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In the present study, Scomberomorus commerson was collected during the period 2006-2011 in order to provide information on the concentrations of eight heavy metals present in this marine species commonly consumed by the population and to have knowledge whether these levels may constitute a hazard to consumers. Liver showed high concentrations of metals in the tissues and organs. Fe is the most accumulated in all tissues and organs. The highest mean concentration of Fe (608.93+113.22 µg/g), Mn (9.79+4.22 µg/g), Cu (38.57+16.62 µg/g), Zn (53.25+26.50 µg/g), Ni (3.22+1.13 µg/g), Pb (1.20+0.64 µg/g), Cd (2.03+0.91 µg/g) and Cr (1.93 + 0.87 µg/g) was determined in liver of fish. The order of abundance of the metals in the fish samples based on concentrations in the muscle tissues analysed were as follows: Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn>Ni>Cd>Pb≥Cr. For the toxic metal, Pb was found to have lower concentration of the mean values than the permissible limits set by FAO/WHO. However, Cd level was higher than the permissible limit and it can be concluded that the contamination of Cd in S. commerson may pose threat for the importers due to high per capita consumption of the fish.

Plants have been explored extensively all over the globe in quest of a novel bioactive compound that could a good therapeutic candidate treating infectious diseases especially against drug resistant microbes. Qualitative phytochemical analyses of Carica papaya leaf extract reveal that except steroids and tannins all the possible phytochemical constituents including carbohydrates, proteins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids were present. Two ways of Carica papaya leaf extract preparations i.e crushed and boiled were tested for their antifungal activity against 6 saprophytic fungi Penicillium sp, Aspergilus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp, Rhizopus and Helminthosporum, 5 dermatophytic fungi Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans and 6 yeasts including Candida albicans, Candida albicans ATCC 0383, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida galbrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida kruzei. The activity was found against majority of fungi but was much better in case of crushed leaf extract.

This study focused on the multivariate analysis i.e. cl twenty eight stands of mangrove forests at six different sites i.e. Sandspit, Port Qasim, Kemari, Korangi Crossing, Ketti Bunder and Sonmiani. For quantitative measurement 10 x10 square feet quadrats were made randomly at 25 m intervals and small quadrats (1 X 1 m 2 ) were laid inside the main quadrats for quantitative sampling of pneumatophores. The relationships between vegetation and physico investigated. The group structure was exposed by an agglomerative clustering technique while major trends were disclos cluster analysis showed that the six groups of tree vegetation were associated with density/ha and to more or lesser extent with physico edaphic variables such as soil nutrient showed with one or more ordination axes. Abstract Article InformationThis study focused on the multivariate analysis i.e. cluster analysis and ordination of forests at six different sites i.e. Sandspit, Port Qasim, Kemari, Korangi Crossing, Ketti Bunder and Sonmiani. For quantitative measurement 10 x10 square feet quadrats were made randomly at 25 m intervals and small quadrats (1 main quadrats for quantitative sampling of pneumatophores. The relationships between vegetation and physico-chemical properties were also investigated. The group structure was exposed by an agglomerative clustering technique while major trends were disclosed by PCA ordination. The results of the cluster analysis showed that the six groups of tree vegetation were associated with density/ha and to more or lesser extent with physico-chemical variables. Some of the edaphic variables such as soil nutrient showed significant or weak linear relationships

Litter production and its decomposition is a major source of nutrients for mangrove ecosystems. This study was conducted on a naturally growing mangrove population in the Sandspit area in Karachi, Pakistan, during 2007 and 2008. Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. forms an almost pure population in Sandspit mangrove swamps. To examine the details of temporal fluctuation in litter accumulation and its decomposition, observations were taken at monthly intervals. Results showed that the maximum litter accumulation occurred during the monsoon and post-monsoon season with the maximum accumulation in August (68.76 ± 8.72 g/ m 2 ), while minimum litter accretion occurred in January (13.61 ± 1.46 g/m 2 ). The decomposition rate was highest (47.7%) in June and almost completed in 8 months. The exponential curve model showed highly significant differences between the rates of decomposition in various months both at ground level and at a 5-cm depth below the surface. Soil fungi and major bacterial groups were examined as decomposers. Aspergillus Micheli was the most diverse group of the soil-borne microflora in the mangrove habitat. The fungal spore load in the soil was greater in summer and lower in winter.