MANGROVE AS BIOMARKERS FOR ASSESSMENT OF METAL POLLUTION IN MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Principal Investigator:  Dr. Subrata Maity, Bidhan Chandra Krishi    Viswavidyalaya, 

                                        Mohanpur, West Bengal, India.

Sanctioned cost:            INR 568920.00

Man Power:                   1 Research Fellow

Tenure:                          2 years

Objectives:

i.                    To collect benchmark data on different interventions such as agriculture, aquaculture and industries and their polluting agents

ii.                  To study the nature of polluting substances/ chemicals in soil and water in the estuary

iii.                To estimate residues/ bioaccumulations of polluting chemical, the mercury (Hg) in the dominant plant species Avicennia of the study area

iv.                To characterise the morphological, physiological, biochemical and anatomical manifestations of the plant species for accumulation of the pollutant, the Hg.

v.                  To compute the collected data, assess the pollution load and identfy the role of plant species on its role as biomarker and/ or biomonitor for the pollutants, Hg.

Findings:

1. The avrerage annual ranges of the physico-chemical parameters like Temp, DO, salinity, showed no extreme fluctuations and were  within the normal ranges which is risk-free for corals.

2. Silt is most commonly found.

3. Human interference like dredging, removal of coral stone for construction, destruction of vegetation, hand picking of live corals, fishing activities and pollution are the main cause of environmental damage to this fragile eco-system.

Benefits:

             This study will throw light on actual picture of coralline ecology in the Gulf of Mannar and the suggestions that will come eventually will  help the planners and decision makers to take appropriate steps to protect  the serenity of coastal ecology.