NOPR Collection: Special Issue on Mangrove Ecosystem (Guest Editors: A.L.Ramanathan (India), Bala Krishna Prasad Mathukumalli (USA) & Prosun Bhattacharya (Sweden))

Sedimentary geochemistry of Chorao Island, Mandovi mangrove estuarine complex, Goa

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Sedimentary geochemistry of Chorao Island, Mandovi mangrove estuarine complex, Goa Authors: Sappal, Swati M.; Ramanathan, AL.; Ranjan, Rajesh K.; Singh, Gurmeet Abstract: Present study highlighted significant anthropogenic contributions in terms of heavy metal pollution in Mandovi estuarine complex. Sediment core was collected which was analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters. Sediments were found to be mature, quartz rich and weathering does not seem to play any role. Biological activities were significant due to abundance of S and OC in the sediments which along with the redox conditions controlled the metal variability. Sediments were found to be enriched with respect to heavy metals like Pb and Mn indicating anthropogenic influence in this region. Page(s): 1091-1100

Interconnectivity of coastal ecosystems: An overview

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Interconnectivity of coastal ecosystems: An overview Authors: Kathiresan, K. Abstract: Coral reefs and seagrass beds reduce the water tidal flow which provides less stress on the mangroves which exist behind the other ecosystems. The adult fishes of coral reefs utilize mangroves and seagrasses, mainly as nursery grounds. Our studies in Gulf of Mannar have proved that the mangroves provide nutrients, essential for multiplication of bacteria and phytoplankton, which form the basis of complex food web in the tropical coastal environment, besides providing clean water through filtration of landward waste materials for sustenance of coral reefs and seagrass meadows. Page(s): 985-994

Source-sink inventory of greenhouse gases from Indian mangroves: a review

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Source-sink inventory of greenhouse gases from Indian mangroves: a review Authors: Banerjee, Kakolee; Ganguly, Dipnarayan; Selvam, Paneer A.; Ramachandran, Purvaja; Ramesh, R. Abstract: Present study inventorises quantitative evaluation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from various mangrove ecosystems distributed along the Indian coast. Inconsistency in terms of methodological aspects of GHG flux estimations from Indian mangrove ecosystems along with the variation in space and time, has been tried to be pointed out in this present paper. Inventorization of existing resources available from mangrove ecosystems along the east and west coast of India, would be useful for estimating the future potential ecosystem capacities for fluxes of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O. This review further confirms the potential role of Indian mangrove waters and sediments as perinial source for GHGs, whereas the canopy (vegetation) particularly acts as a CO₂ sink. Page(s): 1013-1025

Environmental significance of heavy metals in leaves and stems of Kerala mangroves, SW coast of India

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Environmental significance of heavy metals in leaves and stems of Kerala mangroves, SW coast of India Authors: Badarudeen, A.; Sajan, K.; Srinivas, Reji; Maya, K.; Padmalal, D. Abstract: Out of the seven heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Co, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) studied in the leaves and stems of mangroves and mangrove associates of Veli (9 species), Kochi (5 species) and Kannur (9 species) regions, Cerbera odollam, a typical mangrove associate that spread in Veli, accounts for the highest contents of Mn and Cd. Other plant species do not show any specific heavy metal enrichment pattern in the coastal segments chosen for the present study. A comparative evaluation of heavy metal contents in the vegetal parts (leaves and stems) with that of the sediment substratum reveals that, almost all metals are concentrated in the former than latter. Page(s): 1027-1035