Sundarban mangroves: diversity, ecosystem services and climate change impacts

Authors

  • Sucharit Basu Neogi Coastal Development Partnership, House No # 181/A, Road # 3, South Pirerbagh, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216 and Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531
  • Mouri Dey Department of Accounting and Information System, University of Chittagong
  • SM Lutful Kabir Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
  • Syed Jahangir H Masum Coastal Development Partnership, House No # 181/A, Road # 3, South Pirerbagh, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216
  • German Kopprio Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology GmbH, Fahrenheitstr. 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany and Argentine Institute of Oceanography, 8000 Bahía Blanca
  • Shinji Yamasaki Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531
  • Rubén Lara Argentine Institute of Oceanography, 8000 Bahía Blanca

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/ajmbr.v2i4.30988

Keywords:

climate change, mangroves, wetlands, biodiversity, ecosystem services, livelihoods

Abstract

The Bengal delta coast harboring the famous Sundarban mangroves is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Already, salinity intrusion, increasing cyclones and anomalies in rainfall, and temperature, are causing many social and livelihood problems. However, our knowledge on the diversified climate change impacts on Sundarban ecosystems services, providing immense benefits, including foods, shelters, livelihood, and health amenities, is very limited. Therefore, this article has systematically reviewed the major functional aspects, and highlights on biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and services of the Sunderban mangroves, with respect to variations in climatic factors. The mangrove ecosystems are highly productive in terms of forest biomass, and nutrient contribution, especially through detritus-based food webs, to support rich biodiversity in the wetlands and adjacent estuaries. Sundarban mangroves also play vital role in atmospheric CO2 sequestration, sediment trapping and nutrient recycling. Sea level rise will engulf a huge portion of the mangroves, while the associated salinity increase is posing immense threats to biodiversity and economic losses. Climate-mediated changes in riverine discharge, tides, temperature, rainfall and evaporation will determine the wetland nutrient variations, influencing the physiological and ecological processes, thus biodiversity and productivity of Sundarban mangroves. Hydrological changes in wetland ecosystems through increased salinity and cyclones will lower the food security, and also induce human vulnerabilities to waterborne diseases. Scientific investigations producing high resolution data to identify Sundarban?s multidimensional vulnerabilities to various climatic regimes are essential. Sustainable plans and actions are required integrating conservation and climate change adaptation strategies, including promotion of alternative livelihoods. Thus, interdisciplinary approaches are required to address the future climatic disasters, and better protection of invaluable ecosystem services of the Sunderban mangroves.

Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 488-507

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Author Biography

Sucharit Basu Neogi, Coastal Development Partnership, House No # 181/A, Road # 3, South Pirerbagh, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216 and Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531



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Published

2017-01-23

How to Cite

Neogi, S. B., Dey, M., Kabir, S. L., Masum, S. J. H., Kopprio, G., Yamasaki, S., & Lara, R. (2017). Sundarban mangroves: diversity, ecosystem services and climate change impacts. Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2(4), 488–507. https://doi.org/10.3329/ajmbr.v2i4.30988

Issue

Section

Review Articles