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SENSITIZATION OF FISHERMEN ABOUT SEAGRASSES AND ZOOPLANKTON

| Wed, Oct 03, 2018, 1:00 AM



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Seagrass bed supports enormous diversity of both benthic and planktonic fauna. After prolonged monsoon season, seagrass meadows of the Chilika lagoon started rejuvenating from their underground rhizome. Developing seagrass bed were observed in the outer channel area of lagoon which is primarily marine with salinity as high as 30 ppt. Fishermen fishing in the outer channel area were sensitized about role of zooplankton in sustaining the fishery resources using live demonstration on foldscope. Water samples were collected by the fisherman from the shore line area that harbours dense bed of developing seagrasses. Zooplankton were fixed using Rose Bengal and Formalin mixture and were observed on-boat by fishermen. It was the first encounter of fishermen with the zooplankton, though these unseen microorganisms are the backbone of fishery resources that sustains the livelihood of 0.2 million fishermen living in and around the Chilika Lagoon.

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Water sample collected above the seagrass bed.
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Grab sample collected having dense developing seagrasses.
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Explanation of the use of foldscope and how to see the samples

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Calanoid copepods are the most abundant order among copepods in Chilika.
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Rotifers are an excellent feed for the fishes, it is also used in aquaculture as live feed for prawns
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the stained Harpacticoid copepod found relatively less abundant and are feed for the pelagic fishes and prawns.



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Categories

Type of Sample
microorganisms
Foldscope Lens Magnification
140x

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