No abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the elemental concentration and bacterial presence in the ocean on the two sides of Brøggerhalvøya, a peninsula in Svalbard. Sediments from 25 different locations were collected and subjected to elemental analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). In total, 21 elements were analysed. The elements in their decreasing order of concentrations on the Kongsfjorden side of Brøggerhalvøya were Fe> Mn> Ba > V > Zn > Sr > Rb > Cr > Li > Ni > As > Pb > Cu > Co > Cs >Ag > Be > U> Bi >Tl > Cd while that for Forlandsendet side of Brøggerhalvøya they were Fe > Ba >Mn > V> Sr > Zn > Rb > Cr > Li > Ni > Pb > Cu > As > Co > Cs > Be > U> Tl > Bi > Cd. On the other hand, at a coastal outcrop, elements in their decreasing order of concentration were Fe > Mn > Cr > Sr > Ba > Rb > Cr > Zn > V > Rb > Ni > Li > Co > Cu > As > Pb > Cs > Be > Cd > Tl > U > Bi. AMS dates confirmed the age of outcrop sediment to be 12,496 to 42,500 BP. The crustal enrichment factor calculated for all the elements with reference to Fe values, demonstrates that the elements have derived from a crustal source. Total bacterial counts ranged from 3.30 × 105 to 3.02 × 106 per gm soil sediment. Culturable bacterial counts in these sediments were between 2.00 × 102 to 2.09 × 105 CFU's per gm. Overall comparison showed high Fe and Mn concentrations around Brøggerhalvøya, due to the presence of specific bacteria which play key roles in metal cycling and carry out biogeochemical transformations.

The present study was conducted to measure the elemental concentration and bacterial deposition in the firn-cores at the Midre Lovénbreen glacier, Svalbard. Firn-cores up to 1m deep were collected and divided into three subsections. These were subjected to elemental analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICPMS). In all 20 elements were analysed. The crustal enrichment factors calculated for these elements on the basis of Fe values, demonstrate that the elements have derived from both crustal and anthropogenic sources. For certain elements there also exists a possibility of input from sea salt spray. Total bacterial counts in these firn samples ranged from 1.03 × 10 5 to 3.67 × 10 5 per ml of meltwater. Culturability of these bacterial cells, in comparison to the total count was very low. At 4 • C the maximum culturability was <1.4% of the total count while at 15 • C it was still lower (∼1%).

Our soil continues to grapple with a number of familiar challenges like soil infertility, unfavourable soil conditions, and declining soil health as well as quality. These issues are caused by the ongoing crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and excessive fertilizer usage alone in intensive cropping. Deterioration of soil health can be alleviated by application of organic fertilizers. With this background, the current experiment was conducted during 2013- 2016 to evaluate the effect of different organic sources viz. farm yard manure (FYM), green manure, press mud compost and grapevine pruning residue on Thompson Seedless and soil organic carbon content. Results indicated that maximum yield of 19.50 t/ha was obtained in T3 (press mud @15ton/ha). The increase in yield was +10.36% and +4.62% over T1 (only Fertigation schedule) and T2 (FYM), respectively. Maximum petiole potassium concentration (1.63%) was recorded in T3 at fruit bud differentiation stage. The soil organic carbon was highest in T4 (FYM @7.5 ton/ha and Press mud @ 7.5 ton/ha) among all the treatments. The increase was +5.6%, +66.66% and +63.56% over T1 in first, second and third year respectively. The gross returns (Rs. 319945/-), net profit (Rs. 121170/-) as well as cost benefit ratio (0.61) was maximum in case of press mud among all the organic sources. On the basis of obtained results, it can be concluded that use of press mud compost or press mud and FYM may be recommended as an organic fertilizer to improve yield and petiole nutrient content of Thompson Seedless as well as soil organic carbon content.

The elemental composition in different Arctic fishes and invertebrates was investigated using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICPMS). Nineteen elements such as Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Bismuth (Bi), Cadmium (Cd), Cesium (Cs), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Rubidium (Rb), Selinium (Se), Silver (Ag), Strontium (Sr), Uranium (U), Vanadium (V), and Zinc (Zn) were analyzed in six species of fishes (Anarhichas lupus, Gadus ogac, Gadus morhu, Gymnocanthus tricuspis, Liparis sp., Myoxocephalus scorpius) and four benthic invertebrates (Ophiura albida, O. Sarsii, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, Polychaete). Elemental data revealed that the invertebrates accumulate higher concentrations of elements than the fishes. The high concentration of elements including Sr, As, and Zn indicated anthropogenic contribution and may affect the fish community in the fragile ecosystem of the High Arctic. The movement of tourists and logistics must be regulated to prevent serious change in Svalbard. Most of the fishes have shown strong antifreeze protein (AFP) activity, and this potential helps fishes to survive in the cold Arctic environment. This is the first study of elemental concentrations and AFPs in fishes and benthic invertebrates filling the knowledge gap from the High Arctic.