RESUMEN
As a part of the monitoring practice of the lone natural habitat of the endemic and endangered Rucervus eldii eldii McClelland or Sangai, the paper reports sediment and water characteristics of Keibul Lamjao National Park-the only floating national park of the world in Manipur, Indo Burma hotspot. The water analysis showed low pH (5.69 ± 0.16), high electrical conductivity (342 ± 13.01 µS m-1), high turbidity (33.2 ± 9.407 NTU), and high phosphate concentrations (0.92 ± 0.11 mg L-1) during the study period. The water quality index values calculated indicate that the park water during post-monsoon season is unfit for drinking. Thus, the degrading water quality poses a serious risk to the health of the deer and other species in the park. At present, Sangai in its natural habitat is threatened by pollution, encroachment, phoomdi thickness reduction, and inbreeding depression. To address the problem of inbreeding, Pumlen pat is considered as a second suitable natural habitat for the deer reintroduction program. During the study, water characteristics of the wetland showed similar characteristics as KLNP, i.e., low pH (5.86 ± 0.30), high electrical conductivity (377.6 ± 5.55 µS m-1), high turbidity (32.36 ± 4.91 NTU), and high phosphate concentrations (0.79 ± 0.14 mg L-1). Likewise, sediments showed high TP accumulation that ranged from 197.03 ± 0.75 to 332.88 ± 0.99 mg kg-1 for KLNP and 245.18 ± 0.85 to 351.48 ± 0.71 mg kg-1 for Pumlen pat, respectively. Both, the lone natural habitat and the proposed habitat showed deteriorating water quality. As such, continuous monitoring of KLNP and Pumlen pat water and sediment quality should be a priority during the management practices to protect the endangered deer and health of the habitats for long-term conservation.
Asunto(s)
Ciervos , Calidad del Agua , Animales , Mianmar , Parques Recreativos , India , Ecosistema , Fosfatos , Conservación de los Recursos NaturalesRESUMEN
As a part of the monitoring process of the main polluting tributary of Loktak, the paper analyzed the water characteristics of the main polluted stretch of Nambul river i.e. Imphal Urban region. The results showed low pH (6.23 ± 0.32), high electrical conductivity (1373 ± 50.33 µSm-1), high turbidity (25.40 ± 0.90 NTU), poor dissolved oxygen content (0.53 ± 0.24 mgL-1), high nitrate, and phosphate concentrations (9.27 ± 0.40 and 2.05 ± 0.10 mgL-1, respectively). The Water Quality Index values indicate that Nambul river is unfit for drinking. Moreover, the Sodium Percentage, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, and Kelly's Ratio revealed the unsuitable nature of the river for irrigation. Therefore, in order to clean the river water, lab scale microcosm experimentation was carried out to highlight the potential of the dominant macrophytes viz. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms and Pistia stratiotes (L.) as phytofilters. The results showed increased pH (7.6 ± 0.11 and 7.5 ± 0.1), higher dissolved oxygen content (5.87 ± 0.30 and 3.28 ± 0.30 mgL-1), less turbidity (0.60 ± 0.25 and 0.40 ± 0.15 NTU) and reduced nitrate and phosphate concentrations (0.37 ± 0.03 and 0.52 ± 0.01 mgL-1, and 0.534 ± 0.025 and 0.346 ± 0.01 mgL-1, respectively).Novelty statementThe present study showed the deteriorating water quality of Nambul river, the main polluting source of Loktak - a Ramsar site in the Montreux records.Water Quality Index calculated was above the unsuitable level for drinking at all the sampling locations in the Imphal Urban region.Sodium percentage, sodium adsorption ratio and Kelly's ratio were above the desired limit, making the river water unfit for irrigation.Further, the microcosm experimentation showed that the dominant macrophytes viz. Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms and Pistia stratiotes (L.) can control the pollution level of Nambul.
Asunto(s)
Ríos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Biodegradación Ambiental , India , Mianmar , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisisRESUMEN
In order to determine the potential of phoomdi to accumulate nutrients and metals, 11 dominant species belonging to 10 different families, sediment, and water were analyzed for a period of 2 years from the largest freshwater wetland of north-east India, Loktak (Ramsar site). Results revealed nutrient (TN and TP) and metal (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) compartmentalization in the order phoomdi > sediment > water. Iron concentrations in water (0.37 ± 0.697 to 0.57 ± 1.010 mg L(-1)) and sediments (81.8 ± 0.45 to 253.1 ± 0.51 mg kg(-1)) show high metal discharge into the wetland. Metal accumulation in phoomdi ranged up to 212.3 ± 0.46-9461.4 ± 1.09 mg kg(-1) for Fe; 85.9 ± 0.31-3565.1 ± 0.87 mg kg(-1) for Mn; 9.6 ± 0.41-85.39 ± 0.58 mg kg(-1) for Zn; and 0.31 ± 0.04-9.2 ± 0.04 mg kg(-1) for Cu, respectively. High bioaccumulation factors (BAF) for metals (S. cucullata, 5.8 × 10(4) Fe, 3.9 × 10(4) Mn, and 1.7 × 10(4) Cu, and O. javanica, 4.9 × 10(3) Zn) and nutrients (S. polyrhiza, 9.7 × 10(2) TN, and Z. latifolia, 7.9 × 10(4) TP) revealed good accumulation in phoomdi compared to the wetland water column and indicate their potential to maintain a safe environment of Loktak. Further, the paper analyzed the health hazard of metals via phoomdi wild edible consumption, with the results confirming potential risk. Thus, the paper showed the need of in-depth monitoring and ample management strategies to ensure nutritional safety conditions of locals from the metals.