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Environmental characteristics of tropical coral reef-seagrass dominated lagoons (Lakshadweep, India) and implications to resilience to climate change

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An Erratum to this article was published on 13 June 2014

Abstract

Environmental characteristics of the coral reef-seagrass ecosystem of selected Lakshadweep Islands (India) were assessed with a view to understanding the future climate change scenario in the region. Images obtained from the Indian remote sensing satellite (IRS P6) were used to identify the different zones such as the corals, the seagrass and the sandy region. The pH (7.6–8.6) of sediment was relatively high in the coral reef compared to the seagrass area, possibly indicating a climate shift-induced coral bleaching. The water quality and sediment texture generally showed marked intra- and inter-island variations illustrating that these coral reef ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change brought about by increased human interventions. Future research should therefore explore the habitat and resource connections, to predict their restoring capabilities for a sustainable exploitation. With an alarming increase in the population and associated developmental activities, the island ecosystems are expected to respond severely to the climate change, which may eventually lead to mass mortality of corals due to bleaching.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. T. Balasubramanian, former Dean and Dr. T. Thangaradjou, Assistant Professor, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University and Dr. S.W.A. Naqvi, Director, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, India for the encouragement and support. We also Thank Dr. C.T. Achuthankutty, Visiting Scientist, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), MoES, Goa for the critical reading of an earlier version of this manuscript. We thank Prof. Ramola Antao, consultant, Senior Cambridge English examinations in India, for editing the manuscript. The first author is thankful to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi for the financial support and Department of Environment and Forests, Lakshadweep islands for the logistic support provided during the field investigations.

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  1. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Paryavaran Bhavan, C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110 003, India

    E. P. Nobi

  2. CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Dr. Salim Ali Road, Kochi, 682 018, India

    P. K. Dinesh Kumar

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Correspondence to E. P. Nobi.

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Nobi, E.P., Dinesh Kumar, P.K. Environmental characteristics of tropical coral reef-seagrass dominated lagoons (Lakshadweep, India) and implications to resilience to climate change. Environ Earth Sci 72, 1025–1037 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-3020-9

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