The Eastern Ghats EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Estuarine Ecology of Eastern Ghats

Volume 10 No.3, 2004 The Eastern Ghats EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Estuarine Ecology of Eastern Ghats

Foreword...... 1 Foreword Ecology and Biodiversity of Eastern We have pleasure in releasing our Newsletter : Ghats-Estuaries of India...... 2 The Eastern Ghats Vol.10. No.3 2004. Faunal Diversity : Estuarine Ecosystem 8 It deals with Estuarine Ecology pertaining to Eastern Ghats. The articles cover floral & Abstracts:...... 11-12 faunal diversity of Estuarine Ecosystem of • Icthyofauna of Ennore estuary • Behaviour of fluoride in Rushikulya Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. These Estuary, Bay of Bengal articles have been compiled, edited and coordinated • Distribution of recent benthic Ostracoda by the team. We hope that these articles in Adyar river Estuary, East Coast of ENVIS India will benefit and enrich scholars, scientists who have • Composition and abundance of been working in these ecosystems for improving meroplankton in Coringa mangrove ecosystem, Kakinada, the habitat, especially The Mangroves and the Andhra Pradesh with special Fishermen Community. As there was a good reference to aquaculture response on this important topic, the next issue also • A study on impact of hinterland farm practices on Coringa mangroves with covers the same subject. We invite articles and news k some eco-economic and sustainable clippings concerning Estuarine Ecosystem of solutions Orissa to fill this void.

ANNOUNCEMENT ENVIS Coordinator

Centre for Environment Education, India in partnership with Ministry of Environment & Readers are...... Forests and Ministry of Human Resources WELCOME to contribute articles to our Development, UNESCO and UNEP is Newsletter. The theme of our next issue is organizing an International Conference on again on “Estuarine Ecology of Eastern “Education for a Sustainable Future” (ESF) Ghats”. between 18th -20th January 2005. For further details please visit www.ceeindia.org/esf or e-mail: [email protected]

Note The views expressed in the article/s are of the Authors. 1 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE (EPTRI), HYDERABAD EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004

Ecology and Biodiversity of Eastern Ghats - Eastuaries of India N. Rajendran, S. Baskara Sanjeevi, S. Ajmal Khan and T. Balasubramanian Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology,Annamalai University, Parangipettai – 608 502,Tamil Nadu, India ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Introduction The Eastern Ghats are endowed with rich flora and fauna with various types of coastal ecosystem such as, estuaries, Estuary is an integral part of the coastal environment. mangroves, lagoons and coral reefs. The Eastern Ghats are It is the outfall region of the river, making the transitional located between 76° 56’ and 86° 30’ E longitudes and 11° zone between the fluvial and marine environs. Historically 30’ and 22° N latitudes, they extend in north East – South the term Estuary has been applied to the lower tidal reaches West strike in the Indian peninsula covering an area of about of a river. According to Pitchard, “An estuary is a semi-enclosed 70,0002 km with an average width of 200 km. in the North coastal body of water which has a free connection with the and 100 km. in the South. They extend over a length of open sea and within which the sea water is measurably diluted 1750 km. between the rivers Mahanadi and Vaigai along with the fresh water derived from land drainage”. East Eoast (Sudhakar Reddy et al., 2003). Eastern Ghats region mainly spreads through the state of Orissa, Andhra Estuaries have been the focal point of the maritime Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. studies and activities. As they are semi-enclosed water bodies they provide natural harbour for trade and commerce. They Throwing light on all these aspects, the are also effective nutrient traps and provide a vital source of Environmental Information System Centre in the Centre of natural resources to man and are used for commercial, Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University industrial and recreational purposes. Biodiversity in this has prepared the State-of-the-art report on estuaries which ecosystem is very impressive. They are the best settling places enables one to know the present scenario and the recent for clams and oysters. They also act as nursery ground for a researches in the Indian estuarine ecosystems. variety of shrimps, finfishes and other marine organisms. This paper consolidates the findings of various India has a coastline of 7500 km with an exclusive research reports on the estuaries on the Eastern Ghats of India economic zone of 2.015 x 106 km2, which is 61% of the and their ecology, biodiversity and management. land area. The country has 14 major, 44 medium and 162 minor rivers with a total catchment area of 3.12 x 106 km2, Physico-chemical parameters discharging 1645 km2 of freshwater every year to the seas around the country. The important major rivers are Ganga, Physico-chemical parameters play the major role in Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri on the East Coast the ecosystem to maintain the biodiversity. The level and and Narmada and Tapti on the west coast. These seven rivers their role in the estuarine ecosystem of the Eastern Ghats have a catchment area of 1.83 x 106 km2 and discharge 812 and given hereunder. 3 6

km of freshwater transporting 1194 x 10 t of silt to the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ marine waters every year (Zingde, 1989). The percentage of dissolved and particulate fractions of zinc showed significant variations in different seasons Estuaries are in a state of constant flux and dynamic because of their involvement in the biogeochemical cycles in in nature provides many ecological niches for diverse biota. the Rushikulya Estuary (Dash et al., 1997). In the Bahuda The health status and the biological diversity of the Indian Estuary all the physico-chemical parameters showed well estuarine ecosystem are deteriorating day by day through marked seasonal as well as spatial variations being influenced multivarious man-made activities including dumping of by monsoon cycle and tidal rhythm (Sujatha Mishra et al., enormous quantities of sewage into the Estuary, resulting 1993). drastic reduction of shallow water fish population. It has also caused considerable ecological imbalance and resulted in large- The pH and salinity increased during high tides scale disappearance of their flora and fauna. Further, while suspended solid during ebbs were high especially during introduction of untreated municipal waste-water and monsoon season. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, industrial effluents into these water bodies leads to serious inorganic phosphate increased during ebb regime and a water pollution and majority of them with heavy metal decreasing trend was observed starting from monsoon to pre- pollution, which gets biomagnified and even reaches man monsoon, which indicates high productivity towards the through the food-chain. confluence with Bay. Higher values of ammonia during 2 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004 premonsoon, particularly during low tides may be attributed In Adyar Estuary, the temperature ranged between to the discharge of untreated domestic sewage and industrial 26.0°C and 32.6°C, the maximum during May (32.6°C) effluents intothe Mahanadi Estuary (Das et al., 1997). Nayak and minimum (26.0°C) during December. Salinity ranged et al. (2001) reported that the concentrations of dissolved from 4.24‰ to 36.56‰. Peak salinity (36.56‰) was Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd show an increasing trend towards the sea recorded during October and low salinity (4.24 ‰) during whereas that of Fe and Mn shows a decreasing trend in January. The dissolved oxygen content of the water ranged Dharma Estuary. from 0.91 ml l-1 to 4.78 ml l-1. Maximum DO content of 4.78 ml l-1 was observed during April and the minimum of Suspended matter concentration showed highest 0.91 ml l-1 during July. In general DO content of the water level during the southwest monsoon (Reddy et al., 1994). was higher during high tide period. The annual variation in Temperature variations are very small in vertical as well as pH ranged from 6.5 to 8.6. Maximum pH was 8.6 during longitudinal sections of the Estuary and the river discharge October and minimum (6.5) in November (Nammalwar et controls the salinity in the Godavari and Krishna Estuary al., 1991). The concentration of the heavy metals mercury, (Reddy and Rao, 1993). cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel, lead and iron in various tissues of Liza macrolepis inhabiting Adyar, Cooum and Ennore Sediment in the Godavari Basin is finer than in the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ estuaries was found above the “permissible safe levels” Krishna. River channel bar, beach, dunes and paleo-beach (Nammalwar, 1992). ridges mostly consist of sand. Muddy sand is widespread in tidal reaches (Rao and Swamy, 1991). Somayajulu et al. In Uppanar Estuary, the range of variation in (1993) observed that the DOC and Fe concentrations in the temperature was 13° C and was found to be more important Godavari Estuary are below the average value reported for as a co-variate with other factors than as an individual factor. world rivers and estuaries. Silicon behaves non-conservatively; The range of variation in salinity was high at upstream its depletion, which is most likely due to biological activity (32.32‰). Dissolved oxygen content of the surface water during the non-monsoon periods of sampling, ranges from was higher than that of bottom water and this may be due to 25 to 37%. The U isotopes behave conservatively although the higher photosynthetic activity and higher solubility of there is some scatter in the low-chlorinity (£ 2 g Cl l-1) region. oxygen in lower salinity surface water. pH values did not The suspended matter concentrations, ranging from 4.2 to follow any definite seasonal pattern and the range of variation 7.9 mg l-1, are one to two orders of magnitude lower than was narrow (Murugan and Ayyakkannu, 1991a). Distribution ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ those of the main rivers on the west coast of India. and seasonal variation of dissolved nutrients in Uppanar Estuary revealed that the phosphate was well within the limit Salinity stratification was more marked than that of of 2.80 µg-at.P l-1 suggesting unpolluted nature. Nitrate temperature in the Godavari estuarine complex. The lower concentration was also higher in this estuary. In general, reaches were more turbid than the middle and the upper. negative correlation was found between salinity and nutrients Concentration of inorganic phosphate was much less than in (Murugan and Ayyakkannu, 1991b). Fluoride distribution other Indian estuaries and Nitrite was added on to the system and its quantitative load in the Uppanar estuary and waste in moderate quantities by the farm-drainage flowing into it. disposal from a nearby industrial complex SIPCOT (State Silicate was in sufficient quantities all through the non-flood Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) were period (Sai Sastry and Chandramohan, 1990). The content studied by Karunagaran and Subramanian (1992). of organic matter ranges from 0.3 to 1.5% in the Krishna – Godavari estuarine complex and the seasonal salinity ranges Elemental concentrations were found higher in the at a depth of 30 cm indicates that maximum salinity is 38.9 clay fraction than in the bulk samples in the Vellar Estuary EC (ds m-1) towards the inter tidal creeks. The minimum (Mohan, 1995). Vellar river and its surrounding ranged from 11 to 4 EC (ds m-1) in the hinterland areas of environments (estuary, tidal channel and near shore marine) Krishna and Godavari Estuaries (Banerjee, 2002). indicated montmorillonite as the most dominant clay mineral followed by kaolinite + chlorite. Illite was found present only In Swarnamukhi and Konderu estuaries the level of in the southern and central sectors, of the near shore marine temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were in the environment (Mohan and Damodaran, 1992). ranges of 28.9° - 32° C, 10-33%, 3.1 - 4.0 ml l-1 and 7.2 to 8 respectively. The biomass is limited and amounted to 7.3 Organic carbon, carbonate, major (Al, Fe, Mn, Ti) t (Rao et al., 1996). The concentration of organochlorine and trace (Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, Cr) elements concentration pesticides in water and sediment in the Ennore Estuary were determined in both bulk samples and clay (< 2 mu exceeded the safety limit (Sivaswamy, 1990). size) fractions of sediments in the Vellar estuary. Bulk sediments in riverine environments showed lowest concentration and estuarine environment showed the highest 3 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ concentration in all elements except Ti, Mn and Cr (Mohan, concentration of inorganic phosphate is less as compared to 1997). other Indian estuaries. Diel fluctuation of salinity at the bottom is considerably less than in the surface (Sai Sastry The concentration of iron in the velar estuarine water and Chandramohan, 1990). varied from 21 to 75 ppb, while manganese varied from 1.3 to 13 ppb. The maximum values in both the metals were In general, all the nutrients in the Godavari and recorded during summer and minimum during the monsoon Krishna estuaries exhibited distinct non-conservative period. The sedimentary load of metals was more than that behaviour with a net removal of 26-36% for silicon, 19-24% of water. While the iron values fluctuated from 300 for ammonium, 14-16% for nitrate and 4-18% for (monsoon) to 490 ppm (summer), the manganese values phosphate. This was attributed to the combined effects of varied from 38 ppm (monsoon) to 211 ppm (summer). Metal biological uptake by phytoplankton and desorption from the levels in tissues also showed similar seasonal changes with suspended particulates. Major elements (F, B, Ca and Mg) the maximum values during summer and minimum values indicated an increasing trend from riverine to estuarine and during monsoon. The metal concentration in estuarine shelf regions (Padmavathi and Satyanarayana, 1999). Fluoride hermit crab ovary registered the maximum concentration of and dissolved silicon behave conservatively in Goutami - iron varying from 220 to 585 ppm while, hepatopancreas Godavari estuarine region during post-monsoon season. showed maximum levels of manganese the concentration However, during pre-monsoon season, removal of approximately varied from 30 to 120 ppm. And muscle revealed ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ 16% in case of fluoride and 41% in case of dissolved silicon comparatively low levels of both the metals. The range of was found during mixing of sea and river waters. The net iron was 175-389 ppm and manganese 1-7 ppm (Lyla and annual flux of dissolved silicon has been calculated to be 4.70 Ajmal Khan, 1996). x 105 tons yr-1 from Godavari river into the Bay of Bengal (Sarma et al., 1993). The concentration of 23 elements in The concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Hg the suspended matter in the Godavari estuarine water is are enriched in the suspended sediments relative to the bed reported by Somayajulu et al. (1993). sediments due to the finer size and higher organic matter content in the Cauvery Estuary. Quartz and Feldspar are In the Ennore Estuary, the levels of iron, zinc, abundant among the detritus, while Chlomite, Kaolinite and manganese and copper in water and sediment samples showed Monmorillonite are dominant among the clays. Silicon is slight seasonal fluctuations with higher concentrations the most abundant element in the sediments followed by occurring during the monsoon season. The concentration of Al, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Mn and P. Heavy metals are enriched in iron, zinc, manganese and copper in water and sediment the suspended sediments compared with the surficial bottom exceeded the admissible limit (Rajathy and Azariah, 1996). sediments (Ramanathan et al., 1993). Concentrations of four heavy metals viz., Fe, Ni, Co

The role of NO3-N becomes more important with and Pb estimated in the bulk sediments of the Rushikulya respect to phytoplankton production (Gouda and Panigrahy, Estuary representing the marine, gradient and limnetic zones 1995). The annual cycle of silicate in Rushikulya Estuary showed marked variations both with respect to space and exhibits a unimodal oscillation with peaks and falls during time in case of each element. Concentration gradient of the the monsoon and premonsoon seasons respectively. The metal was in the order of Fe > Pb > Ni > Co. Although Co concentration of silicate in surface and bottom waters ranges and Ni are geo-chemically related elements, only Ni showed from 4.12-to 121.86-µg at.l-1 and from 4.37 to 195.27 µg- good correlations with Fe (r = 0.607, P less than or equal to at. l-1 respectively (Gouda and Panigrahy, 1992). 0.001). It is suggested that the pollution stress arising from these four metals is not serious in the Rushikulya estuary The nutrients indicated insignificant spatial but (Pradhan et al., 1998). Seasonal distribution of trace metals 3- strong temporal variations in the Mahanadi estuary. PO4 - (Co and Ni) in water, zooplankton and seaweeds (Enteromorpha -1 - P ranged from 0.53 to 4.01 µg at. l . NO 3 - N on the other compressa) of Rushikulya and Bahuda Estuaries showed hand revealed very wide range of variation with abnormally considerable seasonal variations. Co-concentrations in high levels (4.5 to 5.25 µg at. l-1) during monsoon associated zooplankton and seaweeds were found to be greater than that with land drainage and precipitation (Sen Gupta and of Ni in both the estuaries. The concentration factor (seaweed/ Upadhyay, 1987). water and zooplankton/water) showed Ni > Co in both the Rushikulya and Bahuda Estuaries (Pradhan, 1999). Padmavathi and Satyanarayana (1999) reported on the distribution of nutrients and major elements in riverine, The discharge of mercury compounds from a estuarine and adjoining coastal waters of Godavari. The chloralkali plant (M/s. Jayashree Chemical (P) Ltd.) has been 4 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ polluting the Rushikulya estuary over the past two decades. 2 species of green algae have been encountered and their The mercury concentration in the sediment samples ranges population is higher at high tide than low tide (Panigrahy from 1.6 to 192.0 mg/kg (Panda et al., 1990). The and Gouda, 1990). Sixty-two species of phytoplankters have concentration of mercury is highest in the samples collected far been identified so for from the Krishna - Godavari River from the effluent discharge areas. mouths. Among these, Bacillariophyceae is more abundant than Dinophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Geo-chemical associations of some trace metals (Fe, Cyanophyceae (Rao and Sarojini, 1992). Mn, Co, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Pb) along the Bahuda Estuary indicate insignificant aerial difference in the total trace metal The maximum plankton density in the Coleroon concentrations. Exchangeable fraction constitutes an Estuary was recorded in summer season whereas the extremely low percentage of total non lithogenous material. minimum was noted in the monsoon season. The dominant Association of heavy metals (except Mn, Zn and Co) in species were Stephanopyxis palmeriana, Chaetoceros convolutum, carbonate phase appears to be the least dominant phase in C. didymum, Bellerochea malleus, Coscinodiscus concinnus and the non-lithogenous fraction. Fe-Mn oxides-bound fraction Asterionella japonica. In the mouth region a total number of is the dominant phase among non-lithogenous with high 152 species consisting of 112 species of diatoms, 27 species scavenging capacity for metal ions like Fe, Mn, Ni and Cr. of dinoflagellates, 7 species of cyanophyceae, 5 species of Organic phase is found to be an efficient scavenger of heavy chlorophyceae and 1 species of silicoflagellata were recorded metals followed by Fe-Mn oxide fraction (Panda et al., 1999). ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ (Patterson Edward and Ayyakkannu, 1991). Sixteen species of diatomaceae, 5 species of dinophyceae, 4 species of The concentration of Hg in Ennore Estuary water cyanophyceae and 5 species of chlorophyceae have been was 0.0012 mg ml-1 while its level in bottom sediment was identified in the Agniyar estuary. The occurrence of three 0.6 mg g-1. The higher concentration of Hg in soil substrate different peritrichous ciliates viz., Zoothamnium sp., Epistylis was attributed largely to fine particulate carbon, which was sp., Vorticella sp. and a loricate ciliate Lagenophrys sp., was 1.2%. The higher fraction of organic carbon was found to recorded on the body surface, gills, appendages and pleopods have a possible role in binding Hg to soil in larger measure of P. indicus in the Ennore Estuary (Jayakumar and than what it was found to release to water (Joseph, 1991). Ramasamy, 1999). The maximum mercury concentrations recorded were 0.0763 µg 1-1 in water 0.0428 µg g-1 in sediment, 0.013 µg g-1 in In Vellar Estuary, 117 species of phytoplankton the gill of a fish O. mossambicus, 0.014 µg g-1 in the brain of group recorded, diatoms are represented with 90 species, a crab S. serrata and 0.040 µg g-1 in the gill of Perna viridis. dinoflagellates with 21 species, chlorophyta 3 species, The higher levels of mercury in the estuary may be attributed cyanophyta 2 species and silicoflagellates 1 species (Mani to the effluents discharged by the industries into the Ennore and Krishnamurthy, 1989). Phytoplankton bloom estuary (Rajathy, 1997). The concentration of mercury varied comprising rich diatoms population is observed during March seasonally and the maximum concentration was recorded and September (Mani et al., 1986). The seasonal cycle of during the monsoon period. The mercury concentration in Chlorophyll - a, b and c varied from 2.15 to 21.3 mg/m3, the water and biota was maximal in the upper reaches and it 0.26 to 3.88 mg/m3 and 0.55 to 7.97 mg/m3 respectively. decreased towards the mouth of the estuary (Joseph and Chlorophyll-a always exceeded chlorophyll-c values, which Srivastava, 1993). throws light on the richness of phytoplankton in the estuary (Vijayalakshmi, 1986). Metal concentration in the mussel in the Ennore Estuary was found lower than the mussels obtained from the As many as 100 species of holoplankton and 7 fish landing centres. Levels of copper in water, sediment and species of meroplankton were encountered in Bahuda Estuary. mussel were found maximal in the fish landing centres Copepods constituted the most dominant group and were (Chidambaram, 1991). represented by 58 species belonging to 32 genera of 25 families. Tintinnids formed the second richest group Biodiversity of flora and fauna comprising 23 species belonging to 12 genera (Sujata Mishra and Panigrahy, 1999a, b). Higher species diversity was Plankton encountered during the premonsoon season, when the estuary was under marine influence while an opposite trend was The productivity values of the Rushikulya estuary observed during monsoon season (Sujata Mishra and differ significantly and are much less than the reported values Panigrahy, 1996). The other major holoplanktons were of the unpolluted waters (Shaw et al., 1991). A total of 89 ostracods, lucifers, amphipods, decapods, cladocerans, species of phytoplankters, comprising 82 species of diatoms, siphonophores, chaetognaths, dolioloids and salps. The crop 3 species of dinoflagellates, 2 species of blue green algae and 5 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004

Table 1. Algae reported from estuaries and coastal waters of Orissa State

Source: Adhikary (2000)

Table 2. List of mangroves and their associates reported in Mahanadi delta

Source: Nayak and Choudhury (2002) during the monsoon was represented by a mixture of some Microbes oligo-stenohaline, limnetic and euryhaline forms. A survey on the prevalence of bacteria and ciliate The invertebrate larval contribution ranges between protozoan of Penaeus indicus obtained from Ennore revealed 455 and 3,73,070 ind/m3 in the Vellar Estuary. The the occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. contribution of invertebrate larvae is higher than the near harveyi, V. anguillarum, V. damsela, Pseudomonas sp., P. shore water (Srikrishnadhas et al., 1993). aeruginosa and a filamentous bacterium Leucothrix sp. (Jayakumar and Ramasamy, 1999). 6 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004

Table 3. List of mangroves and their associates are not reported in Mahanadi delta. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Source: Nayak and Choudhury (2002)

phycocolloid namely algin and carrageenan were estimated from the Heterotrophic bacterial (total viable counts) algae Enteromorpha intestinalis, Chaetomorpha linum, Ulva lactuca and population in water, sediment and a seagrass, Halophila ovalis Hypnea valentiae growing at Uppanar estuaries of Cuddalore and E. showed the dominance of the genera, Vibrio, Pseudomonas, intestinalis, Chaetomorpha aerea, Cladophora fascicularis and Padina Alcaligenes and Flavobacterium - Cytophaga group in the Vellar boergesenii occurring at Uppanar estuary of Thirumullaivasal which Estuary. Heterotrophic bacterial population was found revealed that the growth and productivity of algae at Cuddalore estuary highest in the marine zone followed by gradient, freshwater were better than Thirumullaivasal estuary (Selvi et al., 1999). and tidal zones of the Vellar estuary (Vasantha and Kannan, Mangrove plants 1987; Kannan and Vasantha, 1986). In Mahanadi delta, 48 species of mangroves and their associates have been collected (Table 2). It is evident that 16 species reported by Of the total of 150 strains of heterotrophic bacteria earlier workers could not be traced during the present study (Tables 3). collected from the Vellar estuarine water, the copper resistant This is due to the operation of pestilent biotic pressure mentioned earlier. forms were high (88.6%) followed by cadmium, zinc, iron As a result, the present mangrove vegetation is extant in denuded condition and mercury. Sediment samples harboured more Cu-tolerant (Nayak and Choudhury, 2001). Besides, the loss of mangroves in these bacteria than the seawater samples. It was found that the ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ areas have intensified the rate of various environmental hazards which Cu-tolerant forms could be used as a tool to control the Cu includes the tropical cyclones, floods, soil erosion, encroachment of sea pollution in the environment (Aiyamperumal et al., 1993). towards land etc. (Nayak and Choudhury, 2002).

Algae Four species of amphibians, 11 species of reptiles, 120 species of birds and 14 species mammals were in the Godavari estuarine area Sixteen genera and 22 species of algae were listed (Raja Sekhar et al., 2002). In many places the mangrove species were from Bhitarkanika mangroves, Paradeep port area, estuaries cleared in the reclamation process for housing, aquaculture and agriculture of Subarnarekha, Debi, Kusabhadra, Rushikulya, and the practices, as a result, losses of plant and animals species (Raja Sekhar et al., backwaters of Konarka and Gopalpur coast (Table 1). The 2002). common species were Enteromorpha compressa, E. intestinalis, About 61 species of mangroves and other associated plants are Ulva fasciata, Chaetomorpha aerea and C. antennina, reported in the Mahanadhi Delta. Likewise, 35 species and 23 species of Cladophora uncinella in the littoral sandy beds of all the mangrove and species are reported in the Krishna and Godavari Deltaic estuaries and Gracilaria verrucosa in restricted patches in the areas respectively (Banerjee, 2002). In Krishna estuary, high density of estuaries of Mahanadi and its distributaries (Adhikary, 2000). mangrove population has been observed in the sediments with high silt fraction (Rao et al., 1992). A rare mangrove Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea The macroalgal biomass within the Godavari and Krishna species on Indian mainland has been identified in the Godavari estuary Estuary is minimum during August to September and maximum during (Venkanna, 1991).The lower intertidal zone of the riverine area is mainly January and February. The tetrasporophytic red algae Bostrychia tenella dominated by Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Caloglossa leprieurii are present throughout the year whereas Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Ceriops decandra. The higher unit or supra- carposporophytic plants are found only during October to May tidal zone is usually dominated by Xylocarpus granatum, Sonneratia apetala, (Narasimha Rao and Umamaheswara Rao, 1991). Derris scandens, Sarcolobus carinatus, Avicennia alba and some times Acanthus ilicifolius and Excoecaria agallocha (Banerjee, 2002). Seven species of Chlorophyta, one species of Phaeophyta and 2 species of Rhodophyta were recorded in the Uppanar estuary of Six species of mangroves were reported in the Vellar estuary. They are Thirumullaivasal. At Cuddalore backwaters, 6 species of Chloro-phyta Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata, Avicennia marina, A. officinalis, and 2 species of Rhodophyta were recorded. At Thirumullaivasal Bruguiera cylindrica and Ceriops decandra (Kathiresan and Rajendran, Enteromorpha compressa and Padina boergesenii and at Cuddalore 2002). backwaters, E. compressa and Hypnea valentiae were the dominant algae (Palanisamy and Selvaraj, 1998). (Continued in next issue of ENVIS Newsletter, Vol.10 No.4, 2004)

The total chlorophyll, carbohydrate, protein, lipid and 7 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004

Faunal Diversity : Estuarine Ecosystem C.A. Nagaeswara Rao Freshwater Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India, 1-1-300/ B, Ashoknagar, Hyderabad - 500 020 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Among the various ecosystems, estuaries are unique due to their also gets deposited, incorporated in the estuarine ecosystem, thus enriching continuous dynamic nature and higher productivity. At and near the them with nutrients and therefore the estuaries are highly productive mouth of the river, where it meets the sea a dynamic and distinct environment prevails. Here river water mixes with the seawater and the DIVISION OF ESTUARINE AREA tides of the sea in regular recurring rhythm pushes in and out of the river waters. This transitional ecotone, which is the confluence of the river Precisely, the estuarine part of the river extends from the mouth of and the sea, is the estuary. Estuaries are defined in many ways. the river till the extent of river to which mixed water exists. Thus tidal influx and the river flow determine the extent of estuarine environment The Oxford dictionary defines it briefly as the tidal mouth of a ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ in any river at any specific time. Broadly, the total estuarine zone of the large river. Pitchard (1967) defined an estuary is a semi enclosed coastal river is divided to various regions as below depending on salinity, currents body of water which has a free connection with open sea and within and sediment characteristics. which the sea water measurably diluted with freshwater derived from land drainage. Day (1981) defined an estuary as a partially enclosed Head: Where the freshwater enters the estuaries and river currents coastal body of water which either permanently or periodically open to predominate. Limited salt penetration, maximum salinity 0.5 - 5 the sea within which there is a measurably variation of salinity due to the ppt. mixture of sea water with freshwater derived from land drainage. Upper reaches: Mixing of salt and freshwaters, minimal currents especially at high tides leading to turbidity, salinity 5 – 18 ppt. SPECIAL FEATURES OF ESTUARIES: Middle reaches: Faster currents due to tides, mud deposits, salinity 18 – 25 ppt., sandy where currents are faster. Estuarine habitat is dynamic with continuously changing physico- Lower reaches: Faster currents due to tides, sandy deposits, and salinity chemical features. Estuaries are considered the highly productive habitats 25 – 30 ppt. due to its continuous replenishment of nutrients from both the seaside Mouth: Strong tidal currents, clear sandy shore, salinity equal to adjacent and from landside brought through riverine waters carried in the form of sea. silt, clay and organic matter. Estuaries serve as breeding and spawning ground for several commercially important fishes, prawn. And also acts CLASSIFICATION OF ESTUARINE ANIMALS as nursery for several invertebrates of the adjoining sea. Another important feature near the estuaries is the occurrence of Mangroves (salt tolerant Estuarine animals are categorized into several categories based on plants) Forests. The richness and composition of mangroves differ, their salinity tolerance nature as: depending on various factors viz., tidal amplitude, freshwater inflows and geomorphological features of the river mouth etc. Mangrove forests Oligohaline organisms: The majority of animals living in rivers and other develop at river mouths of some rivers which forms a delta before joining freshwater bodies do not tolerate salinity >0.1 ppt. But some the sea as in the case of Ganges, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery oligo-haline species persists at salinities upto 5 ppt. etc. About 6,740 sq. km. of mangrove forest are present on Indian coasts True Estuarine organisms: These are mostly marine animals with marine and Andaman Islands. A total of 69 species of mangroves and salt tolerant affinities, which live in the central part of the estuaries. Most of halophytes are recorded from Indian Mangrove forests. Another these are capable of living in the sea, but are not found there interesting feature of Mangroves is that hundreds of animal species are apparently because of competition. associated with mangroves and about 226 species of animals of different Euryhaline marine organisms: These constitute majority of organisms groups are reported from mangrove forests of Andhra Pradesh. living in the estuaries with their distribution ranging from sea into the central part of the estuaries. Many disappear below 18 ppt. In India we have about 113 major and minor rivers and several (Marine organisms capable of tolerating salinity fluctuations). rivulets, streams, creeks and also back waters which all meet the sea and Stenohaline marine organisms: These occur at the mouth of the estuaries thus form an estuarine environment (mixed / brackish water) which is at salinities above 25 ppt. estimated to be around 2,14,500 ha of area (Jhingran and Migrants: These animals, mostly fishes and prawns spend only a part of Gopalakrishnan, 1973). their life cycle in the estuary.

Fine sedimentary deposits of mud are highly special characteristic Though estuaries are rich in nutrients and therefore highly feature of estuaries. The water of estuaries tend to be very turbid as silt productive, many studies on the distribution and abundance of animals and clay particles in suspension are carried about until eventually settled in the estuaries have shown that the number of species within the estuaries to form the vast mud flats around the estuarine areas. Along with the is smaller than either sea or freshwater alone. Thus estuarine faunal huge quantity of sediments being carried into the estuaries from vast resources are quantitatively rich, but qualitatively poor as salinity is the river drainage, particles of organic debris during its course derived from limiting factor. death and decay of animals are usually found. All this organic matter 8 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ which Edwardsiasp. sp. and Metridium sp. are common. Among ESTUARINE ANIMALS pennatulids i.e., commonly called as sea pens Pterides sp. and Virgularia are common. Based on the habitat, estuarine fauna can be studied as plankton, Echiura and sipuncula: Seven species of Echiura and two species nekton, benthos, and mieo-benthos. Sipuncula are reported from Indian estuaries. Siphonosoma sp. and Phascolosoma sp. are sipunculids commonly encounted in Indian estuaries. Plankton: This refers to the free-floating aquatic life in the estuaries which has feeble or no power of movement and as such moves along the water Chaetognatha (Arrow worms): these groups of animals are planktonic currents. This consists of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Zooplankton and about nine species belong to three genera are reported from Indian comprises of mainly ciliates, flagellates, foriminiferans, medusae, estuaries. Sigitta bedoti and S. enflata are common in estuarine plankton. siphonopores, rotifers, ctenophores, chaetognaths, copepodes, mysids, and larvae of invertebrates and fish larvae. Copepods form 58 – 90 % Brachiopoda (Lamp shells): This is a rare group of benthic animals reported plankton of Godavari Estuary with 60 species. Zooplankton is found to from some river mouths of Indian coasts (Godavari, Krishna, Ganges be rich in the middle of the estuary compared to the head or mouth due and Gujarat coasts). One species belonging to Lingula sp. is reported to greater turbulence at mouth and freshwater conditions at the head of from Indian Estuaries. the Estuary. Nematoda: Most of the nematodes occurring in the sediments of estuarine Nekton: These are free-swimming forms in the water column of the habitats are small and less than 0.5 mm in size and they constitute the estuary. This group constitutes mainly quantitatively rich fish fauna meio-benthos. Nematodes form 65 – 90 % among the meio-benthos of along with its large juvenile populations followed by different species of ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ the estuarine sediments. 35 species of nematodes are reported from prawns and shrimps. Hooghly Estuary.

Benthos: These constitute the major component of estuarine organisms Polychaeta: This group forms a major component in the estuarine both in variety and numbers. These are either crawling or burrowing in benthos. They occur in the sediments of estuaries as burrowing or tube the sediments. Depending on the sediment texture, faunal composition dwelling as well as associated with mangroves. Polychaete faunal diversity and their quantity vary. Further mangrove forests and vast mud flats of Indian estuaries has been well studied. 69 species have been reported harbor rich variety of benthic animals. The benthic fauna consists of from Hooghly estuary, 33 species from Mahanadi, 25 species from Pulicat coelenterates, polychaetes, isopods, amphipods, crabs, hermit crabs, Lake, 31 species from Chilka Lake and 124 species from Vellar estuary & shrimps, molluscs, sipunculids and fishes, viz., gobioids and eels. its offshore areas and 25 species from Cochin Estuary.

Mieo-benthos: These are smaller in size less than 0.5 mm inhabiting the Crustacea: Copepoda: These are planktonic and meio-benthic fauna. interstitial spaces between the sediment particles of the bottom and inter Among plankton copepods form 45 – 91.5 %. About 40 species from tidal region of estuaries. This group comprises, nematodes, copepods, Godavary Estuary 58 species from Bahuda and 47 species Goa Estuary ostracods, gastrotricha, kinorhyncha and polychaetes etc. It is found that are reported among plankton. Harpecticoid copepods form second Nematoda (90.5%) is the dominant group followed by harpecticoid dominant group among meio-benthos and 27 species of these are reported copepods (3.7%) and ostracods (3.6%) among the mieo-benthos of from Godavary Estuary. Godavari estuary. Crustacea: Isopoda & Amphipoda: These are benthic forms and some FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF ESTUARIES are parasitic. Seven species of isopods are reported from Hooghly estuary among which Spheroma and Exospheroma are common. Amphipods called Though the estuarine faunal diversity is not comparable with its adjacent beech-fleas are benthic and six species are reported from Chilka lagoon. marine ecosystem, however it encompasses almost all groups of animals Crustacea: Cumacea: These are mostly benthic organisms and six species i.e., from protozoa to mammalia. Information on each group of animals are reported from Indian estuaries among which Iphinoe sp. and occurring in Indian estuaries is given briefly below. Paradiastylis sp. are common.

Protozoa: Foraminifera, flagellates and ciliates are common in estuaries. Crustacea: Mysids: These are shrimp like epi-benthic and pelagic forms About 90 species of foraminifers are reported from Godavary estuary. 23 of marine nature. Commonly found estuarine plankton. About 12 species of ciliates (titinids) are reported from Bahuda estuary. Flagellates species of mysids are reported from Godavari estuary. viz., Ceratium and Noctiluca are common dinoflagellates in esturies. Crustacea: Stomatopoda: These are primarily marine nekton but usually Porifera: Among sponges, eight species belonging to six genera are enter estuaries. About 12 species are reported from Indian estuaries and reported from Indian estuarine waters and lagoons. The genera Cliona, Squilla sp. is very common. Tetilla and Dontella are reported from Godavary, Mahanadi and Zuari estuaries. Crustacea: Cirripedea: These are sedentary crustaceans of marine nature with only few species occurring in estuaries. These are free living, Coelenterata: Medusae and siphonopores as planktonic, sea anemones commensales and parasitic. These are mostly attached to wooden logs, and pennatulids as benthic forms are common in estuaries. 23 species of mangroves and dry shells. five species are reported from Hooghly estuary. medusae and five species of siphonopores are reported from Godavari Barnacle Lepas sp. is common. estuary. 13 species of sea anemones are reported from Indian estuaries of 9 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Crustacea: Prawns & shrimps: These form the major group of animals in of frog was reported from Mangroves of Vellar Estuary and five species of estuaries next to fishes. Majority of prawns found in estuaries spend amphibians from Hooghly Estuary. some time of life cycle in estuaries and remaining part in sea or freshwater. Reptilia: These are far less sensitive to salinity than the amphibians, thus Estuarine prawn fauna belongs to families Paenidae, Paleomonidae, several reptiles viz., crocodiles, turtles and snakes are found in estuarine Sergestidae and Alphidae. About 38 species of prawns and shrimps are waters. The estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus is common in Hooghly reported from Godavari Estuary. Important prawn genera in estuaries and Mahanadi estuaries. 7 species of turtles are reported from Hooghly are Penaeus, Metapenaeus, Parapenaeopsis, Solenocera, Acetes, Palaemon, Estuary of which olive ridley is significant. Among lizards, water monitor Macrobrachium and shrimps Alphaeus and Hipolysmata. Varanus salvator is reported from Chilka Lake and Hooghly estuary. Six species of snakes are reported from Mahanadi estuary. Crustacea: Crabs & Hermitcrabs: Large population of crabs is a common site at the supra tidal and inter tidal areas of estuaries, mud flats and Birds: Though resident aquatic birds are not found in estuary, large mangroves. About 73 species of crabs of families Ocypodidae, Portunidae, populations of bird fauna are found in estuaryine shallow waters, exposed Xanthidae and Graspidae are reported from Hooghly Estuary while 21 mud flats near river mouths and mangroves during low tide time feeding species of crabs are reported from Godavari Estuary. The common crabs on the benthic fauna. About 175 species of birds are found around found in Indian estuaries belong to genera Uca, Ocypoda, Charybdis, Chilka lagoon and 46 species of birds are reported from Mahanadi estuary. Sessarma, Varuna and Metaplex and the commercially important common mud crab Scylla. It is a common site to see some gastropod shells moving Mammals: None of the mammals are exclusively confined to estuarine in the inter tidal areas of estuaries. These may be live gastropods or crab- habitats. However, some of the marine and freshwater mammals enter like crustaceans living in dead gastropod shells called Hermit crabs. About estuaries. Eight species of mammals (Dolphins and porpoises) are reported 14 species of hermit crabs are reported from Hooghly Estuary. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ from estuaries of India.

Mollusca: Members of this group are important constituent among the CONSERVATION MEASURES: benthos of the estuaries. These are mostly burried in the estuarine Developmental activities around the estuarine environment sediments or attached to timber mangrove stems and some are seen resulted in the degradation of this ecosystem in recent times as is seen in crawling. 72 species of gastropods, 53 species of Bivalvia and 3 species other ecosystems. Increasing population, urbanization and the of cephalopods are reported from Hooghly estuary. 149 species of molluscs industrialization has had its share in degrading this fragile ecosystem by are reported from Mahanadi Estuary. The common forms found in large scale reclamation of land near estuaries, swamps marshes and estuaries belong to genera Littorina, Nerita, Cerithidea, Telescopium, Murex, mangroves for various purposes, dredging activities in the estuaries for Thais, among gastropods and Anadara, Modiolus, Sccostrea, Crassostrea, navigation, reducing the river discharges to a very less extent for various Mactra, Solen and Meretrix among bivalves. Several molluscs are found reasons, discharging untreated urban sewage and industrial effluents burrowing deep inside wooden logs, timbers and mangrove stems . . .etc., and finally the recent brackish waters aquaculture activities around called as Borers. Members belonging to genera viz., Martesia, Pholas, estuaries are important threats for sustenance of the unique ecosystem. Bankia and Nototeredo reported from estuaries. 4 species of cephalopods Perpetuating this pristine habitat for the postereity is not difficult if Eco- are reported in Indian estuaries. awareness is practice by policy makers and stakeholders in the following aspects. Echinodermata: These are basically marine, some are found occasionally in estuarine waters where higher salinities are found. A total of 21 species Banning the reclamation of estuarine areas for all purposes except are found from Indian estuaries. aquaculture and strict adherence to Coastal Zone Regulations. Discharge of urban sewage, industrial effluents and aquacultural wastes to be allowed Protochordata: Among protochordates, the mud dwelling and burrowing into rivers after proper treatment. Stoppage of cutting mangrove forests hemi-chordate, Scaccoglosus sp. was reported from Hooghly estuary. Among for converting them into aquacultural ponds and taking afforestation of uro-chordates planktonic forms viz., Salpa, Doliolum, Oikopleura are mangroves where they were already cleared. Maintaining optimum levels common from Indian estuaries. of river flows for the sustenance of estuaries thus retaining its estuarine character through out the year. Creating awareness among fishermen to Fishes: Fishes form the major component of nektonic fauna of estuaries avoid over fishing of juveniles in estuaries and not to damage numerous and it comprises freshwater to marine components depending upon the larval and juveniles of coastal organisms while collecting prawn seed, salinity in the estuary. A majority of estuarine fishes are marine migrants; thus protecting the coastal biodiversity. their juveniles enter estuaries for food and shelter. Fishes of the family, Mugilidae, Clupidae, Engraulidae, Scaianidae and Gerreidae are of this This unique environment with richness of nature and its high productivity category. There are few migratory fishes found in estuaries viz., can be realized only by witnessing the lush green mangrove forests found Anodromus fish, Hilsas ilisha and the catadromus fish, freshwater eel for around the ecosystem, huge quantities of fish catches (fin as well as shell maturation. There are few permanent residents of estuaries viz., gobioids, fishes) at the mouth areas of estuaries throughout the year, wide spectrum syngnathids, clupeoids, pearl spots etc. Very few freshwater forms are of fauna seen on the exposed areas of estuaries during low tides and encounted in estuaries. About 250 species of fishes considered being finally several activities connected with brackish water aquaculture around estuarine and 156 species reported from Hooghly estuary, 180 species the estuaries viz., collection of prawn seed through operation of hand from Mahanadi estuary and 312 species from Godavari Estuary are and shooting nets and huge quantities of other faunal material (larvae reported. and juveniles) collected along with the prawn seed which enter the

Amphibia: Very few amphibians inhabit estuarine waters. One species 10 EPTRI - ENVIS Newsletter Vol. 10 No.3, 2004 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ estuaries during high tides. Director, ZSI (Ed.), 1995. Hugli – Matla Estuary, West Bengal. Estuarine Ecosystem series, Part 2, Zoological Survey of India, 542 pp. REFERENCES Anonymous, 1985. State of the Art Report : Estuarine Director, ZSI (Ed.), 1998. Fauna of Mahanadi Estuary. Biology. Work shop on Estuarine Biology, Berhampur (Orissa)., Estuarine Ecosystem series, Part 2, Zoological Survey of India, Feb., 1985. Zoological Survey of India.

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Barnes, R.S.K. and J. Green 1971. The estuarine Director, ZSI (Ed.) 2001, Fauna of Godavari Estuary (Andhra environment. Applied Science Publishers Ltd., London, 133 Pradesh), Estuarine Ecosystem series, 4, Zoological Survey of India, pp. 166 pp.

Day, J.H., (Ed), 1981. Estuarine ecology with particular Donald S. Mclusky, 1981. The estuarine ecosystem. Blackie, reference to Southern Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 411 Glasgow & London, 150 pp. pp. Kannupandi, T. 1997 Estuaries of India, State of the Art Director, ZSI (Ed.), 1995. Fauna of Chilka Lake. Wetland Report. Environmental Information system center, CAS in Eco-system Series, Zoological Survey of India, 672 pp. Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, 52 pp.

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Natarajan, R (Ed.) 1975 Recent researches in Estuarine ABSTRACTSBiology, Hindustan Publishing Corporation, Delhi, 321 pp. Composition and abundance of meroplankton Icthyofauna of Ennore Estuary Suriyanarayana Moorthi M, Habibullah Mohammed in Coringa mangrove ecosystem, Kakinada, PG Dept Zoo, The New Coll, Chennai 600014. Andhra Pradesh with special reference [Convergence, 3(1-4) (2001), 60-64 (9 Ref.)] to aquaculture Prasad NV Ennore Estuary is an excellent biome for ecological studies as it shows (Dept Zoo, Andhra Univ, Visakhapatnam 530003, AP). remarkable diversity of various fauna and flora. In recent years construction [J Aquat Bio, 18(1)(2003), 29-34 (30 Ref.)] of North Madras Thermal Power Project and continuous dumping of During the period of investigation on hydrographical and effluent into this estuary by various factories of North Chennai have planktonological studies, the meroplanktonic populations were depleted the major fish fauna and natural oyster beds. Present social encountered in considerable numbers throughout the year. The highly

status of this estuary is also discussed. ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ fluctuating hydrographical parameters and tidal circulation play an important role in maintaining the endemic population of these larvae. Source: http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/parya-frame1912.html The post larva of prawn and crabs shows direct relationship with the abundance of phytoplankton and detritus. Source: http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/v20n34/em-34-eco.doc Distribution of recent benthic Ostracoda in Adyar River estuary, East Coast of India Hussain SM, Mohan SP A study on impact of hinterland farm Dept. Geo, Univ Madras, AC Coll Campus, Chennai 600025, practices on Coringa mangroves with some Tamil Nadu. [Indian J Marine Sci, 30(1) (2001), 53-56 (17 Ref)] Eco-economic and sustainable solutions Reddi EUB Fifteen surface sediment and bottom water samples were collected from (Dept Environ Sci, Andhra Univ, Visakhapatnam 530003). the Adyar river estuary, Chennai, starting from the mouth of the river [Eco Env Conserv, 9(3)(2003), 249-251 (4 Ref.) upstream. Twenty-six species belonging to 23 genera have been To identify reasons for the degradation of Coringa mangrove ecosystem, encountered, of which Caudites javana and Tanella gracilis were abundant the impacts of changed land use pattern, such as cropping composition and widespread in the study area. The distribution of the species in each in the agriculture and the consequential imbalances and acute shortages sample is given. The distribution of ostracods in the Adyar river estuary in the societal basic resources base viz., fodder, fuel wood and timber in seems to be controlled by salinity and substrate. the hinterland area, over mangroves are analysed and some eco-economic Source: http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/parya-frame1834.html and sustainable solutions are offered.

Source: http://envfor.nic.in/paryaabs/v20n34/em-34-eco.doc 11 The Eastern Ghats Vol.10 No. 3, 2004 EPTRI - ENVIS News Letter

EPTRI - ENVIS has privilege to release T-Shirts and Caps on highly endangered species The Great Indian Bustard. The objective of the effort is to inculcate awareness, spread the message of Conservation of nature and draw attention to the endangered species.

The ENVIS-EPTRI has released T-Shirts and Caps on Great Indian Bustard, a highly endangered species seen in small numbers in Rollapadu Sanctuary, Kurnool District, Eastern Ghats. The T-shirts and Caps have a theme on endangered species are available at EPTRI and are priced. For more information contact : Dr. Joel Prashant Jack, e-mail: prashant @eptri.com

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