Mapping
Source: TOI
Context: Air pollution from Kolkata and the Indo-Gangetic Plain threatens the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, revealed a recent study.
Pollutants, including black carbon and heavy metals, degrade air quality, harming mangroves. Antiquated boat motors are a major source of toxic metals. The acidic components of pollutants lead to oxidative stress, endangering mangrove cells.
What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress refers to the condition where pollutants, such as heavy metals and acidic components in the air, lead to excess production of reactive oxygenated species (ROS) in the mangrove ecosystem. This overproduction of ROS can overwhelm the natural antioxidant defences of the mangrove cells, leading to cellular damage and threatening the overall health and resilience of the ecosystem.
About Sundarbans:
Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
Features:
- Sundarban in India is its largest mangrove ecosystem.
- Sundarban Reserve Forest of Bangladesh is the largest mangrove forest in the world.
- It contains Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, Sundarban Wetland, Sundarbans National Park and Biosphere Reserve.
- It is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers
