Wild Indian Research Articles

Significance of seed morphology and anatomy in the systematics of Musaceae

AbstractThe paper deals with the seed morphology and anatomy of 32 wild Indian Musaceae by using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This is the first comprehensive investigation into the seed micro-morphological and anatomical aspects of two genera of the family. Seed characters including shape, size, surface sculpturing (LM and SEM), seed coat thickness, layer characters and chalazal chamber column were considered. Seed characters play a significant role in the delimitation of taxa as they are more stable than vegetative (anatomical) and pollen features. Four types of seeds (oblate, ovoid, sub-globose and ellipsoid) were observed in the family, oblate seeds being the most common. LM revealed that most of the seeds have verrucate surface sculpturing, but some are smooth-verrucate or smooth. Seed size also plays an important role in the identification of the taxa to some extent. Number of layers and seed coat thickness are directly proportional to seed size. However, the thickness of endotesta, tegmen and inner endosperm layers (aleurone layers) differ in small and large seeds. The present study revealed eight types of outer sculpturing and three inner sculpturing patterns with diverse nature of anticlinal and periclinal cell walls. Based on the seed characters, a phenetic analysis was also carried out.

Which Zebrafish Strains Are More Suitable to Perform Behavioral Studies? A Comprehensive Comparison by Phenomic Approach.

Wild-type (WT) zebrafish are commonly used in behavioral tests, however, the term WT corresponds to many different strains, such as AB, Tübingen long fin (TL), and Wild Indian Karyotype (WIK). Since these strains are widely used, there has to be at least one study to demonstrate the behavioral differences between them. In our study, six zebrafish strains were used, which are AB, absolute, TL, golden, pet store-purchased (PET), and WIK zebrafishes. The behavior of these fishes was tested in a set of behavioral tests, including novel tank, mirror-biting, predator avoidance, social interaction, and shoaling tests. From the results, the differences were observed for all behavioral tests, and each strain displayed particular behavior depending on the tests. In addition, from the heatmap and PCA (principal component analysis) results, two major clusters were displayed, separating the AB and TL zebrafishes with other strains in another cluster. Furthermore, after the coefficient of variation of each strain in every behavioral test was calculated, the AB and TL zebrafishes were found to possess a low percentage of the coefficient of variation, highlighting the strong reproducibility and the robustness of the behaviors tested in both fishes. Each zebrafish strain tested in this experiment showed specifically different behaviors from each other, thus, strain-specific zebrafish behavior should be considered when designing experiments using zebrafish behavior.

Ishi, Briet's Antelope, and the Documentality of Human Documents

Ishi, the “last wild Indian in North America,” was “discovered” in 1911 and spent the last years of his life living in an anthropology museum. There he was studied by anthropologists and viewed by the public as a living exhibit. In this paper, I take some initial steps in arguing that Ishi, the person, became a document to most people. The similarities between Ishi and Suzanne Briet’s hypothetical antelope, newly discovered and placed in a zoo, are eerie. Ishi, like the antelope, is brought into public knowledge as both an initial document and a wide variety of secondary documents derived from the original. Ishi, however, is also not a document, making the comparison to the antelope eerie. Bernd Frohmann’s concept of “documentality” helps us make sense of this fluctuation in Ishi’s status as a document. Ishi’s story, in turn, sheds light on the ethical implications of documentality for all humans.

Prevalence of Helminths in Wild Asian Elephant and Indian Rhinoceros in Chitwan and Bardia National Park, Nepal

The Nepalese elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) and rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), are an important part of Nepal’s heritage, culture and wildlife conservation. Despite its importance, not much is known about the helminth parasites that affect elephant and rhinoceros. This study investigates the prevalence of helminth parasites in wild Asian Elephant and wild Indian Rhinoceros.A study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 to screen helminth parasites of wild asian elephant and wild Indian Rhinoceros at Chitwan and Bardia National Park of Nepal. Total of 80 samples, 40 each taken from the Wild Asian Elephants and Indian Rhinoceros. The study showed 88.75% overall prevalence of helminthes. The prevalence in Wild Asian Elephant and Indian Rhinoceros was 95% and 82.5% respectively. 97.37% and 72.73% infection were mixed infections in elephant and rhinoceros respectively.Among 38 positive samples of the elephant of CNP and BNP, 9 different types of helminth eggs were found. 15 (39.47%) were positive for Fasciola Spp. With 450 EPG count, 11 (28.95%) for Paramphistomum spp. with 600 EPG, 27 (71.05%) for Schistosoma spp. with 500 EPG, 3 (7.89%) for Dicrocoelium spp. with 900 EPG, 12 (30.16%) for Moniezia spp. with 433.3 EPG, 17 (44.74%) for Oesophagostomum spp. with 1025 EPG, 10 (26.31%) for Chabartia spp. with 1141.65 EPG, 17 (44.74) for Strongyloides spp. with 15558.335 EPG and 23 (60.53%) for Strongylus spp. with 1700 EPG.Similarly out of the 33 positive samples of Rhinoceros of CNP and BNP, 8 different types of helminth eggs were found. 11 (33.33%) were positive for Fasciola Spp. With 558.34 EPG, 10 (30.30%) for Paramphistomum spp. with 525 EPG, 7 (21.21%) for Schistosoma spp. with 475 EPG, 4 (12.12%) for Moniezia spp. with 650 EPG, 6 (18.18%) for Strongyloides spp. with 1466.67 EPG, 4 (12.12%) for Strongylus spp. with 1625 EPG, 9 (27.27%) for Toxocara spp. with 699.98 EPG and 20 (60.61%) for Trychostrongylus spp. with 1149.98 were found to be positive.

Comparative assessment of adaptive capabilities of wild and captive Indian sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) based on rhythmic changes in biochemical response

ABSTRACT The study is to establish the adaptive capabilities of wild and captive Indian Sloth Bear based on changes in the biochemical responses influenced by the gender, age and habitat. The free-ranging and captive sloth bears that were residing in Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India were chosen for this study. An analysis of serum biochemical variables like glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), albumin, total protein (TP), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase/alanine aminotransferase aspartate aminotransferase (SGPT/ALT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase/aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT/AST), urea, alkaline phosphatase, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) was determined in Indian sloth bear. The study was conducted during the years 2017 and 2018 in the state of Karnataka, India. Statistically, no difference was found in the biochemical variables between the sexes. Instead, age and habitat-related significant differences were found in certain biochemical variables like cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, urea and AST. The findings of this analysis serve as a reference to assess the health and physiological status of Indian sloth bear.

Archiving Endangerment, Endangered Archives: Journeys through the Sound Archives of Americanist Anthropology and Linguistics, 1911-2016.

Under the salvage paradigm of Americanist anthropology during the early twentieth century, researchers gathered up all the evidence of groups under study-probing subjective experience, fixing elusive gestures, surveying cultures more globally and thoroughly than ever before. Fears about the widespread loss of "world" cultures motivated a variety of efforts to collect the most fleeting phenomena-dreams, rituals, rhythm, even the "life" of language. This article investigates the tension between ephemerality and preservation through two case studies of Americanist sound archiving: Indiana University's Archives of the Languages of the World, and the personal archive of Ishi (1861-1917), a Yahi speaker who became famous as the "last wild Indian." We emphasize the latent potential of recorded sound to speak across time as the basis of cultural and linguistic revitalization. We show how recordings make up a cycle of suppression and emergence-fueled by the technologies of preservation, storage, and analysis.

Plant pathogens and soil microbes associated with Citrus indica in Nokrek biosphere reserve of Meghalaya

Citrus indica Tanaka, commonly known as Wild Indian Orange, is the most primitive of all citrus fruits found around the world. This plant is found growing in the wild only in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Garo Hills, Meghalaya. The plant is of great significance among the local people for various traditional medicines and spiritual purposes. The objective of the study was to identify the disease causing pathogens and soil microbes inhabiting the rhizosphere of C. indica in the three zones of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, as well as to assess the relationship between soil microbes and occurrence of plant pathogens. Nine diseases caused by fungal pathogens and one disease caused by algae were observed. Change in zone exerted a significant influence on occurrence of pathogens in C. indica. Occurrence of soil microbes in the rhizosphere of C. indica was significantly influenced by change in zone, soil depth and season. Soil microbes were found to be more in top soil than sub-soil. Among the identified soil microbes, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium digitatum and Rhizopus nigricans were the dominant ones. At 0–15 cm soil depth, soil microbes Curvularia lunata, Drechslera oryzae and Aspergillus niger exerted positive influence on occurrence of plant pathogens Capnodium citri, Cephaleuros virescens, Alternaria citri and Mycoshaerella citri, while plant pathogens like Acrosporium tingitanium, Diaporthe citri, Penicillium digitatum and Phytophthora citrophthora were antagonistically affected. At 15–30 cm soil depth, soil microbe Drechslera oryzae positively influenced the occurrence of plant pathogens Alternaria citri and Cephaleuros virescens, while Colletotrichum falcatum at 15–30 cm soil depth positively influenced the occurrence of plant pathogens Acrosporium tingitanium and Diaporthe citri.

Ishi and the Wood Ducks, Part 2, or Ishi, the “Urban” Indian1

“Ishi and the Wood Ducks, Part 2, or Ishi, The ‘Urban’” Indian” is the first play in a five-play cycle, which dramatizes the events surrounding the life and death of a tribal man named Ishi who was immortalized in Theodora Kroeber’s (1961/1989) best-selling Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America.

Avatar, Tar Sands, and Dad

This is an (auto)ethnographic performance inspired by a conversation with my father while leaving the theater after watching Avatar back in 2009. It is intended to be performed as readers’ theater. In it, I examine the role anthropology plays in the performance of imperialist nostalgia across the stories of James Cameron's film Avatar, Ursula K. Le Guin's novella The Word for World Is Forest, and Theodora Kroeber's Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America. I see a performance of alternative possibilities in Le Guin's utopian speculative fiction and in recent Indigenous-led activism opposing megaresource extraction projects such as Alberta's tar sands and the pipelines that snake out from it.

Gender Differences in some Haematological and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Wild Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) of Thar Desert, Pakistan

Gender Differences in some Haematological and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Wild Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) of Thar Desert, Pakistan

Identification of Wild Indian Elephant Elephas maximus through Species Specific Molecular Markers

A b s t r a c t A r t i c l e I n f o The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as Endangered by IUCN. The Elephas maximus are an ecologically and economically important species in many Indian habitats. However, illegal hunting, poaching, habitat destruction and other factors, especially in wild elephant populations. The present study highlights regarding the designing of species-specific primers based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop and 12S ribosomal ribonucleic acid standardized protocol. The designed species-specific primers helped to identify suspected wild sample as Elephas maximus (Elephant) and also provide a viable scientific evidence to prove the forensic studies.

Effect of carboxymethylation on physicochemical and release characteristics of Indian Palo starch

Limited application of native starch has created the interest in the modification of starch to extend its asset for pharmaceutical application. An effort has been made to study the influence of carboxymethylation on morphological, physicochemical and drug release properties of wild Indian Palo (Curcuma angustifolia) starch. Carboxymethyl starches of different degree of substitution (0.046–0.256) were prepared using varying amount of monochloroacetic acid. The characteristic peaks at around 1600cm−1 confirmed the carboxymethylation of starch. Morphological studies showed that porous structure formed on the surface of the starch granules and degree of deformity was found to be increased with the increment in the degree of substitution. Amylose content was decreased with the increase in degree of substitution. The TGA data showed that the carboxymethyl starches were thermally stable. Swelling and solubility power was found to be improved with the increase in the temperature. Micromeritic properties of carboxymethyl starches proved its usefulness as excipients in tablet manufacturing. Release profile of paracetamol was found to be decreased with the increase in the degree of substitution, and this proves the suitability of carboxymethyl Indian Palo starch in sustained-release tablets.

“Some Version of the Same River”

Photographer Byron Wolfe traveled to Deer Creek in California to capture the locations of a series of photographs of Ishi, “the last wild Indian in North America,” taken in 1914. His purpose was to show what had changed in the intervening century, to pose questions about the original photographers’ intentions and choices, whether and in what sense they took the results to be “authentic” portraits of Ishi’s earlier life, and what they wanted people to find in, and take away from, the pictures they took. Wolfe’s photographs juxtaposed with the originals accompany an essay by Troy Jollimore, a meditation on Ishi’s legacy, wilderness, and how the art and artifice of photography helps us make sense of people, place, and history.

Stop Hunting Ishi

This essay follows the history of hunting Indians in California to the hunting of Ishi—the “last wild Indian in North America”—by anthropologists from the University of California through to the present-day hunt for Ishi’s legacy and his physical remains. William Bauer explores why Ishi was hunted, and what he has represented to different constituencies: the savage Indian on the frontier, killing livestock as well as white men, women, and children, and deserving a violent end himself; a symbol of Indian life supposedly uncontaminated by modernity; and tribal sovereignty and self-determination, a renaissance of indigenous politics and culture made possible by the survival of indigenous people and nations, and the economic opportunities of Indian gaming. Bauer argues that people who hunt for deeper meaning in Ishi’s legacy are often looking to understand something about themselves, not about indigenous people.

Effects of Curcumin (Curcuma longa) on Learning and Spatial Memory as Well as Cell Proliferation and Neuroblast Differentiation in Adult and Aged Mice by Upregulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and CREB Signaling

Aging is a progressive process, and it may lead to the initiation of neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of wild Indian Curcuma longa using a Morris water maze paradigm on learning and spatial memory in adult and D-galactose-induced aged mice. In addition, the effects on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation were assessed by immunohistochemistry for Ki67 and doublecortin (DCX) respectively. The aging model in mice was induced through the subcutaneous administration of D-galactose (100 mg/kg) for 10 weeks. C. longa (300 mg/kg) or its vehicle (physiological saline) was administered orally to adult and D-galactose-treated mice for the last three weeks before sacrifice. The administration of C. longa significantly shortened the escape latency in both adult and D-galactose-induced aged mice and significantly ameliorated D-galactose-induced reduction of cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the subgranular zone of hippocampal dentate gyrus. In addition, the administration of C. longa significantly increased the levels of phosphorylated CREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the subgranular zone of dentate gyrus. These results indicate that C. longa mitigates D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment, associated with decreased cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by activating CREB signaling in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.

Biofabrication of Ag nanoparticles using Sterculia foetida L. seed extract and their toxic potential against mosquito vectors and HeLa cancer cells

A one-step and eco-friendly process for the synthesis of silver-(protein-lipid) nanoparticles (Ag-PL NPs) (core–shell) has been developed using the seed extract from wild Indian Almond tree, Sterculia foetida (L.) (Sterculiaceae). The reaction temperature played a major role in controlling the size and shell formation of NPs. The amount of NPs synthesized and qualitative characterization was done by UV–vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. TEM studies exhibited controlled dispersity of spherical shaped NPs with an average size of 6.9±0.2nm. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed ‘fcc’ phase and crystallinity of the particles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to identify the protein–lipid (PL) bilayer that appears as a shell around the Ag core particles. The thermal stability of the Ag-PL NPs was examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Further analysis was carried out by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), where the spectra provided evidence for the presence of proteins and lipid moieties ((2n-octylcycloprop-1-enyl)-octanoic acid (I)), and their role in synthesis and stabilization of Ag NPs. This is the first report of plant seed assisted synthesis of PL conjugated Ag NPs. These formed Ag-PL NPs showed potential mosquito larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti (L.), Anopheles stephensi Liston and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. These Ag-PL NPs can also act as promising agents in cancer therapy. They exhibited anti-proliferative activity against HeLa cancer cell lines and a promising toxicity was observed in a dose dependent manner. Toxicity studies were further supported by the cellular DNA fragmentation in the Ag-PL NPs treated HeLa cells.

Comparative Breeding and Behavioral Responses to Ethinylestradiol Exposure in Wild and Laboratory Maintained Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Populations

Genetic variation has a significant effect on behavior, fitness, and response to toxicants; however, this is rarely considered in ecotoxicological studies. We compared fitness-related behavioral traits, breeding activity, and the effects of exposure to the environmental estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE(2)) on reproduction in a laboratory (Wild Indian Karyotype, WIK) strain and a wild-caught population (Bangladesh, BLD01) of Danio rerio (zebrafish). In WIK fish, males with higher observed heterozygocity were more active reproductively and more successful in securing parentage, but these relationships were not apparent in the BLD01 fish. The frequency of reproductive behaviors increased in WIK zebrafish for exposure to 0.4 ng/L EE(2), which was not apparent in the BLD01 zebrafish. The different strains showed the same threshold for hepatic vitellogenin gene (vtg) induction (2.2 ng EE(2)/L), but results suggested an elevated response level in the BLD01. There were no effects on total egg production up to 2.2 ng EE(2)/L in either population; however, there was reduced egg fertilization rate at 2.2 ng EE(2)/L in the BLD01 fish. These results show consistency in the general responses to EE(2) between these two genetically divergent strains of zebrafish, but also illustrate differences in their breeding biology and response sensitivities. These findings highlight the need for due consideration of the source (and genetics) of populations used in ecological risk assessment for accurate comparisons among studies.

Differences in sexual development in inbred and outbred zebrafish (Danio rerio) and implications for chemical testing

Outbred laboratory animal strains used in ecotoxicology are intended to represent wild populations. However, breeding history may vary considerably between strains, driving differences in genetic variation and phenotypes used for assessing effects of chemical exposure. We compared a range of phenotypic endpoints in zebrafish from four different “breeding treatments” comprising a Wild Indian Karyotype (WIK) zebrafish strain and a WIK/Wild strain with three levels of inbreeding (FIT=n, n+0.25, n+0.375) in a new Fish Sexual Development Test (FSDT). There were no differences between treatments in terms of egg viability, hatch success or fry survival. However, compared with WIKs, WIK/Wild hybrids were significantly larger in size, with more advanced gonadal (germ cell) development at the end of the test (63 days post fertilisation). Increasing the levels of inbreeding in the related WIK/Wild lines did not affect body size, but there was a significant male-bias (72%) in the most inbred line (FIT=n+0.375). Conversely, in the reference WIK strain there was a significant female-bias in the population (80% females).Overall, our results support the use of outbred zebrafish strains in the FSDT, where one of the core endpoints is sex ratio. Despite increased variance (and reduced statistical power) for some endpoints, WIK/Wild outbreds (FIT=n) met all acceptance criteria for controls in this test, whereas WIKs failed to comply with tolerance limits for sex ratio (30–70% females). Sexual development was also more advanced in WIK/Wild outbreds (cf. WIKs), providing greater scope for detection of developmental reproductive toxicity following chemical exposure.

Evaluating the Anti-Fertility Potential of α-Chlorohydrin on Testis and Spermatozoa in the Adult Male Wild Indian House Rat (Rattus rattus)

To examine the effects of α-chlorohydrin on testis and cauda epididymis in the male house rat (Rattus rattus), 24 adult male rats were segregated into two groups. Group I rats were force-fed daily by intragastric intubation with α-chlorohydrin at a single dose of 1.0 mg/100 g body weight/d for 5, 15, and 45 days. Another group was fed with distilled water, which served as the control. The treated male rats were paired with 24 adult proestrus female rats for 5 days after the last oral treatment and fertility was tested. At the end of the experiments, all of the male rats were weighed and killed by cervical dislocation. The right testes were removed, weighed, and processed for ultrastructural changes of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymis and testis under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The seminiferous tubular area, nuclear diameter of the Sertoli and Leydig cells, percentage of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids, spermatozoa, and Sertoli cells in each group were compared morphometrically. Our results showed that the percentages of primary spermatocytes steadily increased from 5 to 15 days, but primary and secondary spermatocytes decreased significantly at 45 days. There was a steady decline in the percentages of spermatozoa and spermatids at all fixation intervals in the treated animals, but the percentages of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells increased significantly at 15 and 45 days. Seminiferous tubular areas, nuclear diameter of Leydig and Sertoli cells, and fertility rates were reduced after 45 days of treatment. SEM and TEM studies revealed severe morphological abnormalities in the spermatozoa, including deglutination of the acrosomal part, loss of head capsules, and fragmentation of tail fibrils. There was an enhanced anti-fertility effect and a lower number of implantation sites in the rats treated for 5 days. Our results validate α-chlorohydrin as a successful anti-fertility agent that prevents spermatogenesis.

Variation in Reproductive Performance and Egg Quality Between Wild and Pond-Reared Indian White Shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus, Broodstock

ABSTRACT The shrimp hatchery industry worldwide has placed immense interest on the production of closed-life cycle broodstock from farm stock. Unfortunately, majority of the studies have proven that pond-reared broodstock are inferior to their wild counterparts in terms of reproductive performance, spawn quality and post-hatching performance. In the present study, reproductive performance, egg, and nauplii quality of wild and pond-reared Indian white shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus, broodstock were analyzed. Biochemical analyses were done with egg and nauplii from both the sources, in an attempt to explain the difference in their performance. Results indicated better reproductive performance by wild females compared to pond-reared ones. The wild eggs contained higher total lipid, and vital HUFAs namely EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (Arachidonic acid). However, one of the dominant PUFA, 18:2 (n-6) was high in pond broodstock eggs. Biochemical analysis also indicated that glucose, carotenoids, and triacylglycerol content were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in wild eggs. But, egg protein and triacylglycerol content did not record significant difference between the egg samples. The percentage viable nauplii, nauplii length and triacylglycerol content were all significantly higher (P < 0.05) with wild nauplii. This study proves the better nutritional profile of wild eggs and nauplii in terms of analyzed biochemical components. But, as our knowledge on specific nutrient requirement for successful reproductive performance and offspring quality is limited, the better performance of wild eggs could not be attributed to any single nutrient. Meanwhile, it could be presumed that all the deficient nutrients collectively contributed to the poor reproductive performance and spawn quality.