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A foraminiferal testimony for the reduced adverse effects of mining in Zuari Estuary, Goa

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

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Title A foraminiferal testimony for the reduced adverse effects of mining in Zuari Estuary, Goa
 
Creator Panchang, R.
Nigam, R.
Baig, N.
Nayak, G.N.
 
Subject foraminifera
sediments
catchment area
environmental conditions
estuaries
brackishwater pollution
pollution indicators
foraminifera
mining
suspended particulate matter
 
Description This paper demonstrates the potentiality of foraminifera in detecting mining pollution. Goa's Mandovi-Zuari estuarine complex is most vulnerable to deterioration caused by the mining industry. The objective of the present study is to estimate the health of the Zuari through foraminiferal distribution in its surface sediments. The foraminiferal data generated was compared with the three-decade-old foraminiferal data collected in 1972 and total suspended matter (TSM) data over the years. There has been a substantial increase in the maximum total foraminiferal number (TFN), from 1143 specimens in 1972 to 3057 specimens per gram sand in 2003. Even the Total Species Number (TSN) has increased from 24 in 1972 to 50 in 2003. This is in compliance with the TSM data collected over the years, which has considerably decreased. The foraminiferal data, TSM data and reduction in mining activities in the catchment area of the Zuari Estuary suggest an improvement in the environmental health of the estuary. This study also strengthens the view that foraminifera can be used as a tool to monitor marine pollution
 
Date 2008-02-22T05:30:08Z
2008-02-22T05:30:08Z
2005
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier International journal of environmental studies, Vol.62; 579-591p.
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/929
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyright [2005]. It is tried to respect the rights of the copyright holders to the best of the knowledge. If it is brought to our notice by copyright holder that the rights are voilated then the item would be withdrawn.
 
Publisher Taylor and Francis