Algal Resources in the Indian Coastal and Marine Systems with Special Reference to Sundarbans

Abstract

Abstract
Naturally endowed with a coastline of about 8,000 Km represented in a wide range of ecosystems like estuaries, mangroves, backwaters, salt marshes, sandy beaches, rocky coasts, coral reefs, and many such variations in ecosystem diversity, India is also predictably blessed with a treasure of marine biotic resources. A conservative estimate of about 80% of all such resources is found in the coastal zones. Such diversity is attributed to the complex habitats created by the dominant benthic primary producers along with the phytoplankton of the productive shallow waters, further stimulated by terrestrial inputs and upwelling incidents. The primary producers that belong to the heterogeneous assemblage of ‘algae’ are the most important contributors to ecosystem functions in such regions. Distribution patterns and regional assemblage composition of algal species worldwide have been important fields of study. Recent studies suggest that energy and habitat area play an important role in determining the present-day distributional patterns observed for marine algae along with the role of historical processes. A discussion on the utilization status of such resources in India starts on the note that India has quite a phenomenal resource base. The three most important contributors to such resources include the red algae, brown algae and green algae. The current paper deals with a review and discussion of the extent of marine resources in India, their use and sustainability issues and a special note on the algal resources of Sundarbans and the potential use patterns of the same.
Keywords: Algal resources, Resource utilization, Sustainability, Indian Sundarbans