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2016 | Buch

Basics of Marine and Estuarine Ecology

verfasst von: Abhijit Mitra, Dr. Sufia Zaman

Verlag: Springer India

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Über dieses Buch

The book presents recent research on marine ecology in different parts of the world. It aims to shed light on relevant topics for budding marine ecologists.

The “blue soup” of Planet Earth, which comprises both biotic and abiotic components, is essential to keeping the wheel of civilization running. Four major ecosystem service categories have been identified within this context, namely provisioning services such as water, food, mangrove timber, honey, fish, wax, fuel wood, fodder and bioactive compounds from marine and estuarine flora and fauna; regulating services such as the regulation of climate, coastal erosion, coral bleaching and pollution; cultural services encompassing recreational (tourism), spiritual and other non-material benefits; and supporting services such as nutrient cycling and photosynthesis. These valuable services are obtained from various resources that must be conserved for the sake of humanity. This book presents data for each resource type, not just in the form of a simple description, but also through case studies that resulted from several research projects and pilot programs carried out in different parts of the world. Statistical tools were also used to critically analyze the influence of relevant hydrological parameters on the biotic community. Advanced research in marine and estuarine ecology is based on the use of sophisticated instruments, sampling precision, statistical

tools, etc., which have also been highlighted in the book.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter
1. Marine Ecosystem: An Overview
Abstract
About 71 % of the surface of the planet Earth is covered by saline water. The water depth averages 3.8 km, a volume of 1370 × 106 km3. This is the marine ecosystem and is the reservoir of food, oil, natural gas, minerals and several bioactive substances that have immense importance in the pharmaceutical industries. The ecosystem sustains the livelihood of millions of people. The oceans serve as the main highway for international trade as well as the main stabilizer of the world’s climate. The oceanic waters and sediments are also the dwelling place of a large variety of flora and fauna. According to the Global Biodiversity Assessment, produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), there are 178,000 marine species in 34 phyla.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
2. Estuarine Ecosystem: An Overview
Abstract
Estuaries are unique spots on our planet, which are situated and sandwiched between the continents and the seas. Penetrated by the sea through the recurring tides and flushed by the freshwater outflows of the lotic system, an estuary is a dynamic system where the freshwater meets seawater. Blessed by the fertile flows of both the seas and the rivers; these fascinating biotopes are by far the most productive ecosystem on our planet; the abode of unique species of plants and animals; the cradle of several species of finfish; the nursery of commercially important shellfish; the reservoir of food, chemicals, mineral, oils and natural gas; and the ideal spots for tourism and aquaculture.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
3. Physical Processes in the Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
The major physical processes that configure the coastal zone, estuarine mudflats and shorelines of islands are waves, tides and currents. These processes may be broadly divided into destructive and constructive processes. The destructive processes include shoreline weathering, coastal erosion, etc., and the constructive processes encompass accretion or deposition of the sediment. The coastal zone is constantly exposed to waves, currents and tides of varying degree and types. Each of these processes is discussed in brief.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
4. Abiotic Variables of the Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
Aquatic phase of the marine and estuarine ecosystems is an ideal solvent, and because of this reason seawater is a well-mixed solution of several salts and gases. The churning of seawater due to wave, currents and tidal actions accelerates the process of solubility of substances in the solvent. It is mainly because of thorough mixing the ionic composition of the major ions of the seawater (except bicarbonate and fluoride) exhibits uniform spatial variation, i.e. the composition is almost the same from place to place as well as from depth to depth. Thus, the ratio of one major ion to the other remains almost constant.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
5. Producers of the Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
In the marine and estuarine ecosystems, the producer communities act as the converter of solar energy into other utilizable forms of energy. However, in terms of productivity (preferably net primary productivity), the order is estuaries, swamps, and marshes > coastal zone > open ocean (Fig. 5.1).
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
6. Consumers of the Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
The spectrum of life in the blue soup of the planet Earth starts with the primary producers, which encompass phytoplankton, seaweeds, salt marsh grass, seagrass and mangroves. The energy (through nutrition) and survival of consumers are direct function of the standing stock of primary producers. The consumers of oceans, seas, bays and estuaries feed on primary producers and acquire energy for performing various life processes. Depending on the environmental conditions, the food chains may be short or long. In extreme types of environments like Arctic or Antarctic, very short food chains are observed. Food chains basically represent complex interrelationships among organisms, in which case it is more appropriate to designate the pattern as food web (Fig. 6.1). Species may, however, change levels in the food chain or web at difference stages of their life cycle or consumers may feed more than one level.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
7. Decomposers of the Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
Decomposers are widely distributed in the salty blue soup of the planet Earth and occupy a key position in an ecological food chain/web. They are considered as ‘cleaners’ of the ecosystem as they are capable of degrading complex organic matter in to simpler forms. The vast volume of saltwater may be the reason behind the presence of wide variety and large number of decomposers in the marine and estuarine ecosystems.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
8. Adaptation of Marine and Estuarine Organisms
Abstract
The intertidal zone can be considered as the zone of intersection between land and the sea, which remains inundated during high tide and becomes naked (exposed to air only) during low tide. The region may be rocky (Fig. 8.1), sandy (Fig. 8.2) or muddy (Fig. 8.3).
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
9. Hot Spots of Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
Mangroves are a special type of vegetation that thrive in sediments that have a high salt concentration and are usually surrounded by seawater or estuarine water. As a result of these environmental conditions, they must conserve water and they exhibit adaptation similar to those found in salt marsh plants. These adaptations help to reduce the loss of water by evaporation from the leaves. In mangroves, the epidermis of the leaf is usually covered with a thick cuticle, and the stomata are sunken in nature that are usually confined to the undersurface. Another important adaptation in mangroves involves the germination of seeds. Unlike in most of the plant, the embryo in most mangroves germinates while the seed is still attached to parent plant.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
10. Threats to Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems
Abstract
Oceans and estuaries comprise about 70 % of the Earth’s land mass and provide more potential biodiversity for novel products and services than any other ecosystem in the world. Forty percent of the world inhabitants are living along the coastline of the oceans. Marine lives ranging from bacteria to higher forms of lives are sources of micro- and macromolecules required for the advancement of civilization. Despite the vast socio-economic potentials of oceans and estuaries, they are treated as the final receptacle of all wastes generated from anthropogenic activities. In addition, natural hazards like supercyclone, volcanic activities, tectonic movements, etc. are threats of megascale on the marine and estuarine ecosystems. Climate change-related effects like salinity fluctuation, acidification and extreme weather events greatly damage the salt water domain of the planet Earth. People all over the world face the reality of climate variability in different mode and magnitude. More than 530,000 people died as a direct result of almost 15,000 extreme weather events, and losses of more than USD 2.5 trillion (in PPP) occurred from 1993 to 2012 globally. The list of natural disaster is vast, and the magnitude of damage caused by such disasters is difficult to assess with extreme accuracy.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
11. Conservation of Marine and Estuarine Resources
Abstract
Protecting the environment of the planet Earth is the prime goal of mankind. The domain of protection of natural resources encompasses two major verticals, namely, conservation and preservation. Conservation is the sustainable use and management of natural resources which include flora, fauna, air, water, earth deposits, etc. Conservation of natural resources primarily focuses on the needs and interests of human beings, for example, biological, economic, cultural and aesthetic values these resources possess. The mangrove ecosystem, for example, contains a wide spectrum of flora and fauna, which provides timber, fuel wood, honey, wax, fishes, medicinal ingredients, etc. The seed of conservation germinates for developing a better future. Preservation, on the contrary, is an attempt to maintain the existing condition of the environment of a particular ecosystem or habitat that is mostly in a wilderness condition. The essence of preservation spreads from the fact that mankind is encroaching the natural habitats at such a rate that many untouched landscapes are now getting sacrificed for industrial development, urban development, farming, tourism, aquaculture, etc. Strong lobbies of preservationists support protection of natural reservoir with priority and give less importance to the ecosystem services of natural resources (flora, fauna, etc.) to mankind.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
12. Instruments and Methods
Abstract
The marine and estuarine compartments are the storehouses of vast resources, but instrumentation sector is a vital wing not only to monitor the magnitude and variation of these resources but also to harness them in a cost-effective way. Research vessels from different countries are constantly monitoring the oceans and generating data on temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients chlorophyll and several other parameters. Many of these research vessels have sophisticated laboratories inside, where analysis of water sediment and other biological samples are carried out.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
Erratum to: Conservation of Marine and Estuarine Resources
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman
Metadaten
Titel
Basics of Marine and Estuarine Ecology
verfasst von
Abhijit Mitra
Dr. Sufia Zaman
Copyright-Jahr
2016
Verlag
Springer India
Electronic ISBN
978-81-322-2707-6
Print ISBN
978-81-322-2705-2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2707-6