<div>Background: Harike wetland (31&deg;08&cent; N to 31&deg;23&cent; N latitudes and 74&deg;90&cent; E to 75&deg;12&cent; E longitudes) is an internationally important Ramsar site, supports rare, vulnerable and endangered plants, fish and other faunal species. Weed infestation, pollution and encroachment are considered as important threats of its biota thus time series data with respect to fish diversity, catch composition and genetic variability has an utter importance to interpret changes over time. Cyprinidae family of freshwater fishes includes carps is the largest fish family found in Harike wetland comprising around 50% of total fish composition by weight basis and among carps, Rohu (Labeo rohita) is one of the commercially important food fish species available throughout the year and preferred by consumers. As river Beas and Sutlej, two major rivers of Indus river system confluence at Harike thus possibility of variation within fish stock is very high. With this background present study was carried out to evaluate the fish biodiversity and catch composition of Harike wetland. Study also emphasized on biometrics, length &ndash;weight relationship and genetic diversity based on mitochondrial marker genes of commercially important food fish Labeo rohita. 
 
Methods: Assessment of fish catch composition and diversity were conducted in landing centre adjacent to Harike wetland through Rapid Fisheries Assessment by Market Survey (RFAMS) technique. Fin tissue samples were collected for genetic diversity analysis of L. rohita by cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequencing, From the fish genomic DNA a partial fragment of approximately 655bp was PCR amplified by FishF1 (5&#39;-TCAACCAACCACAAAGACATTGGCAC-3&#39;) and FishR1 (5&#39;-TCGACTAATCATAAAGATATCGGC AC-3&#39;) primer pair. &nbsp;Calculation of intraspecific mean and pairwise distances was performed by MEGA 6.0 software using the K2P parameters 
 
Result: Total 30 species of fishes were recorded from Harike wetland and these belong to 14 families and 21 genera. In L. rohita average weight (Wt), total length (TL), standard length (SL) and forked length (FL) were recorded 2600&plusmn;5.64g (1700-3600 g), 58.2&plusmn;5.65 cm (51.3-67.6cm), 48.0&plusmn;8.54 cm (42.5-55.5cm) and 46.0&plusmn;0.25 cm (38.0-54.5cm), respectively. &nbsp;Biometric study revealed that sufficient numbers of mature L. rohita are available in wetland. L. rohita established negative algometric growth (b= 2.701); thus species became slender as it increased in length. The pairwise distances ranged from 0.00 to 18.49% with a mean &plusmn;S.E value of 4.70%&plusmn;0.40. Total of 9 haplotypes were observed in L. rohita COI sequences. The diversity in haplotype and nucletide values were observed 0.848 and 0.024, respectively. The present study states that L. rohita stocks in Harike wetland are genetically diverse.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Study on Biometric Parameters and Genetic Diversity of Labeo rohita from Harike Wetland-A Ramsar Site</div>

<div>Background: Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is a significant cash crop in the humid tropics of India. The quality, variety and types of coconut palm vary from one place to other. Nowadays, the lack of skilled climbers for tree climbing is a serious problem experienced by coconut farmers. The adoption of drone technology in coconut cultivation is considered to enhance the productivity of coconut. The current study aimed to study the biometrics of different varieties of coconut trees to design and develop a drone-based spraying and harvesting system which suits all types of coconut palms. 
 
Methods: The major parameters influencing drone spraying and harvesting design are crop, machine and meteorological parameters. The crop parameters for the palms were measured by using standard techniques. The prominent varieties include West coast tall, Coconut - ALR (CN) 1, Coconut - ALR (CN) 3, Chowghat orange dwarf, Chowghat green dwarf, Malaysian yellow dwarf, East coast tall and Chandra Kalpa were selected. The biometric data were observed from the randomly selected healthy coconut trees. 
 
Result: The eight major coconut varieties were selected and their biometric data was observed. It was concluded that the observations aided in deciding the design of the drone components as well as the spraying and harvesting mechanism suitable for coconut palms.</div>

Study on Biometrics of Selected Coconut Varieties for the Development of a Drone Spraying and Harvesting System for Coconut Palms

<div style="text-align: justify;">The objective of this study was to evaluate the brain biometrical dynamics with advancement of age between sexes. One hundred fifty day-old sexed Vanaraja chicks (75 male + 75 female) were selected and distributed equally in two groups. Birds were slaughtered by cervical dislocation method at 21, 42, 63 and 84 days of age and biometrical measurements were taken. From our present study we observed brain volume had shown significant (P&lt;0.05) changes with respect to age and sex of birds. The mean length of both left and right cerebral hemispheres between male and female birds had varied significantly (P&lt;0.05). With advancement of age, hemispheric length varied significantly (P&lt;0.05). The major finding was that cerebral width significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased from 42-63 days of age and in male birds cerebellar length increased from 63 days onwards. There were age-specific changes in all the morphometrical parameters where as between sexes there were some minor variations.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Age and sex specific brain biometrical study in Vanaraja chickens</div>

<div>Background: The thyroid gland is vital endocrine gland which secretes three hormones i.e. thyroxin (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and Calcitonin hormones. The thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones are biologically active and are required for maintenance of normal levels of metabolic activity. The thyroid also produces calcitonin from the parafollicular cells which act directly on osteoclast to decrease the bone resorption which lower the blood calcium level. Deficient or excessive production of thyroid hormones may lead to serious pathological states with outward symptoms.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The gross anatomical and biometrical studies were conducted on thyroid gland of buffalo, sheep and goat (n=12) collected immediately after slaughtering from slaughter house and local meat shop. The weight of thyroid gland was measured by weighing balance, volume by water displacement method, length and width of lateral lobes and isthmus by calibrated scale and inelastic thread and thickness of lateral lobes and isthmus was measured by digital vernier calliper. The data was analysed statistically. 
 
Result: The lateral lobes were roughly triangular in buffalo and elongated in sheep and oval in goat. The surfaces were granular and rough in buffalo but smooth in sheep and goat. It extended from thyroid cartilage to 2nd tracheal ring in buffalo, 1st to 6th tracheal ring in sheep and 1st to 7th tracheal ring in goat. The left lobe was larger than the right lobe in all the three species studied. The thyroid gland was biggest in buffalo followed by goat and smallest in sheep. The density of isthmus was more than the lobes in sheep and goat but not in buffalo.</div>

​Comparative Gross Anatomical and Biometrical Studies on Thyroid Gland of Buffalo, Sheep and Goat

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present study was carried out on the third (C3), fourth (C4) and fifth (C5) cervical vertebrae of six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. It was found that the transverse process was bifid with a transverse foramen located at its base. The upper part of the transverse process projected backward and was short and stout, while the lower part was directed downward and forward and was found to be longer and more plate-like. The bodies of C3-C5 tended to become shorter and wider from front to backwards. The supraspinous process was found to be short and centrally tuberous in C3 that gradually increased in height and length to C5 with forward inclination. The articular processes of the typical cervical vertebrae slightly convex cranially and concave caudally. The posterior articular facets of C5 were egg shaped, whereas those of C4 were like the map of Africa in the Blue bull. A well defined infraspinous process projected from the vertebral body that divided the base into two halves. The biometrical observations on different parameters of typical cervical vertebra reflected significance (P&lt;0.05) differences between the sexes of this species. &nbsp;</div>

Gross morphological and biometrical Studies on the typical cervical vertebrae of Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

<div style="text-align: justify;">Sixty-six bush type advance breeding lines of vegetable cowpea developed at ICAR - Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (ICAR-IIVR), Varanasi were evaluated for different horticultural traits for genetic variability, character association, cause-effect analysis and genetic diversity among the genotypes through D2 statistics. High values of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variations, heritability (h2B) and genetic advance were recorded for pod yield per plant, number of peduncles and pods per plant, peduncle length, number of primary branches per plant, pod length, pod weight and number of seeds per pod. Pod yield per plant showed strong positive correlation with number of peduncles and pods per plant, pod weight, pod length, number of seeds per pod and number of primary branches per plant, while negative correlation with days to 50% flowering at genotypic and phenotypic levels. The maximum direct positive effect on pod yield per plant was found contributed by number of pods per plant followed by pod weight. Based on degree of divergence the genotypes get grouped into seventeen clusters. The top three characters which contributed most towards the genetic divergence were number of peduncles per plant, peduncle length and pod length. The genotypes of cluster VII showed maximum genetic divergence with genotypes of cluster VIII. Further, cluster VII had the high yielding genotypes, while cluster XVII had early flowering genotypes. Thus, crossing between genotypes of these groups may result in high yielding early genotypes.</div>

Biometrical studies of yield and related traits in advance breeding lines of bush type vegetable cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] &nbsp;

<div>Background: Benthic macro invertebrates have a sedentary and long life span, sensitive community response to organic loading, thermal impacts, substrate alteration and toxic pollution. They are regarded as the most informative bio indicators of water pollution. Macro invertebrates and water quality are interrelated to each other, as macro invertebrates are a potential indicator of water quality and therefore have been most frequently used in biomonitoring studies. 
 
Methods: The study area is the tailrace of Dikhow River, a 65 km. a southern tributary of the mighty river Brahmaputra. The stretch was demarcated into five sectors longitudinally. The study was done for a period of two years during which sampling collection was done using sampling methods. Appropriate sized net was used to sample macroinvertebrates. Identification was done using standard identification keys. Pollution tolerance of the species was measured using standard protocols. Using tolerance values, family biotic Indices were measured by Hilsenhoff standard protocols. 
 
Result: Number of pollution sensitive macroinvertebrates were found to be minimum in almost all stations indicating the level of pollution in the stations. Macroinvertebrates with higher tolerance levels were recorded in maximum numbercompared with the standard values to assess the water quality. A total of thirteen (13) species (Rhynchobdellasp, Physellasp, Soletelinasp, Gammarussp, Fenneropeneussp, Isotomussp, Caeniussp, Gomphussp, Lethocerussp, Hydrophylussp, Chaobarussp, Chironomussp) have been recorded during the study period. Among them the species with high pollution tolerance values were recorded in higher number during the study. While compared the family biotic indices as recorded from the stations with the standard data, then station I and station III have been found to&nbsp; be significant organic pollution and other three stations were found to be Fairly significant organic pollution.</div>

A Study of River Water Quality using Macroinvertebrates as Bio Indicator: A Case Study

<div>Background: The principal component analysis is applied to identify minimum number of combined variables that account for maximum portion of the variance existing in all variables studied. Chitarangi is a lesser known carpet type wool sheep distributed in Fazilka and Muktsar districts of Punjab, Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan and the adjoining areas. The information on body biometry is a prerequisite to characterize the lesser known sheep population available in the country. Hence, it is important to describe the body conformation by recording minimum number of biometric traits. 
 
Methods: Body biometry traits of Chitarangi sheep, a lesser known carpet quality wool producing sheep population were studied using Principal Component Analysis. The traits studied were body length (BL), height at wither (HW), chest girth (CG), paunch girth (PG), ear length (EL), face length (FL), face width (FW), tail length (TL) and adult body weight (BW). The data were collected on 297 ewes in the breeding tract of Chitarangi sheep. The descriptive statistics were determined for all the traits. The phenotypic correlations between different body biometric traits were estimated using partial correlations. Principal components were estimated using correlation matrix. Principal component analysis (PCA), a multivariate approach, is used when the recorded traits are highly correlated. Rotation of principal components was through the transformation of the components to approximate a simple structure. Factor analysis using oblique (promax) rotation was used. All the analysis was carried out using the SPSS statistical package. 
 
Result: The averages for body weight and biometry traits confirmed large size of Chitarangi animals. Most of the phenotypic correlations amongst the studied traits were positive and significant (p&lt;0.01). The three components extracted from nine principal components accounted for 69.06% of the total variance. The first component, which described body size of ewes, accounted for 43.68% of the total variation with high loading for BW, CG, PG, HW, BL and FL. The components two and three explained 13.54 and 11.83% of total variance, respectively. The communalities ranged from 0.490 (FL) to 0.888 (PG). The lower communalities for face length indicated lower contribution of the trait to explain the total variation than others. The study indicates that principal components provided a means of reduction in number of biometric traits to explain body confirmation of adult female Chitarangi sheep.</div>

Study of Body Conformation of Carpet Wool Type Chitarangi Sheep of India using Principal Component Analysis

Background: In zootechnics, the utilization of local breeds adapted to harsh environmental conditions is a practical strategy for improving performance, particularly in breeding and animal improvement projects. This morphometric study of local Algerian cattle breeds highlights the main characteristics of the two breeds studied. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The study focused on 60 male cattle, including 30 Setifien and 30 Guelmoise breeds, aged between 24 and 36 months. For each subject, nine biometric measurements were taken prior to slaughter: wither height (WH), thoracic circumference (TC), abdominal circumference (AC), scapulo-Ischial length (SIL), head length (HL), bizygomatic width (BIW), hip width (HIW), cannon circumference (CC) and cannon length (CL). Post-slaughter, the carcass weight (CW) of each animal was also recorded. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The morpho-biometric comparison between the two studied breeds revealed that the Setifien breed has higher average values for all parameters compared to the Guelmoise breed. The Guelmoise breed is smaller in size (WH=113 cm), while the Setifien breed is larger (WH=121 cm), exhibiting values higher than those of African rustic breeds. Strong correlations were observed between carcass weight and most parameters, supporting the use of linear regression equations to estimate carcass weight from biometric measurements.

Morphometric Study of Local Algerian Cattle Breeds and Prediction of Carcass Weight from Linear Body Measurements: Case of Setifien and Guelmoise Breeds

<div>Background: The Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is one of the biggest antelopes in Asia and is widely distributed in both the forests and adjoining villages with enough green grass. 
 
Methods: The present study was carried out on the mandible of six specimens of adult Blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) of either sex. The biometrical parameters were measured by scale, graduated tape and digital Vernier&rsquo;s caliper. The statistical analysis of the recorded data was done by independent samples t-Test with Systat Software Inc, USA and SPSS 16.0 version software. 
 
Result: The mandible of Blue bull consisted of two rami, i.e. horizontal and vertical rami. The two halves of this bone fused incompletely at the mandibular symphysis, situated at the midline. The average length of horizontal ramus of mandible was found to be 24.7&plusmn;1.02 cm in female, which was significantly less (P&lt;0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 35.4&plusmn;1.97 cm. Similarly, the average thickness of vertical ramus at the base was found to be 0.53&plusmn;0.001 cm in female, which was significantly less (P&lt;0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 0.80&plusmn;0.002 cm. The average cranio-caudal length of mandibular notch was found to be 1.32&plusmn;0.01 cm in female, which was significantly less (P&lt;0.05) than that of males, where it was recorded as 1.44&plusmn;0.02 cm. Most of the biometrical observations on different parameters of mandible of Blue bull were having significantly (P&lt;0.05) more values in males than females.&nbsp; 
 
Conclusion: Most of the biometrical observations on different parameters of mandible of Blue bull were having significantly (p&lt;0.05) more values in males than females. The present gross and biometrical studies would be useful to the wild life professionals for determination of sex of this animal and solving vetero-legal cases related with this species.</div>