Impact of Anthropogenic Stressors on Marine Benthos (PDF)

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2017 in the subject Biology - Zoology, University of Kerala, language: English, abstract: In Kerala, no scientific research has been done to assess the impact of multiple anthropogenic stressors which is rampant along the southern coast. This thesis explores the kinetics of macroinvertebrates at three anthropogenically disturbed regions, along the coast of Kerala. A near- pristine site, which is supposed to serve as a control, was also included in the present study. A correlation of the spatio-temporal dispensation of the communities with environmental parameters has been attempted. Inventorizing the benthic invertebrate assemblages at the sites exposed to differing pollution load (both in quantity) has revealed some alarming observations which need to be addressed immediately. The study has also brought about the efficacy of biomonitoring coastal ecosystems using benthic assemblages.

The study highlights the strong deterministic nature of zoobenthic community and its ability to resist varying anthropogenic disturbances, while identifying new sentinel organisms. Investigating the temporal and spatial parameters of benthic macroinvertebrates and its impacts on trophic levels, determine the fate of energy and nutrient flow into the coastal waters. Estimating secondary production of major taxonomic groups and their value in the food chain, characterizes trophic dynamics within the system.