1. 1 Wetland Monitoring & Management - Malvikaa Solanki

2. 2 Wetlands “ lands transition between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water ” United States National Wetlands Inventory ‘ areas of marsh or fen, peat-land or water, whether artificial or natural, permanent or temporary, with the water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 m ’ Ramsar Convention

3. 3 Causes of wetland losses Agricultural conversion Direct deforestation in wetlands Hydrological alteration Inundation by dammed reservoirs Alteration of upper watersheds Degradation of water quality Ground water depletion Introduced species and extinction of native biota

4. 4 Functions and values of wetlands Drinking water, Fish and shellfish production Water quality improvement Sediment retention Aquifer recharge Flood storage Transport Recreation Climate stabilizers and the list goes on…….

5. 5 To protect them from continuing deterioration and loss. For the high value goods and services which these ecosystems provide to society. Apart from government regulation, development of better monitoring methods is needed to increase the knowledge of the physical and biological characteristics of each wetland resource and understanding of wetland dynamics and their controlling processes for effective conservation of this rapidly degrading natural resource. Gradually rising awareness and appreciation of wetland values and importance in the recent past have paved way to the signing of many agreements, of which Ramsar convention signed in Iran in 1991 is the most important. Need for monitoring of wetlands

6. 6 Aims of wetlands monitoring Monitoring can be conducted to: Characterize waters and identify changes or trends in water quality over time Identify specific existing or emerging water quality problems Gather information to design specific pollution prevention or remediation programs Determine whether program goals such as compliance with pollution regulations or implementation of effective pollution control actions are being met To provide water quality data to decision makers and to the public.

7. 7 Physico-chemical approach –Physical parameters - characteristics of water that respond to the sense of sight, touch, taste or smell. –Chemical parameters - related to the solvent capabilities of water does not provide all the information required in the assessment of water quality of the water body. Bio monitoring - in addition and complimentary to traditional chemical and physical water quality monitoring techniques, can greatly enhance the assessment and management of aquatic ecosystems. involves the use of indicator species or indicator communities that have been used to identify major ecosystem stress through their presence, condition, and numbers of the types of fish, insects, algae, amphibians, and plants etc Approaches

8. 8 Why biomonitoring? Biomonitoring involves the use of biotic components of an ecosystem to assess periodic changes in the environmental quality of the ecosystem. A variety of effects can be produced on aquatic organisms by the presence of harmful substances, changes in their environment or alteration of habitat Biological indicators integrate, in themselves, the effects of various stressors, aquatic organisms and their communities reflect current conditions, as well as changes over time and cumulative effects. An indicator signals messages, potentially from numerous sources, in a simplified and useful manner.

9. 9 Characteristics of bioindicators They are sufficiently large and easy to identify, but small enough to be handled in large numbers within a limited space. Samples can be collected easily and processed rapidly, requiring limited resources Their reproductive cycle is short enough to enable the study through several generations in a relatively short time. They are organisms which can give an immediate and holistic picture of slightest of impacts caused by different pollution stressors

10. 10 Aquatic food chain

11. 11 Phytoplankton as indicator species Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) usually occurs as unicellular, colonial or filamentous forms and is mostly photosynthetic and is grazed upon by the zooplankton and other organisms occurring in the same environment. Forms the very basis of aquatic food chain The water quality especially the nutrients in the water influence their population Short life spans - respond quickly to environmental changes. They strongly influence certain non-biological aspects of water quality such as pH, colour, taste, odour etc.

12. 12 Zooplankton as indicator species comprises of microscopic protozoan, rotifers, cladoceron, copepods, etc occupies an intermediate second or the third trophic level of aquatic food webs feeding on algae and bacteria and in turn is eaten by numerous invertebrates and fish any adverse effect to them will be indicated in the health of the fish populations They respond more rapidly to environmental changes than fishes, which have been traditionally used as indicators of water quality.

13. 13 Macroinvertebrates as indicator species nymphs of stoneflys, mayfly, caddisfly larvae, snails, mussels, crustaceans, rat-tailed maggot, mollusks etc. convert and transport nutrients form one part of the water body to another, influencing nutrient cycling. are sensitive to changes in habitat and pollution, especially to organic pollution bioaccumulation of heavy metals by aquatic insect larvae have been employed in biomonitoring studies of fresh waters.

14. 14 Fish as indicator species Fish are excellent indicators of watershed health because they are most abundant,widespread, diverse group of vertebrates with various forms, shapes and sizes are keystone species in many aquatic food webs, where they may regulate the abundance and diversity of prey organisms through top-down effects used in indicating the cumulative effect of pollution on its habitat – water

15. 15 Case study: Chamarajasagar reservoir and Madiwala lake N

16. 16 Chamarajasagar reservoir 1 2 3 4 5 N

17. 17 Madiwala lake N

18. 18 Physico chemical analysis

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20. 20 Graph indicating phytoplankton composition of Chamarajasagar reservoir Chamarajasagar reservoir Total phytoplankton counts Sampling stations Sl n o Class12345 1Cyanophyceae2876160307216 2Chlorophyceae857210 3Dinophyceae610 4- 4Bacillariophyceae-21-1 5Unknown----1 Total plankton count per drop4293178313228 Total plankton count per liter304683132823441695

21. 21 Graph indicating phytoplankton composition of Madiwala Lake

22. 22 Zooplankton The limited study revealed that the zooplankton community in surface waters of both the water bodies is comprised of Rotifera, microcrustaceans – Cladocera and Copepoda.

23. 23 Fish observed at the study areas Sl noMadiwala LakeChamarajasagar reservoir 1Tilapia 2RahuCatla 3Catfish 4Kacchu menu (local name) Common carp 5 6Mrigal

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25. 25 –Fairly unpolluted –pH values, slightly alkaline (agricultural runoff) –sampling points 3 and 4 at the inlet of Arkavati show a higher density of phytoplankton, an average of 1328 and 2344 organisms per liter respectively, which may be due to the anthropogenic activities on the banks, which adjoins a village –sampling points 1 and 2 at the other inlet kumudavati, the phytoplankton density is relatively less and showed an average 304 and 683 organism per liter respectively. The waters here are not influenced by any activities as in the cases of sampling points 3 and 4. –dominated by Cyanophyceae members, specifically Microcystis aeruginosa Chamarajsagar reservoir - findings

26. 26 The bulk of the domestic sewage, which enters the Madiwala Lake, has a major influence on the chemistry and in turn on the biological aspects of the lake. The sewage treatment though treats the sewage and helps in lowering the BOD and COD, the N, P, K values remain high, which explains the high density of phytoplankton, and the reduced transparency, high hardness, dissolved solids, low DO and alkalinity values. High density of phytoplankton at the site of inflow from the sewage treatment plant dominated by Cyanophyceae members, specifically Microcystis aeruginos high density of Chlorophyceae members dominated by Scenedesmus sp.., Pediastrum sp.., and Euglena sp..which is considered an indication of organic pollution. Euglenophyceae and Bacillariophyceae species were the lowest in numbers. Madiwala lake - findings

27. 27 The ecosystem approach everything is connected to everything else on this earth. ….. recognizes the interrelationships between land, air, water, wildlife, and human activities. emphasizes the management of the watershed along with the water body to ensure the sustainable use and management of water resources. restoration of catchments with natural vegetation maintenance of the green belt around the cities to prevent the runoff contaminated with silt and pollutants reuse and recycling of water through appropriate use and practices

28. 28 Thank you