393
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_12
Chapter 12
Assessment of Anthropogenic Threats
to the Biological Resources of Kaliveli Lake,
India: A Coastal Wetland
Krishnan Silambarasan and Arumugam Sundaramanickam
Abstract Kaliveli Lake is a coastal lagoon wetlands in the Viluppuram District,
near to Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu state, Southeast coast of India. The lake is one
of the largest wetlands in peninsular India, and is considered a wetland of international importance proposed by International Union for the Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources (IUCN). Kaliveli Backwaters is 12.5 km long and 370 m
broad. The average depth is 1.75 m in the high tide. At some place it shows 3.5–
4.0 m deep. It covers an area of 3940 acres with a gradient from freshwater to brackish water. It is a semi-permanent, fresh to brackish water lagoon, which empties into
the sea through a narrow channel connecting the wetland with the Yedayanthittu
estuary to the northeast. This wetland is one of the most significant habitats suitable
feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds. More than ten thousand migratory
birds are visiting this wetland every year. At present, this wetland is threatened by
many anthropogenic activities such as infringement from agricultural lands, wildlife poaching, loss of the surrounding forests, increased saltpan and aquaculture
farming and recreational activities. The present study focuses on identification and
assessment of the various threats faced by the Kaliveli wetland and we affirm following suggestions regarding the adequate measures for its conservation and
management.
Keywords Kaliveli wetland • Anthropogenic threads • Biological resources •
Salt pan
K. Silambarasan
P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Sir Theagaraya College,
Chennai 600 021, Tamil Nadu, India
e-mail: silambuplankton@hotmail.com
A. Sundaramanickam (*)
CAS in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University,
Parangipettai 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India
e-mail: fish_lar@yahoo.com
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_12
Chapter 12
Assessment of Anthropogenic Threats
to the Biological Resources of Kaliveli Lake,
India: A Coastal Wetland
Krishnan Silambarasan and Arumugam Sundaramanickam
Abstract Kaliveli Lake is a coastal lagoon wetlands in the Viluppuram District,
near to Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu state, Southeast coast of India. The lake is one
of the largest wetlands in peninsular India, and is considered a wetland of international importance proposed by International Union for the Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources (IUCN). Kaliveli Backwaters is 12.5 km long and 370 m
broad. The average depth is 1.75 m in the high tide. At some place it shows 3.5–
4.0 m deep. It covers an area of 3940 acres with a gradient from freshwater to brackish water. It is a semi-permanent, fresh to brackish water lagoon, which empties into
the sea through a narrow channel connecting the wetland with the Yedayanthittu
estuary to the northeast. This wetland is one of the most significant habitats suitable
feeding and breeding ground for migratory birds. More than ten thousand migratory
birds are visiting this wetland every year. At present, this wetland is threatened by
many anthropogenic activities such as infringement from agricultural lands, wildlife poaching, loss of the surrounding forests, increased saltpan and aquaculture
farming and recreational activities. The present study focuses on identification and
assessment of the various threats faced by the Kaliveli wetland and we affirm following suggestions regarding the adequate measures for its conservation and
management.
Keywords Kaliveli wetland • Anthropogenic threads • Biological resources •
Salt pan
K. Silambarasan
P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Sir Theagaraya College,
Chennai 600 021, Tamil Nadu, India
e-mail: silambuplankton@hotmail.com
A. Sundaramanickam (*)
CAS in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University,
Parangipettai 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India
e-mail: fish_lar@yahoo.com