Advances in Research

This study aims at analyzing climate change perception of poultry production in Imo State, Nigeria. Data used for the study were obtained using a structured questionnaire from eighty-four (84) respondents who were randomly selected from twelve villages in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression models and Likert scale. Findings revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 45 years, mean household size was 6 persons, 60% were male, mean years of experience was 9.1years, majority of them attended tertiary education. The multiple regression analysis showed that ambient temperature, humidity, rainfall distribution, mortality and feed unavailability were statistically significant at 10% level of probability and were the key determinants of the effect of climate change. The coefficient of multiple determination R² was 0.725544 which implies that 72.55% variation in poultry output was accounted for by the regressors variables while the remaining 27.5% was due to random disturbance. From the distribution of poultry farmers according to the perception of climate change, the result showed that 89% and 74% of the poultry farmers were aware that climate change has an effect on egg and meat production, and also feed grain availability respectively. About 90% of them were aware that high sunshine harms egg production, also, 74% and 71% of them were aware that high temperature and low rainfall leads to low egg quality. The study, therefore, recommended that relevant and up-to-date information on climate change should be made available to poultry farmers.

Fabric handle is one of the influential properties for any fabric and is a guiding factor for optimum selection of textile materials for specific end uses. The paper deals with objective analysis of knitted fabrics for fabric hand. Present attempt was made on four knitted fabrics, blended in proportions of 50% mulberry silk: 50% viscose and 40% mulberry silk: 60% viscose, each in two different counts. Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing (FAST) was utilized for determination of properties which is precisely associated with apparel construction and its lastingness.  Fabric samples were subjected to tests for obtainment of dimensional stability, formability, low load extensibility, bending rigidity, compression and shear rigidity. Knitted fabric blended in proportion of 50% mulberry silk: 50% viscose in 20 Nm count was found to be most feasible to large scale production and garment construction.

This study presents an analysis of a period with positive precipitation anomalies and anomalous severe weather activity in parts of the Southeastern Brazil during the dry season (austral winter). The objective of this work is to identify the synoptic pattern associated with the severe episodes on August 2018. The analysis was based on observational data and the CFSR (Climate Forecast System Reanalysis). Standardized anomalies of the main meteorological variables were used in the analysis. An anomalous trough in the mid and upper troposphere and the associated low-level flow from the Amazon Basin to Southeastern Brazil provided high amount of precipitable water, and were the main responsible for the rainfall markedly above the climatology along with severe hail and strong winds. The atmospheric environment was conditionally unstable due to a stationary front. These type of analyzes should be taken into consideration at this time of year to improve weather forecasts and minimize impacts in such circumstances.

In this paper, we consider a competitive reaction-diffusion model to describe the existence of travelling wave solutions of two competing species. Moreover, the non-linear system is also studied by introducing different competitive-cooperative coefficients; constant and spatially distributed which leads to the persistence and extinction of organisms in a heterogeneous environment of population biology. If the diffusion coefficients and other parameters are positive constant, it is seen that one species is in extinction by the other and coexistence is also possible under certain conditions on carrying capacity. The results are numerically investigated by using the Finite difference method (FDM).

Aims: To identify the potential environmental impacts and influence of climate change on the pond fishery in haor region and impact of exotic species on the indigenous species through aquaculture.

Study Design: An investigation on the influence of the pond fishery approach to determine whether the approach is successful with respect to the climate change impacts in the haor area.

Place and Duration of Study: The study sites are located in five haor districts in Bangladesh for a period of one-year (May 2018 – April 2019) covering HILIP working area.

Methodology: The study includes collection and analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data. For quantitative study, 92 sample households in 58 unions of 28 upazilas (sub-districts) in five project districts were randomly selected. Fish catch data, including information on species composition, production and sale were collected from perennial and seasonal ponds. The qualitative primary data obtained through in-depth interviews, key informants interviews and focus group discussions have been used in this paper.

Results: Fish production was found to be better at perennial ponds, but not significantly more than that in the seasonal ponds. However, biodiversity was found to be better in seasonal ponds and greater than that in the perennial ponds. The findings clearly support the observation that pond fish culture is an attractive activity for haor people, especially those who are able to run both perennial and seasonal ponds and manage minimum feeding requirements, maintain those  and market the outputs effectively. The present study fills gaps in existing knowledge of fish pond culture diffusion in haor region of Bangladesh.

Conclusions: Pond fishery appears to perform better so, aquaculture production would mitigate some lost capture fisheries in the haor area of Bangladesh. Existing cultural practices could support experimentation and learning under future initiatives in the haor area. Pond fishery in the haor area mainly has an income-generating feature and less probability of being affected by climate change impacts. However, future initiatives should emphasize on culturing fish, which has the potential of balancing the haor ecosystem.