- Dr. Kakoli Banerjee, M.Sc. (Marine Science, University of Calcutta), Ph.D (Science) Jadavpur University, Kolkataedit
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Research Interests: Geology, Statistical Analysis, Biology, Monsoon, Earth System Science, and 12 moreSeasonality, Salinity, Surface Water, Water Temperature, Seasonal variation, Nutritional Quality, Environmental Parameter, Dry Weight, Perennial Plant, biochemical composition, High Carbohydrate Diet, and Protein content
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The Indian Sundarbans region at the apex of the Bay of Bengal in Eastern India is impacted by industrial and urban development, including the discharge of large volumes of wastewater. We analyzed the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper... more
The Indian Sundarbans region at the apex of the Bay of Bengal in Eastern India is impacted by industrial and urban development, including the discharge of large volumes of wastewater. We analyzed the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) in the root, stem and leaves of four dominant mangrove species, Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba and Excoecaria agallocha in samples collected from 12 different monitoring stations in the Indian Sundarbans. At all of the stations, the magnitude of accumulation of the metals in the vegetative parts of the mangroves was in the order, root > stem > leaf. The maximum concentrations of zinc in the roots (116.1 ± 4.2 μg/g dry weight) and the stems (100.4 ± 6.2 μg/g dry weight) was observed in A. officinalis collected at the Kakdwip site, whereas in leaf tissues, the maximum mean zinc concentration (66.8 ± 3.5 μg/g dry weight) was observed in A. marina collected at the Chemaguri site. The concentrations of copper were lower, with the maximum mean concentration (51.1 ± 3.0 μg/g dry weight) in the roots of A. officinalis at Kakdwip. In all vegetative parts, the concentrations of lead were lowest relative to the other metals, with the maximum mean concentration (30.4 ± 2.0 μg/g dry weight) observed in the roots of A. officinalis at Kakdwip. The concentrations of metals were generally lower in the vegetative parts of E. agallocha relative to the other mangrove species. Simultaneous analysis of dissolved metals in the surface waters at the monitoring stations revealed that zinc was present in high concentration, followed by copper and lead. Among the 12 selected stations, the highest concentrations of dissolved zinc, copper and lead were observed at Kakdwip at concentrations of 668.5 ± 5.4, 176.3 ± 4.6 and 48.4 ± 3.1 μg/L, respectively. This site is located in the western part of the Indian Sundarbans. The site at Bagmara in the eastern part of the study area had the lowest concentrations of dissolved heavy metals, as well as the lowest concentrations of the metals in sediments. High metal concentrations in sediments observed at the Frasergunj site (117.3 ± 4.3 μg/g dry weight for zinc, 37.7 ± 2.4 μg/g dry weight for copper and 10.8 ± 1.0 μg/g dry weight for lead) may be due to the presence of a fish landing station at this site. There were significant correlations between the levels of the metals in ambient media (i.e. water, sediments) and the concentrations of the metals in the vegetative parts of the mangroves; indicating that the levels of metals in mangroves reflect environmental exposures. The results indicate that mangrove species can accumulate these metals from the marine environment to ppm concentrations. Bioaccumulation factors for A. officinalis vegetation relative to sediment appeared to be >1 for lead, which is discussed in the context of using this species for bioremediation; a new dimension in the spectrum of ecosystem services offered by the mangroves.
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Coastal environment of West Bengal, recognized as the most diversified and productive ecosystem among all the maritime states of India, faces pollution from domestic sewage and urban and industrial effluents leading to serious impacts on... more
Coastal environment of West Bengal, recognized as the most diversified and productive ecosystem among all the maritime states of India, faces pollution from domestic sewage and urban and industrial effluents leading to serious impacts on biota. These organic and inorganic wastes containing heavy metals mainly originate from the city of Kolkata, Howrah and the newly developing Haldia port-cumindustrial complex. Most abundant heavy metals in the estuarine complex are Zn, Cu and Pb. The present paper aims to highlight the level of these heavy metals in juveniles of ten commercially important species of finfish collected from the aquatic subsystem of western Indian Sundarbans, a Gangetic delta in the north-east coast of the Indian sub-continent. The heavy metals accumulated in the juvenile fish muscles in the order Zn > Cu > Pb. Significant temporal variations of Zn and Cu level in the fish muscles were observed between years, but in case of Pb such variation was not observed. The...
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The impact of global warming, through the predicted sea level rise, on Sundarbans estuary, in the Bay of Bengal is an inevitable phenomenon. While the mitigation measures have to be primarily at the global level as well as at local level,... more
The impact of global warming, through the predicted sea level rise, on Sundarbans estuary, in the Bay of Bengal is an inevitable phenomenon. While the mitigation measures have to be primarily at the global level as well as at local level, the adaptation strategy will also involve participation of global and local communities. This study has clearly shown that the people living around the mangrove forests have to be provided with a sustainable alternate livelihood to cope with the increasing salinity in the region. As regards the destructive livelihood activities practiced by the villagers of Sundarbans, generating employment through other livelihood options and training in skill development have to be resorted to. However, all these socio-economic activities need huge amount of fund support at the beginning. Since Sundarbans mangrove, if properly conserved, can store billions of tonnes of carbon thus mitigating the effect of global warming, the people of the region also need to be d...
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Traditional method of tiger prawn culture is a common practice in Indian Sundarbans which is done without any sound scientific back-up, proper feed and water quality management. The shrimp farmers use traditional feed of animal origin... more
Traditional method of tiger prawn culture is a common practice in Indian Sundarbans which is done without any sound scientific back-up, proper feed and water quality management. The shrimp farmers use traditional feed of animal origin that often results in fouling of water quality and disease outbreak in cultured species. The present paper highlights the effect of total replacement of animal ingredients in shrimp feed with dust of red seaweed Catenella repens (as principal floral ingredient). Weight gain, condition ...
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Land-use change in the coastal zone has led to worldwide degradation of marine and coastal waters and a loss of the goods and services they provide. Here we perform an analysis on the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level in the surface water off... more
Land-use change in the coastal zone has led to worldwide degradation of marine and coastal waters and a loss of the goods and services they provide. Here we perform an analysis on the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level in the surface water off Jharkhali, a sampling station in the central Indian Sundarbans in the lower Gangetic delta region. Our three decade analysis in three different seasons (premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon) exhibits a gradual decrease in the DO value with the passage of time. The DO level varies as per the sequence monsoon > postmonsoon > premonsoon. The sudden rise of DO level during premonsoon 2009 is attributed to Aila, a super cyclone that passed across the lower Gangetic delta on 25 May, 2009 with a speed of ~110 km/hr. We also attempt to forecast in this paper the DO value in the sampling station during 2050.
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Indian Sundarban - A major Carbon Vault.pdf
The authors receive Thomas Edison Award-2013 in Energy and Environmental Science for Inspiration and Knowledge Distribution among young research scholars.
The authors receive Thomas Edison Award-2013 in Energy and Environmental Science for Inspiration and Knowledge Distribution among young research scholars.
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We present evidence that the Indian Sundarbans is experiencing the effects of climate change over the last three decades. Observations of selected variables, such as the surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and... more
We present evidence that the Indian Sundarbans is experiencing the effects of climate change over the last three decades. Observations of selected variables, such as the surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and transparency show significant long-term variation over a period of 27 years (1980-2007). Specifically, the temperature in these waters has risen at the rate of 0.5°C per decade, much higher than that observed globally or for the Indian Ocean. Increasing melting of Himalayan ice might have decreased the salinity at the mouth of the Ganges River, at the western end of this deltaic complex. At the same time, salinity has increased on the eastern sector, where the connections to the meltwater sources have become extinct due to heavy siltation of the Bidyadhari Channel. The long-term changes in dissolved oxygen, pH level, transparency and water quality are also examined. The ecological impact of such changes warrants future study.
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We assessed the Shannon Weiner species diversity index of true mangroves in Indian Sundarbans during 2000, 2006 and 2012 considering the natural-cum-anthropogenic threats along with conservation strategies operating in and around the ten... more
We assessed the Shannon Weiner species diversity index of true mangroves in Indian Sundarbans during 2000, 2006 and 2012 considering the natural-cum-anthropogenic threats along with conservation strategies operating in and around the ten selected sampling stations. Our analysis revealed pronounced spatio-temporal variations, which may be attributed primarily due to anthropogenic pressure that is more predominant in stations like Canning, Harinbari, Chemaguri and Sagar south. The adverse impact of hypersalinity on the diversity of true mangroves also surfaced out from this first order analysis.
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We analyze in this paper the oscillation of nitrate, phosphate and silicate due to enhancement of phytoplankton standing stock through iron fertilization. Observations of selected variables exhibit the depletion of nutrients with the... more
We analyze in this paper the oscillation of nitrate, phosphate and silicate due to enhancement of phytoplankton standing stock through iron fertilization. Observations of selected variables exhibit the depletion of nutrients with the increase of phytoplankton volume. We also observe significant positive correlation between phytoplankton cell volume and cell carbon content. This observation holds good for all the six major Coscinodiscus species available in the brackish water ponds of Indian Sundarbans. The maximum values of phytoplankton volume and carbon content in 1.5 ppm iron fertilized pond speaks in favour of phytoplankton bloom due to optimum iron level in aquatic phase.
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Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution ,... more
Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
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The macro-benthic molluscan diversity in the estuaries of east coast of Indian sub-continent was studied during May 2014 to April 2015. The intertidal mudflats in four maritime states of India namely West Bengal (Shankarpur coast), Odisha... more
The macro-benthic molluscan diversity in the estuaries of east coast of Indian sub-continent was studied during May 2014 to April 2015. The intertidal mudflats in four maritime states of India namely West Bengal (Shankarpur coast), Odisha (Bahuda estuary), Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari estuary) and Puducherry (Kalapet coast) were selected for the present work. A total of 17 dominant species were observed under the molluscan community encompassing two major classes namely Bivalvia and Gastropoda. Shannon-Weiner species diversity index was enumerated in all the sites to evaluate the magnitude of environmental stress. The mean value varied between 2.210 (Shankarpur coast in West Bengal) to 2.730 (Bahuda estuary in Odisha) which reflects different degree of stress operating on the estuarine/coastal ecosystem.
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We review current understanding of the primary proxies of climate change (viz. surface water temperature, salinity and pH) in the two major estuaries (Hooghly and Matla) in the inshore region of the Bay of Bengal. In both the estuaries,... more
We review current understanding of the primary proxies of climate change (viz. surface water temperature, salinity and pH) in the two major estuaries (Hooghly and Matla) in the inshore region of the Bay of Bengal. In both the estuaries, rise in surface water temperature and lowering of pH are observed, but surface water salinity oscillation exhibits contradictory pictures with freshening in the Hooghly estuary (in the western sector of the lower Gangetic delta) and salinification in the Matla estuary (located in the central sector of the study area). This first order analysis concludes that the Hooghly estuarine system has more noise in terms of anthropogenic pressure (due to its location adjacent to highly urbanized and industrialized city of Kolkata) compared to the Matla Impact… Chaudhuri et al.
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We present evidence that the Indian Sundarbans is experiencing the effects of climate change over the last three decades. Observations of selected variables, such as the surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and... more
We present evidence that the Indian Sundarbans is experiencing the effects of climate change over the last three decades. Observations of selected variables, such as the surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and transparency show significant long-term variation over a period of 27 years (1980-2007). Specifically, the temperature in these waters has risen at the rate of 0.5°C per decade, much higher than that observed globally or for the Indian Ocean. Increasing melting of Himalayan ice might have decreased the salinity at the mouth of the Ganges River, at the western end of this deltaic complex. At the same time, salinity has increased on the eastern sector, where the connections to the meltwater sources have become extinct due to heavy siltation of the Bidyadhari Channel. The long-term changes in dissolved oxygen, pH level, transparency and water quality are also examined. The ecological impact of such changes warrants future study.
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Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006-2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and... more
Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006-2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.40 m) during premonsoon period. High organic carbon load is observed in the stations of western Indian Sundarbans (mean = 1.02 Wt %) which are near to the highly urbanized city of Kolkata. The central and eastern sectors under the protected forest area show comparatively less soil organic carbon (mean = 0.64 Wt %). A unique spatial variability in soil salinity and pH was observed with lower values in the western and eastern sectors compared to central sector. Soil pH exhibited a lower value (7.47 0.071) in reserve forest zone (central and eastern sectors) compared to western sector (7.57 0.067). The soil salinity increased with depth, while organic carbon and pH decreased with depth in all the stations. The paper depicts the increase of soil organic carbon and pH due to anthropogenic activities in western Indian Sundarbans, which if continued may decrease the potential of Sundarban soil as carbon sink and make the soil highly saline. Hence curbing of anthropogenic activities may keep the soil characteristics ecologically safe.
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Response of phytoplankton to salinity of ambient water in Sundarbans.pdf
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The Indian Sundarbans, at the apex of Bay of Bengal is a mangrove dominated deltaic ecosystem sustaining some 106 species of brackish water phytoplankton. A significant seasonal variation of aquatic salinity, mostly regulated by monsoon... more
The Indian Sundarbans, at the apex of Bay of Bengal is a mangrove dominated deltaic ecosystem sustaining some 106 species of brackish water phytoplankton. A significant seasonal variation of aquatic salinity, mostly regulated by monsoon is a salient feature of this ecosystem. There is a contrasting difference in salinity between the western and central sectors of Indian Sundarbans, which offers a unique test bed to study the impact of salinity on the cell volume of phytoplankton species. We studied seasonal variations of phytoplankton cell volume in the aquatic subsystem of Indian Sundarbans during 2011 and assigned 12 geometric shapes to 47 species documented from 12 stations in the study area. These stations are distributed in the western and central sectors of the deltaic complex that are significantly different in terms of salinity. The cell volumes of the observed species were more in the hyposaline western sector (86.89µm 3 to 271405.63µm 3) compared to the hypersaline central sector (85.39µm 3 to 227153.21µm 3) of Indian Sundarbans. The cell volumes mostly exhibited a unique seasonal trend with highest value during monsoon followed by postmonsoon and premonsoon. Among 47 phytoplankton species 6 species exhibited significant inverse relationships, and 2 species exhibited significant positive relationships with aquatic salinity. Our results suggest that cell volumes of certain phytoplankton species can be used as indicators of aquatic salinity. We also conclude that the rising salinity in the central sector of Indian Sundarbansmay be a threat to certain species of phytoplankton by way of shrinking their volumes.
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The alterations in the salinity profile are an indirect, but potentially sensitive, indicator for detecting changes in precipitation, evaporation, river runoff , glacier retreat, and ice melt. These changes have a high impact on the... more
The alterations in the salinity profile are an indirect, but potentially sensitive, indicator for detecting changes in precipitation, evaporation, river runoff , glacier retreat, and ice melt. These changes have a high impact on the growth of coastal plant species, such as mangroves. Here, we present estimates of the variability of salinity and the biomass of a stenoecious mangrove species (Heritiera fomes, commonly referred to as Sundari) in the aquatic subsystem of the lower Gangetic delta based on a dataset from 2004 to 2015. We highlight the impact of salinity alteration on the change in aboveground biomass of this endangered species that, due to different salinity profile in the western and central sectors of the lower Gangetic plain, shows an increase only in the former sector, where the salinity is dropping and low growth in the latter, where the salinity is increasing.
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The macro-benthic molluscan diversity in the estuaries of east coast of Indian sub-continent was studied during May 2014 to April 2015. The intertidal mudflats in four maritime states of India namely West Bengal (Shankarpur coast), Odisha... more
The macro-benthic molluscan diversity in the estuaries of east coast of Indian sub-continent was studied during May 2014 to April 2015. The intertidal mudflats in four maritime states of India namely West Bengal (Shankarpur coast), Odisha (Bahuda estuary), Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari estuary) and Puducherry (Kalapet coast) were selected for the present work. A total of 17 dominant species were observed under the molluscan community encompassing two major classes namely Bivalvia and Gastropoda. Shannon-Weiner species diversity index was enumerated in all the sites to evaluate the magnitude of environmental stress. The mean value varied between 2.210 (Shankarpur coast in West Bengal) to 2.730 (Bahuda estuary in Odisha) which reflects different degree of stress operating on the estuarine/coastal ecosystem.
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Heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Pb) in saltmarsh grass tissue inhabiting Indian Sundarbans were studied during 2011-12. The selected heavy metals in the present study area originate from municipal and industrial sources. Samples from three... more
Heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Pb) in saltmarsh grass tissue inhabiting Indian Sundarbans were studied during 2011-12. The selected heavy metals in the present study area originate from municipal and industrial sources. Samples from three different sites of deltaic Sundarbans were analyzed for selected heavy metals by AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometer). The mean values of heavy metal concentrations were highest in Zn
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Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006-2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and... more
Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006-2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.40 m) during premonsoon period. High organic carbon load is observed in the stations of western Indian Sundarbans (mean = 1.02 Wt %) which are near to the highly urbanized city of Kolkata. The central and eastern sectors under the protected forest area show comparatively less soil organic carbon (mean = 0.64 Wt %). A unique spatial variability in soil salinity and pH was observed with lower values in the western and eastern sectors compared to central sector. Soil pH exhibited a lower value (7.47 0.071) in reserve forest zone (central and eastern sectors) compared to western sector (7.57 0.067). The soil salinity increased with depth, while organic carbon and pH decreased with depth in all the stations. The paper depicts the increase of soil organic carbon and pH due to anthropogenic activities in western Indian Sundarbans, which if continued may decrease the potential of Sundarban soil as carbon sink and make the soil highly saline. Hence curbing of anthropogenic activities may keep the soil characteristics ecologically safe.
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We review current understanding of the primary proxies of climate change (viz. surface water temperature, salinity and pH) in the two major estuaries (Hooghly and Matla) in the inshore region of the Bay of Bengal. In both the estuaries,... more
We review current understanding of the primary proxies of climate change (viz. surface water temperature, salinity and pH) in the two major estuaries (Hooghly and Matla) in the inshore region of the Bay of Bengal. In both the estuaries, rise in surface water temperature and lowering of pH are observed, but surface water salinity oscillation exhibits contradictory pictures with freshening in the Hooghly estuary (in the western sector of the lower Gangetic delta) and salinification in the Matla estuary (located in the central sector of the study area). This first order analysis concludes that the Hooghly estuarine system has more noise in terms of anthropogenic pressure (due to its location adjacent to highly urbanized and industrialized city of Kolkata) compared to the Matla Impact… Chaudhuri et al.
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Ten years (1999-2008) of observations in the Gangetic delta region in northwestern Bay of Bengal clearly indicate that the heavy metal concentrations in the commercially important fish juvenile tissue have increased in the western sector... more
Ten years (1999-2008) of observations in the Gangetic delta region in northwestern Bay of Bengal clearly indicate that the heavy metal concentrations in the commercially important fish juvenile tissue have increased in the western sector (in the Hugli estuary), where as in the central part of the deltaic complex the picture has reversed (in the Matla estuary). Increased dilution due to Himalayan glacier melting along with rapid rate of industrialization and urbanization in the western part of Gangetic delta may be attributed for such spatial variation of heavy metals level in the juvenile fish tissue. In both the sectors, heavy metals accumulated in the juvenile fish muscles in the order Zn > Cu > Pb.
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In Indian sub-continent mangrove wetlands occupy an area of 4,87,100 ha. The area is more in the east coast of India, which is about 2,75,800 ha and represents 56.63% of the total mangrove area of the country. In the state of Odisha,... more
In Indian sub-continent mangrove wetlands occupy an area of 4,87,100 ha. The area is more in the east coast of India, which is about 2,75,800 ha and represents 56.63% of the total mangrove area of the country. In the state of Odisha, mangroves occupy an area of 214 sq.km. (FSI, 1999). The Bhitarkanika mangrove forest is the second largest mangrove forest in India. In April, 1975 mangroves of Bramhani and Baitarani delta of Kendrapara district have been declared as the Bhitarkanika Wild Life Sanctuary (BWLS), which covers an area of 145 sq.km. Bhitarkanika is endowed with three major types of ecosystem namely brackish water, marine and terrestrial intricately mixed with each other. The community structure of mangrove vegetation is greatly influenced by dilution factor, tidal inflow, degree of inundation and salinity gradient.
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Carbon Cycling in Mangrove Ecosystem of Western Bay of Bengal (India)
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Inter-relationship Between Phytoplankton Cell Volume and Aquatic Salinity in Indian Sundarbans
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Effects of Aila, a severe tropical cyclone on three major hydrological parameters namely surface water salinity, pH and DO in the western part of the deltaic Sundarbans region of Indian sub-continent at the apex of Bay of Bengal is... more
Effects of Aila, a severe tropical cyclone on three major hydrological parameters namely surface water salinity, pH and DO in the western part of the deltaic Sundarbans region of Indian sub-continent at the apex of Bay of Bengal is ascribed in the present study. It consists the in situ studies before and during Aila at 12 sampling stations in the Hooghly estuarine complex and also extended our studies further (ten days after the storm hit the Gangetic delta) to visualize the situation of the aquatic phase. There were changes in surface water salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) due to intrusion of saline water from the Bay of Bengal. Due to this severe cyclonic storm, high energy tidal surges increased the average salinity of surface water from 13.64±6.24 ppt to 17.08±8.03 ppt, which is a rise of 25.2%. Average pH changed from 7.99±0.20 to 8.01±0.21 which is an increase of 25.03%. Average DO decreased from 5.24±0.70 ppm to 4.95±0.51 ppm, which reflects a fall of 5.53% in the area of investigation due to intrusion of sea water. Ten days after the Aila incidence was over, the salinity and DO exhibited gradual restoration. Such drastic changes of hydrological parameters due to natural calamities may pose an adverse impact on the ecology of the deltaic complex and requires a systematic planning to combat the ecological effect of the disaster.
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Spatial Variation in Organic Carbon Density of Mangrove Soil in Indian Sundarbans
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Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006-2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and... more
Soil organic carbon, pH and salinity were monitored in mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans in five successive years (2006-2010). Samplings were carried out at 14 stations in four different depths (0.01-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.40 m) during premonsoon period. High organic carbon load is observed in the stations of western Indian Sundarbans (mean = 1.02 Wt %) which are near to the highly urbanized city of Kolkata. The central and eastern sectors under the protected forest area show comparatively less soil organic carbon (mean = 0.64 Wt %). A unique spatial variability in soil salinity and pH was observed with lower values in the western and eastern sectors compared to central sector. Soil pH exhibited a lower value (7.47 0.071) in reserve forest zone (central and eastern sectors) compared to western sector (7.57 0.067). The soil salinity increased with depth, while organic carbon and pH decreased with depth in all the stations. The paper depicts the increase of soil organic carbon and pH due to anthropogenic activities in western Indian Sundarbans, which if continued may decrease the potential of Sundarban soil as carbon sink and make the soil highly saline. Hence curbing of anthropogenic activities may keep the soil characteristics ecologically safe.
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The biochemical composition of red seaweeds, Catenella repens was investigated in this present study along with subsequent analysis of relevant physico-chemical variables. In this study, the relationship between the nutritive components... more
The biochemical composition of red seaweeds, Catenella repens was investigated in this present study along with subsequent analysis of relevant physico-chemical variables. In this study, the relationship between the nutritive components of this species and the ambient environmental parameters was established. Protein content varied from 2.78 ± 0.30% of dry weight (stn.3) to 16.03 ± 0.96% of dry weight (stn.1) with highest values during monsoon. The protein levels were positively correlated with dissolved nitrate content and negatively correlated with water temperature (except stn.3) and salinity. Carbohydrate content of this species varied significantly (p < 0.05) during pre-monsoon between stations and the values showed positive relationship with salinity and surface water temperature. In contrast to carbohydrate, lipid concentration was lowest in values and varied very slightly between seasons and stations. Astaxanthin content of the seaweed species was greater in pre-monsoon than monsoon and post-monsoon in all the selected stations. Compared with the three seasons, samples of red seaweed collected in pre-monsoon has high carbohydrate-astaxanthin in contrast to protein-lipid which showed high values during monsoon. Statistical analysis computed among the environmental and biochemical parameters suggests the potential role played by the abiotic parameters on biosynthetic pathways of seaweed. This paper also highlights the influence of the nutritional quality of water that can be used for mass cultivation of Catenella repens.
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We assessed the Shannon Weiner species diversity index of true mangroves in Indian Sundarbans during 2000, 2006 and 2012 considering the natural-cum-anthropogenic threats along with conservation strategies operating in and around the ten... more
We assessed the Shannon Weiner species diversity index of true mangroves in Indian Sundarbans during 2000, 2006 and 2012 considering the natural-cum-anthropogenic threats along with conservation strategies operating in and around the ten selected sampling stations. Our analysis revealed pronounced spatio-temporal variations, which may be attributed primarily due to anthropogenic pressure that is more predominant in stations like Canning, Harinbari, Chemaguri and Sagar south. The adverse impact of hypersalinity on the diversity of true mangroves also surfaced out from this first order analysis.
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We estimated stored carbon in three dominant seaweed species Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva lactuca and Catenella repens in three different seasons (premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon) from four sampling stations in the deltaic... more
We estimated stored carbon in three dominant seaweed species Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva lactuca and Catenella repens in three different seasons (premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon) from four sampling stations in the deltaic ecosystem of Indian Sundarbans (21°40' N to 22°40'N and 88°03'E to 89°07'E) during 2015. The average stored carbon content varied from 921.05 g m-2 (during monsoon) to 1163.02 g m-2 (during premonsoon) in E. intestinalis. In U. lactuca, the stored carbon ranged from 26.10 g m-2 (during postmonsoon) to 250.50 g m-2 (during premonsoon). In case of C. repens, the range of stored carbon is 9.11 g m-2 (during postmonsoon) to 76.89 g m-2 (during premonsoon). Amongst selected seaweed species, E. intestinalis showed uniformity in biomass between sectors (pcal = 1.59 < pcrit = 18.51) and seasons (pcal = 2.03 < pcrit = 4.14), which implies tolerance of the species to variable salinity and also potential of the species in the vertical of carbon sequestration.
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This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with... more
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights
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This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with... more
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
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We present evidence that the Indian Sundarbans is experiencing the effects of climate change over the last three decades. Observations of selected variables, such as the surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and... more
We present evidence that the Indian Sundarbans is experiencing the effects of climate change over the last three decades. Observations of selected variables, such as the surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and transparency show significant long-term variation over a period of 27 years (1980-2007). Specifically, the temperature in these waters has risen at the rate of 0.5°C per decade, much higher than that observed globally or for the Indian Ocean. Increasing melting of Himalayan ice might have decreased the salinity at the mouth of the Ganges River, at the western end of this deltaic complex. At the same time, salinity has increased on the eastern sector, where the connections to the meltwater sources have become extinct due to heavy siltation of the Bidyadhari Channel. The long-term changes in dissolved oxygen, pH level, transparency and water quality are also examined. The ecological impact of such changes warrants future study.
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We conducted a first order analysis on the proximate composition (protein, carbohydrate, fat and astaxanthin) of three dominant seaweed species viz. Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva lactuca and Catenella repens inhabiting Indian... more
We conducted a first order analysis on the proximate composition (protein, carbohydrate, fat and astaxanthin) of three dominant seaweed species viz. Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva lactuca and Catenella repens inhabiting Indian Sundarbans. The study was conducted at three stations (Gosaba, Bali Island and Jharkhali) during premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon of 2014-15. The relevant hydrological parameters (surface water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and dissolved nutrients) were monitored simultaneously during the tenure of the work. ANOVA carried out on the observed data reflects pronounced variations of all hydrological parameters except surface water temperature and salinity between stations. Pronounced seasonal variations were observed for all the selected hydrological parameters. In the domain of proximate composition, ANOVA results exhibit pronounced variations between stations and seasons (except carbohydrate in U. lactuca and C. repens between stations and astaxanthin in U. lactuca between seasons).
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Variation of antioxidant biomarkers in the edible oyster Saccostrea cucullata collected from three different water bodies of Sundarbans