Mangroves Of India Research Articles

Examining weak sustainability for storm protection by mangroves

Although the body of scientific evidence supports that mangroves provide storm protection and save lives during cyclones, coastal planners have been prioritizing the adoption of technological alternatives, for example, early warnings, evacuation training, and storm shelters—over mangrove conservation, to manage storm risks. Such policy has the underlying assumption that mangroves and technological alternatives for storm protection are perfect substitutes. This paper studies storm protection by mangroves in India and compares the life-saving efficacy of mangroves and technological alternatives empirically under different evacuation scenarios. Results show that the storm-protection ability of mangroves remains significant and that mangroves have been protecting lives even when these technological alternatives are present in a large number.

Diversity of marine fungi in Pondicherry mangroves, east coast of India and systematic placement of Rhizophila marina

Abstract Although many novel marine fungi have been described from Indian mangroves, a significant number of mangroves in India have not been thoroughly investigated for marine fungi. This study highlights the diversity of marine fungi inhabiting dead and decaying wood of Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata, collected from Thengaithittu and Veerampattinam mangroves of Pondicherry, Puducherry State, India. Through microscopic examination, a total of 52 species (in 48 genera) of marine fungi were identified, with 50 species (in 46 genera) belonging to the Ascomycota and 2 species (in 2 genera) belonging to the Basidiomycota. Previous studies recorded 69 marine fungi from Ariyankuppam and Mahé mangroves of Puducherry, and this study contributes 22 new records of marine fungi to this region. In this study, the phylogenetic placement of Rhizophila marina was determined, and this fungus was found to belong to the family Diatrypaceae.

Fishery Production Potential of the Mangroves in India - A Review

Mangroves support and enhance fisheries by serving as a breeding ground and nursery habitat for aquatic life. While mangroves are widely recognized for their role in enhancing both small scale and commercial fisheries, they are rapidly disappearing. The understanding of this ecosystem service and its value in both social and economic terms will help enhance the sustainable management of both mangroves and fisheries. This paper provides a critical review of mangroves and their importance in capture fisheries and also discusses the ecological significance of this ecosystem in fisheries enhancement by explaining the different mangrove associated fisheries. As the fisheries value of mangroves is highly site-specific, the paper illustrates the drivers and values of mangrove associated fisheries. Decision-makers can use this information to make decisions relating to conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems and sustainable fishing.

Why to Restore Mangroves? An Economic Valuation

Despite increasing pressures, the mangrove forest in India has increased by 54 km 2 in the two years from 2017 to 2019. This increase is estimated here for ecological services and economic values and this is multifold greater than the cost of plantation, and hence it is a cost-effective venture. However, 40.6% of mangroves in India are of open type and degrading, and hence, it is s uggested to rehabilitate the degrading mangroves especially in unprotected areas and to achieve a target of 6000 km 2 within 10 years for restoring the ecosystem service and enhancing the economic value.

Status, Threats and Conservation of the Wetland Ecosystem Dominated with Mangroves in India

Mangroves are one of the most undermined biological systems. They have immense ecological and economic advantages. Consistent, increment in natural and coastal development like a change of wetlands for hydroponics, construction for tourism, the tsunami has led to the demolishment of mangrove environments in India. The inhabitants of minor zones are at risk of losing their livelihood and there is a threat to the existence of the mangrove ecosystem. It has been noted that from a decade ago, about 40% of the Indian mangrove territories have been lost. At present, the environmental changes and increased anthropogenic activities have become a significant concern for the conservation and sustaining of the mangroves. Conservation of mangrove environment can be accomplished by increasing awareness about their significance among various stakeholders and safeguarding them through mandatory national policy and regulations. A specific policy like Coastal Zone Regulation has been formulated to ensure mangrove conservation, sustainable existence of local community habitat along the coastal area, fishing community, and coastal stretches for marine habitat have been protected.

Biomass and carbon stocks in mangrove ecosystems of Kerala, southwest coast of India

BackgroundMangroves are important tropical carbon sinks, and their role in mitigating climate change is well documented across the globe. However, the ecosystem carbon stocks in the mangroves of India have not been studied comprehensively. Data from this region is very limited for providing sufficient insights and authentic evaluation of carbon stocks on a regional scale. In this study, we evaluated the ecosystem carbon stock and its spatial variation in mangroves of Kerala, southwest coast of India.ResultsThe mean biomass stored in mangrove vegetation of Kerala is 117.11 ± 1.02 t/ha (ABG= 80.22 ± 0.80, BGB =36.89 ± 0.23 t/ha). Six mangrove species were found distributed in the study area. Among the different species, Avicennia marina had the highest biomass (162.18 t/ha) and least biomass was observed in Sonneratia alba (0.61 t/ha). The mean ecosystem carbon stock of mangrove systems in Kerala was estimated to be 139.82 t/ha, equivalent to 513.13 t CO2 e/ha with the vegetation and soil storing 58.56 t C/ha and 81.26 t C/ha respectively.ConclusionThe present study reveals that Kerala mangroves store sizable volume of carbon and therefore need to be preserved and managed sustainably, to retain along with the increase in carbon storage. This features the need of broadening mangrove cover as well as restoring deteriorated land in the past 50 years. Although mangrove forests in this region are protected by the Kerala Forest Department, they have been frequently facing illegal encroachment, prawn cultivation, and coastal erosion.

Blue Carbon Ecosystems and Their Role in Climate Change Mitigation—An Overview

Blue carbon ecosystems include mangroves and other tidal wetlands such as seagrasses and salt marshes. Coastal blue carbon is thought to provide climate change mitigation benefits in view of their ability to store carbon under adverse conditions and this in the recent times has garnered the attenti on of the scientific community at large. Mangroves are one of the most productive ecosystems and their carbon storage potential is much greater as compared to sea grasses and salt marshes. Mangroves sequester carbon in their living biomass as well as the sediments. The tropical Asian mangroves show the greatest mangrove diversity and the highest biomass accumulation. But, the carbon storage potential of their living biomass is outcompeted by their sedimentary carbon storage. Mangrove sediments play a special and quantitatively important role in carbon storage than previously thought. They store both autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter due to their strategic location at the interface between land and sea and prevailing reducing conditions. Indian mangrove ecosystems which also comprises one of the largest mangrove forest of the world may offer a possible opportunity for the development of blue carbon market economy. But there exist a large number of gaps in the available blue carbon literature. The available studies largely focus on the living biomass storage and sedimentary storage is un-surveyed. Mangrove research in India have shown significant growth in the past few decades but the targeted approach towards delineating the ecosystems’ carbon stocks and the factors controlling them are still lacking. The need of the hour is to correctly map and document the mangroves in India for their carbon storage in order to build a better and reliable picture of the role of these ecosystems in climate change mitigation.

Phosphorus Dynamics in Mangroves of India

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient which plays a key role in global biogeochemical cycles. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves are an important sink which can trap significant quantities of P. The phosphorus as such deposited in sediments is not available to the organisms, but is converted to bioavailable forms as dissolved orthophosphate through a series of biogeochemical reactions. Several studies on phosphorus reservoirs, transport rates (fluxes) and residence times are reported from different ecosystems across the world. In the present article, an effort has been made to compile and review the scientific research carried out on phosphorus biogeochemistry in the mangroves of India.

Mangrove Area Assessment in India: Implications of Loss of Mangroves

Mangroves are extremely important bio-resources which are crucial to coastal environment. Mangroves are declining rapidly as they are getting degraded for agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, urban development and over-exploitation. India lost 40% of its mangrove area during the last century. Hence, it is highly necessary to assess the status and trends of mangroves in India. We have assessed the trends of mangrove area in India during 1987-2013 and found that the mean annual change during the period is 24.25 ± 82.57 km2. Most of the states are experiencing an increase in area except Andhra Pradesh (-5.95 ± 15.70 km2) and Andaman and Nicobar (-3.41 ± 52.32 km2). The present review is focused on assessing the status and trends of mangrove area in India including the causes of loss and its restoration and traditional conservation. Implications of loss of mangroves have been discussed with respect to exposure to cyclones, hurricanes and sea water intrusion, tsunami and climate change. Effective governance structures, better planning for rehabilitation of degraded mangroves, education and awareness building in local communities are needed to conserve, protect and restore the valuable mangrove wetland ecosystems. Further, mitigation and adaptation to climate change aspects are considered.

Actinobacterial research from the mangroves of India

Actinobacterial research from the mangroves of India

Climate change mitigation through reforestation in Godavari mangroves in India

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasise mangrove reforestation as a countermeasure for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Godavari Delta in India.Design/methodology/approachRestoration of the mangrove forest in the Godavari Delta near Kakinada town in the south‐eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is carried out with participatory involvement of local communities depending for their livelihood on the mangrove forest. The extent of habitat restoration through reforestation in this area is explored. The possible contribution of restored mangroves in minimising the impacts of sea‐level rise due to climate change is highlighted. Reforestation information from 1999 to 2006 is collected from available published work and the Forest Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh.FindingsThe positive result of reforestation since the past few years is seen as an increase in mangrove vegetation. The changing landscape due to restoration could stop erosion and salt water incursion up to some extent and help in maintaining the biodiversity of this place.Practical implicationsA long‐term monitoring with ethnobiological study is required for managing such projects in future.Originality/valueThe Godavari Delta mangroves are rich in biodiversity and offer a wide range of ecological services. Adding to habitat degradation, predicted sea‐level rise is likely to affect the local human communities. The role of mangroves as an economically viable barrier against sea‐level rise has been recognised in other Asian countries. The results from this case study too could be disseminated to various stakeholders involved in sustainable development. The focus of the paper on India is particularly relevant, as the country is going to be integral in climate change debates.

Influence of human-induced disturbance on benthic microbial metabolism in the Pichavaram mangroves, Vellar–Coleroon estuarine complex, India

Large areas of mangroves in India are heavily disturbed by cattle grazing, hypersalinity, and other human-induced impacts. In two disturbed Avicennia marina forests and two undisturbed A. marina and Rhizophora apiculata forests in the Pichavaram mangroves of the Vellar–Coleroon estuarine complex, southeast India, we measured the rates and pathways of microbial decomposition of soil organic matter to determine if human impact is altering biogeochemical activity within these stands. Rates of total carbon oxidation (TCOX) were higher in the undisturbed A. marina forest (mean 199 mol C m−2 year−1) than in the two impacted stands (43 and 79 mol C m−2 year−1); rates of total carbon oxidation in the R. apiculata forest averaged 75 mol C m−2 year−1. Sulphate reduction (range 21–319 mmol S m−2 day−1) was the major decomposition pathway (65–85% of TCOX), except at the most disturbed forest (30% of TCOX). Rates of sulphate reduction at all sites peaked in sub-surface soils to a depth of about 1 m, leading to little carbon burial (3–5% of total C input). There was some evidence of measurable iron and manganese reduction in association with tree roots. Rates of microbial activity were rapid in comparison with rates measured in other mangrove soils, reflecting high rates of phytoplankton production and organic matter retention in this lagoon. Human-induced disturbance creates a sharp zonation of dry, hypersaline soil overlying less saline, wetter soil, suppressing surface microbial and root growth. We conclude that this vertical alteration of soil characteristics and biogeochemistry shifts the cycling of nutrients between trees and microbes to a disequilibrium state, partly explaining why mangroves are stunted in these declining forests.

A review of biodiversity studies of soil dwelling organisms in Indian mangroves

The dynamic mangrove ecosystem is complemented by the activities of its soil organisms. Much study has been conducted in the various mangroves in India and the literature is scettered. This review provides an analysis of previous studies on various diversified soil organisms of mangroves and a listing of the references available until date providing a comprehensive bibliography.

Mangroves of India: History and palynostratigraphy of Chilka Lake, Orissa

Fine resolution palynostratigraphy centred on Chilka Lake is aimed at the reconstruction of history of mangrove vegetation in tidal flat, salt marsh and fresh water wetland environments. Pollen analyses of air catches, lake water, lake bottom mud and surface soil samples have been collectively used to quantify the dispersal and preservation of pollen in relation to the modern vegetation. Pollen analysis of a 5.50 m deep profile from Balugaon at the western flank of the lake in prograded delta zone has been done which provides information about the changes in vegetation and depositional environments from approximately 3,100 radiocarbon years B.P. to the present. The results obtained suggest that (i) air catches are devoid of mangrove taxa instead seasonal non-arboreals and planted trees dominate, (ii) lake water, surface sediments and lake bottom mud samples have recorded the occurrence of both core mangroves and mangrove associates to the extent of 10-33 and 50-83 per cent, respectively, and (iii) Balugaon profile portrays the existence of marine, brackish and fresh water bioassemblages. On the basis of subtle changes in the vegetation, various depositional environments, transgressive and regressive facies have been determined.