Mesmerising Sundarban Wetland

Sundarban, which is known as world's largest delta, largest coastal wetland and largest  mangrove forest. It consists of 10,200 sq. m. mangrove forest distributed among India (4200 sq. m.) and Bangladesh (6000 sq. m.). The Sundarban Mangrove in India, covers about one million ha including the delta of the rivers Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna Department of Sundarban Affairs). 

Map: Sundarban wetland

This wetland provides habitat to large number of species of plants and animals. It is home to 350 species of vascular plants, 250 fishes and 300 birds, besides numerous species of phytoplankton, fungi, bacteria, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, molluscs, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.

Mangrove forest within Sundarban

Sundarban is also habitat to many rare and endangered animals (Batagur baska, Pelochelys bibroni, Chelonia mydas), especially the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris). Javan rhino, wild buffalo, hog deer, and barking deer are now extinct from the area. Although, large areas of the Sundarban mangroves have been converted into paddy fields over the past two centuries, and more recently into shrimp farms, it is still home of  many species of plants and animals( Brij G and Malavika C, 2006).

Second visit to the Migneint Bog

Weather: Gale of 45 kmph,  cloudy.

It's my second visit to Migneint bog, Wales. Like other field trips, I was with my class mates and teachers. This time we were there to learn new techniques of experiments and collect various samples. This included setting up of field experiments, water sample collection and gaseous fluxes measurement.

Demonstration to fix gas chambers

Our day started with two hour drive from the University with a team of 10 people. After reaching to the Migneint, we had an opportunity to visit University experiment site, which is running in the Migneint bog with the collaboration of Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and Natural Environment Research Council.  The purpose of the experiment is to monitor effects of air pollution on the stability of carbon and nitrogen stored in the soil. The study is targeted to protect sensitive upland soil and freshwater ecosystems against the effect of climate change.

The study site was divided into three types of plots – plot with red boundaries indicates vegetation with acidic soil, plot with blue boundaries indicates vegetation with alkaline soil and plot with white boundaries indicates vegetation with neutral soil.

Gas chambers

After reaching to the study site, Dr. Tim demonstrated us a procedure of water sample collection. Later he taught us a gas extraction method with the help of dark and transparent chambers by using syringe. Simultaneously, we also got a chance to collect gaseous content from the study site. I feel, it was a good opportunity for us to visit the project site again and understand various techniques from experts. After learning session, we assisted Dr. Tim to sprinkle acidic, alkaline and neutral solutions on the site.  The idea was to sprinkle solution into various plots by taking consideration of color boundaries. Reason behind whole procedure was to check the influence of chemicals on bog and utilize same knowledge for the prediction of acidic rain effect on bogs. We also collected two buckets of peat to analyse it in the laboratory.

Ditch drainage

 After having lunch we headed towards another site of same bog and sprinkled solutions there by following same procedures.Then after, some of us decided to go further with Dr. Tim to collect samples and data from another site.  That site was far from the second site but we managed to reach there within 20 minutes. Dr. Tim quickly collected water samples and data from the installed machine to collect DOC value of stream water.  It is really important to have data of DOC from this bog as this is a source of stream water to Wales. Though whole trip went well, we were challenged by an extreme weather throughout the day. First time I experienced and realized how much efforts a wetland scientist has to provide from fields to laboratory for the conservation of wetlands.

Treborth botanical garden to study Sphagnum

This was our second visit to Treborth botanical garden.  From our first visit, I was able to recognize various plant species of wetlands, but this time our focus was to address certain questions regarding Sphagnum:

Why sphagnum plays pivotal role in bogs ecology?

·      What are various characteristics of Sphagnum, which enable them to sustain in water logged conditions?

 Sphagnum is most dominant flora of bogs. I believe, it’s really important to get appropriate answers of those questions in order to understand bogs’ ecology adequately. The idea of visiting Treborth botanical garden again was to differentiate various types of Sphagnum moss in the laboratory of Treborth Garden with Prof. Nigel Brown. Unfortunately, due to certain reasons we could study only one species.  

Sphagnum species

We reached there at 9.30 am. But, we started our work around 11 am as we had to wait Professor. We observed one species with full understanding.  The most exciting part of the visit was to observe TS of sphagnum under the electronic microscope and sketch it on a paper.After lunch time, Prof. Nigel Brown gave a lecture about Sphagnum. The discussion concluded that:  

1) Sphagnum species adapt to a certain habitats, but also create environments of nutrient poor, wet, anoxic and acidic.

2)  Sphagnum species need low concentrations of nutrients and minerals.

 3)  Sphagnum species are resistant to decay.

Lastly, we were introduced to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat Descriptions.

Wandering for beavers in Scotland

Weather on the day of field survey: Morning was freezing with temperature 0°C, day was quite warm with 15 °C to 20 °C and it was showering in the evening.

Introduction

Hurray!!! it's time to visit Scotland. We went to the Beaver's reintroduction site near the City of Dundee in order to understand the interaction of Beavers with ecosystem and hydrology. Initially, I had very limited knowledge about Beavers and their importance. As a result of this visit, now I got chance to know Beavers and their role in the ecosystem of reintroduction site.

Flooded area in study site 1

Firstly, let us talk about Beavers. Beavers are small rodents native to the UK. They play significant role in and around their habitat ecosystem. They modify their surroundings through coppicing, feeding and in some cases they create dams.  Eventually, Beavers help improve water quality and create ponds and wetlands. These modified areas attract other species of fauna and hence help to maintain food chain. Above-mentioned roles of the Beavers make them 'keystone' species.

Beavers traces 

Despite abundant until the end of 16^th century, hunting led Beavers to the verge of extinction during later periods. Its only in recent years when many organizations in the UK started reintroduction programs of the Beavers considering their significant role in ecology. The pioneer step is already initiated in Scotland near Dundee. Like many other researchers, our visit to that site was to study various effects of Beaver reintroduction. Our primary aim was to collect samples and record PH, conductivity, carbon, redox, and biodiversity. This reintroduction project of Beavers is becoming productive and gaining popularity in Europe.

Though this whole trip was for three days, only second day was assigned for the study purpose and remaining days were for return journey.

The field survey

The morning of the filed survey day was interesting, as we had to calibrate pH and conductivity meter and rest of the kit very early in the morning. After reaching to the site, we formed groups to collect samples from the area. We formed 3 groups including both graduate and undergraduate students. Then the whole study area was divided into 4 sites and within each site 3 sample area–upland area, middle land area and low land area.  To enhance accuracy of our work we decided to take 5 replicate from each areas.

Juncus effusus

Site 1: This site was near Beaver’s lodge, where traces of Beaver activities including chopped big trees, creation of wetland and formation of dams were visible.  In this site, my group was engaged in the collection of samples from lowland area (wetland).  Despite waterlogged, floral diversity was rich in the area such as Juncus, Duckweed, Hypnum moss (Hypnum cupressiforme), Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), Creeping soft grass (Holcus mollis), Dryopteris filix-mas (Fern), Broom moss (Dicranum scoparium), Campylopus introflexus (Moss), Silky forklet-moss (Dicranella heteromalla), Common pincushion (Dicranoweisiacirrata), Toothed Streak-moss (Rhabdoweisia crispata), Woodland ragwort (Senecio sylvaticus) and Creeping bentgrass (Agrostisstolonifera). But few toads and frogs were representing faunal diversity in the area.

Unfortunately, I was not enjoying the sample collection due to two reasons. Firstly, as a result of low temperature, soil in the site was frozen making very tough to dig into the soil. Secondly, webs of dense Juncus roots were also increasing the problem. In 2 hours, however, we managed to collect samples and measured pH, conductivity, redox, GPS, carbon dioxide, temperature of soil and biomass estimation.

Adjacent to site 2

Site 2: This site was at 5 minutes walking distance from the first site. This site was also showing influence of Beavers activities, but less severe than the Site 1. Probably, no presence of large trees was the reason behind less Beaver activities. However, we have to wait for the Lab analysis of the samples to extract conclusion of the reasons of less influence of Beavers.  Collection of the sample and data for pH, conductivity, GPS, carbon dioxide, temperature of soil and biomass estimation was quite easy as compared to the Site 1 since weather was quite pleasant at that time.

Stream flow in site 3

Site 3: After walking 5 minutes, we reached to the Site 3 nearby the human constructed dam on the stream. We collected our samples from the farm quickly and very easily. We also had an opportunity to meet a farmer, who told short story about that area and suggested us to collect samples from another site 4.

 Students busy while sampling
 at Site 4

Site 4: This site was quite far from other sites and lying along a stream.  We decided to collect samples from both sides of the stream i.e. field and grassland.  Before sampling, distance was measured equally of 15 m on both sides. The aim was to collect samples from this site, as a model site where beavers didn’t seems to be active.

Being my first overnight field visit, this trip provided opportunity to know my colleagues closely outside of the classroom. Stay in the Scotland was very enjoyable despite many hours of bus ride.