WHAT ARE WETLANDS?

DO remember that there are notes provided on the following slides:

10,13,26,29,35,39,41,43,47,50,52

Also, the video account of our visits and animal encounters and behaviour studies are on our youtube channel- The 3 Musketeers.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNf1jUNXhz2LydXYzgRUQJg

Thanking you, Megha M and Surabhi T.

Ramsar Convention classificationFW classification by Cowardin et al (1979)

- Earliest attempt. -Divided into 5 wetland systems, subsystems and classes.

http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/wetland/define/define.htmclassification of wetlands-http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/n_resource/wetlands/wetlands3_classification.htm

http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-home/main/ramsar/1_4000_0__What is Ramsar Convention: Follow Link

WHAT are CORALS?

Fig: A single polyp

Reproductive strategies in individuals-Sex: Individual may be Male, female, BothAsexual mode- to increase size of colonySexual mode: Increase genetic diversity

ANTHOZOANS-most common corals

HexacoralsOctocorals

Credit: ©UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/Global 1KM Version 7.0 DatasetShallow water coral reefs straddle the equator worldwide

Coral Reefs- Global DistributionCoral Reefs- Global Distribution

Fringing Reef

Barrier Reef

Atoll (http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs025-02/)

Charles Darwin first proposed this theory of coral reef formation in 1842

Step 1: A fringing reef forms first, and starts growing in the shallow waters close to a tropical island.

Step 2: Over time, the island subsides and the reef grows outwards, and the distance between the land and the

reef increases. The fringing reef develops into a barrier reef.

Step 3: If the island completely subsides, all that is left is the reef. The reef retains the approximate shape of the

island it grew around, forming a ring enclosing a lagoon. Darwin speculated that underneath each lagoon should be a bed rock base – the remains of the original island.

Subsequent drilling into atolls proved this prediction true.

TYPES of Reefs

Figure 1. Mangrove Species Richness: Native distributions of mangrove species.

Polidoro BA, Carpenter KE, Collins L, Duke NC, et al. (2010) The Loss of Species: Mangrove Extinction Risk and Geographic Areas of Global Concern. PLoS ONE 5(4): e10095. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010095http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010095

What are Mangroves? ( The green borders of the coast)

A mangrove is a tree, shrub, palm or ground fern, generally exceeding one half metre in height, that normally grows above mean sea level in the intertidal zone of marine coastal environments and estuarine margins. A mangrove is also the tidal habitat comprising such trees and shrubs.

The word ‘mangrove’ refers to the habitat. Sometimes the habitat is called a ‘tidal forest’ or a ‘mangrove forest’ to distinguish it from the trees that are also called mangroves.

Many mangrove forests can be recognized by their dense tangle of prop roots that make the trees appear to be standing on stilts above the water. This tangle of roots allows the trees to handle the daily rise and fall of tides, which means that most mangroves get flooded at least twice per day. The roots also slow the movement of tidal waters, causing sediments to settle out of the water and build up the muddy bottom.

Importance

Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides. The intricate root system of mangroves also makes these forests attractive to fishes and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators and nursery grounds for fish, amphibians and crustaceans.

Furthermore, the roots of mangroves prevent silting from entering the sea, which would otherwise damage corals. These forests are also known to reduce pollution levels, as they absorb various elements, including heavy metals.

It is actually more prudent to have mangroves as a square kilometre of coastal ecosystem such as mangroves forests can store up to five times more carbon than the equivalent area of mature tropical forests.

Distribution

Centers of Mangrove Diversity

Eastern Group: Australia, SE Asia, India, E. Africa and W. Pacific.

Western Group: W. Africa, Caribbean, Atlantic S. America, Pacific N & S America.

Mangroves are distributed circumtropically, occurring in 112 countries and territories.

Total global mangrove coverage is 18 million hectares and it is just about 0.45% of world forests & woodland (Spalding, 1997).

Of the total mangrove coverage, 41.4% exist in South and Southeast Asia. Mangroves are largely restricted to latitudes between 30o Nand 30o S. Northern extensions of this limit occur in Japan (31o22ʹ N) and Bermuda (32o20ʹ N); southern extensions are in New Zealand (38o03ʹ S), Australia (38o 45ʹ S) and on the east coast of South Africa (32o59ʹ S) (Spalding, 1997).

http://ocw.unu.edu/international-network-on-water-environment-and-health/unu-inweh-course-1-mangroves/Distribution-of-mangroves.pdf

On going Depletion…

The forests have been declining at an alarming rate perhaps even more rapidly than inland tropical forests and much of what remains is in degraded condition.

But these areas are being destroyed three to four times faster than forests, releasing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and the ocean, and contributing to climate change.

The remaining mangrove forests are under immense pressure from clear cutting, encroachment, hydrological alterations, chemical spills, storms, and climate change. 

This means that the seed remains attached to the parent plant and germinates into a protruding embryo before falling from the tree .

Not all mangroves have (true) vivipary.

Red mangroves

Black mangrove (cryptovivipary)

ROCKY SHORES

DATES of Visit:First visit: 8th February 20142nd visit: 10th February 20143rd visit: 19th February 20144th visit : 2nd March 2014

Studies attempted:

-COD, BOD, Heavy metal-Copper- all slightly elevated than surrounding areas but not dangerous due to frequent cycling of water in this particular intertidal zone.-Collection of algae, and hermit crabs using different types of Mollusca shells.-Photographing the Mangrove trees and associates in the area along with any fauna.

Mangroves and associates

The characteristics of mangroves have already been pointed out in the previous slides but there is something awesome about these plants with features such as salt-tolerance, vivipary, hydric soil adaptations etc.

Algae

Algae are according to the 5 kingdom classification (Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia)- the first group under Plantae. Algae are autotrophic but have different coloured pigments and storage material. They also do not have typical root, shoot, leaves, flowers, fruit system although some do have similar looking structures.

Mangroves of Carter Road, Bandra

Avicennia marina –• Gray mangroves is one of the dominant species found throughout

the coastline. • The leaves are thick, five to eight centimeters long, a bright, glossy

green on the upper surface, and silvery-white, or grey, with very small matted hairs on the surface below.

Avicennia officinalis -

Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Broad leaf orange mangrove):

• This evergreen tree grows upto 8-12 -mts in height that belongs to the family Rhizophoracea.

• The tree develops short prop-roots rather than long stilt-roots.

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Jamaica%20Cherry.html

Polysiphonia sp. (Red Algae)

Gracilaria sp. (Red Algae) 

Ulva lactuca (Green Algae)

Probably Hypnea sp.- A Rhodophyceaa (Red alga)

• A "branch" consists of an axis of elongated cells, the central axis.

• Every cell of this axis is surrounded by a number of cells (ranging from 4-24) with the same length, the periaxial cells.

• The plants have a segmented appearance. The "branches" often have long hairs (trichoblasts) at the top, which can later on disappear. 

Microscopic Images of Polysiphonia sp.

UNKNOWN FLORA found on the rocks- in intertidal ZONE

Unknown specimen under Microscope- Video on Youtube

FAUNAFAUNA

The interaction between the arthropods and molluscs is best studied using the Hermit crab. Various types of Gastropod Shells are used by this soft-bodied crustacean,

THE OBSERVATION OF

We had collected quite a few specimen at Carter Road and transported them in bottles by bus-a commute of around 40 minutes.

They were arranged in different parts in the tub with fresh water and algae provided and regular flushing with water done.

The individuals were arranged such that there was a difference in their sizes. Extra shells were provided and numbered. Similar types of shells were

numbered so as to recognize if there was a change in shells. We observed that there was quite a lot of struggle over shells, which seemed

quite random. Shells were often tried on and abandoned by each individual. Unfortunately by the 3rd day-all the specimen were dead-probably due to

dehydration. We recovered and photographed all of the specimen and OBSERVED that

some had red egg masses on their bodies which were put into marine water. The videos of are observations are put on youtube channel- The 3

Musketeers. The eggs hatched in about 10 days and we observed the various larval

stages of crustacean.

Eggs attached to abdomen

MAJOR THREATS TO MUMBAI’S MANGROVES

Fragmentation of the habitat with ongoing thirst for land reclamation for construction activity, agricultural purposes and aquaculture.

Industrial and domestic pollution.

Port development

Continuously insensible dumping of debris near and in mangrove forests.

Deforestation for fuel wood

Over harvesting of marine resources.

The top dying diseases which are believed to be caused by an array of factors – increased soil salinity due to reduced water flow, reduction in periodic inundation, excessive flooding, sedimentation, nutrient imbalance, pathogenic gall cankers and cyclone induced stress.

eg: Damages done by diseases to Heritiera fomes (Endangered) in Bangladesh.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0025326X85902553http://www.pkdas.com/mediacovers/TOIM_2012_3_15_8.pdf

http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/1635

With reference to threats and developments of coasts and mangroves

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Watch-out-for-heavy-metal-in-your-fish/articleshow/4268880.cmshttp://blogs.scientificamerican.com/not-bad-science/2014/02/09/human-noise-disturbs-different-fish-in-different-ways/

http://decapoda.nhm.org/pdfs/31798/31798-001.pdf

OTHERShttp://www.stanford.edu/group/microdocs/typesofreefs.htmlhttp://www.stanford.edu/group/microdocs/whatisacoral.htmlwww.cam.ac.ukwww.mbgnet.nethttp://envirodiva.wordpress.com/corals- importance- http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/coral07_importance.htmlMangroves:http://www.uprm.edu/biology/profs/chinea/ecolplt/datoslab/manglar.pdf

http://www.mangroves.godrej.com/MangroveVegetation.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundarbans

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/documents/MangroveBiology_000.pdf

http://www.mangroves.godrej.com/MangroveVegetation.htm#MangroveVegetation

http://www.academia.edu/6749035/FLORAL_DIVERSITY_OF_MANGROVE_ECOSYSTEM_FROM_COASTAL_ENVIRONMENT_OF_URAN_RAIGAD_NAVI_MUMBAI_MAHARASHTRA