Informatics Publishing Limited

Rahul R. Chauhan ¹, H. U. Shingadia ¹, Veena Sakthivel ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, S. V. K. M’s Mithibai College, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai-400 056, IN

Abstract

The word mangroves is derived from the Portuguese word 'mangue' or marsh and the English word 'grove'. The origin of the word dates back to 1613. Mangroves are major forests found throughout the world along coastline from 25°N and 25°S. Mangroves have diverse ecology as well as economic functions. Mangroves provide breeding and nursery grounds for shrimp, crabs, marine fish, etc. Mangroves are among the world's most productive ecosystems that protect the coastal fisheries and livelihood. They reduce coastal erosion, buffer salinity, intrusion, supply and regenerate nutrients, and retard run-off.

As transition habitat between land and sea, mangroves are well adapted to deal with natural stresses like temperature, salinity, lack of oxygen, wave action, wind currents, etc. The past few decades' regions have increased many folds and pose a threat to mangrove forest cover which is about 4460 km2 in India. In Mumbai remnants of previously luxuriant mangroves are seen at Vasai, Thane, Bandra and Vashi creek, Versova-Monari beach strip and Gorai regions in Borivali.

From March 2004 to July 2005 a survey of avifauna was undertaken to study its richness in Borivali mangroves along the coast of Mumbai. A total of 66 species of birds belonging to twenty four families of 15 Orders were recorded. Shore birds, starlings and warblers predominated the population. Globally threatened lesser flamingo was also sighted. Erratic rainfall, tidal water avability, fruiting seasonality, chemical pollutants, anthropogenic activities like wood cutting, garbage dumping and landfilling, etc. affect the bird population.

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Veena Sakthivel ¹, Hitesh U. Shingadia ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, S.V.K.M’s Mithibai College of Arts, Chauhan Institute of Science, Vile Parle (West),Mumbai-400 056, Maharashtra, IN
2 A. J. College of Commerce and Economics, Vile Parle (West),Mumbai-400 056, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Detergents are multiple chemical formulations with cleansing properties in dilute solutions, synonymously referred to as surfactants, syndets and tensides etc. However, detergent is a blanket name for many different compounds. Detergents are extensively used in different chores of life, both domestic and industrial, from where they make their way into rivers, lakes, streams, ponds and seas causing aquatic pollution, and finally entering the food chains at various trophic levels causing catastrophic effects. 'Wheel' is one such synthetic anionic detergent commonly used in and around Mumbai. Changes in tissue glycolytic potential of mollusc Lamellidens marginalis (Lam.) following its exposure to sublethal concentrations of detergent 'Wheel' were studied. A decrease in glycogen level was observed in tissues like hepatopancreas, gill, gonad, mantle and foot of the pelecypod mollusc under stress of the detergent. Among the vital organs, hepatopancreas is the chief metabolic organ in pelecypods and is involved in the regulation of general metabolism by storage and release of reserves. Results of the present study indicate that hepatopancreas suffered maximum damage followed by gill, gonad, mantle and foot in Lamellidens marginalis exposed to sublethal concentrations of the detergent.

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