Marine mammal research and conservation in India

Abstract

Marine mammals are major consumers of production at most trophic levels from primary production (i.e. sirenians) to predatory fish and even to other marine mammals, as in the case of killer whales. Because of their large body size and abundance, they have a major influence on the structure and function of marine communities. They play an important role in shaping the behaviour and life history traits of prey species and predators, in nutrient storage and recycling, and in modifying benthic habitats (Katona and Whitehead, 1988). The ecological importance of marine mammals is poorly understood, but they are conspicuous as the charismatic megafauna of marine ecosystems that elicit strong human emotions (Bowen, 1997). Marine mammals are probably one of the best sentinel organisms in aquatic and coastal environments because many species have long life spans and have extensive fat stores that can serve as depots for anthropogenic toxins.