Document of bibliographic reference 360004

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Book chapters

BibLvlCode

AM

Title

Brachyuran crab diversity of mangroves of Kochi, Kerala: an overlooked and threatened face of urban biodiversity

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystems demand attention, particularly in the context of the role of mangroves in protecting shores from natural calamities and the spiraling levels of habitat fragmentation along coastlines. The coastal city of Kochi in Central Kerala is the commercial, industrial, and financial hub of the state, located close to the foothills of the Western Ghats. It is home to an array of isolated stretches of lush green mangroves that serve as havens for biodiversity. A preliminary survey of brachyuran crab diversity of the major mangrove belts in Kochi and its immediate suburbs is carried out in the backdrop of grim levels of pollution of these brackish water ecosystems. Sewage and sewerage outlets along with indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, including domestic and plastic refuse, contaminate most of these stretches. Sampling was done on a monthly basis for four consecutive months. The study records an impressive diversity of crabs despite extensive pollution. Twelve species spanning four families are recorded. This as an indicator of the teeming biodiversity of mangroves that contributes to urban biodiversity of the area. It further serves as a clarion call to biologists, policymakers, and other stakeholders to document and conserve mangrove ecosystems and preserve the biodiversity hotspots of urban landscapes.

Bibliographic citation

Mathew, E.V.; Sana, K.A.; Niladevi, K.N. (2022). Brachyuran crab diversity of mangroves of Kochi, Kerala: an overlooked and threatened face of urban biodiversity, in: Sobti, R.C. (Ed.) Biodiversity. Threats and Conservation. pp. 73-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781003220398-6