BIOTIC RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION OF WETLANDS OF WEST BENGAL

Abstract

The State of West Bengal houses several important wetlands having rich biodiversity. These wetlands host variety of microorganisms, flora and fauna. These water bodies contain microscopic algae like Spirogyra, Volvox, Chlorella, Chlamydomonous and microscopic animal forms like Paramoecium, Euglena, Amoeba and Daphnia. These fresh water sources also include free floating plats like Lemna, Wolfia, water-hyacinth, rooted submerged plants like Hydrilla, Vallisneria, Utricularia and rooted floating plants like water-lily and lotus. The sloping banks of these wetlands have animals like snails, leeches, slugs, insects, snakes, fresh water fishes (Rohu, Katla, Mrigel, Koi, Telapia, Lata, Shoal, Magur, etc.) as well as water and water loving birds (ducks, cranes, storks, egrets, herons, waterhens, swamphens, moorhens, lapwing, jacana, cormorants, kingfishers, etc.). Riparian mammals comprising Indian fox, golden jackal, mongoose, small Indian civet, common palm civet, otters, fishing cat, linsang, shrews, moles and rodents as also associated with wetlands. The whole biotic community of wetlands comprises a complete wetland ecosystem and provides ecosystem services.