Ecohydrology of Kerala

River Catchments and Coastal Backwaters

1st Edition - November 13, 2024
Editors: Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent, Tim C. Jennerjahn, Soman Kunjupillai, Srikumar Chattopadhyay
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 6 0 6 - 2
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 6 0 7 - 9

Ecohydrology of Kerala: River Catchments and Coastal Backwaters presents 20 years of research to provide suggestions for sustainable management solutions for issues surroundi… Read more

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Ecohydrology of Kerala: River Catchments and Coastal Backwaters presents 20 years of research to provide suggestions for sustainable management solutions for issues surrounding the urbanization of the rivers of Kerala. This helps identify major issues and develop management strategies. Themes explored include biogeochemistry of rivers/estuarine systems, productivity and trophic status, biology: fauna and flora, biodiversity, threats and conservation, invasive species and impact on riverine ecology, landscape/land use/land cover change in the catchment, socioeconomic status of catchment population, economic and livelihood activities along the river courses/estuaries (river and estuarine tourism, sand extraction, fisheries), pollution monitoring and assessment, impacts of climate change, and more.

This book can be used as a tool in the holistic management of resources, and to devise proper mitigation measures. The content of the book is a model for other tropical regions and countries with rapidly developing economies and populations

Ecohydrology of Kerala
Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Contributors
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgement
Chapter 1 Ecohydrology of river catchments and coastal backwaters in Kerala, India: An introduction and synthesis
Abstract
Keywords
References
Chapter 2 Geomorphic setting and geologic features of Kerala and their link to eco-hydrology of the region
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Geomorphic setting of the Kerala region
2.2.1 Kerala region in southwestern India
2.2.2 Geomorphic features
2.3 Geological sequences
2.3.1 Ancient supracrustals
2.3.2 Charnockite and associated gneisses
2.3.3 Khondalite
2.3.4 Intrusive rocks
2.4 Petrography and geochemistry
2.4.1 Charnockites and associated gneisses
2.4.2 Mafic granulites
2.4.3 Gneisses
2.4.4 Khondalite group of rocks
2.4.5 Tertiary and quaternary sediments
2.4.6 Age relations
2.4.7 Offshore sediments
2.4.8 Laterite and soils
2.4.9 Lateritization and geochemical inputs
2.5 Conclusions
References
Chapter 3 Hydrological setting of Kerala
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
3.1 General characteristics
3.2 Physical environment
3.3 Climate
3.3.1 Rainfall
3.3.2 Temperature
3.3.3 Other climatic factors
3.3.4 Rain shadow regions
3.4 Water resources of Kerala
3.4.1 Streams/rivers
3.4.2 Ponds
3.4.3 Lakes and reservoirs
3.4.4 Backwater system
3.4.5 Wetlands of international importance
3.4.6 Groundwater resources
3.5 Streamflow characteristics
3.6 Hydrological alterations
3.7 Water quality
3.8 Hydro-meteorological hazards
3.9 Challenges for sustainable water resources management
3.10 Conclusion
References
Chapter 4 On the drivers of summer monsoon rainfall over Kerala
Abstract
Keywords
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Onset and withdrawal
4.3 Data sets
4.4 Climate factors
4.5 Methodology
4.5.1 Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator
4.5.2 Multiple linear regression model
4.6 Correlation analysis
4.7 Contribution of climate factors on rainfall
4.8 Extreme events
4.9 Trends in rainfall over Kerala
References
Chapter 5 Riparian vegetation in Kerala’s river basins: Diversity, ecological functions and restoration prospects
Abstract
Keywords
5.1 Importance of riparian vegetation
5.2 Riparian vegetation in Kerala’s river basins
5.3 Loss/degradation of riparian vegetation and its impacts
5.4 Prospects for restoration of riparian ecosystems
References
Chapter 6 Forests and its biodiversity in the Western Ghats of Kerala
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Protected areas
6.3 Sacred groves
6.4 Mangroves
6.5 The plant diversity
6.5.1 Angiosperms
6.5.2 Gymnosperms
6.5.3 Bryophytes and pteridophytes
6.5.4 Bryophytes
6.5.5 Pteridophytes
6.5.6 Fungi, including lichenized taxa
6.6 The animal diversity
6.6.1 Mammals
6.6.2 Birds
6.6.3 Herpetofauna
6.6.4 Freshwater fishes
6.6.5 The invertebrates
6.7 Concluding remarks
References
Chapter 7 Hydromorphic acid saline soils of Kerala: An ecohydrology based fertility assessment
Abstract
Keywords
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Soils of Kerala
7.2.1 Laterite soil
7.2.2 Coastal sandy soil
7.2.3 Riverine alluvium
7.2.4 Onattukara sandy soil
7.2.5 Kuttanad soil
7.2.6 Pokkali soil
7.2.7 Orumundakan soil
7.2.8 Kaipad soil
7.2.9 Kole soil
7.2.10 Red loam soil
7.2.11 Black cotton soil
7.2.12 Hill soil
7.2.13 Forest soil
7.3 Process of hydromorphic acid saline soil formation
7.4 Distribution of acid saline soils in Kerala and their characteristics
7.4.1 Kuttanad soils
7.4.2 Pokkali soils
7.4.3 Kole soils
7.4.4 Kaipad soils
7.5 Management of acid saline soils
7.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 8 Current insights on biota from the submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) ecosystem
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Materials and methods
8.3 Phytoplankton
8.4 Meiofauna
8.5 Macrofauna
8.6 Other faunas
8.7 Case study on interstitial fauna from the subterranean estuaries of the Kerala coast
8.7.1 Spatiotemporal distributions of physicochemical parameters
8.7.2 Spatiotemporal distributions and abundance of interstitial fauna
8.8 Conclusion
References
Chapter 9 Coastal sediment microbiome: Structural and functional diversity of bacteria and archaea in Vembanad Lake of Kerala
Abstract
Keywords
Funding acknowledgement
9.1 Introduction
9.1.1 Study area and sampling
9.1.2 Isolation and amplification of archaeal metagenome
9.1.3 Cluster generation and sequencing
9.1.4 Isolation and amplification of bacterial metagenome
9.1.5 Metabolic predictions
9.1.6 Data records
9.2 Microbial diversity in Vembanad Lake: A global comparison
9.3 Abundance and diversity of archaea
9.4 Abundance and diversity of bacteria
9.5 Functional diversity of Vembanad microbiome
9.5.1 Analysis of metagenomic functional predictions
9.5.2 Functional role in biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and sulphur
9.5.3 Functional role in biodegradation of xenobiotics
9.6 Conclusions and future prospects
References
Chapter 10 What makes the coastal lakes a source of methane? Biogeographic pattern of community structure and functions of methanogenic archaea in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Study area
10.2 Material and methods
10.2.1 Sampling
10.2.2 Environmental variables
10.2.3 Abundance and activity of MA in sediments
10.2.4 Methane production rate of sediments
10.2.5 Metagenomic DNA isolation and qualitative/quantitative analysis
10.2.6 Preparation of 2 × 300 MiSeq library
10.2.7 Cluster generation and sequencing
10.2.8 Bioinformatic analysis
10.2.9 Shannon alpha diversity
10.2.10 Functional diversity
10.2.11 Statistical analysis
10.3 Structural diversity of MA in Vembanad: A global comparison
10.4 Functional diversity of MA
10.4.1 Influence of environmental variables on abundance and activity of MA
10.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 11 Land use/land cover change detection for climate-smart sustainable management in the selected river basins of Kerala, India
Abstract
Keywords
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Drivers of LU/LC changes
11.3 Study area
11.4 Methodology
11.5 Results
11.6 Discussion
11.7 Conclusion
References
Chapter 12 Assessing submarine groundwater discharge and nutrient fluxes along the southwest coast of India
Abstract
Keywords
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Materials and methods
12.2.1 Study area
12.2.2 Hydrogeological approach
12.2.3 Identification of SGD zones
12.2.4 Quantification of SGD
12.2.5 Quantification of nutrient flux
12.3 Results
12.3.1 Groundwater flow at the SW coast
12.3.2 Satellite thermal infrared images
12.3.3 Conductivity anomalies in seawater
12.3.4 Field site A—Thiruvananthapuram
12.3.5 Field site B—Kozhikode
12.4 Discussion
12.4.1 Identification of SGD in SW coastal zone
12.4.2 Quantification of SGD in SW coastal zone
12.4.3 Nutrient flux to the sea and its environmental implications
12.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 13 Impact of natural control factors, land use and a large pilgrim centre on the biogeochemistry of suspended particulate organic matter in the Pamba River, Kerala, India
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Materials and methods
13.2.1 Study area
13.2.2 Water sampling and analysis
13.2.3 Calculation of segment-wise river loads and yields
13.2.4 Statistics
13.3 Results
13.3.1 Suspended particulate organic matter
13.3.2 Segment-wise river loads and yields
13.4 Discussion
13.4.1 Spatio-temporal variations in TSM, POC and PN
13.4.2 Sources and distribution of organic matter in the Pamba River catchment
13.4.3 Relevance of Pamba River TSM and POC yields in the global context
13.5 Summary and conclusion
References
Chapter 14 Trophic status and fate of nutrients and organic matter in the Vembanad estuary related to land use in the Pamba river and other contributing rivers
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgements
14.1 Introduction
14.1.1 Tropical rivers and estuaries and their importance on a global scale
14.1.2 Human interventions and their consequences
14.2 Materials and methods
14.2.1 Study area
14.2.2 Water sampling and analysis
14.3 Results and discussion
14.3.1 Nutrients and organic matter concentrations, yields and loads in the Pamba, Achankovil, Manimala and Meenachil catchments
14.3.2 Spatial and temporal variations in the physicochemical properties and dissolved inorganic nutrients in the Vembanad estuary
14.3.3 Variations in particulate organic matter composition in the Vembanad estuary
14.3.4 Budget estimates for land-derived nutrient and organic matter inputs
14.4 Trophic status and ecological consequences in the Vembanad estuary
14.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 15 Identification of pollution potential zones of a coastal lake system using GIS techniques
Abstract
Keywords
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Study area
15.2.1 Akkulam–Veli Lake
15.3 Characteristics of lake basin
15.3.1 Geomorphology
15.3.2 Lithology
15.3.3 Soil
15.3.4 Slope
15.3.5 Land use
15.3.6 Population density
15.4 Identification of sources of pollution
15.4.1 Domestic pollution
15.4.2 Hospitals
15.4.3 Industrial pollution
15.4.4 Agriculture pollution
15.5 Water quality index map using GIS
15.6 Pollution potential areas of Akkulam–Veli Lake basin
15.6.1 Identification and mapping of pollution potential zones
15.6.2 Classification of pollution potential zones of AV Lake
15.7 Comparison of water quality in the lake and extent of pollution potential zones in the sub-basin
15.8 Summary and conclusion
References
Chapter 16 Integrated Coastal Zone Management practices and cumulative environmental impacts: The case of Vembanad Lake, a tropical estuary in India
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgments
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Study area description
16.2.1 The land use and land cover of the region
16.3 Methodological approach
16.3.1 Timeline of events: Ecological interventions in Vembanad Lake
16.3.2 Cumulative environmental impact assessment for lakes
16.3.3 CEIA framework conceptualization
16.4 Lake hydrodynamic environment and waste assimilation capacity
16.5 CRZ notification with respect to the Kerala coast
16.6 Integrated Coastal Zone Management
16.6.1 The methodology for ICZM plan preparation
16.6.2 ICZM framework and strategy for central Kerala province
16.6.3 Management strategies for the region
16.6.4 Coastal and marine spatial planning for managing lake space
16.6.5 Vembanad Lake management plan
16.6.6 Key management recommendations
16.7 Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 17 Collaborative evolutionary governance of estuaries in Kerala, India
Abstract
Keywords
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Study region and ecosystem
17.2.1 Research materials and methods
17.3 Major challenges of estuarine social-ecological systems in a globalizing world
17.3.1 Biological and eco-hydrological challenges
17.3.2 Challenges of economic development
17.3.3 3’Social challenges
17.4 Social-ecological concerns of modernization and governance challenges of Cochin estuary
17.4.1 Water user associations and farmer organizations
17.4.2 State-led transition governance
17.4.3 Concluding remarks on case studies
17.5 Collaborative evolutionary governance_ A new paradigm for estuarine resource management in Kerala
17.5.1 Estuarine governance_ A critical review
17.5.2 Developmental governance
17.5.3 Collaborative governance
17.5.4 Evolutionary governance
17.5.5 Evolutionary governance of Cochin estuary
17.6 Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 18 Challenges of water governance related to human-induced nutrient input in surface water bodies: Lessons learned from case studies in India, Indonesia and Germany
Abstract
Keywords
Acknowledgments
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Case study sites
18.2.1 Vembanad Lake basin, Kerala, India
18.2.2 Segara-Anakan Lagoon basin, Java, Indonesia
18.2.3 Weser River basin, Germany
18.3 Database
18.4 Nutrient variations and related drivers and pressures
18.4.1 Vembanad Lake basin
18.4.2 Segara-Anakan Lagoon basin
18.4.3 Weser River basin
18.5 Variations in nutrient concentration in the three case study sites: A comparison
18.6 Challenges of water governance
18.6.1 Water governance in Kerala (India)
18.6.2 Water governance in Indonesia (Java)
18.6.3 Water governance in Germany
18.6.4 Communality and lessons in governance across the case study sites
18.7 Conclusions
References
Index

Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent

Dr. Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent completed her Ph.D in Environmental Sciences from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India during 1997. Her major research work was on Cellulose binding proteins of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria and minor research work on anaerobic degradation of azodyes. She was a senior research fellow of DST, Government of India funded project during her Ph.D. work. From 1997 to 2001, she worked as a Research Associate in the same department on the beneficial microbes transported by earthworms. From 2001 till 2005, she has been working in the University of Kerala as Lecturer, Assistant Professor and Head, Reader and at present as Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala. She is teaching M.Sc, M.Phil., students in Environmental Sciences. Dr.Vincent is trained in various techniques like culturing aerobic and anaerobic microbes, protein purification by PAGE and FPLC, HPLC, Liquid Scintillation Counter, Gas Chromatorgraphy, Fermentors, PCR and DGGE. 8 scholars have been awarded Ph.D degree under her guidance and presently she is guiding 7 students. Her broad area of specialization is Environmental Microbiology and specific areas include anaerobic microbial ecology, microbial biogeochemistry and microbial degradation of pesticides. She is the principal investigator of five major research projects funded by University Grants Commission, Department of Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. She has published 35 research papers in International and National journals.

Affiliations and expertise

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Kerala, India

Tim C. Jennerjahn

Tim Jennerjahn is a Senior Scientist and head of the working group “Ecological Biogeochemistry” at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen, Germany. Dr. Jennerjahn trained in geology and biogeochemistry at the University of Hamburg. His research focuses on the biogeochemical response of coastal aquatic systems to environmental change. He coordinates and participates in collaborative interdisciplinary research projects in Indonesia, India, Brazil, China, and Vietnam, and has conducted numerous expeditions. His research has been published in various journals and books. He currently teaches at the University of Bremen and in partner universities abroad, where he serves as thesis supervisor for students from Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. He is also an Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.

Affiliations and expertise

Senior Scientist and Group Leader, Working Group, Ecological Biogeochemistry, Leibniz Centre for Tropical, Marine Research, Bremen, Germany

Soman Kunjupillai

Dr. K. Soman is a Retired Scientist and a former Head, Resources Analysis Division of Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS, now NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. A geologist by training and profession, he carried out geological investigations in parts of the Eastern Ghats and the Kerala. Dr. K. Soman served as Member in various Academic and Professional Bodies (Board of Studies in Kerala and Madras universities, State High Level Committee of River Management Fund (Kerala) and south Asia Node of LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone). Presently He is a geological consultant with certification from the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET) under the Quality Council of India, and engaged in Environmental Impact Assessment of infrastructure projects. Authored over 75 publications and two books.

Affiliations and expertise

Retired Scientist and former Head, Resources Analysis Division of Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS, now NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Srikumar Chattopadhyay

Dr. Srikumar Chattopadhyay retired from CESS as Scientist G and Head, Resources Analysis Division. He was a Post-Doctoral Fulbright Fellow in the Environment and Policy Institute, East West Centre, Hawaii, USA. Recipient of Dr. S Vasudev award (1994) instituted by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Kerala, and Prof. R N Dubey memorial award (2001) instituted by the Boovigyan Vikas Foundation, New Delhi. After retirement from CESS in 2013 he was awarded Senior Fellow position by ICSSR hosted in the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram. In 2016, he served as a Fellow in the HWK Institute for Advanced Studies, Delmenhorst, Germany. He also worked as a Senior Consultant, Kerala Development Innovation Strategic Council (K-Disc), Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram

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Ecohydrology of Kerala

River Catchments and Coastal Backwaters

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Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent

Tim C. Jennerjahn

Soman Kunjupillai

Srikumar Chattopadhyay