A Pilot Study for the Estimation of Above Ground Biomass and Litter Production in Rhizophora Mucronata Dominated Mangrove Ecosystems in the Island of Mauritius

Estimation of the above ground biomass of mangroves is an important issue because of its relevance to nutrient turnover and the potential to store carbon. Productivity, as indicated by litter fall rates is important to determine the rate at which mangroves produce new biomass. The aim of the current study was to estimate the above ground biomass and quantify litter fall in two Rhizophora mucronata dominated mangrove ecosystems of Mauritius located at Trou D'eau Douce (eastern side), and at Petite Riviere Noire on the (western side) of the island. Field studies were conducted from September 2011 to January 2012. Quadrats of 5 × 5 metres were set up in each site and 200 mature trees were surveyed. Sixteen litter traps were constructed and installed at the two sites for litter collection. To estimate the above ground biomass, allometric equations were used. The total above ground biomass for Trou D'eau Douce and Petite Riviere Noire were 26.96 t ha-1 and 16.63 t ha-1, respectively. The mean rate of litter fall for Trou D'eau Douce and Petite Riviere Noire were 3.2 ± 0.44 g DW m-2 day-1 and 4.07± 0.95 g DW m-2 day-1, respectively. This study is among the first to provide information on the estimation of above ground biomass for mangroves of Mauritius. It is also the first to provide data on the litter production in mangroves at Petite Riviere Noire and Trou D'eau Douce

A Preliminary Study on Benthic and Arboreal Fauna Associated with Mangrove Rhizophora Mucronata on the East Coast of Mauritius (Indian Ocean) with Special Reference to the Mollusca

Mangrove ecosystems are important as they harbour a diversity of life forms. This study aimed at studying the benthic and arboreal macrofaunal diversity and abundance associated with three naturally occurring mangrove forests of Mauritius, Western Indian Ocean. The mangrove areas included Roches Noires, Mahebourg and Pointe Maurice, on the east coast of the island. The field study was carried out at low tide during summer season from October 2003 to February 2004. At each of the three sites, the arboreal and benthic macrofauna were sampled separately, using quadrats of 1 m x 1 m and 25 cm x 25 cm, respectively. Sixty-four benthic and 42 arboreal quadrats were collected from Roche Noires, 40 benthic and 41 arboreal quadrats at Mahebourg and 40 benthic and 30 arboreal quadrats at Pointe Maurice. The results showed that benthic habitat is more diverse with regards to molluscan families (24 families) than the arboreal habitat (5 families). Pointe Maurice has a more diverse benthic fauna. Relative percentage abundance and mean density of molluscan families are reported. Highest mean densities and relative abundance were recorded for the Family Littorinidae among arboreal macrofauna. In benthic macrofauna, the highest mean densities and relative abundance were noted in Family Cerithiidae at Roches Noires and Mahebourg

Time-domain THz spectroscopy reveals coupled protein-hydration dielectric response in solutions of native and fibrils of human lyso-zyme

Here we reveal details of the interaction between human lysozyme proteins, both native and fibrils, and their water environment by intense terahertz time domain spectroscopy. With the aid of a rigorous dielectric model, we determine the amplitude and phase of the oscillating dipole induced by the THz field in the volume containing the protein and its hydration water. At low concentrations, the amplitude of this induced dipolar response decreases with increasing concentration. Beyond a certain threshold, marking the onset of the interactions between the extended hydration shells, the amplitude remains fixed but the phase of the induced dipolar response, which is initially in phase with the applied THz field, begins to change. The changes observed in the THz response reveal protein-protein interactions me-diated by extended hydration layers, which may control fibril formation and may have an important role in chemical recognition phenomena

A Study on Assemblage of Invertebrates Inhabiting Rocky Shores Within the Port- Limit of Port- Louis, Mauritius

Rocky shores provide an important habitat for marine organisms. This study aimed at providing baseline data on assemblage of organisms on rocky shores within the port-limit of Port-Louis, Mauritius. Four rocky shores, with three at Pointe aux Sables (La Pointe1, La Pointe2, and Petit Verger) and one at Baie du Tombeau were studied from October 2007 to February 2008. On each site three stations, located at intervals of 2m, with an area of 40m2 each were set up. Intertidal organisms were hand-collected within forty-eight, 1m2 quadrat for invertebrates. Observations of 16,061 specimens led to identification of 30 faunal species belonging mostly to phyla Mollusca and Arthropoda. Mean total abundance of invertebrates per 1m2 varied from 729.22±173.07 at la Pointe2 to 143.97±11.43 at Baie du Tombeau. The gastropod, Planaxis sulcatus was the most abundant species at La Pointe1 and Petit Verger with mean abundance of 196.86±179.71 and 168.10±113.44 per 1m2 respectively. The bivalve, Modiolus auriculatus was the dominant species with mean abundance of 673.33±762.04 per 1m2 at La Pointe2 and Nerita punctata was most abundant (39.41±57.35 per 1m2) at Baie du Tombeau. Lowest Shannon diversity was observed La Pointe 2. The study is useful for future work on port area

STATUS OF MANGROVES IN MAURITIUS

Mangroves play an important role in the coastal ecosystem of Mauritius. Two species of mangroves, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam., and Rhizophora mucronata Lam., have been identified so far. The latter species is more dominant and occurs in pure stands in most of the swamps. Loss of biodiversity due to the destruction of wetlands, mangroves and corals is one of the priority issues identified in the National Environment Strategies. Mangrove and Coral reef management and protection is one of the key strategies in addressing coastal zone challenges in Mauritius. Very few scientific studies exist on mangroves in Mauritius. Currently there are no scientific studies on the fauna and flora inhabiting mangrove ecosystems. This is an area that requires further research. Therefore a lot of work remains to be done with regards to the mangroves. Moreover, future management programs will need to look into the factors threatening mangrove ecosystems

A posthumanist re-reading of teacher agency in times of curriculum reform

Teacher agency in times of curriculum reform has often been researched and studied from a humanist perspective that focuses on human experiences and narratives. While this way of conducting research has contributed to a better understanding of curriculum design and implementation, it is nevertheless important to move away from a human-centred approach and to consider intra-actions between teachers and their material conditions as they inhabit multiple macro-policy and micro-institutional spaces across temporal dimensions. In this article, emphasis is laid on teacher agency as a hybrid collective between teachers and others (policy documents, formal and informal infrastructures, technology, textbooks). Teacher agency is consequently re-thought as a fluid process of entangled and diffracted possibilities that is not predetermined, but as a result of intra-actions, it is one that is always in “becoming”