Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 27, Oct Suppl. Issue, 2021; Page No.(176-182)

COASTAL LAGOONS, ESTUARIES AND CORAL REEFS: VITAL COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS PROVIDING A WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES AND ITS THREATS

SK. Chand Basha and T. Sambasiva Rao

Abstract

Marine ecosystem is considered as the hub of divergent and dynamic ecosystems with varied ecosystem and provisional services under its ambit. The current review discusses about three most important coastal ecosystems - Coastal lagoons, Estuaries and Coral reefs. The review outlined about the features of coastal lagoons, estuaries and coral reefs. Coastal lagoons and estuaries provide a range of ecosystem provisions which comprises of support to fisheries, effective cycling of nutrients, a source of biodiversity, buffer against varied sea inundations and water filtration. Particularly, the role of coastal lagoons and estuaries acting as a buffer against an array of sea inundations - cyclones, floods, sea surges and others in the context of climate change is remarkable and noteworthy. The cause for concern is different threats, for instance, pollution, habitat degradation and climate change deleteriously affects both the coastal lagoons and estuaries. The review also discusses about coral reefs ecosystem, which serve as a hub of bio diversity besides providing varied provisional services viz… coral aquaculture, gardening and farming and varied applications in bio medical and clinical research. Just like the coastal lagoons and estuaries, coral reefs also deleteriously affected by factors viz… anthropological establishments, dangerous fishing practices to coral bleaching and climate change. Therefore, keeping in view of not just because of varied services provided by these valuable ecosystems, but also for nature’s ecological balance, these valuable ecosystems should be conserved in a sustainable way.