bottom rise and cold water from the surface sinks. Along with this, the nutrients are
churned from the bottom and are brought to the surface.
Similarly, wetland ecosystem provides number of invaluable services to mankind. In regions where there is high intensity rainfall occurs over a short period,
wetlands stop spreading out and slowing down floodwater, also reduces severity of
downstream flood, simultaneously can limit the extent of erosion. Because of their
effectiveness in absorbing water during wet period and release during dry period,
wetlands act as sponges. Thus, regulates flow of streams. Wetlands can slowdown
velocity of runoff and thus are able to trap and retain sediments. The presence of
wetland vegetation also assimilates nitrates and phosphates through action of anaerobic bacteria. Apart from all these, wetlands contribute large share towards maintenance and supporting floral and faunal biodiversity.
Unfortunately, fresh and marine biodiversity are at a greater risk due to certain
factors like species overexploitation, industrial, urban and Agricultural land pollution, Habitat modification/alterations due to construction of dams, deforestation,
converting marshy habitats and other water bodies for different purposes (Basem
2020) Both, artificial and natural alteration in the environment bring about increased
susceptibility of valuable aquatic resources. These changes ultimately result in the
extinction of the species / populations and decreased in population size of Aquatic
biota. Therefore, in order to insulate and preserve our valuable Aquatic resources we
should implement and follow conservation strategies which would not only help
maintaining the balance of nature but also make available the resources for forthcoming generations.
These conservation approaches involves restoration of damaged Aquatic habitats
and species population, development of Aquatic bioreserves to conserve existing
biodiversity in the habitats, building up large as well as small scale biosphere
reserves targeted for conservation of Aquatic biodiversity within an area, watershed
management practices, tree plantation in catchment area, avoiding establishment of
industrial area and thermal power plants near Aquatic bodies, identifying threatened
or endangered aquatic species and increasing public awareness towards biodiversity
(Kumar and Asija 2009).
1.2 Heavy Metal Pollution in Aquatic Environment
1.2.1 Occurrence of Heavy Metals in the Environment
Crustal rock and the minerals it found in those rocks are the ultimate and primary
headspring of heavy metals in the environment including Aquatic bodies of both the
types; Fresh and Marine waters (Brathwaite and Rabone 1985) Various types of host
rocks contain Zinc(Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd),
Nickel (Ni), Silver (Ag), Chromium(Cr), Iron (Fe), Selenium(Se), Titanium (Ti) and
Arsenic (As) in varying amount. Natural weathering of these host rocks and liberation of metals from their indigenous spheres significantly contributes towards heavy
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churned from the bottom and are brought to the surface.
Similarly, wetland ecosystem provides number of invaluable services to mankind. In regions where there is high intensity rainfall occurs over a short period,
wetlands stop spreading out and slowing down floodwater, also reduces severity of
downstream flood, simultaneously can limit the extent of erosion. Because of their
effectiveness in absorbing water during wet period and release during dry period,
wetlands act as sponges. Thus, regulates flow of streams. Wetlands can slowdown
velocity of runoff and thus are able to trap and retain sediments. The presence of
wetland vegetation also assimilates nitrates and phosphates through action of anaerobic bacteria. Apart from all these, wetlands contribute large share towards maintenance and supporting floral and faunal biodiversity.
Unfortunately, fresh and marine biodiversity are at a greater risk due to certain
factors like species overexploitation, industrial, urban and Agricultural land pollution, Habitat modification/alterations due to construction of dams, deforestation,
converting marshy habitats and other water bodies for different purposes (Basem
2020) Both, artificial and natural alteration in the environment bring about increased
susceptibility of valuable aquatic resources. These changes ultimately result in the
extinction of the species / populations and decreased in population size of Aquatic
biota. Therefore, in order to insulate and preserve our valuable Aquatic resources we
should implement and follow conservation strategies which would not only help
maintaining the balance of nature but also make available the resources for forthcoming generations.
These conservation approaches involves restoration of damaged Aquatic habitats
and species population, development of Aquatic bioreserves to conserve existing
biodiversity in the habitats, building up large as well as small scale biosphere
reserves targeted for conservation of Aquatic biodiversity within an area, watershed
management practices, tree plantation in catchment area, avoiding establishment of
industrial area and thermal power plants near Aquatic bodies, identifying threatened
or endangered aquatic species and increasing public awareness towards biodiversity
(Kumar and Asija 2009).
1.2 Heavy Metal Pollution in Aquatic Environment
1.2.1 Occurrence of Heavy Metals in the Environment
Crustal rock and the minerals it found in those rocks are the ultimate and primary
headspring of heavy metals in the environment including Aquatic bodies of both the
types; Fresh and Marine waters (Brathwaite and Rabone 1985) Various types of host
rocks contain Zinc(Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd),
Nickel (Ni), Silver (Ag), Chromium(Cr), Iron (Fe), Selenium(Se), Titanium (Ti) and
Arsenic (As) in varying amount. Natural weathering of these host rocks and liberation of metals from their indigenous spheres significantly contributes towards heavy
318
P. Parikh and K. Unadkat