Hello human readers!
I am a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), happy to be of some use to the
ENVIS team of CAS in Marine Biology through way of bearing the page
numbers for this issue, having the corals as the theme.
I am a cute creature, if not very pretty. My way of swaying, swimming
and diving mesmerise all.
IUCN has listed me and my friends (other species of turtles) as
‘vulnerable’.
Indian myth has given great significance to our group: Lord Vishnu’s second avatar is in the form of a turtle
(Kurma); also Indian spirituality teaches human beings to control their senses quoting us as a model – as we pull-in
our limbs and head inside our shells in case of danger.
I spend most of my life time living in coral reefs, which is my real home. I go to sandy beach for laying the
eggs and return to sea. Just after hatching, my babies reach the sea, slowly crawling over the sand. I may live for
about 80 years.
Though I live in the sea, diving to the depths, I need to come to the surface for breathing, like dolphins and
other cetaceans. Few seconds of air-inhaling is enough to keep me very active for 5 minutes underwater. But I sleep
underwater for many hours without breathing.
I like feeding on the seagrasses, I also relish jelly fishes. I am called as ‘green sea turtle’ because I have a
green-coloured fat tissue (as a result of feeding so much of seagrasses and algae) under my shell.
My friends live throughout the east and west coasts of India, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. I personally like Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve mainly due to the protection I enjoy there (thanks to the
Tamil Nadu Forest Department, particularly the Wild Life Warden).
Now I feel like sharing with you some deeper things from my heart.
As you are in the ‘top rung’ of the evolutionary ladder at present, my special reverence to you all.
Sometimes I envy you too; you behave as though you rule the Earth. Please don’t get offended by this
statement, as none of you can deny the fact that you people are fouling the whole Earth by intervening in almost all
the Nature’s processes jeopardizing the life of one and all.
I don’t understand one thing: Why the evolutionary process has produced human beings who are only (or, it
seems) capable of doing disastrous things to the Earth and its inhabitants? Even a minute’s careless act of yours
leads to long-time suffering of other lives, also the ecosystems. For example, you throw the plastic bags in the sea.
Our friends swallow these floating plastic bags, which appear like jelly fishes, get suffocated and die eventually.
I don’t have to bring to your kind attention that you have damaged the coral reefs – our beloved home, all
over the world due to your careless attitude and for your selfish needs. Being the utmost sufferer, can you blame me
for questioning the evolutionary process?
This year 2009 is the 200th birth anniversary of ‘The Father of Evolution’, Charles Darwin, who propounded
the theory of evolution. This fact has invoked in me thoughts about him and his evolutionary theory. Many questions
are crowding in my mind. I just let you know few of those questions: What is the purpose of evolution? Do humans
represent the final stage in evolution? (If the answer is ‘yes’, then our lives seem to be unworthy.) When we say
‘evolution’, doesn’t it imply that something has already been trying to evolve and express? ... What is our (all
Testudinidae-friends’) evolutionary destiny?
Hats off to the great human being Charles Darwin! I think, if he had not come up with his evolutionary
theory, you all wouldn’t have understood the essentiality of the lives – especially animals’ on the Earth, and with your
ignorant deeds you would have destroyed the earth long-long time ago (please don’t be angry with me for saying
so).
Wouldn’t it be nice for some of us to concentrate on the evolutionary aspects of the lives of the coastal
wetlands and that way inspire others to come out of their selfish-cocoons and to act with open-mindedness and
selflessness taking care of all the living creatures on the earth with a kind heart?
I would be very much pleased to receive any kind of positive or negative responses to my thinking. I appeal
to you all through ENVIS to drop a line.
With lot of kindness and respect,
Yours sincerely,
Chelonia mydas
Don’t eat herbivore fish from the dead coral reef areas!
The dead coral reefs may be colonized by thick layers of algae which shelter the poisonous dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus
spp. The muscles of the fishes which feed on the algae have the poison of Gambierdiscus spp. People who consume these herbivores
may get the disease Ciguatera, which shows the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, muscle ache, paresthesia,
numbness, ataxia, hallucinations, etc.
Do you still want to eat the fishes from the dead coral areas?
[Source: <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080904112656.htm>, retrieved on 23 July, 2009.]
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
1
Coral reefs of Lakshadweep – a glimpse
Introduction
Enchanting sandy beaches, true aquamarine
coastal waters, plethora of marine flora and fauna and tall
and dense coconut trees of Lakshadweep islands will
mesmerise anybody who visits the islands. When we
started our survey on seagrasses ‘the marine miniature
forests’ of the Lakshadweep islands during January and
February, 2009, we were very much attracted by the
corals and coral-associated faunal resources of these
islands which are called as the ‘pearls of Arabian Sea’.
This made us to go through the literature on coral reefs of
these islands.
Coral reef ecosystem, which is often referred to
as ‘the rainforests of the sea’ for its extraordinary
biological diversity and productivity, is one of the most
beautiful ecosystems of our planet. Among all the marine
ecosystems only coral reefs constitute the greatest
number of species. Coral reefs are considered as one of
the most important critical resources of the coastal area
for various ecological, environmental and socio-economic
reasons. One should not forget that about 2–5% of global
fishery production is coming from this habitat. Coral reefs
act as barriers against wave action along coastal areas,
thus preventing coastal erosion and providing congenial
environment for the seagrasses to establish and flourish
along the shores. Coral reefs are unique for the tropical
environment and are mostly associated with seagrass
beds and mangroves with active physical, chemical and
biological interactions, with mutual benefits between them
(Vineethkumar et al., 1999).
Lakshadweep islands
The Lakshadweep islands are located (8° and 12°
N and 72° and 74° E) ca 200–400 km off the southwest coast
of India. They are the northernmost part of the LaccadiveChagos Ridge and consist of 11 atolls with about 36
islands on them and several submerged coralline banks
which are coral atolls with vast lagoonal areas. Only 10
islands are inhabited. Islands are characterized by major
coral reefs around them with sandy beaches and seagrass
meadows in the lagoons (Siddiquie, 1980; Jagtap, 1998).
During our survey we explored the charming underwater
beauty and resources of the eight inhabited islands,
namely, Kavarathi, Agathi, Amini, Kadamath, Kiltan,
Chethlath, Bitra and Kalpeni and the two uninhabited
islands Bangaram and Thinnakkara.
Coral reefs of Lakshadweep
Major oceanic reefs in India are confined to
Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands. The
Lakshadweep islands are the only atolls in the Indian
waters (Chandramohan et al., 1993). According to Jagtap
(1987) the corals in these islands are mainly confined to
intertidal, fore reef flats and slope up to the depth of 35
m. Due to their oceanic location, thin population in the
islands and the less transport facilities to the islands or
between them, the reefs in few areas remain pristine with
little human impact.
2
Biological studies on Lakshadweep are available
from early 1900s, and it appears that Gardiner (1903) had
initiated the scientific work by describing the corals of
Minicoy atoll. Since then scientists from many countries
began to explore these islands to learn their biodiversity.
Coral diversity
Species distribution varied between the islands.
In some areas the corals were rejuvenating and
supporting many species of flora and fauna. Records of
various scientists, during different periods, on the number
of reef species of Lakshadweep show discrepancy. For
instances, 70 species have been recorded by Pillai (1971),
104 species under 37 genera by Pillai and Jasmine (1989)
and 95 species by Rajasuriya et al. (2002). Recent studies
conducted in different islands showed higher species
diversity than the previous ones. Table 1 provides data on
the number of genera and species reported from 12
islands of Lakshadweep.
The corals in these islands are mostly dominated
by Acropora spp. and Porites spp. (Anon., 2000).
Occasionally
young
colonies
of
Psammocora
spp.,
Stylophora spp., Pocillopora spp. and Leptoria spp. are found
on the reef flats. Acropora spp. are found to be dominant
in the reef areas of Kavarathi, Agathi and Kadamath
islands. The species diversity is less in the lagoon area
towards landward direction. This may be due to the
disturbances arising out of intense operation of boats and
resulting sedimentation. An interesting observation was
made that Acropora spp. are dominant in few locations as
shown in Fig. 1 and they are also occurring along with
other genera such as Favia spp. in several other locations,
as shown in Fig. 2.
Table 1. Number of coral species reported from 12 islands
of Lakshadweep (Pillai and Jasmine, 1989)
S. No.
Islands
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Minicoy
Suheli
Kavarathi
Kalpeni
Androth
Agathi
Bangaram
Amini
Kadamath
Kiltan
Chethlath
Bitra
Number of
genera
Number of
species
28
7
18
11
7
10
5
15
21
19
23
6
73
11
38
23
15
27
8
37
45
42
57
15
Threats to the coral reefs of Lakshadweep
Coral reefs of the world are under threat owing
primarily to overharvesting, pollution, disease and climate
change (Oxenford et al., 2008). Lakshadweep reefs are not
exceptional
to
these
threats;
they
suffer
from
anthropogenic activities and nutrient enrichment. Largescale deterioration and bleaching of coral reefs were
encountered in the Lakshadweep islands. Variation in
physical parameters can cause severe impact on the
coral reefs (Brown, 1997). In the coral atolls, according to
Navas and Mathew (1995), ecological parameters like
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
temperature, salinity, DO and nutrients are not
considered as major factors for coral mortality as these
are well within the limits.
souvenirs to tourists. All these deleterious practices are
mounting pressure on the coral reefs here.
The reefs of Lakshadweep in the past have faced
impacts of coral mining, coral collection, groundwater
pollution and mechanical damages due to dredging. In
many parts of the world, human-induced stress to coral
reefs has exceeded their regenerative capacity, causing
shifts in habitat resulting in severe economic loss. Shifts
from coral reef to seaweed and seagrass habitats have
been reported from several parts of the world largely
because of the nutrient enrichment.
During
our
survey
on
seagrasses
of
Lakshadweep islands, we observed rapid proliferation of
macroalgae in the healthy coral reefs (Fig. 3). This is a
clear indication of nutrient enrichment due to the
anthropogenic activities. These plants may hinder the
growth and survival of corals and kill them too.
Fig. 1. Dense reef in Agathi island having Acropora spp.
Fig. 3. Algal (Helimeda macroloba) growth on
the healthy reefs of Kavarathi island.
Fig. 2. Profusion of corals – Acropora spp. and Favia spp.
Arthur et al. (2006) have reported that
Lakshadweep corals were severely affected by the
massive ‘bleaching episode’ which occurred world-wide
during 1998. Vijay et al. (2003) have observed the
bleached colonies mainly of Acropora spp. and Porites spp.,
indicating the input of certain stress. The extent of
mortality of corals during 1998-bleaching, varied between
different reef regions in India but it was the severest in
the Lakshadweep (Lakshadweep Coral Reef Monitoring
Network, <http://sandtech.nic.in/lcrmn_laks.htm>, retrieved
on 25 April 2009). Nearly 43–87% of the live corals of the
Lakshadweep were destroyed by the 1998 bleaching
episode (Rajasuriya et al., 2002). The large-scale natural
deterioration and bleaching phenomenon in the coral
reefs can be attributed to global warming (Jones et al.,
1997).
Frequent SCUBA diving and tourism-related coral
watching practiced in certain islands (Kavarathi, Agathi,
Bangaram and Kadamath) are also causing considerable
stress to the reefs of these islands. In these islands coral
reefs are being used as an important source of calcium
carbonate and building blocks; illegal sand quarrying is
also found to be a threat. Corals are also sold as
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
Coral diseases appear to be the worrisome
problems and natural threats, for the Lakshadweep
corals; diseases such as black band, white band, pink line,
necrosis, etc., were reported from Lakshadweep islands.
Fig. 4 shows the necrotic patches in an Acropora sp.
colony. Corals of these islands need to be monitored
regularly for the diseases in order to maintain the pristine
nature of this ecosystem. There is a need for the
effective management of fish stocks and fishing practices
to preserve the corals of Lakshadweep region.
Conservation and management issues
The Union Territory (UT) of Lakshadweep has
banned the collection or removal of dead and live corals.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEn&F),
National
Institute
of
Oceanography
(NIO)
and
Lakshadweep Department of Science and Technology
have taken steps to rejuvenate the affected corals.
Initiatives like transplantation of corals to repopulate the
damaged coral reef areas under the technical guidance of
Dr. M.V.M. Wafar, NIO (Suman, 2008) are not only helping
the growth of coral but are also providing jobs for the
local community.
Efficient waste management practices are to be
put in place to avoid further disturbances to corals and
other organisms.
3
Only when the above-mentioned conservative
measures are taken, we will be in a position to or
beginning to fulfil our commitments to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) of conserving at least 10% (target set by the CBD)
of marine diversity and to establish more marine
protected areas.
References
Fig. 4. An Acropora colony in Kavarathi island showing
necrotic (green colour) patches.
In spite of various threats, we still have healthy
corals in many places of Lakshadweep islands, supporting
a variety of marine organisms as associates (e.g., Figs. 5
and 6). This is high time for the UT of Lakshadweep and
MoEn&F to explore the feasibility to declare the islands
with rich biodiversity like Minicoy, Kavarathi, Kadamath
and Chethlath as marine protected areas or marine
national parks or sanctuaries or a single large biosphere
reserve to regulate human activities and minimize the
disturbances to the reefs along these island groups.
Fig. 5. Corals supporting faunal (fish) diversity.
Anon., 2000. Development of GIS based information system for
selected marine critical habitat: data collection of the coast of
Kadamat (Lakshadweep) India. NIO/TR-5/2000, Submitted to the
Department of Ocean Development, Government of India, New
Delhi, 47 pp.
Arthur, R., T.J. Done, H. Marsh and V. Harriott, 2006. Local processes
strongly influence post-bleaching benthic recovery in the
Lakshadweep islands. Coral Reefs, 25: 427–440.
Brown, B.E., 1997. Coral bleaching: causes and consequences. Coral
Reefs, 16: 129–138.
Chandramohan, P., N.M. Anand and B.U. Nayak, 1993. Shoreline
dynamics of the Lakshadweep islands. Indian J. Mar. Sci., 22:
198–202.
Gardiner, J.S., 1903. The atoll of Minicoy. In: Gardiner, J.S. (ed.), The
Fauna and Geography of the Maldive and Laccadive Archipelagoes.
Cambridge University Press, London, Volume l, 27–50.
Jagtap, T.G., 1987. Distribution of algae, seagrasses and coral
communities from Lakshadweep islands, eastern Arabian Sea.
Indian J. Mar. Sci., 16: 256–260.
Jagtap, T.G., 1998. Structure of major seagrass beds from the three
coral reef atolls of Lakshadweep, Arabain Sea, India. Aquat.
Bot., 60: 397–408.
Jones, R.J., R. Berkelmans and J. Oliver, 1997. The recurrent
bleaching of corals at Magnetic Island (Australia) relative to air
and seawater temperature. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 158: 289–292.
Navas, K.A. and K.J. Mathew, 1995. Present status of coral erosion in
Lakshadweep islands with special reference to Minicoy. CMFRI
Spl. Publ., 61: 1–5.
Oxenford, H.A., R. Roach, A. Brathwaite, L. Nurse, R. Goodridge, F.
Hinds,
K.
Baldwin
and
C.
Finney,
2008.
Quantitative
observations of a major coral bleaching event in Barbados,
southeastern Caribbean. Climatic Change, 87: 435–449.
Pillai, C.S.G., 1971, Distribution of shallow water stony corals at
Minicoy atoll in Indian Ocean with a checklist of species. Atoll.
Res. Bull., 141: 1–12.
Pillai, C.S.G. and S. Jasmine, 1989. The coral fauna of Lakshadweep.
In: James, P.S.B.R. and C. Suseelan (eds.), Marine Living Resources
of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep – An Indicative Survey with
Suggestions or Development. Bull. Cent. Mar. Fish. Res. Inst., 43: 179–
195.
Rajasuriya, A., K. Venkataraman, E.V. Muley, H. Zahir and B.
Cattermoul, 2002. Status of corals reefs in south Asia:
Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka. In: C.R. Wilkinson (ed.),
Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000. GCRMN Report,
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia,
101–121 (Chapter 6).
Siddiquie, H.N., 1980. The ages of the storm beaches of the
Lakshadweep (Laccadive). Mar. Geol., 38: M11–M20.
Suman, D.G., 2008. Coral reefs – NIO’s repopulating experiments.
Curr. Sci., 95(2): 169–170.
Vijay, V.D., S.K. Deepali and T.G. Jagtap, 2003. Distribution and
diversity of marine flora in coral reef ecosystems of Kadmat
island in Lakshadweep Archipelago, Arabian Sea, India. Atoll.
Res. Bull., 506: 1–25.
Vineethkumar,
N.V.,
S.
Kumaresan,
M.
Manjusha
and
T.
Balasubramanian, 1999. Organic matter, nutrients and major
ions in the sediments of coral reefs and seagrass beds of Gulf of
Mannar Biosphere Reserve, southeast coast of India. Indian J.
Mar. Sci., 28: 383–393.
E.P. Nobi, E. Dilipan, K. Sivakumar
and T. Thangaradjou*
Fig. 6. A colony of sea anemones in the reefs of Agathi island.
4
Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology
Annamalai University
Parangipettai 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
Coral reefs – the underwater wonders
One of us, in the ENVIS team, wished appropriately to
dedicate an issue of Seshaiyana of the year 2008 to the corals
commemorating the ‘International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2008’.
We are glad to fulfil his wish through the publication of this issue
in the fourth quarter of 2008–2009 by presenting many interesting
facts/news/reports/briefs on coral reefs, both for the scientific
community and the general public.
As we are sending our newsletter to 75 other ENVIS
centres (all over India), important institutions, organisations,
scholars and students free of cost, we hope that our concern
about the corals will reach many people, create interest in them
to know more about the sensitive, delicate and very useful reefs,
creating awareness about their roles and the impending danger of
losing them altogether due to our careless interventions,
disturbances and merciless acts which pollute and destroy not
only the reefs but also the other ecosystems ultimately the Earth
itself.
IYOR 2008
IYOR 2008 is a worldwide campaign initiated by
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) to create awareness
among the common man, scientists and academicians about the
importance of coral reefs, the threats they face and the
imperatives to protect them from further destruction.
Why 2008?
These reef-producing corals possess single-celled algae
called zooxanthellae, which live embedded in their tissues. They
appear to help each other by their mystic, symbiotic relationship,
which has not been understood fully by any science. It appears
that without zooxanthellae the corals won’t be able to produce
reefs, or even survive. These algae are responsible for the
colours of the reefs. They produce the necessary oxygen for
corals by photosynthesis during day time; perhaps that is the
reason why the stony corals inhabit the tropical and subtropical
shallow waters (30–70 m depth) that are penetrated by sunlight.
Corals feed on plankton at night; they also get energy
from zooxanthellae.
Coral reef dwellers
Plants: Phytoplankton and benthic algae (calcareous and
non-calcareous
green
algae,
red
algae,
brown
algae,
zooxanthellae, green filamentous algae living in the porous
limestone substrate, and the microscopic phytoplankton).
Invertebrates: Zooplankton, sponges, corals themselves,
sea anemones, worms, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, jellyfishes,
barnacles, polychaetes, oysters, clams, lamp shells, cuttlefish,
squid, octopus, sea stars, shrimps, crabs and lobsters.
Vertebrates: Fishes, turtles, snakes, occasional mammals
such as seals, sea cows, porpoises and manatees.
There may be about 150,000 species living in some
coral reefs, including bacteria and fungi. Coral reef ecosystem
supports more number of organisms compared to the other
marine ecosystems.
Well-known reefs of the world
Recognizing the success of the first IYOR campaign in
1997 – which helped in creating awareness regarding the
importance and loss of coral reefs besides their associated
ecosystems, like mangroves and seagrasses globally, the second
campaign IYOR 2008 has been launched after 10 years.
More information on IYOR is available in the following
websites [sources]:
<http://www.iyor.org>
<http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/coral-reef.html>
<http://www.iyor.org/about/default.asp>
<http://www.unep.ch/regionalseas/main/partners/icri.html>
– retrieved on 23 July, 2009.
The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
The Belize Barrier Reef (Belize, Central America)
The New Caledonia Barrier Reef (New Caledonia, South Pacific)
The Andros, Bahamas Barrier Reef (Bahamas, Atlantic Ocean,
southeast of United States)
The Red Sea Coral Reef (Red Sea)
Pulley Ridge (Southwestern Florida, United States)
Numerous reefs of Maldives (Indian Ocean)
Lakshadweep atolls (Arabian Sea, India)
Reefs of Andaman & Nicobar islands (Bay of Bengal, India)
Corals
Salinity 35 ppt, temperature ca 25°C, pH ca 8 and clear water
Corals are among the oldest living animals on the planet.
They are (sea anemone-like) tiny (measured in millimetres), simple
bodied, colony forming marine invertebrate animals from the class
Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria, which also includes sea fans, sea
pansies and anemones. Corals are divided into:
1. Stony corals (Order Scleractinia), some of them are the
builders of coral reefs (tentacles present in multiples of six).
2. Soft corals (Order Alcyonacea), which are soft or leathery
(have eight tentacles).
Here, we deal more with the reef-building corals, which
are estimated to be more than 850 species throughout the world.
Corals, like great architects, produce or design the
reefs. These underwater reef structures vary in pattern, size,
colour and type (branched, table-like, like massive cups, boulders,
or knobs) depending upon the species which produce them; but
their production-technology has not been transferred to human
beings so far.
Majority of coral reefs are found in tropical and subtropical waters, within the latitudes of 30° N and 30° S.
Each individual coral is called a polyp. The polyp is
biradially symmetrical and has tentacles at the anterior end with a
mouth situated between their bases. The anterior halves of the
polyps are exposed to the water currents; their posterior halves,
bases, of the polyps are embedded inside the reef. In a colony,
the polyps are connected to each other by the connecting sheath,
through which they can pass the food materials between them.
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
Optimal conditions for corals
Types of corals
Massive (stone-like)
Foliaceaous (table corals)
Branching (tree-like)
Encrusting (spreading type)
Types of reefs
Fringing reefs (reefs of Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kachchh,
Andaman and Nicobar islands)
Barrier reefs (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)
Atolls (Lakshadweep atolls)
Corals of India
In India coral reefs are found in:
Gulf of Kachchh [platform reefs]
Goa coast
Kerala coast
Lakshadweep [atolls]
Gulf of Mannar (National Marine Park & the first Marine
Biosphere Reserve in southeast Asia, recognised by
UNESCO) [fringing reefs]
Palk Bay [fringing reefs]
Andaman and Nicobar Islands [fringing reefs]
About 252 species of corals are known from India.
Porites mannarensis is one of the unique species native to India.
5
Lakshadweep corals
Lakshadweep islands are well known for their fascinating
coral atolls (estimated coral reef cover 4200 sq km; number of
atolls 12).
Common coral genera in Indian waters
Acropora, Astreopora, Favia, Favites, Fungia,
Montipora, Pocillopora, Porites, Stlophora, Turbinaria.
Goniopora,
Fascinating organisms present in coral reefs
• The largest clam Tridacna: it doesn’t move, gets embedded
between hard structures and keeps growing. It can weigh
up to half a ton.
• Huge turtles.
• Cleaner shrimps (e.g., Lysmata spp., Leandrites sp., Stenopus
sp.): during daytime they pick out, ‘clean’, the parasites
mainly from the teeth and other parts of the fishes such as
moray eels, large groupers and trigger fishes – symbiosis.
For this cleaning work, the shrimps station themselves in
the specific sites of the coral reefs, ‘clinics’. (How nice it
would be if we could clean each other, as well as our
environment, like these shrimps!)
• Fishes are the most attractive features of coral reefs with
their different colours and sizes; shoals are commonly
seen in the reefs. Butterfly fishes, eels, parrot fishes,
damselfishes, groupers, cow fishes, sharks and rays are the
main attractions in the coral reefs.
• Seagrasses seem to enjoy living in the atoll-lagoons.
Enemies of corals
Crown of thorn starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on corals.
Parrot fishes (e.g., Scarus ghobban) also feed on corals and their
reefs.
IUCN Red List (summary statistics) – 2008
Estimated number of described coral species
Number of species evaluated by 2008
Number of threatened coral species in 2008
2,175
856
235
[Source: <http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/2008RL_stats
_table_1_v1223294385.pdf>, retrieved on 11 July, 2009.]
Are corals useful to mankind?
Very much yes, all parts of the corals and their reefs, without
exception, are incredibly useful to us in many, many ways.
• They provide shelter to thousands of edible fishes – our
good source of protein – which will not be able to survive
without the reef ecosystem.
• They protect us from the natural calamities like storms,
stabilize the shoreline changes and prevent soil erosion.
• Being lovely, exquisite, colourful and wonderful creations of
the Mother Nature, they provide us great recreation-spots,
attract tourists and help us earn more money too in foreign
exchange.
• Apart from fishes, many other vertebrates and invertebrates,
so also plants depend on coral reef ecosystem for their
lives.
• Their hard structures are used in jewellery; for example, red
and pink coloured corals (Corallium spp.) are used as
gemstones.
• We use them as ornaments and souvenirs.
• Coral reef is an important source of lime.
• They have tremendous medicinal potential, provide us with
drugs to treat cancer, arthritis, bacterial infections, heart
diseases, viruses, etc.
• Corals like Goniopora are used as bone-craft (replacing)
material.
• They are the indicators of past climate changes.
6
• Above all, they seem to be the source of myriad scientific
secrets for the students, scholars and also to the public.
How the coral reefs are being destroyed?
1. Destruction of coral reefs happen due to the following
anthropogenic activities:
a. overfishing, destructive fishing practices such as
dynamite fishing;
b. mining;
c . pollution due to sewage, fertilizers, pesticides and oil
spills;
d. civilization, ever-increasing population in coastal areas
and recreational abuses are resulting in more siltation.
2. Tourists disturb the corals by touching their delicate polyps.
The tourist boats break the coral reefs by dragging their
anchors over them. Some tourists throw their wastes
carelessly on the reefs. Due to the above activities many
corals and other species are dying, and the damage done to
the reefs is irreparable.
3. Global warming is having a major impact on corals. Increase
in water temperature causes the dissociation of the symbiotic
algae, zooxanthellae, from corals, which results in bleaching
of corals, eventually their death also. The global warming is
mainly due to the excess emission of green house gases
resulting from human activities.
4. Destruction of coral reefs happen due to the following
natural calamities:
a. black band disease, white band disease and necrosis lead to
the death of corals (see Fig. 4 in page 4 of this issue to
have an example of necrosis in coral);
b. algal growth;
c . strong waves produced by tsunamis, earthquakes and
hurricanes break up the reefs;
d. heavy rains result in more inflow of freshwater and the
consequent sediment load, which increases the turbidity
and decreases the salinity leading to suffocation and death
of corals; excess levels of silicates, nitrates and
phosphorous in the sediments enhance the algal production
followed by algal growth and disturbance to the coral
ecosystem.
Coral bleaching
Excess temperature and acidity in the seawater cause the
expulsion of zooxanthelle from corals, thus leaving them
bleached.
“… 16% of the world’s coral reefs experienced
bleaching in 1997–1998, and about half of those have not
recovered
…”
[Source:
<http://www.eoearth.org/article/
Coral_reef>, retrieved on 23 July, 2009.]
“Corals are fantastic light traps. They are far more efficient
at using light energy from the sun than plants on land. Corals
harvest light and spread it internally to supply their symbionts
(algae) [zooxanthelle] with light energy. The symbionts are those
which give corals their incredible colours and transform light into
nutrients for the corals to live on.” These are the words of a marine
ecophysiologist when he was interviewed. [Source: <http://www.
ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews= 43394>, retrieved on 23 July 2009.]
The corals will die if they do not acquire zooxanthellae
for a longer time.
El Niño and global warming are the two main causes for
the temperature rise in the seas. Emission of excess green house
gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride – into the
atmosphere is one of the major reasons for global warming.
Carbon dioxide is absorbed by the oceans, which makes
the seawater more acidic.
Views of few other scientists: “The oceans naturally
absorb carbon from the atmosphere but because of human
emissions they are absorbing more and more. This additional
carbon has altered the ocean’s chemistry, making them 25 to 30
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
percent more acidic. Each day, the oceans absorb 30 million
tonnes of CO2, gradually and inevitably increasing their acidity,
and leaving less calcium carbonate in the water for corals and
shell-form[ing] species like phytoplankton to grow or maintain
their skeletons.”
“Acidification affects all marine species, not just corals
…”
“… it looks impossible to save corals, but … We need
to keep CO2 levels at a reasonable level and corals may be okay
…”
“There is enough information about how to reduce
carbon emissions and even a growing realisation that such
reduction may not be costly in economic terms ... Protecting
reefs from other threats like overfishing and pollution is not
difficult, but will require political will. Saving corals needs to be
an international effort spearheaded by the United Nations.”
“We (scientists) have to be pragmatic and we have to be
smart about politics … All of us – scientists, conservationists and
the public – have to rise up and fight to protect reefs.”
“This is a pivotal moment. We must act strongly and
immediately if we are to have coral reefs as we know them …”
Their “ultimate survival is dependant on major
reductions in fossil fuel emissions …”
[Source:
<http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43114>,
retrieved on 23 July 2009.]
One-third of corals face extinction
“The rate at which corals are approaching extinction is
far faster than any previous extinction event in Earth’s history …
It’s the most alarming finding for biodiversity in the marine realm
… Staghorn corals face the highest risk of extinction ... The high
biodiversity ‘Coral Triangle’ in the Western Pacific’s Indo-MalayPhilippine Archipelago has the highest proportions of vulnerable
and near-threatened species in the Indo-Pacific, largely resulting
from the high concentration of people living in many parts of the
region.”
[Source:
<http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43141>,
retrieved on 22 July 2009.]
What will happen to us in the absence of coral reefs?
Coral reefs shelter many thousands of species of plants
and animals (such as algae, fish, crabs, urchins, sponges), which
will perish without the reef ecosystem.
We will not have enough food fishes. No beautiful
fascinating underwater structure will be there to make us happy.
We will not have any attractive marine tourist and
recreation spot, which will drastically affect the economy of many
counties where tourism is the main income generating sector.
We will not have any guardian structure to protect our
shorelines, reduce the impact of waves and storms and save our
lives.
What do we do in our day-to-day life to help a little to
save corals (our environment, our planet)?
The very first step is to know ourselves (human
beings):
• Why are we here on the earth as human beings, why not as
fishes or lions, or some other species?
• our position and the role we play knowingly or
unknowingly on the earth among the other species;
• whether our lives are dependant on other species and our
environment;
• our behaviour and attitude towards other species and our
environment;
• what ‘evolution’ means to us;
• whether the process of evolution is complete with us, if not,
the possibilities of future evolution of/after man;
• our responsibilities over earth as highly evolved species;
and much more.
The second step is to acquire knowledge about our
environment, all the ecosystems, our planet, the infinite too.
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
While trying to know about ourselves, it may be
inevitable that we begin to understand our environment and
ecosystems, etc. As soon as we think about ecosystems, the
images of oceans and rain forests will come to our mind. We
have rain forests on the land and the so-called ‘rain forests of the
sea’, i.e., coral reefs in the oceans.
Coral reefs are threatened to a larger extent due to the
uncontrolled human intervention and his careless attitude towards
the coral reefs and other ecosystems – towards the nature itself –
in spite of the fact that his existence totally depends upon all the
ecosystems on the earth. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to
say, all human beings may not be able to survive without the
presence of all the other living beings, but all the other living
beings may live and flourish without the humans. We, the human
beings, indulge in selfish activities everyday, fail to realise that
we are also part of the nature – not have an independent
existence from the nature – one among the other living beings on
the earth, and our lives are supported only by our environments
and all the ecosystems on the earth, either directly or indirectly.
We disturb, overexploit, pollute, destroy and misuse the
ecosystems, all the living beings on the earth, and treat them with
disrespect.
Perhaps, it may not be possible to repair all the damages
we have done already to the coral reefs; “... the situation of the
ecosystem is so critical that it may require strong and immediate
actions …” [Source: <http://www.reefrelief.org/what_to_do.shtml>,
retrieved on 22 July, 2009.] However, while we try to plan the
repair work, it is obligatory to plan preventing further damages
and destructions by us to the reef ecosystem.
“If sensible planning is done on the land … the marine
life of the reefs and the lagoon would again flourish …” [Source:
<http://www.reefrelief.org/what_to_do.shtml>,
retrieved
on
23
July, 2009.]
Tips for every one of us to save the coral reef
ecosystems of our planet:
1. Learn about coral reefs as much as possible and try to live
according to what we have learnt – better way of teaching
others.
2. Avoid purchasing products made of coral reefs.
3. Avoid catching the non-edible coral reef fishes.
4. Do not dump trash at the sea or near sea or any water body;
by doing so we avoid polluting the water permanently, for
example: “… just one cigarette butt that enters the ocean
contaminates one gallon of water forever.” [Source: <http://
www.reefrelief.org/reefreliefnews/reefnews.asp?file=campAP.
html>, retrieved on 23 July, 2009.]
5. Do not dispose trash fish, carcasses of crustaceans, etc., into
the sea or near sea, they degenerate and degrade water
quality.
6. Separate the kitchen waste and use it for making good
compost – help healthy organic cultivation of food plants.
7. Manage the plastics carefully for recycling. The damage we
do to our environment by dumping and throwing plastics,
obstruct the processes of ecosystems and the torture to
other species is unbearable, also unimaginable. For example:
“To the sea turtle, the delicacy is jelly fish … The plastic bag
looks like a jelly fish in the water. The sea turtles could latch
onto it, swallow it and then get suffocated.” [Source: <http://
www.reefrelief.org/reefreliefnews/reefnews.asp?file=campAP.
html>, retrieved on 23 July, 2009.]
8. Do not disturb the mangroves in anyway; coral reefs will
suffer without them. Mangroves filter all the silt and sand
from the land and allow only clear water into the sea, which
the corals like.
9. Economise water usage; seal the leaks promptly; use as little
water as possible.
10.Use detergents minimally for washing clothes, dishes, etc.,
which will enable us to use less water for cleaning.
Importantly, our household sewage will have lesser level of
chemicals, which may be treated and eliminated easily.
7
11.Start using appliances like solar water heater, solar stove,
etc., and stop using the non-renewable resources and that
way reduce pollution.
12.Stop littering on the streets or elsewhere and use the
appropriate dustbins to put the papers, bottles, plastics, waste
food items, etc., separately for efficient and easy pick-up,
processing and disposal. Then we will have neat, healthy
surroundings to live and work, which will create
psychological feel-good factor.
13.Purchase recyclable and recycled products.
14.Save energy by using e-bikes, bicycles and walking (let us
not forget that walking is a very good exercise) whenever
possible. Sharing rides may be planned.
15.Mulching the trees and shrubs is helpful in
retaining
moisture.
16.“Keep tires [of your vehicles] properly inflated. Properly
inflated tires are safer, last longer, and can improve your gas
mileage by more than 3 percent ... Use the recommended
grade of motor oil. Improve your gas mileage by 1–2
percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of
motor oil ... Get your exercise! Whenever possible, walk to
your destination. You’ll lose weight, lower stress, save gas,
and reduce pollution.” [Source: <http://www.reefrelief.org/
what_to_do.shtml>, retrieved on 23 July 2009.]
Above all, if we try to respect, love our Mother Earth and
show her gratitude for providing us with all the necessary things
for our lives, it will be inevitable that knowingly or unknowingly
we will start living in environment-friendly way and acquire right
attitudes towards all the living and non-living things on the earth.
As Dr. P.J.S. Dadhwal has emphasised in an ENVIS
newsletter, we the science people with our tremendous capacity
to understand our environments have more responsibilities than
our other living partners in reversing the damages already done
to our ecosystems and also preventing further damages by our
ardent “Tapasya”: “The name, our ancestors had given to research
and science & technology of ancient times, was Tapasya. They
experimented with natural forces to control those including sun,
water, fire, sky, air, and earth. They gained perfection to have
harmony between nature and life. Hence they enjoyed healthier
life and their age spanned over hundreds of years.” [Scource:
NewsLetter, ENVIS Centre, Chandigarh, 3.1.0 (April 2008–June
2008): 6.]
Abstracts of recent publications
028.
Karuppanapandian, T., T. Karuppudurai and
A.K. Kumaraguru, 2007. A preliminary study on the
environmental condition of the coral reef habitat of Palk
Bay, Mandapam, India. Asian J. Env. Sci., 2(1/2): 60–65.
Address: Department of Plant Sciences, Centre of Potential
in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences,
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract: The present investigation was carried in coral reef
areas of Palk Bay, Madapam. Palk Bay corals were found
disturbed by human beings due to oil pollution, waste discharge
from processing units and discharge of domestic household
wastes from the nearby Mandapam town. Environmental
conditions of the coral reef habitat in the Palk Bay, Mandapam,
were analyzed for a period of six months at fortnightly intervals
from March to August 2001. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen
(DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and total organic carbon
(TOC) were analyzed at five different stations of Palk Bay,
Madapam. The maximum mean values of temperature, pH, DO,
BOD and TOC for the four experimental and control stations were
32.6°C, 8.7, 7.02 ppm, 8.29 ppm and 2.13% and 31.5°C, 8.3, 7.98
ppm, 5.71 ppm, and 0.48%, respectively. The sampling stations
were selected on the basis of their importance.
8
Keywords: Coral reefs, oil pollution, Palk Bay, southeast
coast.
029. Rani Mary George, N.K. Sanil and T.S. Naomi, 2007. A
qualitative appraisal of the soft corals (Octocorallia:
Alcyonacea) off Mandapam, South India. Indian J. Fish.,
54(1): 99–106.
Address: Central
Kochi, 682 018.
Marine
Fisheries
Research
Institute,
Abstract: The discovery of rare prostaglandins in soft corals has
initiated a general interest in this group as an easily available
source of several ‘wonder drugs’. In the present study four
species of soft corals from the family Alcyoniidae are described
in the light of scanning electromicrographs of the sclerites to
facilitate easy identification. As many as 28 species have been
recorded earlier and the three species reported in the present
account are new records to the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere
Reserve.
030. Sandhya Sukumarana, Rani Mary Georgeb and C.
Kasinathana, 2007. Biodiversity and community structure of
coral reefs around Krusadai island, Gulf of Mannar, India.
Indian J. Fish., 54(3): 275–282.
Addresses: aMandapam Regional Centre of Central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute, Marine Fisheries P.O.,
Mandapam Camp 623 520, Tamil Nadu, India.
b
Vizhinjam Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries
Research Institute, Vizhinjam 695 521, Kerala, India.
Abstract: This paper gives the results of the surveys conducted in
the Krusadai reef for the assessment of the coral cover and
biodiversity during March–May 2005, following the Line Intercept
Transect Method. A total of 35 hard coral species were recorded in
this reef. The total live, dead and bleached coral cover for the reef
as a whole was estimated as 54.9%, 18.7% and 15.4%, respectively,
and the remaining part was covered with soft corals, sponges,
seagrasses, sand and rubble. Dead coral cover was dominated by
Porites. Further, relative abundance values were derived for each
species and they were assigned the status dominant/abundant/
common/uncommon/rare. Although, no species was assigned
‘dominant’ status, Acropora formosa belonged to the category
‘abundant’ and all other species were either of ‘common’ or
‘uncommon’ status only. Fisher’s á and Shannon diversity indices
were highest (3.68 and 2.14, respectively) in 8th site. Pielou’s
evenness was highest in 7th site. SIMPER analysis revealed that
Acropora formosa (33.95%) along with Acropora humilis (15.85%),
Porites mannarensis (12.97%) and Montipora digitata (12.07%) were
responsible for dissimilarity among various sites in the island. The
average similarity in species composition was 20.5%.
031. Bharat*, G., P.D. Priya, S.S. Chinnu, Jini, Jaya Janika,
B. Rajagopal, K.R.T. Asha and Baby Joseph Cmi, 2008.
Antibacterial activity of marine sponges from rocky reefs of
south west coast of India. J. Basic Applied Biol., 2(1): 87–93.
Address: Department of Biotechnology, Malankara Catholic
College, Mariagiri, Kaliakkavilai 629 153, Kanyakumari
district, Tamil Nadu, India. *Corresponding author, e-mail:
[email protected].
Abstract: Methanol–toluene extracts of 17 common Indian Ocean
sponges belonging to the phylum Porifera, collected from
shallow rocky reefs of Cape Comorin in June–August 2007, were
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
tested for suppression of growth of bacteria (gram-positive and negative). Weak to moderate levels of antimicrobial activity
occurred in all sponges. Antimicrobial activity was more
common when gram-negative bacteria were exposed to sponge
extracts; 47% of the sponge extracts caused growth inhibition in
one or more gram-positive bacteria, while 100% of the extracts
caused growth inhibition in gram-negative bacteria. Particularly
strong activity was observed against two species of grampositive bacteria exposed to extracts of the sponge Latrunculia
apicalis and against one strain of gram-negative bacterium exposed
to extracts of the sponge Haliclona sp. Antimicrobial activity in
these subtropical sponges is widespread and are stronger than that
found in polar region.
035. Panchang, R., R. Nigam, G.V. Raviprasad,
G. Rajagopalan, D.K. Ray and U Ko Yi Hla, 2008. Relict
faunal testimony for sea-level fluctuations off Myanmar
(Burma). J. Palaeontol. Soc. India, 53(2): 185–195.
Abstract: The distribution and ecological significance of the
Abstract: Microbial enzymes have continued to assist diverse
reactions as biocatalysts. Marine-derived microbes offer a
prospective resource for such enzymes. In this study thirteen
fungi were isolated from marine organisms (soft coral and
sponge) collected from Mandapam (Tamil Nadu) coast. The fungal
isolates were screened for the protease activity. Fungi Beauveria
brongniartii and Acremonium fusidioides showed remarkable
protease activity. Isolation, purification and characterisation of
proteases from these fungi may reveal special, significant
properties.
relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage found in the study area off
Myanmar are discussed here. Of the 126 surface sediments
studied for foraminiferal content, relict foraminiferal assemblage
comprising
the
genera
Operculina-Amphistegina-CalcarinaAlveolinella-Heterostegina was encountered at 22 different locations
nearly parallel to the west coast of Myanmar. Soft coral sclerites,
coral rubble and calcareous algae were found associated with this
assemblage. These signatures confirm the existence of fossil
patch reefs in the region, which were never reported before. A
conceptual framework is proposed to explain the proliferation of
coral patches at different depths during different times in the
geological past. Radiocarbon AMS dating of 7 select samples
representing different depths revealed different ages at different
depths. To derive a sea-level curve, the sea level was assigned
to 17.5 m above the depth of finding the relict fauna as
deciphered from soft coral assemblage. On the basis of the faunal
ecology and chronology, for the first time a sea-level curve for
the past 16,000 radiocarbon years is proposed for the west coast
of Myanmar. This study suggests an episodic sea-level rise in the
region. A comparison of this sea-level curve with the ones
proposed for the east and west coasts of India indicates that in
addition to the global Holocene sea-level rise, tectonic vertical
displacement is the cause of the destruction of the soft coral
patches off west coast of Myanmar.
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
033. Jagtap, T.G., V.A. Kulkarni and X.N. Verlekar, 2008.
036. Wafar, M.V.M., 2008. Coral reef research in India.
Enviroscan – A CES Newsletter, 1(2): 5–7.
Keywords: Antimicrobial, Porifera, sponges
032. Kamat, T., C. Rodrigues and C.G. Naik, 2008. Marinederived fungi as a source of proteases. Indian J. Mar. Sci.,
37(3): 326–328.
Vulnerability and adaptation of ecologically sensitive
mangrove habitats to the changing climate. In: Proceedings of
the Conference on Marine Problems and Specific Solutions,
COMPASS2008, Maldives, June 15–18, 2008, 15–18.
Abstract: Maldive islands on Laccadive archipelago, from Indian
Ocean sustain multi-tier ecologically sensitive marine habitats in
shallow and intertidal zones. They consist of coral, seagrass,
seaweed, mangrove and sand dune ecosystems, of a great
ecological and socioeconomic significance. Mangroves and
seagrasses form the predominant source at the interface of sea.
Considering present scenario of global climate change, sea-level
rise (SLR) and resultant calamities, as well as the proximity of
islands to SLR, these habitats are of a vital importance in
protecting the coast and minimising damage to the property and
life. The present paper predicts the major implications of the
climate change on the natural resources; particularly mangroves
based on the case studies in India and put forward the remedial
measures for conservation of island ecosystem.
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
034. Nair, V.R., S.U. Panampunnayil, H.U.K. Pillai and R.
Gireesh, 2008. Two new species of Chaetognatha from the
Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean. Mar. Biol. Res., 4(3): 208–214.
Abstract: Two new chaetognath species, Krohnitta balagopali and
Sagitta meenakshiae, are described from the Andaman Sea (Indian
Ocean). K. balagopali is easily distinguishable from the other two
known species of the genus by its unpigmented eye, fully rayed
fins and smaller size. S. meenakshiae has distinct characters, such
as a small size, lower tail percentage, lower meristic counts and a
difference in eye pigmentation as compared with three related
species. The two new species appear to be endemic to this coral
ecosystem.
Abstract: This article focuses on current developments regarding
reef research in India, rather than dwelling at length why reefs are
important, how they function and what resources they sustain.
Two major threats endanger the existence of reefs – human
intervention and global warming. India organised the first-ever
international symposium on corals and coral reefs in 1969. With
about 30 papers read in the symposium, India’s contribution was a
major one. In the subsequent symposia, however, Indian
presence was not more than through a participant or two,
whereas the number of papers presented and representation from
countries around the world went up so much so that the last
symposium saw the participation of more than 2000 scientists
who presented papers. Why should India languish in reef
research? With respect to research down to species level, who
will then contribute, inventorise coral biodiversity (which is still
incomplete), and then determine species level responses to
impacts like global changes. Also knowledge at generic level is
also required to monitor the reefs regularly. Capacity building
exercises and strategies towards regular monitoring will help to
maximise outputs from India on the limited resources.
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
037. Diaz-Pulidoa, G., L.J. McCook, S. Dove, R. Berkelmans,
G. Roff, D.I. Kline, S. Weeks, R.D. Evans, D.H. Williamson
and O. Hoegh-Guldberg, 2009. Doom and boom on a resilient
reef: climate change, algal overgrowth and coral recovery.
PLoS ONE, 4(4): e5239 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005239).
Address: aCentre for Marine Studies and Australian
Research Council, Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef
Studies, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia. E-mail: [email protected].
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
9
Abstract: Coral reefs around the world are experiencing largescale degradation, largely due to global climate change,
overfishing, diseases and eutrophication. Climate change models
suggest increasing frequency and severity of warming induced
coral bleaching events, with consequent increases in coral
mortality and algal overgrowth. Critically, the recovery of
damaged reefs will depend on the reversibility of seaweed
blooms, generally considered to depend on grazing of the
seaweed, and replenishment of corals by larvae that successfully
recruit to damaged reefs. These processes usually take years to
decades to bring a reef back to coral dominance.
Keywords: coral bleaching, climate change, conservation,
management, great barrier reef, resilience.
[Courtesy: ReefBase]
038. Debashis Mandal and K.P. Tripathi, 2009. Soil erosion
limits for Lakshadweep Archipelago. Current Sci., 96(2): 276–
280.
Address: Central Soil and Water Conservation Research
and Training Institute, 218, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun
248 195, India.
Abstract: Soil loss tolerance limits (T value) define the soil loss
amounts that are tolerable to maintain, continuously and
economically, the sustainability of soil productivity. Within these
limits, soil erosion and soil formation processes are in
equilibrium. The Lakshadweep Islands is prone to soil erosion and
about 20 running kilometre seashore line is being subjected to
severe erosion. The unique land and soils of the Lakshadweep
Coral Islands require careful management to protect the fragile
ecosystem. Soils of ten inhabited islands of Lakshadweep were
studied in detail to assign T values, for suggesting a conservation
plan. The T value for the whole Archipelago varied between 7.5
and 12.5 t ha–1 yr–l. The spatial delineation of soils with respect to
T value can facilitate the management of these valuable resources
and prevent their degradation.
Keywords: Conservation plan,
tolerance, soil sustainability.
soil
erosion,
soil
loss
039. Michael, L., D.G. Rao, K.S. Krishna and K.H. Vora,
2009. Late Quaternary seismic sequence stratigraphy of the
Gulf of Kachchh, northwest of India. J. Coast. Res., 25(2):
459–468.
Abstract: High-resolution seismic reflection and bathymetric data
in 10–50 m water depth in the Gulf of Kachchh, northwest of
India, have been analysed together with earlier results from the
area. They have revealed geomorphic features and Late
Quaternary
seismic
sequence
stratigraphy
of
25-m-thick
sediments. Seabed topography is uneven except in the east,
carpeted by thick acoustically transparent to semitransparent
sediment clays and stratified limestone beds. The sediments
consist of (1) the transparent unit ‘A’ up to 12 m thick, (2) thick 8–
10 m diffuse seismic reflection free unit ‘D’, and (3) 4–5 m thick
hummocky reflections unit ‘K’. The geomorphic/subsurface
features are pinnacles (1–2 m high) and mounds (4–5 m high) on
the seafloor and subsurface in the south and west, valleys (1–3 m)
on the seafloor in the south and subsurface in the north and onlap
of reflectors in the north. They mark corals, seafloor incisions,
and sediment influx. Spatial shifts of valleys that mark a high
energy tidal regime incising the seafloor in paleo and present
times appear to be due to neotectonics: subsidence and uplift.
Based on the seismic images and on correlation with the sea-level
curve published by other authors, the pinnacles, mounds, and the
hummocky reflectors are interpreted as corals (live and relict)
formed in subaqueous conditions. The reflection-free sediments
are coral debris, sands mostly derived during the interglacial
period of late Pleistocene and Holocene when the gulf was
exposed to arid climates during lowered sea levels, around Last
Glacial Maximum (centered approx. 18 ka). Access to unique
sedimentary records of the Late Quaternary climates/sea level
changes even of decadal scale can be retrieved by collecting
sediments/corals from shallow drill wells in the gulf.
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
040. Parvatkar, R.R., C. DeSouza, A. Tripathi and C.G.
Naik, 2009. Aspernolides A and B, butenolides from a
marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus. Phytochemistry,
70(1): 128–132.
Abstract: Two aromatic butenolides, aspernolides A and B along
with the known metabolites, butyrolactone I, terrein and physcion
were isolated from the fermentation broth of a soft coral derived
fungus Aspergillus terreus. The structures of these metabolites were
assigned on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The
absolute stereochemistry of aspernolides A (1) and B (2) was
established by their preparation from the known butyrolactone I.
Biogenetically aspernolides A and B must be derived from
butyrolactone I, a well-known specific inhibitor of cyclin
dependent kinase (cdk) from A. terreus. When tested, aspernolide
A exhibited mild cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.
[Courtesy: <http://www.nio.org/cgi-bin/niopub/pub.sh>]
“Coral reef research in India”
(please see abstract 036 in page 9, of this issue)
We reflect Dr. Wafar on the present status of the reefresearch in India.
• Not enough reef-research centres are there in our
country – no proper infrastructure
• Not enough coral-taxonomists
• Lack of manpower
• Lack of SCUBA diving facilities in almost all reef areas
• Disparity between reef science and reef management
• No real targeted research programmes
• No long-term vision
• There is a greater need to strengthen the uniformity in
our approaches to reef research
• National-level effort is needed to decide funding
patterns
• Major targeted research areas to be identified, e.g.,
global warming, instead of supporting projects in a
piece-meal manner
With fingers crossed, let us wait for the responses/
reactions/initiatives from the custodians of this veritable
environment.
Newsletter Subscription
Seshaiyana newsletter is available on a subscription fee of Rs. 100/- per year. Subscription covers four issues from the date of
receipt of the fee. Interested readers may send Rs. 100/- through M.O. to:
Prof. T. Balasubramanian
Director & ENVIS In-Charge
Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University
Parangipettai 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India
10
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
Upcoming research meets
Beware of an alien alga
Coral reefs along the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve are
attacked by the alien algae, Kappaphycus alvarezii. These algae
cover the coral reefs like “an elastic rubber sheet” and lead them
to death. “No part of the coral reefs was visible in most of
invaded sites …”
“The researchers at Thiagarajar College in Madurai who
worked in the Kurusadai island found that K. alvarezii has virtually
entombed the corals.”
This fast-growing K. alvarezii is native to the Philippines and
also commercially cultivated there in the open sea for extracting
carrageenan and for use as liquid bio-fertiliser. The cultured
plants, due to their fast-growing ability, “without immediate
control measures,” are spreading over the coral reefs of
neighbouring seas and threatening their lives.
“The Madurai researchers ... pointed out that physical
removal is ineffective as the alga re-grows within one year. The
alternative suggestion of biological control offers least hope as
fish do not graze on K. alvarezii as they do on native algae, said
the researchers!”
Hope, the algal culturists would be able to find a way to stop
this dreadful spread of algae!
[Source:
<http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/06/10/0806101253
_indian_corals_under_attack_by_alien_weed.html>, retrieved on
23 July, 2009.]
Are corals going to (adapt) help
themselves?
Corals are found in many areas of the globe and they
appear to adapt themselves to the increasing temperatures (29–
31°C) and acidity of the seas – by harbouring heat-resistant
Zooxanthellae. Scientists hope that, in future, the corals may
survive by accepting only the (adapted) heat-resistant
zooxanthellae to avoid bleaching and to survive the global
warming.
Fact to ponder: “... molecular biology of corals and their
zooxanthellae under stress is shockingly understudied …”
[Source: Stanford University (2009, May 22). Heat-tolerant
coral reefs discovered: may survive global warming.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 29, 2009, from <http://
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090520100515.htm>.]
Overfishing – is it all over?
People living in the Western Philippines are losing their
livelihoods, inevitable consequence due to overfishing by
cyanide poisoning and dynamite explosion since 40 years
which have wiped out the adult fishes. Now they are not able
to find the adult fishes for exploitation. What are they going to
do for their living?
[Source: News-in-Brief, Philippines. Mar. Pollut. Bull.,
58(4): 464.]
Beware of the faecal microorganisms in
sandy beaches!
You can walk on the sand, no problem. But, if you play
with the sand or touch it, make sure to wash yourself, or at least
the hands. Otherwise, you will be inviting gastrointestinal
illnesses, diarrhea, upper respiratory illnesses, rashes, eye
ailments, ear ache, etc.
[Source: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2009,
July 10). Digging in beach sand increases risk of
gastrointestinal illness. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2009,
from
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709
204841.htm>.]
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009
Date
Title
: 2–3 October 2009
: 2009 Atlanta Conference on Science and
Innovation Policy
Venue : Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
Contact : Distance Learning and Professional Education 2009
Georgia Institute of Technology, 84 Fifth St. N.W.,
Atlanta, GA 30308-103. Tel.: 404-385-3500; fax: 404-8941820; e-mail: [email protected]. edu
Website : <http://www.scidev.net/en/events/2009-atlantaconference-on-science-and-innovation-.html>
Date
Title
: 5–9 October 2009
: International Seminar on Prospects of Marine
Sediments as Resource Base for the Growth of
Mankind
Venue : Department of Geology, Andhra University
Visakhapatnam
Contact : Prof. C.V. Raman, Director, International Seminar
on Maine Sediments (ISMS), Department of
Geology, Andhra University Visakhapatnam –
530 003, India. Tel.: 91-0891-2844709; mobile:
9885896620; e-mails: [email protected] or
[email protected]
Date
Title
: 9–11 October 2009
: 2009 International Conference on Chemical,
Biological and Environmental Engineering (CBEE
2009)
Venue : Singapore, Singapore
Contact : Conference Secretary, e-mail: [email protected]
Website : <http://www.iacsit.org/cbee/index.htm>
Date
Title
: 25–30 October 2009
: The 6th International Symposium on Sturgeon:
Harmonizing the Relation between Humans and
Sturgeons
Venue : Wuhan Science and Technology Exhibition Center,
Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
Contact : ISS6 secretariat, Room 1007, 11 Nongzhanguan
Nanli, Chaoyang District. Beijing 100125, China.
Tel.: +86-10-59193144; fax: +86-10-59193100; e-mail:
[email protected]
Website : <http://www.iss6.org/en>
Date
Title
: 30 October 2009
: An International Meeting for a Global Marine
Biology Network
Venue : Naples, Italy
Contact : E-mail: [email protected]
Date
Title
: 3–6 November 2009
: Global Dialogue Conference 2009: Responsibility–
Climate Change as Challenge for Intercultural
Inquiry on Values
Venue : Aarhus University, Denmark
Contact : Jacob Bock, e-mail: [email protected]
Website : <http://www.globaldialogueconference.org>
Date
Title
: 7–13 November 2009
: 3rd International Barcode of Life Conference
11
Venue
: Mexican Academy of Sciences & UNAM’s Science
Museum, Mexico City
Contact : E-mail: [email protected]
Website : <http://www.dnabarcodes2009.org>
Date
Title
: 10–11 November 2009
: The 4th International Conference on Impacts of
Climate Change on Natural Resources
Venue : Ismailia, Egypt
Contact : ESES, Suez Canal University, Faculty of Science,
Botany Department, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt. Tel.:
0020122724263;
fax:
0020643230416.
e-mail:
[email protected]
Websites: <http://eses-catrina.com/files/4th_Conf._Broshure.
pdf>, <http://www.eses-catrina.com>
Date
Title
: 12–14 November 2009
: 15th International Joint Seminar on the Regional
Deposition Processes in the Atmosphere (RDPA)
and Climate Change in 2009
Venue : National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Contact : submission: [email protected];
registration: [email protected]; fax: +886-22363-9154
Website: <http://www.gcrc.ntu.edu.tw/Chinese/Activity/
RDPA2009/Workshop_RDPA2009_en.asp#P7>
Date
Title
: 21–24 November 2009
: 150 Years After The Origin of Species: Biological,
Historical, and Philosophical Perspectives
Venue : Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Website : <http://www.conferencealerts.com/seeconf.mv?q=
ca1x8amx>
Date
Title
: 23–25 November 2009
: Asia-Pacific Science, Technology and Society (STS)
Network Conference 2009
Venue : South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Contact : Richard Hindmarsh, e-mail:
[email protected]
Website: <http://www.griffith.edu.au/conference/asia-pacific
-science-technology-society-network-conference2009/>
Date
Title
: 26–28 November 2009
: Second international Biopesticide Conference
(BIOCICON-2009)
Contact : Dr. K. Sahayaraj, Organising Secretary, BIOCICON
2009, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai 627 002,
India. E-mail: biocicon [email protected]
Website: <http://www.scidev.net/en/announcements/2ndbiopesticides-international-conference.html>
Date
Title
: 1–5 December 2009
: The 4th Global Summit on Medicinal and Aromatic
Plants
Venue : Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo Island)
Contact : Dr. V. Sivaram, Department of Botany, Bangalore
University, Bangalore 560 056, India. Telefax: 91-8022961315; mobile: 91-09611904729; e-mail: gosmap2009
@gmail.com
Website :<http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/pdf/4th
Global_Summit.pdf>, <www.gosmap.in>
12
Date
Title
: 25–27 December 2009
: ICBLS
2009:
International
Conference
Biological and Life Sciences
Venue : Bangkok, Thailand
Website : <http://www.waset.org/wcset09/bangkok/icbls/>
on
Date
Title
: 28–30 December 2009
: The 2nd International Conference on Environmental and Computer Science (ICECS 2009)
Venue : Dubai, UAE
Contact : Conference Secretary, e-mail: [email protected]
Website : <http://www.icecs.org>
Date
Title
: 5–8 January 2010
: International Conference on ‘Recent Advances in
Lobster Biology, Aquaculture and Management’
(RALBAM-2010)
Venue : NIOT, Chennai
Contact : NIOT,
Velachery-Tambaram
Main
Road,
Narayanapuram, Pallikaranai, Chennai, TN, India
601 302. Tel.: +91-44-66783300, 667833422, 667833421;
fax: +91-44-55783430; e-mail: ralbam @niot.res.in
Website : <http://www.niot.res.in/ralbam/home.htm>
Date
Title
: 20–22 January 2010
: 10th International Conference on Science, Policy,
and the Environment: The New Green Economy
Venue : Ronald Regan Building, International Trade
Center, Washington, D.C., USA
Contact : [email protected]
Website : <http://ncseonline.org/conference/green economy>
Date
Title
: 24–27 January 2010
: Aquamazônia 2010 (Towards a Green Ornamental
Fish Industry)
Venue : Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Contact : E-mail: [email protected]
Website : < h t t p : / / w w w. a n g e l f i r e . c o m / b i z / p i r a n h a 0 3 8 /
PiabaFLYER072308.pdf>
Date
Title
: 27–29 April 2010
: 30th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and
Conservation
Venue : The Kala Academy, Panaji, Goa, India
Contact : Kartik Shanker, President, ISTS, Centre for
Ecological Sciences, IISC, Bangalore, India. E-mail:
[email protected]
Website : <india.seaturtle.org>
Date
: 25–30 July 2010
Title
: Fish and Climate Change
Venue : Belfast, United Kingdom
Websites: <http://www.fsbi.org.uk/>, <http://www.conference
alerts.com/seeconf.mv?q=ca1x8xh3>
STPCA
A newly characterized gene, STPCA, appears to be
responsible for coral reef calcification and provides the clue for
the mysterious symbiotic relationship between corals and their
algal partners zooxanthalle.
[Source:
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/
080912133000.htm>, retrieved on 23 July, 2009.]
Seshaiyana, 16(4): 2009