Seshaiyana Vol.14 No.1 (2006) Seshaiyana ENVIS Newsletter on Estuaries, Mangroves, Coral Reefs and Lagoons Vol.14, No.1 ISSN June 2006 0971-8656 Hello Readers, Over the years, this newsletter has Inside this issue.... come in different dimensions covering various facets of the coastal and marine ecosystems, thereby playing an important role in the 1 Screening mangroves in search of astaxanthin dissemination of information to the scientific community world over. 3 Abundance and diversity of plankton in Pulicat lake This issue carries some interesting 5 Starch content in different parts of Sonneratia articles on marine sciences. The first article on caseolaris (L.) Engl. astaxanthin describes the importance, sources and possible use of it in the aquaculture 6 Records of auger shells (Neogastropoda : industry. Following this is an article which Terebridae) from Andaman and Nicobar briefs the changes in diversity and abundance islands of plankton in relation to the environmental changes in the Pulicat lake. The third article on 9 Biofuels and biofuel cells from microorganisms the starch content suggests Sonneratia - an alternative source of energy caseolaris as a very good source of edible starch. The fourth article brings to the fore the 12 Bacterial population in Bhitarkanika occurrence of 6 species of auger shells in the mangrove ecosystem Andaman and Nicobar islands. The next article 13 Distribution of yellow and orange pigmented suggests an alternate source for energy – the bacteria in Bhitarkanika mangroves from biofuels and biofuel cells from microorganisms. Orissa This assumes significance as the whole world is looking for a cheap and alternative source of 15 Book review energy with the fast depletion of petroleum hydrocarbon. The sixth article details the 16 Former ENVIS-in-charge is Vice-Chancellor bacterial population in different zones of now Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystems. The article which follows the above throws light on yellow 17 Recent news in brief and orange pigmented bacterial population in Information, News and Notes the Bhitarkanika mangroves laying emphasis on the need for detailed investigation on the 20 Upcoming research meets distribution pattern in relation to salinity levels. An added feature of this issue is a review on a book entitled “Field guide of mangroves of Maharashtra”. Another refreshing change in this issue is the inclusion of recent news in brief besides forth coming research meets. Apart from reading, the users can contribute articles to Sehaiyana. Prof. T. BALASUBRAMANIAN Prof. S. AJMAL KHAN Seshaiyana Vol.14 No.1 (2006) INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS Seshaiyana welcomes original articles, snippets and cartoons in the area of coastal wetlands, preferably, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs and lagoons. The newsletter accepts popular/research Seshaiyana articles, reviews, news and notes. Details of forth- Vol.14, No.1 coming seminars/symposia/trainings/workshops will June 2006 also be considered for publication. Editors The articles should not exceed five typed pages in double space. Prof. T. Balasubramanian (Director & ENVIS in-charge) Line drawings and cartoons should be clear Prof. S. Ajmal Khan for good reproduction. ENVIS TEAM References should be limited and cited in the text by name and year. Council of Biological Dr. N. Rajendran - Research Officer Editors' style manual may be referred to for listing Dr. S. Baskara Sanjeevi - Research Asst. references at the end. Dr. R. Rajakumar - I.T. Asst. Mrs. L. Vijayalakshmi - Asst. Programmer Articles should be sent to: Mr. B. Senthilkumar - Information Asst. Mr. A. Subramanian - Reprography Asst. The In-Charge Mr. R. Nagarajan - Office Asst. ENVIS Centre Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology Published by Parangipettai - 608 502 Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Tamilnadu India Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology Annamalai University OR Parangipettai - 608 502 E-mail your articles Tamil Nadu, India (as attached files in MS-Word 6.0) to Sponsored by [email protected] Ministry of Environment and Forests [email protected] Government of India New Delhi Editor's desk invites reader's views, suggestions and constructive criticism on Seshaiyana. DO JOIN US ENVIS Centre library collects and collates all the information related to its core subjects viz. Estuaries, Mangroves, Coral reefs and Lagoons in particular and coastal wetlands in general. Hence, the library invites donation of reprints, bibliographic collections, news clippings, posters, photographs etc. from all sources. Please help to keep information abreast. Front cover photo : Coral Montipora foliosa Adopted from Corals of the World by Jen Veron Seshaiyana Vol.14 No.1 (2006) SCREENING MANGROVES IN SEARCH OF ASTAXANTHIN Introduction astaxanthin and 5% free astaxanthin, with the Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring remaining consisting of â-carotene, carotenoid pigment and a powerful biological canthaxanthin and lutein. The eggs of fishes antioxidant, which exhibits strong free radical (e.g., salmon) also contain astaxanthin. It is also scavenging activity. It plays a vital role in the available from processed krill, crawfish and protection against lipid peroxidation and yeast called Phaffia although the concentration oxidative damage of LDL-cholesterol, cell is not very appreciable. membranes, cells and tissues. Importance of astaxanthin It is a red pigment and the predominant Astaxanthin is a powerful, bioactive carotenoid of most crustacean species. However anti-oxidant having demonstrated efficacy in when it binds to different proteins, it may appear animal or human models for addressing several green, yellow or brown. When these health problems like muscular degeneration, “caroproteins” are denatured through cooking, Alzheimer’s (Markesbery and Carney, 1999; astaxanthin molecule has two symmetric carbons Behl, 1999), Parkinson’s diseases (Ebadi et al., located at the 3 and 3’ positions of the benzoid 1996), cardiovascular diseases, stroke and rings on either end of the molecule. Different several types of cancer. Researches conducted enantiomers of the molecule result from the exact on astaxanthin confirmed that this powerful way these hydroxyl groups (-OH) are attached to anti-oxidant virtually eliminates arthritic pain the carbon atoms at these centers of asymmetry. among many people, eases or eliminates When the hydroxyl group is attached in such a chronic back pain, accelerates the process of way that it projects above the plane of the muscle healing, functions as internal sunscreen molecule, it is said to be in the R configuration. to enhance tolerance to sun exposure, boosts When the hydroxyl group is attached in such a immune system functioning, reduces pain from way that it projects below the plane of the carpal tunnel syndrome, multiplies the effect of molecule, it is said to be in the S configuration. vitamins E and C in human body, enhances Thus the three possible enantiomers are athletic performance in terms of both strength designated as R, R’, S, S’ and R, S (meso). and endurance and lowers LDL cholesterol. In animal and plant kingdoms, the protective role Occurrence of astaxanthin to tide over unfavourable Astaxanthin molecules are associated environmental conditions is very prominent. with many of the colours that are seen in leaves, This carotenoid pigment plays many important flowers and fruits. This carotenoid pigment is also functions in fishes, crustaceans and several found in a number of aquatic flora and fauna like aquatic animals like improved protection against fish species (salmon, red seabream etc.), oxidation and photo-oxidation, reproduction and crustaceans (shrimps, lobsters etc.) and development, immune response, resistance to microalgae (like Haematococcus pluvialis). diseases and in communication system. Recent Haematococcus pluvialis is believed to be the research has shown that astaxanthin acts like a world’s richest known source of astaxanthin. This vitamin for salmon. Now-a-day astaxanthin is species has wide global distribution and occurs used in the feed of farm raised salmon to in continental and coastal rock pools, water impart their flesh the same pink colour of wild holes and other similar aquatic bodies. During salmon and also in poultry feed to augment the adverse environmental conditions, for instance yellow colour of egg yolk. when aquatic nutrient depletion becomes extremely acute or when prolonged dry condition Considering the wide role of exists, this flagellated algae switch on to the astaxanthin in several sectors ranging from resting phase when it starts accumulating high aquaculture to pharmaceutical spheres, a study amount of astaxanthin (3% or more of their dry was carried out in Indian Sundarbans region to weight). The carotenoid fraction of identify the astaxanthin base in the mangrove Haematococcus algae contains about 70% gene pool. Among the 34 mangrove species monoesters of astaxanthin, 10% diesters of and several associate species occurring in 1 Seshaiyana Vol.14 No.1 (2006) Indian Sundarbans, few dominant mangrove people. This will not only defray the people from species and few selective associate flora have illegal entry into the forest but will also improve been considered in the present study and the the animal and fish nutrition sector of the area astaxanthin content in them is given in Table 1. through setting up of small-scale feed units. Table 1. Astaxanthin content in mangrove and References associated species Behl, C., 1999. Alzheimer’s disease and oxidative stress: implications for