Chumki Chowdhury

Bio: Chumki Chowdhury is an academic researcher from University of Calcutta. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mangrove & Phytoplankton. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 22 publications receiving 445 citations.

Phytoplankton abundance in relation to cultural eutrophication at the land-ocean boundary of Sunderbans, NE Coast of Bay of Bengal, India

Abstract: Human activities accelerate the input of plant nutrients sourced from agriculture, industrial waste, and sewage in the Hooghly River at the land ocean boundary of Indian Sunderban mangrove (21°32′–22°40′ N and 88°05′–89° E). This study reports seasonal fluctuations in the phytoplankton assemblage and the relationship between phytoplankton abundance and key environmental parameters in a highly eutrophic system. As far as seasonal perspective, the Hooghly estuarine system dominated by mangrove suffered complete change in terms of phytoplankton and other key parameters during monsoon compared to other times of the year. Diatoms were more abundant than dinoflagellates throughout all seasons with 58 species.

Improved model calculation of atmospheric CO 2 increment in affecting carbon stock of tropical mangrove forest

Abstract: Because of the difficulties in setting up arrangements in the intertidal zone for free-air carbon dioxide enrichment experimentation, the responses to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide in mangrove forests are poorly studied. This study applied box model to overcome this limitation, and the relative changes in present level of reservoirs organic carbon contents in response to the future increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide were examined in the Avicennia- dominated mangrove forest at the land–ocean boundary of the northeast coast of the Bay of Bengal. The above- and below-ground biomass (AGB+BGB) and sediment held different carbon stock (53.20±2.87Mg C ha −1 (mega gram carbon per hectare) versus 18.52±2.77Mg C ha −1 ). Carbon uptake (0.348mg C m −2 s −1 ) is more than offset by losses from plant emission (0.257mg C m −2 s −1 ), and litter fall (13.52µg C m −2 s −1 ) was more than soil CO 2 and CH 4 emission (8.36 and 1.39µg C m −2 s −1 , respectively). Across inventory plots, Sundarban mangrove forest carbon storage in above- and below-ground live trees and soil increased by 18.89 and 5.94Mg C ha −1 between June 2009 and December 2011. Box model well predicted the dynamics of above- and below-ground biomass and soil organic carbon, and increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations could be the cause of 1.1- and 1.57-fold increases in carbon storage in live biomass and soil, respectively, across Sundarban mangrove forest rather than recovery from past disturbances. Keywords: carbon stock, CO 2 sensitivity, box model, mangrove forest, India (Published: 23 April 2013) Citation: Tellus B 2013, 65 , 18981, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v65i0.18981

Carbon Cycling and Storage in Mangrove Forests

Abstract: Mangroves are ecologically and economically important forests of the tropics. They are highly productive ecosystems with rates of primary production equal to those of tropical humid evergreen forests and coral reefs. Although mangroves occupy only 0.5% of the global coastal area, they contribute 10–15% (24 Tg C y−1) to coastal sediment carbon storage and export 10–11% of the particulate terrestrial carbon to the ocean. Their disproportionate contribution to carbon sequestration is now perceived as a means for conservation and restoration and a way to help ameliorate greenhouse gas emissions. Of immediate concern are potential carbon losses to deforestation (90–970 Tg C y−1) that are greater than these ecosystems' rates of carbon storage. Large reservoirs of dissolved inorganic carbon in deep soils, pumped via subsurface pathways to adjacent waterways, are a large loss of carbon, at a potential rate up to 40% of annual primary production. Patterns of carbon allocation and rates of carbon flux in mangrove f...

Carbon sequestration in mangrove forests

Abstract: Mangrove forests are highly productive, with carbon production rates equivalent to tropical humid forests. Mangroves allocate proportionally more carbon belowground, and have higher below- to above-ground carbon mass ratios than terrestrial trees. Most mangrove carbon is stored as large pools in soil and dead roots. Mangroves are among the most carbon-rich biomes, containing an average of 937 tC ha-1, facilitating the accumulation of fine particles, and fostering rapid rates of sediment accretion (∼5 mm year -1) and carbon burial (174 gC m-2 year -1). Mangroves account for only approximately 1% (13.5 Gt year -1) of carbon sequestration by the world’s forests, but as coastal habitats they account for 14% of carbon sequestration by the global ocean. If mangrove carbon stocks are disturbed, resultant gas emissions may be very high. Irrespective of uncertainties and the unique nature of implementing REDD+ and Blue Carbon projects, mangroves are prime ecosystems for reforestation and restoration.

Environmental Chemistry of the Elements

Abstract: All chapters of the previous edition [see HbA 37, 2103] have been completely rewritten to cover the rapid increase in research in this area. The number of literature citations have been reduced by referring to recent review articles and the book aims at a comprehensive and critical rather than encyclopaedic summary of the data of environmental chemistry. The 1st 4 chapters deal with air, water, rocks and soils; the cycling of C, N, H, O2 and S in the biosphere are covered in 1 chapter and the elemental Other CABI sites 