Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Ruling Pan
University of Western Australia, Australia
Keynote: The Devastated Ecosystem and It Impacts on China’s Wellbeing
Time : 09:10-09:55
Biography:
Pan’s academic commitments in zoology, primatology and conservation related to Asian and African regions, particularly China, have resulted in more than 90 publications with more than 30 scholars in China, Australia, the UK, the USA and South Africa. He has successfully conducted 36 research projects sponsored by the foundations in China, Australia, the USA, the UK and South Africa. His current specific focus is on the devastated ecosystem in China and its unprecedented impacts on fauna and flora as well as human society, which was initiated from his publication of Science Commentary in AJP (the first one listed about), and the submitted manuscript of “The Primate Extinction Crisis in China: Immediate Challenges and A Way Forward” to Diversity and Conservation, and the one whose abstract is attached here. He is playing a leading role for such a mission by bringing together scientists in Australia, the USA, Mexico, Brazil and China.
Abstract:
In the face of the dramatized Old China, unprecedented human population growth and driven by mercantilism, China has since the 1950s embarked upon an important period of agricultural expansion, industrialization, economic reforms, and urbanization, which collectively depended principally on the depletion of natural resources and land conversion. The results based on a database from the World Bank composing 42 variables of eco-social development and the records on the related emissions in Asia indicate that 12 (23.7%) of them in China show larger values than the averages of the region; and the Euclidian distance between China and non China Asia shows a linear increase from the 1960s to the end of the last century. That is, China stands out alone in its negative impact on Asian ecosystem. The backgrounds rooted such unique scenarios are discussed. The factors leading up to such catastrophe, including extravagant depletion of the natural resources and land conversion, large scales of deforestation and contaminated lands, agriculture and water, excessive dam construction, heavily polluted air and remarkably increased human expansion, are presented. We also presented some scenarios showing how the fauna and the flora in China severely have been impacted, rigid climate pattern appeared and human society has been challenged unprecedentedly due to the prominent declining birth rate, mountainous burdens on the public health system, ubiquitously contaminated food chain and drink water, which has led to remarkably increased infertility and higher rates of cancer, lung and respiratory diseases and the booming immigration. Such devastating impact has raised a great attention following the spreading not just in Asia, but also to Western America. This study delivery a strong alarming message not just to China but also the other region: such an eco-social development model is also a pathway to devastating the whole global wellbeing, particularly humans.
Keynote Forum
Zhanging Hao
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Keynote: The effect of intraspecific trait variation on the detecting of community assembly across successional stages
Time : 09:55-10:40
Biography:
Prof Chris Franco is Australia’s leading actinobacteriologist, and is on the Advisory Board for the International Society for the Biology of Actinomycetes.
He pioneered the isolation of endophytic actinobacteria and their application in agriculture and enhanced environmental sustainability: and to discover novel bioactive molecules. In recognition of these achievements he was awarded the Australian Eureka Prize for Environmental Sustainability of Grain Growing. He leads the Australian Grains Research & Development Corporation’s Beneficial Microbes Program.
Abstract:
The trait-based approach is widely used in the study of different processes (dispersal limitation, habitat filtering, and limitation similarity) underlying community assembly. However, most researches are based on trait mean value, which only considers interspecific trait variation. Due to the genetic and environmental difference, a functional trait can also exhibit significant intraspecific trait variation (ITV). Thus disentangle whether and how will the detection of the relative importance of ecological process be influenced by the inclusion of ITV is of significant meaning for our understanding of community assembly. Here, we collected community composition data and 8 functional traits in a young (24 ha) and an old (25 ha) growth forest plot. We analyzed the relative importance of different process based on a recently developed modeling technique (STEPCAM). Moreover, we detect the effect of ITV on the relative importance with and without ITV. We found that dispersal limitation is most important at 20m scale in two forest plots, followed by habitat filtering, and limiting similarity had a minor effect. When taking ITV into consideration, the proportion of deterministic process (habitat filtering and limiting similarity) improved at the early successional stage, while such effect was not found at a late successional stage. Moreover, based on a single trait, we found the deterministic process only improved for the nutrition absorb related trait when we consider of ITV at a late successional stage, which implies the importance of soil condition on community assembly at this scale. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of ITV for the detection of a trait-based ecological process in this temperate forest across successional stages.
Keynote Forum
Elsayed Abdel-Sattar El-Meleigy
Suez Canal University, Egypt
Keynote: Use of water separated from crude oil in the cultivation of wood trees and economic plants and biofuels production through phytoremediation
Time : 11:00-11:45
Biography:
Abstract:
- Plant Microbiology | Spatial Ecology | Ecology | Climate Change | Urban Ecology | Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Location: Frederick
Chair
Ruliang Pan
University of Western Australia, Australia
Co-Chair
Mohammed Menggad
University of Casablanca, Morocco
Session Introduction
Ernestas Zaleckas
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Title: The effect of biological microorganism products on maize vegetation and productivity
Time : 11:50-12:25
Biography:
Abstract:
Hiromi Shiota
Kyoto Prefectural University, Japan
Title: LiDAR data analysis with Fusion/LDV for individual tree measurement
Time : 12:25-13:00
Biography:
Abstract:
Mohammed Menggad
University of Casablanca, Morocco
Title: Antiproliferative anthracycline pink red-like pigments produced by new bacterial soil strains identified as Streptomyces coelicoflavus and bioactivity of other compounds
Biography:
Abstract:
Kofi Baah Boamah
Jiangsu University, China
Title: Forecasting the carbon dioxide emission of china based on the brain storm optimisation algorithms
Time : 14:20-14:55
Biography:
Kofi Baah Boamah, a distinguished Researcher with over 12 years teaching and research experience in the field of Energy Economics, Environmental anagement, International Economics, International Trade, Applied Econometrics, Growth and Development, Foreign Direct Investments and Health Economics. He has several published articles in top Journals. He is currently with the Computational Centre for Social Sciences- School of Management, Jiangsu University, pursuing his PhD Studies.
Abstract:
This paper seeks to forecast the carbon emission of China using the BrainStorm Optimisation Algorithms (BSO). In recent years, the concentration of carbon dioxide emission of China is on the ascendancy. Yet, accurate prediction of air quality remains at the fringes of current studies. Though, several researchers have attempted to predict air quality of most countries;most studies adopted approaches varying from ordinary linear regressions, multivariate regressions, fuzzy logic to conventional swarm intelligence, which mostly leads to but inaccurate predictions owing to imminent inherent arameters problems in these approaches. Hence, the vital need for accurate prediction of air quality into the future whilst using robust techniques.This is to aid in monitoring and implementing of precise policies and reforms, tailored specifically for China. Our study, therefore, employed an augmented rainstorm optimization, originally proposed by Yushi S. for the prediction. Our study utilized the following paramount variables in recent literature on energy-environmental pollution nexus: energy consumption,economic growth, international trade and the carbon dioxide emission. Our findings revealed that the proposed Brainstorm optimization offer better prediction of the air quality in China when compared with the original BSO and the ARIMA model as it had better convergence speed, adaptive value, and better diagnostic error.
Nandita Nath
Tripura University, India
Title: Pichia kudriavzeviia NN/SG ll potential yeast strain isolated from Gora- a rice based fermented beer traditionally prepared by the indigenous Koloi tribes of Tripura
Biography:
Nandita Nath is a Research Scholar at the Tripura University, India. She has extended his valuable service for many years and has been a recipient of many award and grants. Her international experience includes various programs, contributions and participation in different countries for diverse fields of study. Her research interests reflect in his wide range of publications in various national and international journals.
Abstract:
Gora a rice based fermented beer traditionally prepared by the Koloi tribes of Tripura using indigenous brewing techniques. The present study aimed to isolate and identify the indigenous yeast flora of ‘Gora’ and evaluate its fermentation ability comparison with a industrial strain. Culture dependent approaches- phenotypic characterization were done to investigate the responsible yeast species and identified as Pichia kudriavzevii which was further confirmed by the molecular identification using partial 18S rRNA gene sequence. The reducing and non-reducing sugar content of ‘Gora’ was 1.19 ± 0.999 and 1.04 ± 0.010 mg/ml respectively. Whereas the carbohydrate, protein and Total alcohol content of the rice beer ‘Gora’ was 0.56 ±0.101,11.96 ± 0.001 mg/ml and 6.40 ± 0.008 % v/v. respectively. The comparative analysis of the isolate Pichia kudriavzeviia NN/SG II with the industrial strains in aboratory condition shows significant similarities in the nutritional parameters and alcohol percentages with the industrial strain. This is the first scientific investigation of indigenous yeast strain of ‘Gora’ from this region may provide sufficient background and potentiality for its scientific and logical appreciation and promoting the microbial legacy of indigenous alcoholic beverage as an immaterial cultural heritage for future as well as small scale commercialization for rural livelihood.
Marwa M Elmaghrabi
Alexandria University, Egypt
Title: Isolation and identification of predominant bacterial isolates infecting urinary tract
Time : 15:30-16:05
Biography:
Marwa M Elmaghrabi is currently a permanent researcher at Stem Cells and Tissue Culture Labs, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, a healthcare and quality advisor at Canadian Academy of Sciences, Egypt. She has MSc in Microbiology (2012), Faculty of Science, Egypt. She accumulated 8-years of experience in quality and infection control, and appointed to a number of key jobs; ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor, quality manager (2015-2017) and quality and infection control manager (2013-2015) in Madina Fertility group, quality-specialist at Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, 2015-2017, and senior quality assurance specialist and internal auditor at Hassab-Labs ompany, 2010-2013. She participated in a number of regional and international conferences and as a member of Organizing Committee of Microbial Ecology-2018 pre-conference workshop. She contributed to PAN-African and electronic network project as a broadcasting lecturer. She served as a member of the Egyptian Syndicate of Scientific professions, and Arab QOSH of safety professionals' experts.
Abstract:
In this study, bacterial isolates of the most common urinary tract infection of 100 patients were investigated. Patients comprised of equal gender and 50 patients were above 40 y/o and 50 were under 40 y/o. Only 55 patients were infected of whom 63.6% females and 36.4% males, and among them, 66% were above 40 y/o, and 44% were under 40 y/o. The dipstick test revealed 24% were positive for leukocytes, 13% were positive for nitrite, 14% were positive for both leukocyte and nitrite. Phase contrast microscopy revealed 15% were positive for pyuria, and 34% were positive for bacteriuria. Morphological description leukocytosis and bacteriuria colonies have grown on cultured on MacConkey and Blood agar plates were achieved, where 64 bacterial strains and four fungal strains were identified. Based on Gram staining and cell shapes, isolates were grouped into three categories; Gram (+) cocci, Gram (-) coccobacilli, and Gram (-) bacilli, and analyzed using SYSTAT® program. Following cluster analysis, a representative strain of each cluster was selected for identification using VITEK® system. Results showed eight groups of isolates; 28 E. coli, 9 Klebsiella pneumonia, 6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 6 Proteus mirabilis, 5 Staphylococcus aureus, 4 Enterococcus faecalis, 4 Morganella morganii and 2 Pseudomonas fluorescens. Large cells of Candida albicans were also identified. Results indicated that the most predominant uropathogenic was E. coli as it was found in 43.7% of the isolates followed by Klebsiella Pneumonia 14.1%. Both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis were represented in 9.4% of the isolates while Staphylococcus aureus was recorded in 7.8% of the samples. Enterococcus faecalis and Morganella morganii were represented in 6.2% of the isolates, however, only 3.2% was recorded for Pseudomonas fluorescens.
Saeeda Yousaf
University of Peshawar, Pakistan
Title: Estimation of soil carbon in the moist temperate forests : A case study of Galiyat Pakistan
Time : 16:20-16:55
Biography:
Soon after graduation, she joined World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF) where she worked for almost 4 years since 1999-2003 on several projects related to education and natural resource management, etc. She worked with mountainous area’s women in Gilgit, Ishkoman valley, Hisper Valley, Chitral, Kashmir, Sudhan Gali, Swat, Mahudand, and Kalam etc. After that, she joined the University of Peshawar in September 2003 as a lecturer and in 2009 promoted to Assistant Professor. During this time she had worked on a variety of projects related to global environmental and climate change, Natural Resource Management,water pollution, and soil pollution etc., funded by HEC. To date, she has 22 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has been teaching several courses of Environmental Sciences since 2003 and has supervised 83 research groups of graduates and undergraduates level students’ and 10 MS/M.Phil students mostly female students in the field of Environmental Sciences.
Abstract:
The soil plays an important role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere also known as Carbon Sequestration. The current study was conducted to estimate soil carbon in the moist temperate forests of Galiyat, Pakistan. Samples plots (n=15) were randomly laid out in moist temperate forests of the study area which covered most of the area of the Galies Forest Division. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 15 cm and 15 to 30 cm depth with the help of a soil agar. In each sample plot data was collected on slopes, aspect, crown cover, elevation, soil bulk density, and soil organic matter and soil carbon. In each sample, moisture content (%) and ashes (g) were determined. Sample plots taken were located on different slopes with mostly on moderate slopes. The majority of the sample plots was located on North Eastern aspects and was at an elevation greater than 2000 m. On the basis of crown cover, the sample plots were located in open, medium dense and dense forests. The value of organic matter in the soil samples having depth from 0 to 15cm (3.642 g) and 15 to 30 cm depth (3.178 g) were found. The value of soil carbon for soil having depth of 0 to 15cm (2.112 g) and soil having depth of 15 to 30 cm (1.843 g) was calculated. The bulk density in the soil sample was calculated having depth 0 to 15 cm (1.462 g/cm3) and 15 to 30 cm (1.337 g/cm3). Moisture content for the soil having depth of 0 to 15cm (6.195 %) and soil having depth of 15 to 30 cm (6.205 %) was observed and the ashes value for soil having depth of 0 to 15cm (94.279 g) and soil having depth of 15 to 30 cm (95.087 g) was determined.
Shweta Nistala
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, India
Title: Chlorpyrifos-induced alterations in cell surface topography, total protein content and optimization of key growth and degradation regulators of bacillus spp.
Time : 16:55-17:30
Biography:
Shweta Nistala recently defended for Ph.D degree from School of Studies in Biotechnology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India. She is working as an environmental microbiologist and has expertise regarding isolation of the microbes using the modern cultivation approaches. She has been testing the microbes for biodegradation purpose of pesticides for achieving sustainability and also optimizing the growth and degradation conditions for the bacteria. She has been working in this particular area since three years. Achievements of isolating positive and responsive pollutant (especially pesticides) degrading bacteria have been made. In relation to this, she has published one paper and others are in communication.
Abstract:
Intensive and modern agriculture is extensively and purely based on the usage of pesticides for enhancing the crop productivity. In India, due to warm and humid climatic condition in most of the parts the agricultural productivity is under the major threat of variety of insects and pests. Hence, the highest consumption of pesticides is in agricultural sector. Organophosphates are one of the widely and globally used pesticides due to its easy availability and low economic price. Continuous and repeated use of organophosphates has become a major threat to soil environment due to its low water solubility, longer persistence and high soil adsorption coefficient. The present study emphasized on isolation and molecular authentication of organophosphate tolerant bacterial strains from paddy growing field using stimulated natural environment procedure. Molecular characterization identified the bacterial strains to be the member of Bacillus and Streptomyces genera. Scanning electron microscopy of one of the best tolerant bacteria revealed alterations in their cell surface as well as in their length and width. Total protein content was determined in the control sample and organophosphate (Chlorpyrifos) treated bacterial cells and accumulated data indicated a significant impact of applied concentrations of Chlorpyrifos on content of total protein predicting the expression of Chlorpyrifos responsive enzymes. Moreover, optimization of key growth regulators for the bacterial cell revealed that the 0.25% of Fructose and Yeast Extract was the optimum carbon and nitrogen source as well as 27.5oC and 8.0 were the best temperature and pH. Even, induction of Chlorpyrifos degrading enzymes was highest at pH 8.0 and temperature 30oC. Thus overall study suggested that the bacterium would be efficient and can be studied further in detail to be used for bioremediation of Chlorpyrifos contaminated sites.