Levels Of Food Chain Research Articles

KONSEKWENCJE PRZEMIAN GOSPODARKI ROLNEJ I TRANSFORMACJI KRAJOBRAZU ROLNICZEGO DLA PTAKÓW SZPONIASTYCH

Agrocenozy mogą charakteryzować się wysoką wartością przyrodniczą, będąc miejscem występowania rzadkich i chronionych gatunków. Postępująca intensyfikacja rolnictwa przyczyniła się jednak do pogorszenia jakości siedlisk w krajobrazie rolniczym, drastycznych spadków liczebności populacji wielu gatunków ptaków i zubożenia różnorodności biologicznej. W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono mechanizmy oddziaływania intensyfikacji rolnictwa na ptaki szponiaste, które utrzymują rozległe areały osobnicze i zajmują szczytowe pozycje w łańcuchach troficznych. Wpływ intensyfikacji rolnictwa na ptaki podzielono na: bezpośredni, tj. fizyczne niszczenie miejsc rozrodu, prowadzące do śmierci młodych i osobników dorosłych; oraz pośredni, obejmujący presję na siedliska i zasoby pokarmowe oraz oddziaływanie pestycydów na ptaki wskutek bioakumulacji. Następnie scharakteryzowano proces zasiedlenia agrocenoz przez dwa gatunki modelowe: błotniaka łąkowego Circus pygargus i błotniaka stawowego Circus aeruginosus. Wiele gatunków ptaków szponiastych, np. błotniak łąkowy, po wkroczeniu w krajobraz rolniczy zaczęło zmniejszać liczebność. Inne, np. błotniak stawowy, zaadaptowały się do specyfiki funkcjonowania agrocenoz. Jednakże, brak widocznego, negatywnego wpływu intensyfikacji rolnictwa na ptaki może być tymczasowy, spowodowany np. obecnością populacji źródłowych, zasilających populacje ujściowe zasiedlające krajobraz rolniczy. W dłuższym horyzoncie czasowym intensyfikacja rolnictwa może prowadzić do dalszej homogenizacji biotycznej w krajobrazie rolniczym.

Hazardous ecotoxicological impact of two commonly used nitrofuran-derived antibacterial drugs: Furazolidone and nitrofurantoin

This paper discusses the impact of two nitrofuran-derived drugs, namely furazolidone and nitrofurantoin on growth of oat and common radish as well as their impact on bacteria Allivibrio fischeri and crustaceans Heterocypris incongruens. Results indicated that both compounds were highly phytotoxic for radish (R. sativus) being simultaneously nearly not harmful for oat (A. sativa). Growing inhibition of shoots, roots, fresh matter and photosynthetic pigments is correlated with growing concentration of drugs in soil. Ecotoxicological impact of both compounds on model luminescence bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri and freshwater crustaceans Heterocypris incongruens as a representative organisms of two different level of food chain, is also reported herein, and the obtained data show significant toxicity against these two organisms. Basing on obtained results, it was concluded that both nitrofuran drugs in case of distribution through environment, by improper utilisation after use or unplanned environmental intoxication with unused drugs may cause serious environmental problems and therefore both should be handled with a reasonable care at any step of their production or utilisation.

Stability trophic cascades in food chains.

While previous studies have evaluated the change in stability for the addition or removal of individual species from trophic food chains and food webs, we know of no study that presents a general theory for how stability changes with the addition or removal of trophic levels. In this study, we present a simple model of a linear food chain and systematically evaluate how stability—measured as invariability—changes with the addition or removal of trophic levels. We identify the presence of trophic cascades in the stability of species. Owing to top-down control by predation and bottom-up regulation by prey, we find that stability of a species is highest when it is at the top of the food chain and lowest when it is just under the top of the food chain. Thus, stability shows patterns identical to those of mean biomass with the addition or removal of trophic levels in food chains. Our results provide a baseline towards a general theory of the effect of adding or removing trophic levels on stability, which can be used to inform empirical studies.

Bazı uçucu yağların Scenedesmus subspicatus büyümesi üzerine etkileri

Due to the essential oils known as having great antimicrobial activities, they have been heavily used by several industries such as medical, cosmetics, food and agriculture since long past of human history. The essential oils are the secondary metabolite of aromatic plants and about 1/10 th of known 3000 essential oils are widely used. They reached to the environment after used in any product and behave as xenobiotics especially in aquatic environment. Although, essential oils are natural plant extracts could be potential candidates for pest control or used any other purposes possible environmental impact needs to be investigation. In order to investigate the environmental impact of some essential oils such as rosemary oil, tea tree oil, wheat germ oil, grape seed oil, thyme oil and eucalyptus oil, Scenedesmus subspicatus were selected for testing as one of the primary producer species since they are the first trophic level of food chain. This test is approved as OECD 201 Algal Growth Inhibition test. As the result of this investigation, algal growth inhibition assays of tested oils did not show severe effects on the population growth of algae. The estimated EC 50 values were 15.6, 35.09, 65.03, 100.17, 201.02, 414.47 mg/L for rosemary oil, wheat germ oil, tea tree oil, thyme oil, eucalyptus oil and grape seed oil respectively.

The best incubation time for primary productivity of phytoplankton in Laguna Lake, North Maluku, Indonesia

Yuliana, Irfan M. 2018. The best incubation time for primary productivity of phytoplankton in Laguna Lake, North Maluku, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 1021-1028. Primary productivity of phytoplankton is a source of energy and organic matter utilized by organisms at higher food chain levels. The measurement of the high rate of primary productivity can be done through the incubation of sample water at a particular time and time depending on sunlight intensity. This study aimed to estimate the best incubation time to achieve the highest primary productivity of phytoplankton in Laguna Lake, Ternate City, North Maluku Province, Indonesia in February 2017. The study was conducted at one location with four different levels of depth of 0, 5, 10, and 15 meters, and at three incubation times, i.e., 09:00-13:00, 10:00-14:00, and 11:00-15:00 (Eastern Indonesian Time). The chemical and physical parameters of radiance, temperature, pH, nitrate, and orthophosphate content were measured to estimate water quality of the lake. The results of this study showed that were 10 genera of phytoplankton belonging to Bacillariophyceae (6 genera), Chlorophyceae (4 genera), and Cyanophyceae (2 genera). The Laguna Lake has temperature ranged between 29.0-31.1oC, nitrate content of 0.22-0.58 mg l-1, orthophosphate content of 0.14-0.27 mg l-1, and pH 7. The primary productivity value at incubation time 09:00-13:00; 10:00-14:00; and 11:00-15:00 were of 101,851-258,278; 40,59-351,643; and 76,197-305,754 mgC m-3 hours-1, respectively. The best incubation time that provides the highest value in the measurement of primary productivity of phytoplankton at Laguna Lake was at 10:00 am to 14:00 pm.

Food security: innovative approaches based on (bio) sensors and bioassays for the detection of mycotoxines

AbstractMycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic, small chemical compounds (MW ~700) that are produced as secondary metabolites by certain fungi contaminating food and feed, during crop growth or processing products. These compounds “once consumed by animals and/or humans” may lead to mycotoxicosis with symptoms of intoxication, causing substantial effects on animal and human health. According to the United Nations of Food and Agriculture Organization report, 25% of the word’s food is significantly contaminated with mycotoxins. These contaminations can be occurred directly or indirectly. Indirect contamination of food and feed can take place when an ingredient have been previously contaminated with toxin producing fungi, while the fungi may be killed or removed during processing, the mycotoxin remains in the final product. Direct contaminations occur when the product is infected with toxigenic fungus inducing toxin liberation at different stage from the transformation process. Currently, more than 300 mycotoxins are known, and scientific interest is mainly on those that have been proven to be carcinogenic and/or toxic. These toxins include but not limited to ochratoxins (OT), aflatoxins (AF), tremorgenic toxins trichothecenes, fumonisins (F), patulin (P), zearalenone (ZON) and ergot alkaloids. The economic impact of mycotoxins includes perturbation of human and animal health, increased health care and veterinary costs, reduced livestock production, disposal of contaminated foods and feeds, and investment in research and applications to reduce severity. For these reasons, worldwide toxin contamination of foods and feeds presents a significant problem. In 1993, the WHO-International Agency of Research on Cancer (WHO-IARC, 1993) evaluated the carcinogenic potential of OT, AF, F, ZON, and trichothecenes. Naturally occurring AF was classified as a carcinogenic to human (Group 1) while OT and F were considered as possible carcinogens (Group 2B) with trichothecenes and ZON as non carcinogenic for human (Group 3). The European Commission has set maximum levels for these mycotoxins to protect human and animal health. To minimize the mycotoxins presence in the food supply, and to design strategies that would prevent contaminated commodities from entering food and feed processing facilities, attention must be focused on the methods of preventing mycotoxins formation at all levels of food chain. To meet this purpose, testing of the commodities is required to accomplish thisprocess. This involves sample preparation and analysis using a quality testing procedure, which requires complicated and complex instrumentation, and qualified skilled person. In this context, an overview of recent progress in the domain of mycotoxins, their occurrence and detection in food and feed will be presented. The discussion will be particularly emphasized on the (bio) sensor and bioassays designs described for OTA, AF and ZON detection, as these biosensors architects provide general platform, and are also applied for the detection of other mycotoxins.

Selenium and hazardous elements distribution in plant–soil–water system and human health risk assessment of Lower Cambrian, Southern Shaanxi, China

The natural selenium poisoning due to toxic Se levels in food chain had been observed in humans and animals in Lower Cambrian outcrop areas in Southern Shaanxi, China. To find out the distribution pattern of selenium and other hazardous elements in the plant, soil and water of Lower Cambrian in Southern Shaanxi, China, and their possible potential health risk, a total of 30 elements were analyzed and the health risk assessment of 18 elements was calculated. Results showed that the soil, plant and natural water of Lower Cambrian all had relatively high Se levels. In Lower Cambrian, the soil was enriched with Se, As, Ba, Cu, Mo, Ni, Zn, Ga, Cd and Cr (1.68<Igeo<4.48, Igeo; geo-accumulation index). In same plants, the contents of Se, Cd and Zn (except Cd in corn and rice, Zn in potato and corn) of Lower Cambrian were higher than that of the other strata. Ba and Ga in natural water were higher than that of the other strata, while K and Cs were opposite. The health risk assessment results showed that the people living in outcrop areas of Lower Cambrian had both high total non-carcinogenic risk of 18 elements (HI=16.12, acceptable range: <1) and carcinogenic risk of As (3.98E-04, acceptable range: 10-6-10-4). High contents of Se, As, Mo and Tl of Lower Cambrian may pose a health risk to local people, and food intake was the major pathway. For minimizing potential health risk, the local inhabitants should use the mix-imported food with local growing foods.

Biota-sediment accumulation factor and concentration of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, Ni, Pb and Cu) in sediments and tissues of Chiton lamyi (Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) in Chabahar Bay, Iran

Heavy metals and some organic substances which are drained into the aquatic environments and cannot be decomposed or eliminated will sink into sediments or find their way into different levels of food chain. Bioaccumulation is the process of continuous deposition and aggregation of these substances into the body tissue of living organisms. Mollusks are remarkably appropriate to be used as bio-indicators because of their motionless or almost sessile nature, relatively high abundance, selective absorption of certain ions, and worldwide distribution in marine and inland aquatic habitats. Chiton lamyi is a sedentary species from the phylum, Polyplacophora, which is usually abundant on the rocky shores and intertidal zone of marine environments. Sediment and Chiton samples were taken from four stations of Chabahar Bay in autumn 2013. After acid digestion of samples, the concentration of heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, lead and copper) were measured by the graphite furnace atomic absorption apparatus, and the bioaccumulation factor in relation to sediment was calculated. The highest concentration value was calculated as 3.28 for cadmium in the Hafte Tir station. The results of this study indicated that chitons can be used as an appropriate bio-indicator for heavy metals particularly cadmium pollution in the marine environment.

Interacting environmental and chemical stresses under global change in temperate aquatic ecosystems: stress responses, adaptation, and scaling

Unfavorable environmental conditions—abiotic stress—constitute one of the key drivers of evolution leading to environmental adaptation. Since the start of industrial revolution, natural populations are also facing a new stress—global warming—that, in turn, leads to alteration of the severity of most of the existing stress factors and emergence of novel stress combinations. Biological adaptation to environmental perturbations occurs at all levels of biological organization, but the current knowledge on the role of adaptation in responses of ecosystems to global change is limited, especially concerning the interplay of climatic and chemical/pollutant stressors. Particularly limited is the understanding of how biological adaptation alters the performance of aquatic ecosystems that integrate the pollution and nutrient loads from large catchment areas. This review describes the responses, tolerance, acclimation, and adaptation of species at different levels of aquatic food chain to globally changing environmental drivers with emphasis on arctic to temperate ecosystems. The analysis highlights major variations in tolerance and in extent and speed of acclimation and adaptation to various environmental drivers within and among species and among species groups at different trophic levels. The variety of responses to novel stressors causes modifications in species composition and diversity and can lead to asynchronous peak activities of organisms at different trophic levels. All these effects are expected to profoundly alter the aquatic ecosystem productivity, resilience, and adaptation capacity and can ultimately modify the global feedbacks between ecosystem-level processes and environmental drivers. We argue that joint efforts of researchers working at different levels of biological organization are needed to understand and predict global change effects on various functional types of organisms and scale up from physiological responses to large-scale integrated ecosystem responses in future climates.

Tetrabromobisphenol A - Toxicity, environmental and occupational exposures

Brominated flame retardants (BFR), including tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) represents 25% of the global market of flame retardants. Among them, TBBPA is used on the largest scale (approx. 60%) because of its firebreak properties and widespread occurrence in every day products such as furniture, upholstery, adhesives and electronic equipment. A broad application of TBBPA can contribute to environmental pollution. Tetrabromobisphenol A has been determined in soil, water, river sediments and the atmosphere. Tetrabromobisphenol A is characterized by a high value of coefficient n-octanol/water (log P = 4.5), low acidity, and it may exist in undissociated or dissociated form. Due to the high hydrophobicity, TBBPA may accumulate in living organisms, including humans at different food chain levels. The occurrence of TBBPA in humans, e.g., in blood, fat tissue and mother milk, has been reported. Tetrabromobisphenol A is classified as hazard statements (H) H400/H410, which means that it is toxic to aquatic biota, causing long-term changes in these organisms. Up to now, only a few studies have been conducted to assess potential toxicity of high doses of TBBPA to mammals. Although many people are occupationally exposed to TBBPA during production or processing of this substance in their workplaces, there are only a few studies that have assessed the real hazard associated with TBPPA exposure. The aim of the study was to discuss the latest literature (mainly from the years 2010-2016) referring to the presence of TBBPA in the environment and its effects to living organisms. Data concerning occupational exposure to TBBPA were also presented. Med Pr 2017;68(1):121-134.

FOOD WASTAGE BY TUNISIAN HOUSEHOLDS

Food waste (FW) is seen as an obstacle to achieving food and nutrition security andfood systems sustainability. It is known in literature that households are significantcontributors to the total amount of FW. This paper reports on results of an onlinesurvey that was conducted from February to April 2015 with a random sample of281 Tunisian adults. The aim of the survey is to assess the knowledge and relativeimportance of FW; attitudes towards FW; impacts of behaviors regarding food andfood management; quantity and value of FW; as well as barriers and willingness tobehavioral change. The sample was not gender-balanced (71.2% female and 28.8%male). The majority of the respondents was young (70.8% aged between 18 and 34years) and has high education level (95.4% having university and PhD degrees).Food waste is prevalent in Tunisia as about the half of respondents declare thatthey throw food. The most wasted food products are fruits, vegetables, and cerealsand bakery products. Only 42.7% of respondents declared that the economic valueof food waste generated each month is more than 6US$. Most of Tunisianrespondents have a good understanding of food labels that is probably due to thehigh education level of the sample. About 37% of respondents throw weekly atleast 250 g of still consumable food. To reduce FW in Tunisia it is important to seta strategy at all food chain levels. There is also an urgent need to raise people’s andorganizations awareness towards this problem. This article provides a basis for thedevelopment of other more context specific investigations and interventions for theprevention of household FW in Tunisia.

A Preliminary Study on Odonata Diversity in Three Diverse Landscapes of Cachar District, Assam, India

Odonates are valuable as indicators of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem health and also play a vital role as prey and predator to maintain the balance of trophic levels of food chain. Diversity and distribution of different species of Odonata and physico-chemical properties of water of their habitat in the rural (RA), urban (UA) and tea garden (TG) area of Cachar district of Assam was investigated. A total of fourteen (14) species (larva and adult) were recorded from the three areas. Six species were recorded in RA, four species in TG and six species in UA. Two species Ischnura aurora aurora and Agriocnemis pygmaea pygmaea were recorded common in TG and UA. In TG presence of only two tolerant families indicated that the water quality of the area is polluted. In RA, presence of Aeshnidae indicated relatively better condition of water quality.

Two main challenges that prevent the development of an organic food chain at local and national level—an exploratory study in Finland

This study presents two hypothetical challenges: (1) the actors in the Finnish food chain do not have a common community that would cover the entire food chain from primary producers to the consumers of organic food and that would, by communal effort, enhance the development of the organic food chain, and (2) a fairer share of power among the food chain actors would enable the development of the organic food chain. The literature supports these arguments; the collaboration occurs mainly on a horizontal level and leaves actual consumers outside the direct collaboration. The division of power, according to the results of other studies, is uneven, biased, and twisted among the food chain actors. In this study, the two arguments were presented to two focus groups: one in the local food chain and other at national food chain level. The focus group discussions confirm the arguments that the activity of the food chain happens mainly on a horizontal level, and that the power is unevenly distributed among the food chain actors. The understanding of the influences of the lack of a common food chain-based community on the development of the organic food chain, and the proposed means for tackling the challenges, were heterogeneous. The understanding of the profitability and potential of such a food chain-based community was to a large extent missing in the agricultural and industrial part of the food chain, especially. The oversized strength of retail companies, the underdeveloped capability of other food chain stakeholders to take control of food marketing and the oversized bureaucracy were seen as the main reasons for the unfair share of power, which situation was even partially accepted. According to the vision of the focus group members, the Finnish organic food chain will be a multifaceted combination of small- and medium-sized local enterprises and large national level enterprises acting at the food chain level, but also accepting alternative marketing channels such as food processing and sales at a farm level. The food chain is dynamic and diverse. The enterprises are in a process of constant development as regards the volume and level of their activity. This development trend and the challenges discussed are typical in many western countries, and therefore, this article with its results provides a useful opening for food chain level discussions in many other countries.

Accumulation and contamination of lead in different trophic levels of food chain in sewage-fed East Kolkata Wetland, West Bengal, India

Accumulation and contamination of lead in different trophic levels of food chain in sewage-fed East Kolkata Wetland, West Bengal, India

Reaching goals for organic food in Finland: which changes should occur in the food chain?

This article presents a newly developed model of the Finnish food chain and suggests changes to enable the government goals for organic food and its production to be reached, as well as to better answer consumer demands for organic food. The current food chain causes negative externalities and that creates the urgent need for remodelling the food chain activity. The approach is taken by proposing an alternative Activity theory (AT) framework model to be applied into the Finnish food chain supported by the theory from the Economy of Common Good (ECG) and Co-Creation (CC), and tools derived from these approaches. It is proposed that activity of the food chain actors be at the food chain level, including consumers, and to enable fairer division of power and interaction with the legislative processes. Sustainability and common good values are integrated into the rules for activity, and adapted to the tools for the activity, e.g. more environmental friendly agriculture needs new farming methods, the limited use of food additives in organic food needs new processing methods. The appropriate tools should make possible the sustainable activity from the production to the consumption and simultaneously enable the increase of volume and market share of organic production. Customer and consumer preferences regarding sustainable and organic produce are proposed to increase the market share of sustainability-conscious companies, generating financial profit and decreasing negative externalities in the food chain. Government interaction is needed through legislation, taxation and information. This approach is being proposed in order to open the path of overall change towards holistic implementation of mutually agreed principles of sustainability to the Finnish food chain and, in parallel, to open a path for certified organic production to flourish.

Food Adulteration and Bio-Magnification of Environmental Contaminants: A Comprehensive Risk Framework for Bangladesh

This article thoroughly investigates the severity of the prevailing environmental conditions and evaluates the resulting threats to food intake and public health in Bangladesh by establishing relationship among different contaminant transfer mechanisms to human. It describes the potential of certain contaminants to get bio-magnified through the food chain. A database was prepared on a number of contaminants in the study area that are responsible for rendering different foods vulnerable to produce long term or short-term health effects. Contaminants that have been identified in the food sources were categorized in a continuum based on their allowable daily intake. A protocol has been developed which will enable the assessment of the potential of a contaminant to bio-magnify through food chain to understand the contribution of a contaminant on different levels of food chain. The study also provides a detailed assessment of the public health risks associated with direct ingestion of adulterated foods and intake of contaminants through food chain or water intake. Their intake to human body was quantified, which provides an indication of the toxicity level of the contaminants and possible impact on human health. The traditional four steps of risk assessment technique have been employed for some model contaminants (including metals, organic contaminants and food adulterants). Additionally, existing rules and regulations of Bangladesh were identified with possible limitations that can play significant role in controlling the food adulteration practices and concentration of contaminants in the environment and human body. Finally, a holistic approach to necessary interventions has been prescribed at policy, treatment and evaluation level to prevent the water pollution and food adulteration. Thus, a much-needed comprehensive framework is prescribed in this study to promote safety in food handling, preserve environment and improve health-based strategies in Bangladesh.

Defining Forage Species to Prevent a Management Dilemma

Forage species are often defined in scientific and popular literature using terms such as “small,” “schooling,” “short-lived,” pelagic fish found at intermediate trophic levels of marine food chain...

Effects of aqueous stable fullerene nanocrystals (nC60) on the food conversion from Daphnia magna to Danio rerio in a simplified freshwater food chain.

Understanding the nanomaterial potential to the food conversion of two food chain levels is important in the ecosystem assessment as manufactured nanomaterials are being released into the environment. In this investigation, the food conversion from Daphnia magna (D. magna) (prey) to Danio rerio (D. rerio) (predator) was used as the study object of aqueous stable fullerene nanocrystals (nC60). Accumulated nC60 of D. magna was determined as the nominal initial exposure concentration for D. rerio. The results of 21-d dietary exposure experiment demonstrate that nC60 in D. magna decreased the body weight growths and condition factors of D. rerio, and reduced the food conversion ratio by 20% (from D. magna to D. rerio). Further, the experiments present that nC60 decrease three digestive enzymes activities of trypsinase, lipase, and amylase by 30, 29, and 55% in vivo, and by 60, 90, and 42% in vitro, respectively. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that nC60 was involved with the decrements of digestive enzymes activities. These decrements in digestive enzymes activities may be due to the deactivation caused by the adsorption of nC60 particles onto the surface or active center of digestive enzymes. Sum up, these results not only describe the nC60 deleterious effects on the food conversion from D. magna to D. rerio, but also provide some information regarding a probable food conversion inhibition mechanism of nC60.

Trace element and stable isotope analysis of fourteen species of marine invertebrates from the Bay of Fundy, Canada

The Bay of Fundy, Canada, is a macrotidal bay with a highly productive intertidal zone, hosting a large abundance and diversity of marine invertebrates. We analysed trace element concentrations and stable isotopic values of δ15N and δ13C in 14 species of benthic marine invertebrates from the Bay of Fundy's intertidal zone to investigate bioaccumulation or biodilution of trace elements in the lower level of this marine food web. Barnacles (Balanus balanus) consistently had significantly greater concentrations of trace elements compared to the other species studied, but otherwise we found low concentrations of non-essential trace elements. In the range of trophic levels that we studied, we found limited evidence of bioaccumulation or biodilution of trace elements across species, likely due to the species examined occupying similar trophic levels in different food chains.

A review on progress of heavy metal removal using adsorbents of microbial and plant origin.

Heavy metals released into the water bodies and on land surfaces by industries are highly toxic and carcinogenic in nature. These heavy metals create serious threats to all the flora and fauna due to their bioaccumulatory and biomagnifying nature at various levels of food chain. Existing conventional technologies for heavy metal removal are witnessing a downfall due to high operational cost and generation of huge quantity of chemical sludge. Adsorption by various adsorbents appears to be a potential alternative of conventional technologies. Its low cost, high efficiency, and possibility of adsorbent regeneration for reuse and recovery of metal ions for various purposes have allured the scientists to work on this technique. The present review compiles the exhaustive information available on the utilization of bacteria, algae, fungi, endophytes, aquatic plants, and agrowastes as source of adsorbent in adsorption process for removal of heavy metals from aquatic medium. During the last few years, a lot of work has been conducted on development of adsorbents after modification with various chemical and physical techniques. Adsorption of heavy metal ions is a complex process affected by operating conditions. As evident from the literature, Langmuir and Freundlich are the most widely used isotherm models, while pseudo first and second order are popularly studied kinetic models. Further, more researches are required in continuous column system and its practical application in wastewater treatment.