Geetha, Andrews; Dr.Jacob, Chacko(Cochin University Of Science And Technology, July , 2010)
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Abstract:
Mangroves are considered to play a significant role in global carbon cycling.
Themangrove forests would fix CO2 by photosynthesis into mangrove lumber and
thus decrease the possibility of a catastrophic series of events - global warming by
atmospheric CO2, melting of the polar ice caps, and inundation of the great coastal
cities of the world. The leaf litter and roots are the main contributors to mangrove
sediments, though algal production and allochthonous detritus can also be trapped
(Kristensen et al, 2008) by mangroves due to their high organic matter content and
reducing nature are excellent metal retainers. Environmental pollution due to metals
is of major concern. This is due to the basic fact that metals are not biodegradable
or perishable the way most organic pollutants are. While most organic toxicants can
be destroyed by combustion and converted into compounds such as C0, C02, SOX,
NOX, metals can't be destroyed. At the most the valance and physical form of
metals may change. Concentration of metals present naturally in air, water and soil
is very low. Metals released into the environment through anthropogenic activities
such as burning of fossils fuels, discharge of industrial effluents, mining, dumping of
sewage etc leads to the development of higher than tolerable or toxic levels of
metals in the environment leading to metal pollution. Of course, a large number of
heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Mo, and V are essential to plants
and animals and deficiency of these metals may lead to diseases, but at higher
levels, it would lead to metal toxicity. Almost all industrial processes and urban
activities involve release of at least trace quantities of half a dozen metals in
different forms. Heavy metal pollution in the environment can remain dormant for a
long time and surface with a vengeance. Once an area gets toxified with metals, it
is almost impossible to detoxify it. The symptoms of metal toxicity are often quite
similar to the symptoms of other common diseases such as respiratory problems,
digestive disorders, skin diseases, hypertension, diabetes, jaundice etc making it
all the more difficult to diagnose metal poisoning. For example the Minamata
disease caused by mercury pollution in addition to affecting the nervous system can
disturb liver function and cause diabetes and hypertension. The damage caused by
heavy metals does not end up with the affected person. The harmful effects can be
transferred to the person's progenies. Ironically heavy metal pollution is a direct
offshoot of our increasing ability to mass produce metals and use them in all
spheres of existence. Along with conventional physico- chemical methods, biosystem approachment is also being constantly used for combating metal pollution
Description:
School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science
and Technology
Dalia Susan Vargis; Pillai, N G K(Cochin University of Science and Technology, April , 2005)
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Abstract:
In this present study macro benthos of minicoy island lakshadweep, an attempt has been made to study the distribution and community structure of benthos at different ecosystems. The main objectives of the study include the identification of benthic fauna, their distribution and composition, standing stock, qualitative and quantitative nature in relation to hydrography,seasons and sediment texture, community structure analysis and tropic relationships. This base line study at Minicoy,thus establishes that the benthos of sea grass and mangrove ecosystems(nursery grounds) determines the richness and diversity of demersal fish fauna at the nearby lagoon and reef areas to a great extent. Any serious stress on these ecosystems may lead to disappearance of certain fish species in the nearby future
Priyalakshmi, G; Dr.Ravindranatha Menon,N(Cochin University of Science and Technology, September , 2008)
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Abstract:
The oceans in their expanse cover, seven - tenths of the Earth surface. Despite being restricted in size, the littoral zone or the intertidal zone (beach) has the greatest variation in environment factors of any marine area .Stemming from this variation ,a treamendous diversity of life, which may be great as or greater than that found in the more extensive sub tidal habits exist in this realm. the study beaches harbour diverse and abundant assemblage of marine organisms. Besides macro funna, microscopic organisms belonging to the lower and higher invertebrate taxa profusely inhabit these beaches. The ecological realm where these animals exist is known as the interstitial environment, which in principle includes the pore spaces in between the sand grains containing copious supply of nutrient rich oxygenated seawater. An astonishing diversity of taxa could be found within the interstitial fauna.