Zostera marina (eelgrass) is a widespread seagrass species that forms diverse and productive habitats along coast lines throughout much of the northern hemisphere. The present study investigated the microbial consortia of Z. marina growing at Futtsu clam-digging beach, Chiba prefecture, Japan. The following environmental samples were collected: sediment, seawater, plant leaves, and the root-rhizome. Sediment and seawater samples were obtained from three sampling points: inside, outside, and at the marginal point of the eelgrass bed. The microbial composition of each sample was analyzed using 16S ribosomal gene amplicon sequencing. Microbial communities on the dead (withered) leaf surface markedly differed from those in sediment, but were similar to those in seawater. Eelgrass leaves and surrounding seawater were dominated by the bacterial taxa Rhodobacterales (Alphaproteobacteria), whereas Rhodobacterales were a minor group in eelgrass sediment. Additionally, we speculated that the order Sphingomonadales (Alphaproteobacteria) acts as a major degrader during the decomposition process and constantly degrades eelgrass leaves, which then spread into the surrounding seawater. Withered eelgrass leaves did not accumulate on the surface sediment because they were transported out of the eelgrass bed by wind and residual currents unique to the central part of Tokyo Bay.

The main source of botanical information of a particular area is its floristic checklists. Floristic study of any given area helps to evaluate the plant wealth and its potential values. To assess floristic diversity of an unexplored remote valley (Manoor Valley), frequent field visits were arranged in different growing seasons during 2015 to 2018. The life form classes and leaf spectra of all plant species were determined and further classified according to the Raunkiaer classification. Plant species were identified and deposited to the Herbarium at Hazara University, Mansehra. The floristic diversity consisted of 354 plant species belonging to 93 families. Herbaceous was the most representative growth form, with 259 species, followed by shrubs with 52 species, trees with 42 species and parasitic plant with one species. Asteraceae was the leading family with 36 species, followed by Lamiaceae species. Furthermore, results indicated the dominancy of Therophytic plants and Nanophyllous and Microphyllous leaves. July marked the peak of flowering period and September the peak of fruiting period. This study provided the first insight of the floristic inventory in relation to multivariate approaches in this unexplored area. This regional novel launched list may serve as a vital resource for all future endeavors in the field of phytosociological, pharmacological and conservational studies of natural resources.

No abstract

Hydrobiological characteristics determine the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Reju Khal estuary on the subtropical coasts is among the major estuarine system in Bangladesh. Monitoring the water characteristics and fish diversity of this estuary is very important due to its ecological and economical services provided to the coastal areas. Consequently, the present study investigated the occurrence and abundance of the ichthyofaunal assemblages and hydrobiological characteristics (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolve oxygen, total dissolve solids, sechi depth, phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance) from December 2012 to August 2013. The ranges of the hydrobiological factors were 16-26C for surface water temperature, 7-8 for pH, 8-29 PSU for salinity, 3-4 mg/L for dissolved oxygen (DO), 33-35 mg/L for total dissolved solids (TDS), 21-45 cm for sechi depth, 27-45 individuals/m 3 for zooplankton abundance and 9400-17100 cells/L for phytoplankton abundance. Overall, 6706 individuals of the faunal population comprised of 36 species from 23 families were captured. The species recorded during the study are the representative of the subtropical coasts. The similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) suggested that Stolephorus indicus was found to be the most contributory species followed by Mugil cephalus and Mystus gulio. The results of this study will be helpful for management and planning for water quality monitoring in this estuary. It is suggested that frequent monitoring of the hydrobiological recourses of the estuarine systems is very necessary in near future to detect the shifting of baselines, assisting ecosystems-based monitoring and enhancing restoration efforts.