Environmental Science - A Ground Zero Observation on the Indian Subcontinent

This book provides a cross-sectoral, multi-scale assessment of different environmental problems via in-depth studies of the Indian subcontinent. Data collected from different ecosystems forms a strong foundation to explore the topics discussed in this book. The book investigates how mankind is presently under the appalling shadow of pollution, climate change, overpopulation and poverty. The continuing problem of pollution, loss of forests, disposal of solid waste, deterioration of environment, global warming and loss of biodiversity have made nations aware of environmental issues. Many countries are desperately trying to move away from this adverse situation through technological development and policy level approaches. Through a number of case studies the authors provide details of ground level observations of the most environmentally stressed regions in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

Auteur

Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Associate Professor and former Head, Dept. of Marine Science, University of Calcutta (INDIA) has been active in the sphere of Oceanography since 1985. He obtained his Ph.D as NET qualified scholar in 1994. Since then he joined Calcutta Port Trust and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature-India), in various capacities to carry out research programmes on environmental science, biodiversity conservation, climate change and carbon sequestration. Presently Dr. Mitra is serving as the Director, Research of Techno India University, West Bengal. He has to his credit about 540 scientific publications in various National and International journals, and 40 books of postgraduate standards. Dr. Mitra is presently the member of several committees like PACON International, IUCN, SIOS, Mangrove Society of India, The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences etc. and has successfully completed about 17 projects on biodiversity loss in fishery sector, coastal pollution, aquaculture, alternative livelihood, climate change and carbon sequestration. Dr. Mitra also visited as faculty member and invited speaker in several Universities of Singapore, Kenya, Oman and USA. In 2008 Dr. Mitra was invited as visiting fellow at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, USA to deliver a series of lecture on Climate Change. Dr. Mitra also successfully guided 39 Ph.D students. Presently his research areas include environmental science, mangrove ecology, sustainable aquaculture, alternative livelihood, climate change and carbon sequestration.

Dr. Sufia Zaman, presently serving as Head, Department of Oceanography in Techno India University, West Bengal started her career in the field of Marine Science since 2001. She worked in the rigorous region of Indian Sundarbans and has wide range of experience in exploring the floral and faunal diversity of Sundarbans. She has published 5 books on carbon sequestration, 235 scientific papers and contributed chapters in several books on biodiversity, environmental science, aquaculture and livelihood development. Dr. Zaman is presently a member of Fisheries Society of India. She is also running projects on carbon sequestration by mangroves of Indian Sundarbans. She is the recipient of DST Women Scientist and Jawaharlal Memorial Doctoral fellowship awards. Her areas of research include aquaculture, fish nutrition, phytoplankton diversity, climate change mangrove ecology and alternative livelihood. Dr. Zaman is also the first researcher in the maritime state of West Bengal (India), who initiated trial experiments on iron fertilization and subsequent enhancement of primary (phytoplankton) and secondary (fish) productions in the brackish water ponds of Indian Sundarbans with the financial assistance of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Dr. Zaman is also providing consultancy on green technology to several industries, NGOs and corporate sectors.

Contenu

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT

Definition and Overview of Environment Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

Conservation of Natural Resources

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 1A: Food Products from Mangrove Associate Species: An Avenue for Alternative Livelihood and Conservation

CHAPTER 2: CHAPTER 2: COMPONENTS OF THE EARTH

Layers of the Earth

Constructive Natural Processes

Destructive Natural Processes

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 2A: Common Types of Corals

Annexure 2B: Changing Hydrological Face of Indian Sundarban Estuary due to Super Cyclone AILA

CHAPTER 3: EARTH AND ITS RESOURCES Land Resources

Aquatic Resources

Over Exploitation of Resources

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 3A: Rising Nutrient Levels in Two Major Estuaries in the Indian Sundarbans: A Time Series Analysis

CHAPTER 4: BASICS OF ECOSYSTEM Definition and Overview

Types of Ecosystem

Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 4A: Damage to Fish Juvenile Community due to Wild Collection of Tiger Prawn Seeds in the Indian Sundarban Estuaries

CHAPTER 5: MAJOR BIOCHEMICAL CYCLES Hydrological Cycle

Major Elemental Cycles

Alteration of Biogeochemical Cycles by Human beings

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 5A: Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Near Surface Air Temperature of Sagar Island in Indian Sundarbans

CHAPTER 6: BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION Introduction to Biodiversity

Threats to Biodiversity

In-situ, Ex-situ and Policy Level Approaches to Conserve Biodiversity

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 6A: Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Commercially Important Fin Fishes from the Lower Gangetic Delta

Annexure 6B: Common Types of Medicinal Plants with Salient Features and Ecosystem Services

CHAPTER 7: AIR POLLUTION AND ITS MITIGATION

Air pollution: An Overview

Effects of Air Pollution

Mitigation of Air Pollution

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 7A: Carbon Storage Potential of Urban Trees

CHAPTER 8: WATER POLLUTION AND ITS MITIGATION

Water Pollution: An overview Effects of Water Pollution

Prevention and Control of Water Pollution

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

Annexure 8A: Water Quality Of The River Ganga in and around the City of Kolkata during and after Goddess Durga Immersion Annexure 8B: Bioaccumulation Potential of a Mangrove Associate Species, Porteresia coarctata

CHAPTER 9: SOIL POLLUTION AND ITS MITIGATION

Causes of Soil pollution

Effects of Soil Pollution

Minimizing Soil Pollution through Bioremediation

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

CHAPTER 10: OIL POLLUTION

Oil Pollution: An Overview

Effects of Oil Pollution

Control of Oil Pollution

Take Home Messages

Brain Churners

References

CHAPTER 11: HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Population Growth Forms

Scenario of Global Population

Concept of Population Control

Take Home Messages Brain Churners

Annexure 11A: Shrimp Feed Preparation from Seaweed

Annexure 11B: Countries, territories or areas with reported laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths; data as of 19 March 2020

CHAPTER 12: CLIMATE CHANGE: THREAT OF ERA Causes of Climate Change</p&gt...