil pH neutral. Newly developed vermiwash model medium cost, space requirement 2’X2’, mobile model. The vermiwash from this model is qualitative and quantitative. Analyzed contains total 48- components. Includes 10- Micronutrients, 5- Hormones, 5- Enzymes, 7-microbes and 21- other Physico-chemical components. Vermiwash acts plant tonic, good organic foliar spray increases vegetative and reproductive growth in plants. On flowering plants: flower size, number increases, better color and also acts as post harvesting tonic. Vermiwash in nursery for vegetative growth in cutting, grafting and layering.