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Sreeparvathi CK, Amal R, Remia KM, Devipriya SP. Ecological assessment of microplastic contamination in surface water and commercially important edible fishes off Kadalundi estuary, Southwest coast of India. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:735. [PMID: 39009737 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12900-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
This study focuses on the Kadalundi estuary, Kerala's first community reserve, investigating the prevalence and impacts of microplastics on both the estuarine environment and selected fish species. This study presents the initial evidence indicating the consumption of microplastic particles by 12 commercially important edible fish species inhabiting the Kadalundi estuary. Analysis revealed significant accumulations of microplastic fibers within the surface water. In examining 12 fish species from demersal and pelagic habitats, microplastics were found in both the gastrointestinal tracts and gills. In the digestive tracts, microplastic fragments constituted the highest proportion (46%), while in the gills, microplastic fibers were dominant (52.4%). This study observed a prevalence of blue microplastics over other colors in both water and fish samples. Notably, demersal species showed a higher incidence of ingested microplastics. Polymer analysis identified Polypropylene (PP), Nylon, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene isotactic (iPP), PE 1 Octene copolymer, and Rayon in water samples, while fish samples predominantly contained LDPE, PP, PE, and Nylon. Risk assessment utilizing the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) categorized certain polymers as posing minor to moderate risks. Pollution Load Index (PLI) computations indicated moderate to high levels of microplastic contamination across various sampling sites in the estuary. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a lack of correlation between fish size and microplastic ingestion, underscoring environmental factors' influence on microplastic intake. The study emphasizes the implications of microplastic pollution on the fragile ecosystem of the Kadalundi estuary, posing potential risks to biodiversity and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Radhakrishnan Amal
- School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Kulamullathil Maroli Remia
- Department of Zoology, MES Mampad College (Autonomous), Affiliated to University of Calicut, Malappuram, Kerala, India
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Aarif KM, Rubeena KA, Nefla A, Musilova Z, Musil P, Shaju SS, Joseph J, Mullungal MN, Muzaffar SB. Heavy metals in wetlands of southwestern India: from sediments through invertebrates to migratory shorebirds. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 345:140445. [PMID: 37863211 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution in Indian wetlands is rising due to industrial, agricultural and urban development activities. Shorebirds occupy upper trophic levels and are therefore especially vulnerable to heavy metal pollution. We evaluated the concentration of heavy metals (zinc, copper, cobalt, chromium, lead and cadmium) in 22 common species of migrant shorebirds (220 shorebird dropping samples) with diverse foraging behaviors, in their different prey (55 prey samples) and in the sediments (90 sediment samples) in different habitat types (mudflats, mangroves and sand beaches) between 2019 and 2021. Further, we analyzed a total of 10 biofilm samples from mudflats and mangroves. We detected relatively low concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments (Zn concentration range: 9.11-40.91 mg/kg; Cu: 5.74-21.38 mg/kg; Co: 2.00-4.04 mg/kg; Cr: 4.05-41.03 mg/kg; Pb: 1.02-7.19 mg/kg; Cd: 0.56-4.35 mg/kg). However, we measured relatively high concentrations of heavy metals in invertebrate prey species (Zn concentration range: 84.72-224.74 mg/kg; Cu: 26.63-170.36 mg/kg; Co: 13.98-14.42 mg/kg; Cr: 14.78-98.16 mg/kg; Pb: 18.95-157.29 mg/kg; Cd: 9.33-60.56 mg/kg). In addition, we found high concentrations of heavy metals in shorebird droppings (Zn concentration range: 41.33-58.8 mg/kg; Cu: 31.42-52.11 mg/kg; Co: 36.34-55.68 mg/kg; Cr: 52.3-68.21 mg/kg; Pb: 25.94-43.13 mg/kg; Cd: 5.53-16.4 mg/kg). It is evident that concentration of heavy metals increased successively moving from sediment to prey to shorebird species, likely through trophic transfer. The biofilm samples contained very high concentrations of Cr, Pb and Cd (22.64, 28.09 and 18.46 mg/kg respectively) which could be harmful to biofilm grazing shorebirds. Since bioaccumulation of heavy metals entail risks in living species, we suggest that increasing concentrations may detrimentally affect physiological processes in invertebrates and shorebirds. There is an urgent need to identify the sources of pollution and to reduce the discharge of heavy metals and other pollutants into coastal and inland wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Aarif
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha Suchdol, Prague CZ-165 21, Czechia.
| | - K A Rubeena
- Department of Biosciences, MES College Marampally, Aluva, 683107, Kerala, India
| | - Aymen Nefla
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar II, 2092, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Zuzana Musilova
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha Suchdol, Prague CZ-165 21, Czechia
| | - Petr Musil
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha Suchdol, Prague CZ-165 21, Czechia
| | - S S Shaju
- Department of Chemical Oceanography, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682016, India
| | - Jorphin Joseph
- Department of Chemical Oceanography, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682016, India
| | - Muhammed Nayeem Mullungal
- Environmental Sciences Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Sabir Bin Muzaffar
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Department of Science, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK.
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Anand J, H. Byju, Nefla A, S. Abhijith, Omer R. Reshi, K.M. Aarif. Conservation significance of Changaram wetlands - a key wintering site for migratory shorebirds and other waterbirds in the western coast of Kerala, India. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2023. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.8089.15.1.22410-22418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Changaram wetland is an important stopover ground for migratory shorebirds, gulls, terns, and other waterbirds in the western coast of Kerala and it encompasses major habitats like exposed mudflats, mangrove fringes, and an agroecosystem. A total of 77 species of waterbirds (shorebirds, large wading birds, gulls, and terns) including long distance migrants, local migrants, and resident species were encountered in our survey carried out during 2018 and 2019. Ten out of these 77 species fall under threatened category in the IUCN Red List and hence the Changaram wetlands demand immediate attention from the conservation perspective. Considering tremendous anthropogenic pressures faced by these wetlands, and the decline in the abundance of waterbirds, a regular system for monitoring the bird population and the wetlands must be deployed for the conservation of the ecosystem and of the birds.
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Rubeena KA, Nefla A, Aarif KM, AlMaarofi SS, Gijjappu DR, Reshi OR. Alterations in hydrological variables and substrate qualities and its impacts on a critical conservation reserve in the southwest coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114463. [PMID: 36521360 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the long-term fluctuation in the hydrological and substrate variables at different habitats of Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR) over the last decade. We hypothesize that natural impact represented by climate change and long-term impact from anthropogenic activities including industrialization and intensified agricultural practices have a direct effect on the natural hydrological cycle and the quality of coastal shores and thus can be a reason for coastal habitat and wildlife degradation. Results indicate a significant degradation in nutrient and organic matter concentration in the sediment and dramatic increase in nutrient concentration, salinity, temperature, and pH in the water. Sediment and water degradation can be one of the important factors affecting the structural quality and biodiversity of the region. Therefore, having long-term monitoring data can be useful to plan and design management and conservation strategies to protect local biodiversity and ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Rubeena
- Department of Biosciences, MES College Marampally, Aluva 683107, Kerala, India..
| | - Aymen Nefla
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar II, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - K M Aarif
- Terrestrial Ecology, Centre for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sama S AlMaarofi
- Department of Environmental Sustainability, Faculty of Science, Lakehead University, 500 University Avenue, Orillia, ON L3V 0B9, Canada
| | - Durga Rao Gijjappu
- Division of Chemistry, Centre for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omer R Reshi
- Climate modelling and data analysis, Centre for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
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The Paradox of Shorebird Diversity and Abundance in the West Coast and East Coast of India: A Comparative Analysis. DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14100885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Migratory shorebirds that move across continents along their flyways are undergoing a drastic decline globally. A greater proportion of them that regularly winter along the Indian coasts within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) are also undergoing severe declines. However, the mechanisms underlying the population trends in these areas remain little understood. This study investigated the diversity, abundance, population dynamics and distribution patterns of shorebirds along the Indian coasts based on the available literature. The west coast of India is relatively less studied than the east coast in the CAF. Further, we observed that the diversity, abundance, population dynamics and distribution pattern of the shorebirds follow different trends on the west coast compared to the east coast. These variations are in accordance with the differences in topography and biotic and abiotic factors between the coasts. Anthropogenic activities have far-reaching effects on the survival and persistence of shorebirds along the coasts. The west coast is evidently more productive than the east coast at every trophic level and thus the west coast is expected to account for more abundance and diversity of shorebirds. Paradoxically, we found that the east coast supports a greater abundance and diversity of shorebirds than the west coast. The west coast, therefore, requires further investigations to obtain a better understanding of the causes of apparent differences in abundance and diversity as well as the observed declines in shorebirds, compared to the east coast of India.
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