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Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos

1st Edition - March 25, 2022

Editors: Prince S. Godson, Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent, S. Krishnakumar

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 1 6 1 - 8

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 1 6 2 - 5

Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos provides insights into the characteristic features of marine and estuarine benthos that play an important role in coastal ecosystem… Read more

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Ecology and Biodiversity of Benthos provides insights into the characteristic features of marine and estuarine benthos that play an important role in coastal ecosystem functioning, a primary level in the food chain. The book provides the latest information on multidisciplinary reflections by various researchers studying the benthic community. Through the chapters, ecosystem services are explored as a way to share approaches and scientific methods to achieve knowledge-based sustainable planning and management of benthic ecosystems. This is a helpful guide for anyone working on marine and estuarine environments, and for those who need an introduction to benthic ecology.

The book has a wide range of scientific coverage since it caters primarily to the requirement of marine ecologists, marine benthologists, EIA experts, aquatic researchers, scientists, teachers and research scholars. In addition to this, it also serves as a reference for postgraduate/undergraduate students studying aquatic ecosystems.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
List of contributors
Preface
Chapter 1. Understanding the World of benthos: an introduction to benthology
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Conclusion
References
Chapter 2. Benthic biotopes: abiotic and biotic factors in the sediment
Abstract
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Benthic biotopes
2.3 Abiotic factors
2.4 Biotic factors
2.5 Conclusion
References
Chapter 3. Collection, preservation, and documentation of estuarine and marine benthic invertebrates
Abstract
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Collection permits
3.3 Risky animals
3.4 Collection methods and apparatus
3.5 Sample processing
3.6 Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 4. Source and composition of organic matter and its role in sediment benthic communities
Abstract
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Sediment composition of aquatic ecosystems
4.3 Organic matter in sediments
4.4 Estuarine sediments: A case study from selected estuaries from Indian subcontinent
4.5 Marine sediments: a case study from the Arabian Sea, north western extension of tropical Indian Ocean, west coast of Indian subcontinent
4.6 Conclusion
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 5. Anthropogenic impacts on the benthic habitat morphology
Abstract
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Habitat loss
5.3 Development of coastal landforms
5.4 Hard structures
5.5 Rocky intertidal environment
5.6 Impact of ocean acidification
5.7 Coralligenous environment
5.8 Seagrass environment
5.9 Marine biodiversity indicators
5.10 Anthropogenic impact
5.11 Placer mineral mining
5.12 Impact of habitat changes in faunal diversity
5.13 Impact of mining on marine benthos: a case study of mining and nonmining beaches in the southwest coast of India
5.14 Transect and quadrat sampling
5.15 Subsampling of cores
5.16 Macrofauna extraction
5.17 Meiofauna extraction
5.18 Geochemical analysis of seawater and marine sediments
5.19 Ternary diagram
5.20 Physicochemical properties of seawater and marine sediments
5.21 Statistical analysis
5.22 Macrofaunal distribution
5.23 Meiofaunal distribution
5.24 Principal component analysis
5.25 Conclusion
Supplementry Material
Abbreviations
References
Chapter 6. Physico-chemical factors regulating marine benthos structure and function
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Physical factors
6.3 Chemical factors
6.4 Synergistic effect of environmental parameters on marine benthos
6.5 Conclusion and recommendation
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 7. Ecology, distribution, and biogeography of benthos
Abstract
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Ecology of benthos
7.3 Biogeography of marine benthos
7.4 Factors affecting the distribution of macrobenthic community
7.5 Role of species interactions in the ecology of benthic community
7.6 Conclusion
References
Chapter 8. Spatio-temporal variations of benthic communities along the coast
Abstract
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Methods of obtaining data
8.3 Spatial variations of benthic communities
8.4 Temporal variations of benthic communities
8.5 Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 9. Benthos and its interaction with marine and estuarine ecosystem
Abstract
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Benthos and their interaction with the ecosystem
9.3 Relationship between benthos and marine environment
9.4 Relationship between benthos and estuarine environment
9.5 An attempt to understand the meiofaunal interaction with the ecosystem using Foraminifera and ostracods
9.6 Conclusion
References
Further reading
Chapter 10. Benthic organisms as an ecological tool for monitoring coastal and marine ecosystem health
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Importance of benthos in coastal monitoring programs
10.3 Marine benthic biotic indices and their relevance to coastal monitoring programs
10.4 Commonly used marine biotic indices in Indian waters
10.5 Major limitations of currently used benthic biotic Indices
Acknowledgments
References
Index

Prince S. Godson

Dr. Prince S. Godson has obtained his Ph.D in Zoology from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India during 2016. His major research finding was the Impact of Beach Placer Mining on Sandy Beach Macro and Meio-faunal Community along the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu. He had three years of teaching experience from a UGC innovative course on Coastal Resource Economics and Management from Department of Economics and Department of Animal Science at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. He had three years postdoctoral experience at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala. During his research career, he had a vast experience on Marine benthology and Geomicrobiology, specific areas includes antimalarial drug discovery, marine geochemistry and marine placers. Recently he got a National postdoctoral Fellowship award from Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi. He has published 16 research papers in peer reviewed journals. His publications were cited more than 200 times in various reputed journals and his h-Index is 5.

Affiliations and expertise

National Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Kerala, India

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

S. Krishnakumar

Dr. S Krishnakumar has completed his Ph.D. in Geology from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India. He has a wide range of experience in the field of Sedimentology, Geochemistry and Environmental pollution monitoring and assessment. He has served as an active reviewer for various peer reviewed journals and editorial board member of Journal of coastal sciences and Journal of Aquatic pollution and toxicology. He has own two-time post-doctoral fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology and University Grants Commission, New Delhi. He is an active member of various professional bodies like Indian Association of Applied Geochemists and International Engineering and technology institute and so on. He guided many undergraduate and postgraduate student projects. He also served as a Board of Studies and Doctoral Committee member. He has published 46 research papers in well reputed journals.

Affiliations and expertise

National Post-Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai, India