Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 47 (01), January 2018, pp. 7-14 General Article Need for monitoring and conservation of marine floral and faunal biodiversity in the coastal region of Karnataka, India S. Rajashekara*† †Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bengaluru 560 056, India. *[E-mail: [email protected]] Received 07 October 2015 ; revised 17 November 2016 Marine environment of India consists of unique ecosystems are known for their aesthetic beauty and provides habitat for numerous biological species. Mangroves are unique ecosystem of tropics and sub-tropics which support naturally diverse groups of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. These ecosystems serves has a haven for many varieties of birds and other fauna. Several Islands of Karnataka is an excellent place to enjoy the seascape, the mangroves with waves wading at their roots, several water birds and the spectacular dusk. Marine organisms have some physical and special adaptations that are unique to their lifestyle. Many species of seabirds spend much of their time in and around the seawater that have special types of behavior. The practice of coastal regions by monitoring of marine flora and fauna is an important topic of study in the coastal zone of Karnataka, India forms a good baseline work for the assessment of human–animal interactions. The comprehensive catalogues can be prepared separately for the marine flora and the fauna in order to recognize priority areas for maintenance in the coastal and non- coastal regions of Karnataka, India. [Keywords: Arabian Sea; Coastal Zone; Estuary; Mangroves; Marine birds; Marine flora and fauna] Introduction Indian subcontinent harbor a large number of Analogous to the many other ecosystems, the species belonging to various habitats that include marine environment is rich sources of biological mangrove swamps, estuaries, lagoons, muddy, diversity1. Biodiversity is an important component sandy/rocky shores, and oceanic islands3. for economic and social development of most of the developing countries in the world. The conservation National level and sustainability of the biodiversity is critical India has a coastline of about 7517 km with importance in meeting the human demand of the about 25% of its population living in coastal areas sources viz., food, fodder, fiber, fuel and other (about 5423 km along the mainland and 2094 km needs of raising the population of the world2. the Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Among 17 mega-diverse countries India is one of Islands)4. Among the Asian countries, India ranks the leading one in the world. India alone accounts second in aquaculture, is the fourth largest producer for 7–8 % of the world’s recorded plant and animal of fish, and one of the top leading exporters of sea species of the 2.4 % of the world’s area2. India is a foods. Coastal areas are some of the most important rich country known for its enormous biodiversity, habitats of the biosphere including an estuaries, with unique grasslands, forests, deserts and varying backwaters and coastal wetlands. These areas are agro-climatic conditions and inland water resources highly preferred for setting up commerce, industry comprising rivers, canals, lagoons, reservoirs and and military and establishments for residential lakes, and also coastal regions, the sea and purposes. estuaries. Also, tropical marine ecosystems of the 8 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 47, NO. 01, JANUARY 2018 The most biologically productive regions of the major marine ecosystems that are important along world oceans are the Arabian sea of western coast the Indian coast are the mangroves and the coral of India5. The biologically productivity of the basin reefs. Mangrove vegetation protects land against sea shows strong seasonality with blooms occurring in erosion. Major mangrove foresters are found on the summer monsoon (June-August) and winter southeastern coast and minor are found on the monsoon (December-February) in the tropical southwestern coast of India. Also, this environment region. The summer bloom is driven by upwelling consisting of intertidal regions, the estuaries, along the coast of Somalia, Arabia and the southern seaweed and sea grass beds, mangrove forests, and parts of the west coast of India6. Oceanography of coral reefs has a direct impact on human civilization the Indian coastal region is dominated by three because it provides social and economic benefits. In seasons, viz. southwest monsoon (June to addition to the phytoplankton in the seawater, September), northeast monsoon (October to larger, multicellular intertidal and benthic algae are January) and fair weather period (February to May). important primary producers in coastal ecosystems. Karnataka consist of three beaches - sandy (75%), rocky (11%) and muddy flat (14%) along the total Coastal Zone of Karnataka length of 280 km. Average wind speed during the Coastal Zone of Karnataka is a very multifaceted southwest monsoon period is about 35 kmh-1 (9.7 vibrant delicate environment, which perform ms-1), frequently rising up to 45–55 kmh-1 (12.5– important function. The coastline comprises of 15.3 ms-1). The average wind speed during headland, promontories, rocky shores, sandy spits, northeast monsoon prevail around 20 kmh-1 (5.6 ms- barrier beaches, open beaches, embayment, 1)4. estuaries, inlets, bays, marshy land and offshore Over 11,000 faunal (10,400 invertebrates and islands. Coastal ecosystem play important role on 625 vertebrates) and over 800 floral (624 algae, 50 maintaining biodiversity and integrity of the mangroves, 32 angiosperms, 71 fungi, 14 lichens, coasts15. The coastal zone of Karnataka, with a 12 sea grass) species have been identified from population of over 1,500 persons per square Indian coastal areas7. According to the recent kilometer, is one of the most densely populated estimation 42 species of shrimps/prawns, 112 coastal zones of the world. Settlements in the species of brachyuran crabs, 14 species of hermit Indian coastal region consists 22 urban crabs and nine species of lobsters are reported from agglomerations and 1044 villages. The region eight estuaries and coastal (offshore) waters of supports high degree of economic development Karnataka State8. A total of 69 species belonging to such as agricultural and horticultural activities, 39genera, 19 families and 3 orders were recorded in fishing and aquacultures, sand and shell mining the Netrani Island of Karnataka9. Wafar et al.10 industry, harbor development, trade and transport reviewed the status of coastal and marine etc. which naturally have their toll on coastal biodiversity of Indian Ocean Countries with a total ecosystems, including mangroves16. This zone is of 34,989 species (animalia – 30894, archaea – 4, endowed with 320 km of coastline from Ullal in bacteria – 864, chromista – 773, fungi – 75, plantae south to Majali in north with 27,000 km2 of – 1690 and protozoa - 689). The seas are the continental shelf and 87,000 km2 and Exclusive ultimate receptacle for land-based pollution and it is Economic Zone in Karnataka. About 80% of the interesting to assess the stress on coastal areas shelf area lies between 0 and 72 m depth. Its caused by this pollution11. Anthropogenic metal contribution to the total marine fish production of inputs have influenced the bioavailability of metal the country has varied from 6 to 14 % annually16. A supply in these aquatic ecosystems12-13. Due to complete of 184 species of fish fauna from 41 coastal upwelling, the coastal waters of the families were recorded along the western coast of southwestern coast of India are among the most Natrani Island (offshore) near Murdeshwara, productive regions in the world, supporting Karnataka, India 17. abundant invertebrate and fish populations, many of The Western Ghats of India which run parallel to which are harvested as food14. the coastline is indeed an integral part of the coast. The marine environment of India consists of Fourteen rivers which originate in these Ghats run unique ecosystems known for their aesthetic beauty westward and join the Arabian Sea (Figure 1). and provides habitat for numerous biological These rivers carry silt and organic debris from the species especially shrimps and fishes. Two of the forested hinterland into the estuarine areas and the RAJASHEKARA: NEED FOR MONITORING AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY 9 coastal sea and contribute greatly to the productivity estuaries that are involved in construction, repair and diversity of the coastal ecosystems. Tides and maintenance of small ships and barges. Both travel long distances, even 20-30 kms interior, the estuaries are fringed with mangroves along the through many of these rivers, making the saline banks7. aquatic habitat suitable for several marine and estuarine organisms. More than half of the Mangroves industrial establishments in Karnataka as well as Mangroves are a unique habitat and are largely majority of the populated cities are situated in its inspired by sea level changes and wave energy. coastal region. The rapid population growth and These are specialized ecosystems consisting of uncontrolled development in the coastal zone have diverse groups of tropical trees and shrubs adapted led to major pollution impacts on streams, estuarine, to grow in intertidal regions. There are over 4500 and coastal environment12. These are subjected to species of flowering plants (38% endemic), 14 severe threats due to anthropogenic pressures in the species of mangroves belonging to 8 families, 330 coastal areas over the years, which in turns lead to butterflies (11% endemic), 156 reptiles (62% the loss of marine biodiversity. Domestic sewage, endemics)19. A total of 151 species of foraminifera industrial wastes, pesticides and oil spillages are belonging to 65 genera, 41 families and seven important causes for the marine pollution in India18. suborders are recorded from eight and ten sites of Arabian Sea western and eastern coastal region of peninsular Arabian Sea is one of the most biologically India20. Also, 59 species of foraminifera belonging productive regions of the world oceans5.