The "rice culture" of Kerala is fast vanishing due to the increasing diversion of the l... more The "rice culture" of Kerala is fast vanishing due to the increasing diversion of the land for non-agricultural purposes. The real estate sector is gradually swallowing up the rice cultivating low-lying wetlands. This paper attempts to examine the growth of real estate business and consequent destruction of the wetland ecosystems in the state. W etlands are an important part of the ecosystem and are also the most threatened part of it (Turner 1991). Conserving wetlands as shields against scarcity of water, floods, en-vironmental pollution, and distress of mi-cro-climatic vagaries is therefore impor-tant. Kerala has the largest proportion of land area under wetlands among all the states of India. Compared to other states of the country, wetlands in Kerala are un-der severe anthropogenic threats primari-ly because of high population density and the peculiar distribution of human habita-tions in the state. According to Nair and Sankar (2002), who mapped the wetland systems of...
The ongoing massive global environmental changes and the past learnings have highlighted the urge... more The ongoing massive global environmental changes and the past learnings have highlighted the urgency and importance of further detailed understanding of the earth system and implementation of social ecological sustainability measures in a much more effective and transparent manner. This short communication discuss the potential of sensor webs in addressing those research challenges, highlighting it in the context of air pollution issues.
Globally, one-third of the terrestrial carbon (C) is stored in tropical soils. The warming predic... more Globally, one-third of the terrestrial carbon (C) is stored in tropical soils. The warming predicted for this century is expected to increase microbial decomposition in soil and escalate climate change potential by releasing more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Understanding the response of soils to warming is a key challenge in predicting future climate change trajectories. Here we examined the combined effect of soil temperature (Ts) and soil water content (VWC) on soil heterotrophic respiration (Rsh) and its temperature sensitivity across different altitudes (2400, 1900, and 1450 m ASL) in the Ailaoshan subtropical forest ecosystem, Southwest China. Along the elevation gradient, soil C stocks in the top 50 cm soil layer increased significantly from 10.7 g/ kg at 1480 m ASL to 283.1 g/ kg at 2480 m ASL. Soil cores from various elevations were translocated to the same, and lower elevations and Rsh from those cores were measured every month from February 2010 to January 2014. Temperature sensitivity (Q10) of Rsh for the period was highest at the highest (H) elevation (Q10 = 5.3), decreased significantly towards the middle (M, Q10 = 3.1) and low (L, Q10 = 1.2) elevation. Q10 at M and L elevation did not differ between the place of origin and translocated cores. For the cores within each elevation, Q10 did not vary across the years. Our models suggest that Rsh increased significantly in response to an increase in Ts at each elevation under an intermediate VWC. Hence, the rate of emission was higher in lower elevations due to a higher Ts range. Our findings highlight that the predicted warming over the 21st century will have the greatest impact of Ts on Rsh, especially on the soils at the highest elevations, and will lead towards positive feedback to the climate system.
In view of the variety of waste items casually disposed off by humans, a survey was conducted in ... more In view of the variety of waste items casually disposed off by humans, a survey was conducted in two cities, Indore and Coimbatore, in roosting sites of colonial birds looking for unusual items in their food. Of the 891 regurgitated pellets of birds examined, about 53% in Coimbatore and 14% in Indore contained rubber bands, rubber balloons and small plastic debris. Rubber bands (95.3%), balloon (2.35%), plastic bits (1.41%) and plastic cap (0.94%) were found in the pellets. Among the rubber bands, red was the predominant colour (73.1%) followed by green (25%) and yellow (1.9%). These findings show that the birds misjudge an artefact as natural prey. The highly corroded rubber bands indicate the leaching of chemicals (like plasticizers and bisphenols), many of which are potential endocrine disruptors. The potential hazard from such leachable contaminants needs to be further studied. The present study also highlights the need for managing such deceptive wastes cautiously to safeguard wildlife.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2009
... Page 2. P07.34 Historical analysis of the first rain event and the number of rain days in the... more ... Page 2. P07.34 Historical analysis of the first rain event and the number of rain days in the western part of Palakkad gap, south India Raj Nikhil, PA Azeez Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, India ...
International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 1988
D iff eren t Tern pera t u res ... RM SHARMA and PA AZEEZ School of Environmental Sciences, Ja wa... more D iff eren t Tern pera t u res ... RM SHARMA and PA AZEEZ School of Environmental Sciences, Ja waharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-1 10 067, India ... Two species of blue-green algae Anacystis nidulans and Spirulina platensis, grown in artificial aqueous culture ...
Abstract. Exposures to airborne metals are known to cause physiological responses in organisms an... more Abstract. Exposures to airborne metals are known to cause physiological responses in organisms and wide-ranging health effects in humans. Hence determination of metals in particulate matter is important from a toxicological perspective. In the current study heavy metals associated ...
International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development, 2010
The present study examines responses of the public to a proposed ecotourism program. Several indi... more The present study examines responses of the public to a proposed ecotourism program. Several individuals were randomly contacted in Kerala, India, to elicit their observations and responses to the proposed program, including residents, local travelers and workers. Though a large share of the sample population supported the project, anticipating that it would accelerate the development of the city and increase their annual earnings, many were unaware of the ecological importance of the mangrove wetland. Only 5% of the total sampled populations were aware of the importance of conserving wetland ecosystems in a growing city. This exemplifies the cheerless state of the environmental consciousness of the public in Kerala, despite that the city is among the most literate, socially advanced and environmentally cognizant populations in India. This study highlights the need for development of much deeper scientific consciousness among the public at large.
The "rice culture" of Kerala is fast vanishing due to the increasing diversion of the l... more The "rice culture" of Kerala is fast vanishing due to the increasing diversion of the land for non-agricultural purposes. The real estate sector is gradually swallowing up the rice cultivating low-lying wetlands. This paper attempts to examine the growth of real estate business and consequent destruction of the wetland ecosystems in the state. W etlands are an important part of the ecosystem and are also the most threatened part of it (Turner 1991). Conserving wetlands as shields against scarcity of water, floods, en-vironmental pollution, and distress of mi-cro-climatic vagaries is therefore impor-tant. Kerala has the largest proportion of land area under wetlands among all the states of India. Compared to other states of the country, wetlands in Kerala are un-der severe anthropogenic threats primari-ly because of high population density and the peculiar distribution of human habita-tions in the state. According to Nair and Sankar (2002), who mapped the wetland systems of...
The ongoing massive global environmental changes and the past learnings have highlighted the urge... more The ongoing massive global environmental changes and the past learnings have highlighted the urgency and importance of further detailed understanding of the earth system and implementation of social ecological sustainability measures in a much more effective and transparent manner. This short communication discuss the potential of sensor webs in addressing those research challenges, highlighting it in the context of air pollution issues.
Globally, one-third of the terrestrial carbon (C) is stored in tropical soils. The warming predic... more Globally, one-third of the terrestrial carbon (C) is stored in tropical soils. The warming predicted for this century is expected to increase microbial decomposition in soil and escalate climate change potential by releasing more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Understanding the response of soils to warming is a key challenge in predicting future climate change trajectories. Here we examined the combined effect of soil temperature (Ts) and soil water content (VWC) on soil heterotrophic respiration (Rsh) and its temperature sensitivity across different altitudes (2400, 1900, and 1450 m ASL) in the Ailaoshan subtropical forest ecosystem, Southwest China. Along the elevation gradient, soil C stocks in the top 50 cm soil layer increased significantly from 10.7 g/ kg at 1480 m ASL to 283.1 g/ kg at 2480 m ASL. Soil cores from various elevations were translocated to the same, and lower elevations and Rsh from those cores were measured every month from February 2010 to January 2014. Temperature sensitivity (Q10) of Rsh for the period was highest at the highest (H) elevation (Q10 = 5.3), decreased significantly towards the middle (M, Q10 = 3.1) and low (L, Q10 = 1.2) elevation. Q10 at M and L elevation did not differ between the place of origin and translocated cores. For the cores within each elevation, Q10 did not vary across the years. Our models suggest that Rsh increased significantly in response to an increase in Ts at each elevation under an intermediate VWC. Hence, the rate of emission was higher in lower elevations due to a higher Ts range. Our findings highlight that the predicted warming over the 21st century will have the greatest impact of Ts on Rsh, especially on the soils at the highest elevations, and will lead towards positive feedback to the climate system.
In view of the variety of waste items casually disposed off by humans, a survey was conducted in ... more In view of the variety of waste items casually disposed off by humans, a survey was conducted in two cities, Indore and Coimbatore, in roosting sites of colonial birds looking for unusual items in their food. Of the 891 regurgitated pellets of birds examined, about 53% in Coimbatore and 14% in Indore contained rubber bands, rubber balloons and small plastic debris. Rubber bands (95.3%), balloon (2.35%), plastic bits (1.41%) and plastic cap (0.94%) were found in the pellets. Among the rubber bands, red was the predominant colour (73.1%) followed by green (25%) and yellow (1.9%). These findings show that the birds misjudge an artefact as natural prey. The highly corroded rubber bands indicate the leaching of chemicals (like plasticizers and bisphenols), many of which are potential endocrine disruptors. The potential hazard from such leachable contaminants needs to be further studied. The present study also highlights the need for managing such deceptive wastes cautiously to safeguard wildlife.
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2009
... Page 2. P07.34 Historical analysis of the first rain event and the number of rain days in the... more ... Page 2. P07.34 Historical analysis of the first rain event and the number of rain days in the western part of Palakkad gap, south India Raj Nikhil, PA Azeez Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, India ...
International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 1988
D iff eren t Tern pera t u res ... RM SHARMA and PA AZEEZ School of Environmental Sciences, Ja wa... more D iff eren t Tern pera t u res ... RM SHARMA and PA AZEEZ School of Environmental Sciences, Ja waharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-1 10 067, India ... Two species of blue-green algae Anacystis nidulans and Spirulina platensis, grown in artificial aqueous culture ...
Abstract. Exposures to airborne metals are known to cause physiological responses in organisms an... more Abstract. Exposures to airborne metals are known to cause physiological responses in organisms and wide-ranging health effects in humans. Hence determination of metals in particulate matter is important from a toxicological perspective. In the current study heavy metals associated ...
International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development, 2010
The present study examines responses of the public to a proposed ecotourism program. Several indi... more The present study examines responses of the public to a proposed ecotourism program. Several individuals were randomly contacted in Kerala, India, to elicit their observations and responses to the proposed program, including residents, local travelers and workers. Though a large share of the sample population supported the project, anticipating that it would accelerate the development of the city and increase their annual earnings, many were unaware of the ecological importance of the mangrove wetland. Only 5% of the total sampled populations were aware of the importance of conserving wetland ecosystems in a growing city. This exemplifies the cheerless state of the environmental consciousness of the public in Kerala, despite that the city is among the most literate, socially advanced and environmentally cognizant populations in India. This study highlights the need for development of much deeper scientific consciousness among the public at large.
Preface
Wetlands, a major feature of landscape in almost all parts of the world, are among the i... more Preface Wetlands, a major feature of landscape in almost all parts of the world, are among the important ecosystems on Earth. From time immemorial, wetlands and river valleys have played a decisive role in nurturing many cultures and civilizations. However, the history of dealing with wetlands by humankind is fraught with misunderstanding and fear. Wetlands are disappearing at alarming rates across the globe, apparently since they were largely considered synonymous with wastelands to be filled up, drained, occupied and diverted for other human needs, disregarding the vital ecological services these ecosystems offer and the ecological goods we derive from them. A more recent and global issue that concerns both coastal and inland wetlands is the climate change. Limited investigations and experiments, especially in paddy fields, and lack of scientifically robust data have put the wetlands responsible for high methane emissions and ensuing changes in climate. It appears that international pressures from various interest groups have also added to this postulation. Nevertheless, it appears that we are yet to estimate with certainty the role of wetlands as net carbon sources or sinks. In fact, these enigmatic ecosystems need further scientific investigations regarding their role in the Earth system, especially with respect to their structural and functional roles and the ecological services they offer. Wetlands, as a unique ecosystem, have properties that are not adequately covered by terrestrial and aquatic ecology, suggesting that there is a case to be made for wetland science as a distinct discipline, taking input from many fields, including terrestrial and aquatic ecology, environmental chemistry, hydrology and engineering in a typically multidisciplinary perspective. Wetlands are unique in many ways, of which their hydrologic characteristics and roles as ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic systems are notable. Wetland management, as the applied side of wetland science, requires systematic understanding of the various aspects of the system , balanced with legal, institutional and economic realities and expertise from disciplines of biology, ecology and hydrology. The wetland science is not an issue concerning hydrology and water management or confined to be a domain of biologists or ecologists. Wetland science essentially needs to draw upon knowledge base from other disciplines such as sociology, economics, hydrology and engineering as well. Wetlands are closely connected with humankind than any other ecosystems, for their intimate role in human sociocultural development, migration, spread and settlement across the globe. In recent years, wetland science is picking up as interest in wetlands grows; so do professional societies, as well as a number of journals and literature concerned with wetlands.
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Papers by P A Azeez
Wetlands, a major feature of landscape in almost all parts of the world, are among the important ecosystems on Earth. From time immemorial, wetlands and river valleys have played a decisive role in nurturing many cultures and civilizations. However, the history of dealing with wetlands by humankind is fraught with misunderstanding and fear. Wetlands are disappearing at alarming rates across the globe, apparently since they were largely considered synonymous with wastelands to be filled up, drained, occupied and diverted for other human needs, disregarding the vital ecological services these ecosystems offer and the ecological goods we derive from them. A more recent and global issue that concerns both coastal and inland wetlands is the climate change. Limited investigations and experiments, especially in paddy fields, and lack of scientifically robust data have put the wetlands responsible for high methane emissions and ensuing changes in climate. It appears that international pressures from various interest groups have also added to this postulation. Nevertheless, it appears that we are yet to estimate with certainty the role of wetlands as net carbon sources or sinks. In fact, these enigmatic ecosystems need further scientific investigations regarding their role in the Earth system, especially with respect to their structural and functional roles and the ecological services they offer. Wetlands, as a unique ecosystem, have properties that are not adequately covered by terrestrial and aquatic ecology, suggesting that there is a case to be made for wetland science as a distinct discipline, taking input from many fields, including terrestrial and aquatic ecology, environmental chemistry, hydrology and engineering in a typically multidisciplinary perspective. Wetlands are unique in many ways, of which their hydrologic characteristics and roles as ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic systems are notable. Wetland management, as the applied side of wetland science, requires systematic understanding of the various aspects of the system , balanced with legal, institutional and economic realities and expertise from disciplines of biology, ecology and hydrology. The wetland science is not an issue concerning hydrology and water management or confined to be a domain of biologists or ecologists. Wetland science essentially needs to draw upon knowledge base from other disciplines such as sociology, economics, hydrology and engineering as well. Wetlands are closely connected with humankind than any other ecosystems, for their intimate role in human sociocultural development, migration, spread and settlement across the globe. In recent years, wetland science is picking up as interest in wetlands grows; so do professional societies, as well as a number of journals and literature concerned with wetlands.