biodiversity and indicators of climate change

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Biodiversity indicators of climate change in the context of coastal and marine environment of India Professor B.C. Choudhury Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun e.mail: [email protected]

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Page 1: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Biodiversity indicators of climate change

in the context of coastal and marine environment of India

Professor B.C. ChoudhuryWildlife Institute of India,

Dehradune.mail: [email protected]

Page 2: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Macro level indicators of climate change

• Rise in temperature• Sea level rise• Oceanic chemistry and circulation• Changes in coastal geomorphology• Changes in vegetation structure and

phenological cycle(all these are monitored through satellite based

remote sensing tools)

Page 3: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Sea surface temperature (SST) of the north Indian Ocean derived from the Satellite NOAA-AVHRR. The Colour code is at 1o C interval. Red depicts high temperature (32o C) and blue low (23o C). Orange and yellow are towards higher range and green towards lower range.

Page 4: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Coastal and marine biodiversity supporting habitats vulnerable to climate change

• Coral Reef and seagrass meadows• Mangroves• Coastal lagoons and lakes• Estuaries• Intertidal mudflats• Rocky shores• Sandy shores and sand dunes• Islands

Page 5: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Coral Reef

Seagrass

Backwaters,Estuaries,Lakes &Lagoons

SeaweedBeaches & Sand dunes

Mangroves

Intertidal mudflats & Swamps

Rocky shoreline

Coastal and marine biodiversity supporting habitats vulnerable to climate change

Page 6: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Coral reefs• Coral reefs live very close to the upper

thermal tolerance• Warm episodes (rise in temperature) have

resulted in wide scale coral bleaching and mortality. Viz. El-Nino-southern oscillation

• 1998 coral bleaching across the globe as well as recent re-occurence in 2011.

Page 7: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change
Page 8: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Mangroves• Changes in the community structure and

composition• Changes in zonation and distribution patterns• Increase in mono-specificity• Loss of hammock and basin and increase in

over-wash mangroves • Loss of nursery grounds of a host of brackish

and marine living resources

Page 9: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Lagoons and lakes• Increase in salinity and salinity tolerant

species• Changes in species composition w.r.t

SALINE:BRACKISH:FRESHWATER tolerant species

• Significant changes in benthos characteristics

Page 10: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Estuaries• Increased upstream tidal backwash into

the rivers and creeks• Changes in composition and breeding

behaviour of anadromous and catadromous migrators

Page 11: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Intertidal mudflats• Almost total loss of intertidal mudflats along

the Indian peninsula viz. Gulf of Khambat• Further aggravated where stiff topography

structures viz. seawall prevent the inland migration of mudflat

• impacted faunal groups are wader bird’s diversity & abundance and their migration patterns.

Page 12: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Chilika Ramsar Site

Page 13: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Rocky shores• Loss of anchorage to seaweeds and algae• Decline in habitats for gastropods, bivalves

and crustaceans

Page 14: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Sandy shores and sand dunes• Loss of nesting areas for shore crabs,

marine turtles and waders• Loss of sand dune stabilizing vegetations

viz. Ipomea, Spinifix • Ground water quality• Economic loss, coastal tourism and

fisheries related livelihood

Page 15: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact of climate change on specific coastal and marine habitats

Oceanic Islands• Impact and loss of coraline and volcanic

islands (viz. Lakshadweep (Pitti island) and Andaman & Nicobar)

• Loss of endemic species (Megapod, Amphibians and Reptiles)

Page 16: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Endemism – An overview in AndamansPercentage of endemism across faunal groups

24

28

33

39

45

49

50

57

75

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Freshw ater molluscs

Reptiles

Eathw orms

Birds

Spiders and Scorpions

Termites

Amphibians

Mammals

Terrestrial molluscs

Taxa

Perecentage (%)

%

Page 17: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Endemics - Forest lizard©

S.P.Vijayakum

ar

Page 18: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Endemics - Nicobar Tree Frog©

S.P.Vijayakum

ar

Page 19: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Endemics - Andaman cobra©

S.P.Vijayakum

ar

Page 20: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Endemics- Narcondam Hornbill

Page 21: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Endemics - Nicobar Megapode

http://www.birding.in/birds/Galliformes/nicobar_scrubfowl.htm

Page 22: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Invertebrates - The giant crabs©

S.P.Vijayakum

ar

Page 23: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact on Conservation Network (PAs and Conservation Areas)

• Impact on 60-70 coast based PAs in India• Impact on 106 Important Coastal and Marine

Biodiversity Areas (ICMBA)• Loss of coast based important bird areas (Pitti

Island, Rann of Kachchh, Kolleru, Pulicate, Chilka & Sunderban)

Page 24: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Identified ICMBA sites (106)

62 ICMBAs West Coast

44 ICMBAs East Coast

Page 25: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Prioritized ICMBA sites

Chandipur

ChilkaRushikulya

Naupada

BantumilliMachilipatnam

KaliveliPichavaram

Palk Bay

MadhavpurAlia Bet

Purna

Thane

Purnagad

Achra-Malvan

KaliNetraniKundapur

Kolavipalem

Vypin-Fort KochiKumarakomKumbalangi

Page 26: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact on Indicator Flagship Species of Conservation Importance

• Horseshoe crab-loss of breeding and nesting ground• Salt water crocodile-Innundation and loss of nesting

ground• Turtles-Batagur baska and Pelochelys cantori• Aquatic mammals-Irrawady dolphins and gangetic

dolphins• Marine turtles – Sea turtles• Egglaying Snakes-Achrochordus, Laticauda• Mammals – tiger, fishing cat ad Otter• Obligate vegetation – Seagrass, Seaweeds and Halophytes

Page 27: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Horse shoe CrabTachypleus gigas Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda

Page 28: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change
Page 29: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

River Terrapin (Batagur baska)

Page 30: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Asian giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantori)

Page 31: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Gangetic Dolphin in WB

Page 32: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Irrawaddy Dolphins

Page 33: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change
Page 34: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Sunderbans – largest known population in India, also largest /reports of man-tiger conflict/Worlds only known population of tigers in littoral habitatThreats: Poaching & Retaliatory killings due to tiger-human conflicts

Royal Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris

Page 35: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)

Page 36: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Smooth coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

Page 37: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Seaweed & Sea Grass

Page 38: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Impact on Ethnic Human Population

• Coast based fishing communities• Indigenous tribal populations viz. Jarawas,

Shompens, Onge, Sentineles, Great Andamanese, Nicobari

Page 39: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Indigenous communities -

• The Great Andamanese• The Onge• The Jarawa• The Sentineli• Nicobarese• Shompens

©S.P.V

ijayakumar

Pank

aj S

aksh

eria

Page 40: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Other identified impacts

• Impact on TSD (Temperature dependent Sex Determination) – Turtles and Crocodiles

• Enhanced cyclone, hurricanes, thunder storms and more frequent El-Nino like conditions

Page 41: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Case study – Marine Turtles

Page 42: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

To understand the dynamics of beach geomorphology for successful Arribada.

To understand the factors that contribute to the success or failure of hatching with respect to the nesting beach geomorphology.

Page 43: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Beach profiling• Available beach width and height between high

tide line to vegetation line (benchmark) was monitored on monthly basis.

Hatching success and emergence success• After hatching, selected nests were excavated

and empty egg shells were counted for calculating hatching and emergence success (Miller 1999)

METHODS

Page 44: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

BEACH DURING ONSET OF BREEDING (NOV) BEACH EROSION DURING APRIL

LOSS OF EGGS DUE TO EROSION EMERGENCE DURING MAY

1

2

3

4

Page 45: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change
Page 46: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change
Page 47: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

AUGUST (Lowest)

DECEMEBR

MARCH (Highest)

MAY (Erosion)

MASS NESTING

MASSNESTING BEACH

Rushikulya Mass Nesting Beach

1 km

21 km

Page 48: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

AUGUST

DECEMEBR

MARCH

MAY

SPORADIC NESTING

HIGH SPORADIC NESTING

BEACH

Devi Nesting Beach

1 km

19 km

Page 49: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

MASSNESTING BEACH

Gahirmatha Mass Nesting Beach

Wheeler

island

35 km

AUGUST (lowest)

DECEMEBR

MARCH (Highest)

MAY (Erosion begins)

MASS NESTING

Page 50: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Typical Tide Curves from full moon to new moon period at three comparative study sites

Page 51: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Beach height & Mean tidal amplitude in Gahirmatha rookery

Nasi-1. Old nesting beach

new Nesting beach in

wheeler island

Page 52: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Nasi-I

Nasi-IIBabubali

Wheeler Island

Coconut Island

In 2004, (Mass nesting area 3000 m X 60 m)

Source: Prusty et al 2006

Page 53: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Extended sandbar at Wheeler Island

Wheeler Island

In 2009, (Mass nesting area 900 m X 87 m)

Page 54: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Extended sandbar at Wheeler Island

Wheeler Island

In 2010, (Mass nesting area 1000 m X 53 m)

Page 55: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Hatching and emergence success: 2009-10

Gahirmatha Hatching success (%) 74

Emergence success (%) 64.2

RushikulyaHatching success (%) 75.2

Emergence success (%) 63.5

Devi (sporadic)Hatching success (%) 96.7

Emergence success (%) 93.6

GAHIRMATHA RUSHIKULYA707172737475767778

%

GAHIRMATHA RUSHIKULYA61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

%

Error bars show 95.0% CI of meanError bars show 95.0% CI of meanHS ES

Page 56: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

30 years of study shows the following changes possibly related to climate change

i. Shift in breeding season from December to Marchii. Gradual shift in mass nesting site fidelityiii. Loss of nesting beachesiv. Gradual changes in migratory pattern

Page 57: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

What is needed ?• Identifying climate change related thrust areas of research

for all sectors on involving coastal and marine systems• Involvement of coast based academic organizations and

universities• Creation of Centre of Excellence and Advanced Studies on

Climate Change• International and National NGOs to initiate climate change

initiatives• Improvement in existing prediction framework• Increased focus on research in the ability of possible climate

change impacted vulnerable species for adaptation• Inclusion of climate change in academic curriculum

Page 58: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Probable loss of areas of Sunderban Tiger Reserve in India due to different levels of sea level rise

Page 59: Biodiversity and indicators of climate change

Sunderban specific…• Projecting Sunderban as an climate change

impacted global ecological entity• Identification of priority vulnerable biodiversity

indicators and mechanisms for their safeguards against local and total extinction

• Capacity building and information sharing common database

• Trans boundary common minimum programme on climate change monitoring in Bangladesh and India