BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY OF TWO ENDANGERED WETLANDSOF TAMILNADU COAST – KALUVELI AND OSUTERIManimekhalan M., Yoganand T.R.K., Rajan V., Amruth M., Ilangovan K. and Sharma C.B.S.R.Salim Ali School of Ecology and Environmental SciencesPondicherry University, Pondicherry 605 014, India.

Water storage systems play an important role in coastal management. Kaluveli and Ousteri are the major reservoirs along the East Coast of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. Ecological status of these were studied to obtain the base line data on water, soil, flora, fauna and their interactions with local villages as a part of our ongoing work on the irrigation tanks of Tamil Nadu. Inferences were drawn from these so as to understand the system and help in maintaining it on a long-term basis. A combination of survey and analytical methods were employed in pursuit of our objectives.

Kaluveli is a fresh water swamp of about 70 sq.km. The soil is sandy-loamy to clayey. Water flows in from the local catchment. It is connected to the north to the Yedayanthittu estuary. The biodiversity is as follows: Plants 163 species; Butterflies: 19; Fishes 11; Amphibians: 6; Reptiles: 16; Birds: 120; Mammals: 15. The 14 villages continuously encroach this wetland for agriculture. The number of aquaculture farms functioning now are expected to increase and kill the wetland soon.

Ousteri is an ancient tank of about 15 sq.km. The soil is clayey. Water inflow is through Suthukeny channel from the Sankaraparani river and the local catchment. The biodiversity is as follows: Plants 101 species; Butterflies: 18; Fishes 10; Amphibians: 4; Reptiles: 20; Birds: 90; Mammals: 11. The major threats are pollution, eutrophication and encroachment for agriculture.

Since human settlements are intimately connected to the storage systems, developmental activities will continue ceaselessly. Therefore conservation has to be done simultaneously. The present experience underscores the urgent need for census and valuing of all coastal tanks preferably employing a Rapid Evaluation System.

INTRODUCTIONWith the increasing water scarcities, traditional knowledge is being applied to get the maximum potential from storage systems. Maintaining the ecological balance of the system has become important to utilise the resource of the system. The ecology and resourcefulness of the system have to be studied for a sustainable use of the system.

Tanks are structures that collect and store runoff water and bound by earthen embankments. There may be additional engineering works. This water is either used for paddy cultivation or for supplementary irrigation of dry crops. Since the income from irrigated crops is higher than from rain-fed crops, surface reservoirs have an impact upon productivity, employment and income in the rural sector.

There are about 40,000 tanks scattered throughout Tamilnadu, of which only 7,400 have an ayacut of more than 40 ha. Though the total potential under minor irrigation is one mha, the productivity is only one third of its potential because of improper management. The socio-political, technological and economic backgrounds have recently undergone a major change during the green revolution that has led to the breaking up of the traditional balances. This may

further be aggravated under the impact of the new economic policies now pursued by the rulers. As 95% of the surface water in Tamilnadu is already being harvested, the need to improve the management and the efficiency of these systems is plainly urgent.

Most tanks are small farmer managed systems. The area, the associated people and the agro-economic conditions around the tanks are variable only slightly. Though 60% of Tamilnadu is drought prone, only a third of the annual precipitation is utilised. It is therefore imperative to lay stress on storage of rainfall. That is why the state became a land of ponds and tanks. Unfortunately, however many of these are being filled up and built upon. Thus Tamilnadu has been having more than its share of water shortage. The ecological status of Kaluveli and Ousteri were studied to obtain the base line data on water, soil, flora, fauna and their interactions with local villages as a part of our ongoing work on the irrigation tanks of Tamilnadu. Inferences were drawn from these to understand the system and for long-term maintainance . Since human settlements are intimately connected to the storage systems, infrastructure development and man induced will continue ceaselessly. Therefore conservation and development of the system has to go simultaneously. With the present study a model was developed for studing the coastal tanks through Census and Valuing employing a Rapid Evaluation System.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1. Study area

Kaluveli, a large fresh water swamp is located in South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu about 20 km north of Pondicherry (12 5’-12 10’ N X 79 47’ – 79 55’ E) with an geographical area of 7040 ha, and a catchment of 75.7sq.Km. It is connected to Yedayanthittu estuary through a tidal creek Uppukali, 8 km further north. (Fig 1) Kaluveli is fed by precipitation of Northeast monsoons and foreshore areas of the Bay of Bengal. The rainfall pattern is asymmetrical falls during October-November.

Ousteri tank is located 10 km west of Pondicherry (11 57’ N X 79 45;E) in an area of 700ha, part of which is in Tamilnadu State (Fig 2). The region has a tropical monsoon climate with an average rainfall of 125 cm/yr. The tank is characterised by the presence of input and output channels as well as' seasonal rainfall. Water is generally available for 6-9 months per year and is used for agriculture and domestic purposes. The rain fall regime is dissymmetrical and the water level fluctuates with the rainfall.

2. Methods

Combinations of different methods were adopted in the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. These include field survey of the tank environment for collecting soil and water samples, plant specimens, animal observations and to elicit anecdotal information, analysis of soil and water samples, identification of biota and interviewing the people and officials concerned with the tanks.

a. Field Survey

Reconnaissance of the tank was carried out during the first few field visits. Background information on the history, engineering, hydrological and climatic details of the tank were collected from local administration and public work departments.

b. Soil

Soil was collected from four regions foreshore, bed, ayacut and wastelands. Samples were analysed for the following parameters; texture, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as per the standard methods of the Indian Standards Institution (1966).

c. WaterWater samples were collected from inlet channel, stagnant water, outlet channel, dug or bore wells. The samples were analysed for the following parameters; pH, electrical conductivity, calcium, magnesium, sodium pottasium, carbonate, bicarbonate and chloride as per the standard methods prescribed by Indian Standard Institution (1966).

d. FloraAll habitats of all tanks were repeatedly surveyed for enumerating flowering plant species. The survey involved collection, preservation and identification of the specimens. A recent work on the regional flora (Matthew 1992) was used for identification.

e. FaunaSix animal classes were selected to study the species richness by check listing species during filed surveys. These are butterflies, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Butterflies: Butterflies were net-trapped in and around the tanks. Their developmental stages, interactions with plants and other animals were also recorded. Specimens were identified with the help of standard keys. Fishes: The fish caught by the local fishermen were screened for different species. Specimens were identified with the help of Chandy’s work (1970). Amphibians and Reptiles: Various habitats like agriculture fields, afforested lands and other areas were randomly surveyed for these. These were also recorded during other field surveys. Identifications were made with the help of Daniel’s work (1983). Birds: Birds were sampled randomly in various habitats during morning and evening and identified using the treatise of Ali and Ripley (1987). Observations were made on their food habits and migratory status. Mammals: Various habitats in and around the tanks were surveyed for mammals. Also observations of the local people were noted and crosschecked with that of the investigators.

f. Culture SystemsAgriculture, aquaculture and social forestry of each tank was surveyed on the field and enquired from the local people and government officials. Perceptions of local people on their tank ecosystem were obtained by using a monitoring schedule. Background information was checked with the village headman or old and knowledgeable people.

RESULT

Characteristics of Kaluveli

a. SoilThe soil of the tank bed, foreshore and ayacuts on the west are sandy loamy and clayey in nature. pH varied widely in the bed (4.5 – 8.4) and to a far less extent in the agricultural fields. Electrical conductivity also varied widely in the bed (0.1 – 5.3mS/cm) and foreshore (0.1 – 3.2mS/cm), but was consistently low in the ayacut, showing an increasing trend from south to north. The nutrients also varied more widely in the foreshore (N:30-135; P:1.2-62 and K:29-378) and in tank bed (N:65-88; P:1.9-129 and K:34-600) and to a far less extent in the ayacut (N:65-88; P:0.8-11; and .0-105). (Table 1)

b. Water The inflow into the lake depends mainly on the rainfall in the local catchment areas. During cyclones and when the fresh water inflow from catchment is less, seawater from the estuary flows in through the Uppukali Creek in the North. The pH of water has exhibited a narrow range both in the North (7.2 - 9.0) and South (6.9 - 8.7) Electrical conductivity, SAR, Ca, Mg, Na, K, CO, HCO, Cl have demonstrated variations in the Northern and Southern regions, the ranges being wider in the former. (Table 2)

c. Flora There are total of 163 species belonging to 153 genera and 79 families. These include hydrophytes (6) grasses and sedges (17) climbers (20) shrubs (34) trees (34) and herbs (52). Diversity exists not only at the taxanomical level but also in habitat preferences. Suaeda maritima a halophyte occurs towards north near Kunimedu. Reeds are restricted to the middle part of the tank. Forest species like Flacourtia indica, Memecylon umbellatem, Albezia amara etc. and some scrub jungle species are widely scattered in the thickets. The hydrophytes are two species of Nymphaea, Nelumbo, Vallisneria and a pteridophyte Maselia. (Table 3)

d. FaunaThere are 187 species distributed among 142 genera and 82 families. These include 19 Butterflies (from 6 families), 11 Fishes (from 8 families), 6 Amphibians (from 1 family), 16 Reptiles (from 9 families) and 15 Mammals (from 10 families) Many species are rare in distribution especially among mammals. For example, the bird Ruddy Sheldruck and the mammal Small Indian civet cat are endangered species. There are totally 118 bird species belonging to 92 genera and 50 families. They have varied food habits but majority are feeders of aquatic organisms. (Table 4) e. Culture systems i. AgricultureMillets, groundnut and cashew are the usual crops around the tank. Paddy is cultivated in Southeast and Northeast only during monsoons. Fertilisers and pesticides are frequently used.

ii. AquacultureAquaculture practice has started to emerge in the northern part, The water body has many species of fishes like Tilapia, Anabas and Mullets and crustaceans like crabs and prawns.

iii. Wetland forestrySouthwest part of the tank is full of Prosopis and Casuarina. In the foreshore, panchayats as well as private parties maintain casuarina, eucalyptus, piosopis and acacia plantations. Wastelands on the Auroville plateau have been completely re-vegetated with fast growing multipurpose tree species (Table 5).

iv. SettlementsThere are about 14 villages around Kaluveli dependent on this tank for agriculture . The tank is exploited for fisheries, guano-enriched silt, grazing and collection of resource reed and firewood. Locals have reclaimed vast areas of the tank for agriculture.

v. PollutionThere are no industries on the banks. But the run-off from the surrounding agricultural fields may contain pesticides. And the emerging aquaculture farms are likely to kill the system. Salinity due to the estuarine water intrusion is common.

Characteristic of Ousteri

a. SoilSoil is clayey. pH ranges from 5.6 to 8.4 and electrical conductivity from 0.2 to 5.20mS/cm. The lime status was found to be Nil. Among the macro-nutrients, Nitrogen varies from 2.8 to 182 Kg/acre, Phosphorus from 2.8 to 55 Kg/acre and Potassium from 72 to 620. The Nitrogen distribution varied widely from very low to medium level (2.8-182), Phosphorous (2.8-55) and Potassium (72-620) showed variations from very low to very high, but the mean values indicate adequacy. It is moderate in nutrient status(Table 1)

b. WaterThe water is slightly alkaline and saline with pH ranging between 7.3 and 8.7 and electrical conductivity between 0.3 and 3.5. The range of cations were found to be as follows - Calcium: 0.6 and 9.4 Me/l, Magnesium: 0.4-6.2, Sodium: 0.1 -19.4 and Potassium: 0.02 - 0.11 Me/l. Anions like Carbonates ranged between 0.2 and 0.9 Me/l, Bicarbonates between 1.7 and 9.20 and Chlorides between 0.8 and 2.2 Me/l. High values of pH (8.2) is not substantiated by the E.C Value (0.63 units) which is relatively low. (Table 2).

c. FloraIn total there are 101 species distributed in 95 genera and 55 families. These are terrestrial, semi-terrestrial and aquatic variety colonising the tank bed, margins and other areas i.e. there are 6 habit types distributed among 4 habit guides. Of these 52 are found to have considerable economic and/or ecological importance. Commonly found hydrophytes are Vetiveria zizanioides, Typha angustata, Marselia and two species of Nymphaea (Table 3).

d. FaunaIn total there are 153 species distributed among 123 genera and 78 families. Though many species of grasshoppers, dragon files, spiders, bugs and beetles were seen only butterflies (18 species), fishes (10), amphibians (4), reptiles (20), birds (82) and mammals (11) were checklisted. They were found in four habitat guilds. There are 90 species of birds belonging to 74 genera and 48 families. Their food habits range from Frugivory, nectarivory, insectivory feeding on aquatic and terrestrial organisms (Table 4, Table 4a).

e. Culture systemCulture systems include artificial and semi-natural ecosystems like agriculture, aquaculture, social forestry and private plantations (Table 6). These are an inseparable part of the tank system both structurally and functionally.

i. AgriculturePaddy, sugarcane, millet and groundnut are cultivated in approximately an area of 1550 ha. of registered ayacut. This tank benefits the villages – Gudapakkam, Sendanattam, Villianur, Poraiyur, Oussudu, Odiyanpattu and Ozhukarai in Pondicherry and Perumbai in Tamilnadu. A total of 1465 ha is approximately benefited and harvested twice a year.

ii. Aquaculture There is no managed aquaculture in Ousteri tank Tilapia mossambica a fish species introduced from Africa forms the main catch. The fish produce is leased out every year to private parties.

iii. Social forestry

Casuarina, eucalyptus, prosopis and acacia plantations are maintained by panchayats as well as by private parties. The North-Eastern banks are under prosopis plantation while others are scattered.

iv. SettlementsThe seven villages are directly depenant on this tank. The natural fisheries benefit the local people. The tank serves as the main source of recharging ground water, which is extracted through wells and borewells.

v. PollutionIndustrial waste is dumped from the Mettupalayam, Sedrapet industrial estates along the southern and eastern regions of the tank, further the rain water washes the pollutants from Sedrapet Industrial estate into the northwest region of the tank.

DISCUSSIONThe tank ecosystem consists of all the areas and life around the water body, such as catchments, ayacut, villages, channels, wells, agriculture, animal husbandry, social forestry along with soil, water, plants, animals and supply channels. These systems have some features of irrigation reservoirs, natural lakes, shallow wetlands and riverine shorelines. Consequently subsystems vary from one another among tanks. A few may have micro-habitats as in the case of Kaluveli. But in all the tank areas, the water body functions as a ‘cornerstone’ of the region, serving the needs of soil, water, plants and animals of the surrounding villages . In other words, the villages depending on this ‘ epicenter’ appear as a part of the tank ecosystem and not vice versa. Thus, if the tank is not there, many villages will not exist. The current pilot work reveals the inputs that each tank needs based on the size and nature of the ecosystem, ayacut, catchment, associated villages, agriculture, aquaculture, flora, fauna and soil.

There are many wells around the tank both conventional and bored, reducing the direct dependency of the villages on the tank. But the wells are dependent on the tanks for their lateral recharge. In this connection it is necessary to study the dynamics of the lateral seepage for proper location of wells, the groundwater potential, its potability, level of water table and potential for recharge from tank waters. 1. Soil In Kaluveli pH is around the neutral range and Ousteri recorded higher value and greater diversity, this may be due to the human activities and water inputs from its own catchments and supply channels. Electrical conductivity is uniform in Ousteri and very high in the case of Kaluveli due to seawater intrusion. Nitrogen content is high in Ousteri and potassium is lowest at Kaluveli. The data collected from these tanks indicate variations only with respect to a few parameters while most others are rather uniform and need low inputs, if plant culture has to be widened (Table 1and Table 2).

2. WaterIn both the tanks the pH and EC are high unlike in their soils. SAR is highly variable. Ca, Mg and Na are low in Ousteri and high at Kaluveli since it is connected to an estuary. In the case of potassium the values are either low or negligible in both the tanks. In the case of anions, carbonate and chloride are high in Kaluveli. The water quality is generally uniform irrespective of its quality and longevity in the tank. The tank habitats are deficient in some aspects and excess in a few others. This perhaps, is the reason why most flora, fauna and cultural activities are similar among the wetland systems (Table 2 ).

3. Flora

The floristic composition varied remarkably with the size of the system or its state of degradation, thus Kaluveli supports the maximum (169). Most species occurred in the foreshore and in the ayacut. A mere remnant population seems to be vanishing slowly and if regeneration does not improve especially in Ousteri many butterfly and faunal species will gradually disappear. Kaluveli had remnants of natural vegetation until recently. (Table 3).

4. FaunaThere is no relationship between the area and the species richness. Animal diversity depends on the plant diversity of the past and present. The species richness of birds is high, suggesting that their nutritive and roosting sources in the habitat are intact, an indication that all is not lost from the ecological foundations of wetlands. In Ousteri the richness of migratory birds vary with years depending on the availability of water in the tank. (Table 4 and Table 4a).

5. Cultural systems In Kaluveli the principal activities in surrounding areas are agriculture, livestock grazing and collection of firewood. Fourteen villages are directly dependent on the tank. The local villagers cultivate the land fringes owned by the government. They function as habitat for diverse flora and fauna including birds and small mammals. The two tanks are not properly utilised for aquaculture only the natural fish yield is cultivated, though Tilapia mossambica was introduced into Ousteri tank. The emerging aquaculture ponds in Kaluveli will be a danger to the tank and will kill the system in a long run.

6. Wetland forestryIn Kaluveli the tank is full of prosopis and casuarina in the southwest part. In the fore shore the local panchyath maintains casuarina, eucalyptus, prosopis and acacia plantations. In Ousteri wetland forestry is maintained by private owners along the eastern region, which supports a variety of habitats especially for birds. Both the tanks are heavily encroached, in the case of Ousteri bore wells lie within the tank.

7. Major ThreatsThe major threat to Kaluveli is encroachment for agriculture. Saline water intrusion from Yedianthittu estuary along the north alters the water quality and the biota dependant on it . No major polluting agents are around except the run-off from the surrounding agricultural fields. The recent aquaculture farms will be a major threat to the tank in future.

In Ousteri industrial pollution and encroachment are the major threats. Industrial wastes are dumped along the southern and southeastern regions from the Mettupalayam, Sedrapet industrial estates. Pollutants are also washed by runoff from the Sedrapet industries into the northwest region of the tank. The development along the Pondicherry to Villupuram road in the southern region is the emerging major threat. Both the tanks are heavily silted

The wetlands and the entire watershed of Kaluveli have been recommended for designation as a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” programme Davis (1985). The Ousteri tank was declared as a bird sanctuary by the Wild Life  Advisory Board (1999)]. Both the tanks are at different stage of degradation i.e. natural and anthropogenic. Urgent need is therefore necessary to develop the system, which has an indirect economic value for all the areas on its ecological boundary.

CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENTAll resources of a wetland are interconnected among themselves and with the rural society as a whole. Water bodies are features of nature, made mostly by human societies for their economic well being through traditional wisdom. Currently they are not only enmeshed in political expediencies but fortunately have become subjects of scientific insights. The tank catchment area and its water are the most important of these common property resources. The analyses of the current status of the tanks carried out for the development of perspectives on the future of the waterbodies shoud be holistic.

1. Valuing wetlandsAccounting all resources harboured in the tank ecosystem and valuing them on relative and absolute terms may give us an ecological and economic perspective for development options. All the items of the tank, which includes physical, biological and socioeconomic values have to be listed. The selected items that are more relevant to the system as a whole will be given values, which will determine whether the system can be abandoned, developed, or conserved.

2. Diagnosis through expert systemsMarginal inputs will be made only after policy inputs. This will be based on the full knowledge of all the tanks. Current methods are highly time consuming. Therefore to assess the current status a fast method for analysis has to be adapted. This is called the expert system. Expert system is a kind of software, which is expected to simulate an expert's knowledge. The technique belongs to the field of artificial intelligence of advanced logistics and computing. Scarcity of experts, expertise in very restricted and specified areas are some of the problems one has to face in areas like irrigation management where a multi-disciplinary approach is necessary. In such situations expert system can play an important role even in the decision making process. Thus an expert system is expected to work like a pointer of the problem associated with the given tank. But to develop such a system which compile the intelligence, common sense, knowledge and experience of an expert a database of enormous diversity and magnitude has to have data, which are hierarchically arranged.

The process of developing an expert system basically involves the following three steps:

1. First, elicit the knowledge that experts use. - When and how they apply it (cases assumed, pattern recognised, tests made) - The categories evolved from their experience, that they utilise to understand the situation

- The hypothesis, rules, thumb measurements and parameters they take into account

2.When these concepts, rules and operations have been elicited from the human experts, they have to be reformulated and transferred into a customised software package designed to reduce the experts method of diagnosis.

3.Then comes a third phase in order to test and validate the consistency of computerised knowledge base, with what the expert actually does, and try to implement any required modifications. The validation of experts knowledge that has thus been computerised is limited to the particular case for which the analysis has been made.

Developing an expert system for diagnosing all the irrigation tanks in semi-arid India is thus a project with enormous significance in the present context. Further this exercise will result in the compilation of all available data and knowledge base on the tanks for further research.

3. Rapid Evaluation System: The modelThere exist more than 35000 irrigation tanks in Tamilnadu. In recent years tanks have attracted the attention of planners and agriculture economists as low investment and locally manageable irrigation systems. Various projects are now operational for tank renovation. In order to facilitate efficient use of the scarce funding, setting priority is very important. Developing a rapid evaluation system for diagnosis of tanks are thus relevant. An attempt is currently being made. Incorporating the features of accounting, valuing, diagnosis leading to development and conservation inputs, rapid evaluation system is a tool, which can be used by any trained lay man. The data available on various aspects of tank will be investigated and ranked in the evaluation system to come out with an index which will be helpful in

- Determining the overall health of the tank system- Identifying the potential resource base- Gauging the possibility of people's participation- Determining the options in tank restoration and management- Comparing the tank with others in order to develop a taxonomy of tank scenarios

The evaluation system restricts itself to three major aspects pertaining to tank. They are 1.The structure 2. The user value 3. Attitude of the people. All three aspects are identified as the function of a number of factors. They are qualitatively categorised into three groups and each group is given a scoring ranging from 0 to 2. The total scoring obtained in each category will help to determine the status of the tank. This scoring is ultimately expressed as the percentage of maximum obtainable scoring. A key is provided to assess the status of the tank as its components

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSMadras Institute of Developmental studies Chennai funded the project. We thank the Government of Tamilnadu laboratory at Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu Agriculture Universities regional Soil Testing laboratory Cuddalore and Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Pondicherry for analytical support. We also thank Mr.Cyril Antony, local convenor of INTACH and Dr Sivasubramanian of MIDS, Chennai for their support. We thank the people from all the villages for their cooperation with us during our work.

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Table 1: Soil Quality of Kaluveli and OusteriParameters Kaluveli Ousteri1. Texture ----- ---2. PH 7.16 (0.41) 7.86 (0.77)3. E.C * 0.83 (0.75) 0.3 (0.09)4. Nutrients #

N 76.68 (21.12) 92.31 (23.1)P 8.37 (6.81) 4.97 (1.96)K 108.71 (41.9) 11.87 (46.1)

Table 2: Water Quality of Kaluveli and OusteriParameters Kaluveli Ousteri

PH 7.83 (0.81) 8.2 (0.47)E.C 2.45 (0.94) 0.63 (0.65) S.A.R 7.39 (5.36) 1.98 (1.18)Cations (me/l)Ca 2.48 (1.04) 1.14 (0.37)Mg 3.78 (2.83) 0.45 (0.49)Na 16.29 (15.3) 3.01 (4.44)K 0.54 (0.19) 0.05 (0.03)Anions (me/l)Co3 2.2 (1.47) 0.48 (0.21)HCo3 2.2 (1.46) 2.24 (0.87)CI 17.24 (4.8) 1.39 (0.52)

Table 3: Flora of Kaluveli and OusteriHabit Kaluveli Ousteri

Spp Gen Fam Spp Gen FamGrasses of Sedges 17 14 2 11 9 2Herbs 52 45 25 30 27 14Shrubs 34 32 18 23 22 16Climbers 20 20 12 13 13 10Trees 34 34 18 20 20 9Hydrophytes 6 6 4 4 4 4Total 163 153 79 101 95 55

Table 4: Fauna of Kaluveli and Ousteri

Animals Kaluveli OusteriSpp Gen Fam Spp Gen Fam

Butterflies 19 13 6 18 13 8Fishes 11 8 7 10 8 7Amphibians 6 3 1 4 1 1Reptiles 17 15 9 20 17 8Birds 118 89 49 92 74 47Mammals 15 14 10 11 10 7Total 185 142 82 155 123 78

Table 4a: Birds of Kaluveli and Ousteri

Migratory Status Kaluveli OusteriSpp Gen Fam Spp Gen Fam

Resident 79 63 31 53 50 31Local Migratory 11 11 10 10 9 8Migratory 28 18 9 19 15 9Total 118 92 50 92 74 48

Table 5: Cultural Systems and human settlements of Kaluveli

Agriculture

Aquaculture Wetland Forestry

Human settlementsNatural

Cultured

Location Plant

Paddy Prawn Developing

Foreshore

Eucalyptus

1. Puttupattu 8. Esankadu

Millet Mullet - Acacia 2. Chinna Kozhuveri

9. Thilapakkam

Groundnut Tilapia - Casuarina

3. Periya Kozhuveri

10.Konchumangalam

Coconut Carps - Prosopis 4. Mattur 11. EdacheriAnabas

- Bed Prosopis 5. Kazhupurampakkam

12. Puthukuppam

Casuarina

6. Villavanam 13. Karatte

7. Ambakkam 14. Vandipakkam

Table 6: Cultural systems and human settlements of Ousteri Agriculture

Aquaculture Wetland Forestry Human settlementsNatural Cultured Location Plant

Sugarcane Catfish - Nil - Bank Acacia Oussudu OzhukaraiPaddy Tilapia (north) Casuarin

aGundapakkam

Kadapperikuppam*

Millet Carps Eucalyptus

Sendanattam

Konimedu*

Plantain Villianur Poonthurai*Maize Poraiyur Perambai*

Odiyambattu

Table 7: Value Ranking of Kaluveli and Ousteri based on resource potentialResource Kaluveli OusteriHabitat

1. Area2. Yeild3. Water Retention period

1.01.00.8

0.31.01.0

Resources1. Soil2. Water3. Plants4. Animals

0.70.61.01.0

0.81.00.80.8

Cultures1. Agriculture2. Aquaculture3. Forestry

1.01.00.8

1.01.00.8

Human Ecology1. Pollution2. People3. Villages

0.80.81.0

0.80.80.8

Total

Value

11.5

0.88

10.9

0.83