Sponges Spotted In Chilika Lake
It was during a recent eviction drive of illegal prawn gherries at Chilika Lake that scientists of Chilika Development Authority (CDA) observed light orange colored Sponges (Sponzila) in the Southern sector near Kumarpurof the lagoon.
It is believed that after almost three decades, these sponges have appeared again in the Chilika Lake and it will be known only after a thorough research whether this is a good indication or not. According to the scientists, the appearance of these sponges in brackish water is a rare occurrence, since they are found mostly in fresh water.
On spotting these unique sponges, Additional Chief Executive of CDA Samita Lenka informed, “It is only recently that we caught sight of these sponges while removing the illegal prawn gherries. They might have been there all the while, but we noticed them only after removing illegal gherries. Since the appearance of sponges in brackish water is a rare thing, we have sent samples of the species to Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) for proper analysis.”
“While doing a survey at Chilika, we got to know that these sponges are found in sea grass meadows only and are attached to the sea grass (Halophila Ovalis) leaf. From ecological point of view, sponges help to purify water. They convert nitrogen gas into useful nitrogen which helps in the survival of other organisms,” said Lenka.
Scientists are positive that the findings will boost the ecosystem of the lagoon. Meanwhile, Chilika is a storehouse of aquatic biodiversity, which would help researchers and students to understand our ecology.
Author: Monalisa patsani
Being into journalism since 2012, Monalisa loves listening to people and narrate their stories. She has been exploring different genres of journalism, but writing about the environment, places and people suits her interest.
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