Marine Research at ANET involves a variety of different projects spear headed by a variety of different researchers and institutions. Scroll below to learn more about on-going marine research projects.
Coral reefs
Deploying Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)
This is a collaborative project between ANET/Dakshin, Hong Kong University and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bangalore, that aims to monitor key indices of marine biodiversity in the A&N islands and identify its vulnerability to anthropogenic stressors using standardised census methods and latest molecular technologies. This will be carried out through (1) the deployment of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) – small but complex settlement structures, (2) collection of marine sediment, and (3) in situ ecosystem function assays. ARMS is a standardised set up for censusing biodiversity of organisms that are otherwise hard to observe and characterise with the naked eye. Though ARMS are being deployed for the first time in the Andaman Islands, these structures have been used at multiple locations worldwide. Hence, this project will connect the islands rigorously with a wider network of sites and datasets and will also provide a baseline for our understanding of biodiversity in the context of marine climate change in the Indian subcontinent. The team leaders of this project are Dr. Archana Anand (Hong Kong University), Dr. Naveen Namboothri, Ms. Mahima Jaini (ANET/ Dakshin) and Prof. Kartik Shanker (ANET/ Dakshin and IISc.).
The project has the following specific objectives: (1) to determine the cryptic biodiversity of A&N islands’ marine environments and to discover new species, (2) to understand how water quality shapes marine biodiversity, (3) to inventory and quantify the major ecosystem functions over spatial gradients and seasonal change in reefs, (4) to assign value for foundational species for their contribution to biodiversity and ecosystem function, and, (5) to determine how unique the site is and what its biogeographic connections are between the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia.
Coral Reef Resilience
Climate change is considered the greatest long-term threat to the coral reefs. Managers must, therefore, focus on supporting the natural resilience of reefs. Factors contributing to resilience are multidimensional and contingent on local conditions. Identifying these factors at managerially-relevant scales is important if resilience principles have to be included in rational reef conservation efforts. Reefs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are most diverse in India and considered a biodiversity hotspot. A multiple series of catastrophic disturbances (including repeated mass bleaching and a tsunami) have impacted these reefs, seriously testing their buffer capacity. In the
face of these disturbances, Dr. Vardhan Patankar, a DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellow, who is affiliated to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), India and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore is working towards understanding what factors makes certain reef resilient and plan to incorporate resilience principles in the prevailing reef management of the Andaman Islands.
As a part of this long-term research programme, the processes by which herbivory acts as a top-down force in controlling algal overgrowth and maintaining the coral-algal balance on the coral reefs is also being examined. The findings from this research will help in understanding how local processes influence post-disturbance reef recovery and thus aid in the existing reef conservation and management efforts in the Andaman Islands.
Integrating microscopy and satellite oceanography to understand the dynamics of planktonic communities around the Andaman Islands
A project proposal led by Mahima Jaini, Marine Research Officer at ANET/ Dakshin was successful in securing a grant to use Foldscopes in marine research in the Andamans. This project has been funded by India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to promote the use of low-cost instruments such as foldscopes in research. A foldscope (https://www.foldscope.com/) is an ultra-affordable, paper microscope, which is designed to be extremely portable, durable, and to give optical quality similar to conventional research microscopes. The use of such instruments is likely to revolutionise research and action in various fields.
This project aims to understand the diurnal and seasonal dynamics of marine plankton and ground-truth satellite-derived ocean surface metrics. The zooplankton sampling component of this project is underway and identification is carried out using foldscopes. Sampling is conducted at day and night during the flooding tide for new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter phases of the lunar cycle, for the inshore station (Lohabarrack Sanctuary). Our initial surveys are revealing stark differences in zooplankton diversity and abundance at day and night, new moon and full moon and spring and neap tides. By focusing our effort on distinct meroplankton families we hope to establish a baseline for inshore larval diversity and abundance. In addition to baseline data collection, this project aims to establish efficient and cost effective protocols that can be used to create a long term plankton monitoring initiative here at ANET.
REEF LOG: Citizen science
Given that professional researcher-based ecological monitoring is often highly expensive, logistically demanding and patchy in space and time, Dakshin Foundation in association with ANET recently launched an underwater citizen science programme called REEF LOG. Starting with its Andaman chapter, primarily based at the leading dive shops on Havelock Island, REEF LOG consists of two surveys; one for fish and another for invertebrates. REEF LOG also helps generate data on rare species and phenomenon. In the near future REEF LOG also hopes to launch websites and mobile applications for easier engagement, information dissemination and data sharing. The idea for REEF LOG is backgrounded by the need for initiatives that combine long-term monitoring goals and strategies that aid the public understanding of science and action. REEF LOG was conceptualised by Mahima Jaini, ANET/Dakshin's Marine Research Officer as well as Dr. Naveen Namboothri and Dr. Kartik Shanker. Given that professional researcher-based ecological monitoring is often highly expensive, logistically demanding and patchy in space and time, Dakshin Foundation in association with ANET recently launched an underwater citizen science programme called REEF LOG. Starting with its Andaman chapter, primarily based at the leading dive shops on Havelock Island, REEF LOG consists of two surveys; one for fish and another for invertebrates. REEF LOG also helps generate data on rare species and phenomenon. In the near future, REEF LOG also hopes to launch websites and mobile applications for easier engagement, information dissemination and data sharing. The idea for REEF LOG stems from the need for initiatives that combine long-term monitoring goals and strategies that aid the public understanding of science and action. REEF LOG was conceptualised and led by Ms. Mahima Jaini, Dr. Naveen Namboothri, and Dr. Kartik Shanker. The project is led by Mahima Jaini, ANET/Dakshin's Marine Research Officer.
Deploying Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)
This is a collaborative project between ANET/Dakshin, Hong Kong University and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bangalore, that aims to monitor key indices of marine biodiversity in the A&N islands and identify its vulnerability to anthropogenic stressors using standardised census methods and latest molecular technologies. This will be carried out through (1) the deployment of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) – small but complex settlement structures, (2) collection of marine sediment, and (3) in situ ecosystem function assays. ARMS is a standardised set up for censusing biodiversity of organisms that are otherwise hard to observe and characterise with the naked eye. Though ARMS are being deployed for the first time in the Andaman Islands, these structures have been used at multiple locations worldwide. Hence, this project will connect the islands rigorously with a wider network of sites and datasets and will also provide a baseline for our understanding of biodiversity in the context of marine climate change in the Indian subcontinent. The team leaders of this project are Dr. Archana Anand (Hong Kong University), Dr. Naveen Namboothri, Ms. Mahima Jaini (ANET/ Dakshin) and Prof. Kartik Shanker (ANET/ Dakshin and IISc.).
The project has the following specific objectives: (1) to determine the cryptic biodiversity of A&N islands’ marine environments and to discover new species, (2) to understand how water quality shapes marine biodiversity, (3) to inventory and quantify the major ecosystem functions over spatial gradients and seasonal change in reefs, (4) to assign value for foundational species for their contribution to biodiversity and ecosystem function, and, (5) to determine how unique the site is and what its biogeographic connections are between the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia.
Coral Reef Resilience
Climate change is considered the greatest long-term threat to the coral reefs. Managers must, therefore, focus on supporting the natural resilience of reefs. Factors contributing to resilience are multidimensional and contingent on local conditions. Identifying these factors at managerially-relevant scales is important if resilience principles have to be included in rational reef conservation efforts. Reefs of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are most diverse in India and considered a biodiversity hotspot. A multiple series of catastrophic disturbances (including repeated mass bleaching and a tsunami) have impacted these reefs, seriously testing their buffer capacity. In the
face of these disturbances, Dr. Vardhan Patankar, a DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellow, who is affiliated to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), India and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore is working towards understanding what factors makes certain reef resilient and plan to incorporate resilience principles in the prevailing reef management of the Andaman Islands.
As a part of this long-term research programme, the processes by which herbivory acts as a top-down force in controlling algal overgrowth and maintaining the coral-algal balance on the coral reefs is also being examined. The findings from this research will help in understanding how local processes influence post-disturbance reef recovery and thus aid in the existing reef conservation and management efforts in the Andaman Islands.
Integrating microscopy and satellite oceanography to understand the dynamics of planktonic communities around the Andaman Islands
A project proposal led by Mahima Jaini, Marine Research Officer at ANET/ Dakshin was successful in securing a grant to use Foldscopes in marine research in the Andamans. This project has been funded by India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to promote the use of low-cost instruments such as foldscopes in research. A foldscope (https://www.foldscope.com/) is an ultra-affordable, paper microscope, which is designed to be extremely portable, durable, and to give optical quality similar to conventional research microscopes. The use of such instruments is likely to revolutionise research and action in various fields.
This project aims to understand the diurnal and seasonal dynamics of marine plankton and ground-truth satellite-derived ocean surface metrics. The zooplankton sampling component of this project is underway and identification is carried out using foldscopes. Sampling is conducted at day and night during the flooding tide for new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter phases of the lunar cycle, for the inshore station (Lohabarrack Sanctuary). Our initial surveys are revealing stark differences in zooplankton diversity and abundance at day and night, new moon and full moon and spring and neap tides. By focusing our effort on distinct meroplankton families we hope to establish a baseline for inshore larval diversity and abundance. In addition to baseline data collection, this project aims to establish efficient and cost effective protocols that can be used to create a long term plankton monitoring initiative here at ANET.
REEF LOG: Citizen science
Given that professional researcher-based ecological monitoring is often highly expensive, logistically demanding and patchy in space and time, Dakshin Foundation in association with ANET recently launched an underwater citizen science programme called REEF LOG. Starting with its Andaman chapter, primarily based at the leading dive shops on Havelock Island, REEF LOG consists of two surveys; one for fish and another for invertebrates. REEF LOG also helps generate data on rare species and phenomenon. In the near future REEF LOG also hopes to launch websites and mobile applications for easier engagement, information dissemination and data sharing. The idea for REEF LOG is backgrounded by the need for initiatives that combine long-term monitoring goals and strategies that aid the public understanding of science and action. REEF LOG was conceptualised by Mahima Jaini, ANET/Dakshin's Marine Research Officer as well as Dr. Naveen Namboothri and Dr. Kartik Shanker. Given that professional researcher-based ecological monitoring is often highly expensive, logistically demanding and patchy in space and time, Dakshin Foundation in association with ANET recently launched an underwater citizen science programme called REEF LOG. Starting with its Andaman chapter, primarily based at the leading dive shops on Havelock Island, REEF LOG consists of two surveys; one for fish and another for invertebrates. REEF LOG also helps generate data on rare species and phenomenon. In the near future, REEF LOG also hopes to launch websites and mobile applications for easier engagement, information dissemination and data sharing. The idea for REEF LOG stems from the need for initiatives that combine long-term monitoring goals and strategies that aid the public understanding of science and action. REEF LOG was conceptualised and led by Ms. Mahima Jaini, Dr. Naveen Namboothri, and Dr. Kartik Shanker. The project is led by Mahima Jaini, ANET/Dakshin's Marine Research Officer.
Dugongs & Seagrass Beds
Ecology and conservation of dugongs
Dr. Elrika D’Souza from the Nature Conservation Foundation, has been studying the ecology and conservation of Dugongs (Dugong dugon) in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago for several years. Recently, Elrika and her team combined historical and current data from the archipelago to estimate long term dugong occupancy trends. The results showed a 60% decline in numbers in the last 20 years. Surprisingly, they found that remaining dugong populations, now scattered and restricted to a few sheltered bays and channels, were not limited by the availability of seagrass, their primary food, but due to anthropogenic factors such as hunting, and strangulation in fishing gill-nets. By prioritising sea grass meadow sites based on their use and occupancy by dugongs, D’Souza and team monitored sites to aid the Department of Environment and Forests in conserving the remaining population. Building on this work, Dr. D'Souza is currently studying the carbon dynamics of sea grass meadows; the impact of sedimentation, sea grass species and herbivory on carbon sequestration.
Dr. Elrika D’Souza from the Nature Conservation Foundation, has been studying the ecology and conservation of Dugongs (Dugong dugon) in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago for several years. Recently, Elrika and her team combined historical and current data from the archipelago to estimate long term dugong occupancy trends. The results showed a 60% decline in numbers in the last 20 years. Surprisingly, they found that remaining dugong populations, now scattered and restricted to a few sheltered bays and channels, were not limited by the availability of seagrass, their primary food, but due to anthropogenic factors such as hunting, and strangulation in fishing gill-nets. By prioritising sea grass meadow sites based on their use and occupancy by dugongs, D’Souza and team monitored sites to aid the Department of Environment and Forests in conserving the remaining population. Building on this work, Dr. D'Souza is currently studying the carbon dynamics of sea grass meadows; the impact of sedimentation, sea grass species and herbivory on carbon sequestration.
Sea turtles
Leatherback turtles
ANET/ Dakshin leads a multi-institutional team that is involved in a long-term monitoring and conservation programme for sea turtles of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in particular for leatherback turtles. The leatherback monitoring programme involves tagging of nesting turtles as well as satellite telemetry of individuals to understand the population dynamics and movement patterns of Indian Ocean leatherbacks. The project also involves regular archipelago-wide surveys. A major objective of these surveys are to monitor post-tsunami leatherback nesting recovery and other ecological factors (for more details, visit: seaturtlesofindia.org).
Regular monitoring of nesting sites of the leatherback turtles was initiated at the Galathea nesting site in Great Nicobar as early as 1999. However, the turtle camp at this site was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. In 2008, new monitoring sites were established in South Bay and West Bay on Little Andaman, and monitoring has been continuing till date. Every nesting season, between December and March, a team of six field staff set up temporary monitoring camps at the two nesting sites, South and West Bay, in Little Andaman Island. As of February 2019, over 250 leatherback nests were encountered in West Bay and South Bay, the highest recorded since the initiation of the project in 2008. The programme also has a strong focus on developing networks for conservation in the region and a long-term education and outreach programme to sensitise government authorities and local communities on conserving sea turtles and their habitats.
This project is led by Dakshin/ ANET and is carried out in collaboration with the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department, the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. The project team includes Mr. Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan, Dr. Naveen Namboothri, Dr. Kartik Shanker, Mr. Adhith Swaminathan, Saw Thesorow, Saw Momong, Sushil Lakra, Saw Thoma, Saw Colombus and Saw Kenik.
ANET/ Dakshin leads a multi-institutional team that is involved in a long-term monitoring and conservation programme for sea turtles of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in particular for leatherback turtles. The leatherback monitoring programme involves tagging of nesting turtles as well as satellite telemetry of individuals to understand the population dynamics and movement patterns of Indian Ocean leatherbacks. The project also involves regular archipelago-wide surveys. A major objective of these surveys are to monitor post-tsunami leatherback nesting recovery and other ecological factors (for more details, visit: seaturtlesofindia.org).
Regular monitoring of nesting sites of the leatherback turtles was initiated at the Galathea nesting site in Great Nicobar as early as 1999. However, the turtle camp at this site was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. In 2008, new monitoring sites were established in South Bay and West Bay on Little Andaman, and monitoring has been continuing till date. Every nesting season, between December and March, a team of six field staff set up temporary monitoring camps at the two nesting sites, South and West Bay, in Little Andaman Island. As of February 2019, over 250 leatherback nests were encountered in West Bay and South Bay, the highest recorded since the initiation of the project in 2008. The programme also has a strong focus on developing networks for conservation in the region and a long-term education and outreach programme to sensitise government authorities and local communities on conserving sea turtles and their habitats.
This project is led by Dakshin/ ANET and is carried out in collaboration with the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department, the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. The project team includes Mr. Muralidharan Manoharakrishnan, Dr. Naveen Namboothri, Dr. Kartik Shanker, Mr. Adhith Swaminathan, Saw Thesorow, Saw Momong, Sushil Lakra, Saw Thoma, Saw Colombus and Saw Kenik.
Sharks & Rays
Since the first record of its existence in 1966–67, elasmobranch fisheries in the Andaman Islands have been largely unregulated and unmonitored. Basic fisheries monitoring provides collective information on harvested catch but species-wise information is greatly lacking. While threatened species like the hammerheads, thresher sharks, mantas and devil rays are being exploited, the information on their ecology and biology remains scarce. In order to sustainably utilise resources, it is important to assess species over time. Lead by Zoya Tyabji of the MCBT, this CLP and Ruffordfunded project helps establish baseline data on shark and ray demographics through researcher-lead monitoring surveys. Interactions with local stakeholders are aimed to understand the issues of threatening elasmobranch populations in the Andamans Islands. The results will be targeted towards filling knowledge gaps to improve sustainable management practices.
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago encompass an ongoing targeted shark fishery with rays, guitarfish and skates caught as bycatch in commercial and artisanal fishing gears. In order to manage their sustainably, it is imperative to know the driving force behind this catch, trade and demand-supply chain. With this in mind, Zoya Tyabji and team aims to conduct semi-structured interviews with fishermen, traders/middlemen and cold storage centre owners in the archipelago. Our interviews aim to examine trends in species composition, sizes and abundance; trends in gear use and perceptions and knowledge of fishermen towards elasmobranchs and its fisheries. The project will help gain insights into the social, motivational and economic drivers behind the fishery aiding us to formulate long-term and effective conservation and management plans for these species.
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago encompass an ongoing targeted shark fishery with rays, guitarfish and skates caught as bycatch in commercial and artisanal fishing gears. In order to manage their sustainably, it is imperative to know the driving force behind this catch, trade and demand-supply chain. With this in mind, Zoya Tyabji and team aims to conduct semi-structured interviews with fishermen, traders/middlemen and cold storage centre owners in the archipelago. Our interviews aim to examine trends in species composition, sizes and abundance; trends in gear use and perceptions and knowledge of fishermen towards elasmobranchs and its fisheries. The project will help gain insights into the social, motivational and economic drivers behind the fishery aiding us to formulate long-term and effective conservation and management plans for these species.
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Cetacean-Fisheries InteractionsA recently completed project by Sachin Vaishampayan of the MCBT aimed to create baseline information on interactions between the fisheries sector and cetaceans present in the Andaman waters. The study has helped identify areas of high cetacean presence through fisher interviews. Sightings of whales seem to be rare and mostly in the deeper ocean. Intimidated by their size, fishermen try avoiding whales and have very less knowledge about them. Dolphin sightings, on the other hand, are frequent, with fishermen describing two to three different species. Some types of fishing gear such as gill nets tend to be involved in more encounters with cetaceans as compared to others such as hook and lines. Though instances of depredation and damage to gear occur, they do not significantly affect the catch or profits of most of the fisherfolk. If the presence of dolphins is detected in water, fishermen either avoid putting their nets in or pull them out if already deployed, hence mitigating their losses. Interestingly, dolphins are perceived positively by majority of fishermen in the area, given their behavioural traits like bow riding and a widespread belief that they rescue fishermen. Most of the fisherfolk are aware of the protected status of the dolphins, and there seems to be no instance of them hunting dolphins for meat and oil in the past or present.
Human-Saltwater Crocodile ConflictA recent study funded by the In Laks Foundation aims to identify potential areas of risk (based on crocodile attacks on humans and livestock), to classify them on the basis of severity, to understand factors influencing them, to understand people’s perceptions about crocodiles, identify key factors influencing these perceptions and to obtain people's viewpoint on mitigation measures and post-attack management interventions by the administration. Lead by Sachin Vaishampayan of the MCBT, this study aims to develop better insights into human-crocodile relationship in the Andamans and hopes to help streamline current efforts to mitigate the conflict.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Managing tourism in and around MPAs
The unique ecosystems of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands serve as important resource bases for local communities, as well as attract lakhs of tourists every year. Important tourist destinations such as Swaraj Dweep (formerly Havelock Island), Smith and Ross Islands, are within or proximate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and have received renewed attention from central government schemes, which aim to further promote this archipelago as a global tourism destination. However, this is filled with challenges as the design of MPAs are based on concepts borrowed from terrestrial ecosystems and there is a lack of consensus among government institutions on even basic aspects such as the legal definition, boundaries, and total number of MPAs in these islands. Dr. Madhuri Ramesh, Ms. Deepika Sharma and Ms. Shimul Bijoor from ANET/ Dakshin Foundation initiated this project in 2018 to understand their management and tourism in the Andaman Islands. This project was initiated with assistance from WWF-India.
The project is divided in two phases: during the first phase, researchers examined the existing management challenges in two PAs which significant marine components, i.e. the Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, and Smith and Ross Islands. In the second phase, a preliminary assessment of the engagement of different stakeholders involved in tourism around these MPAs as well as the state of related public infrastructure, was carried out. Some key findings from this study are as follows: many well-educated islanders are interested in investing and working in the tourism sector because it offers them comparatively high-paying jobs, hence, there is a scope for capacity building to engage more islanders in tourism. But at present only high-ranking officials and businessmen are involved in the planning and implementation of tourism-related projects. There is also a considerable lack of public infrastructure and services in the islands, and with the rise in tourism this gap between requirement and availability is expected to widen.
The unique ecosystems of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands serve as important resource bases for local communities, as well as attract lakhs of tourists every year. Important tourist destinations such as Swaraj Dweep (formerly Havelock Island), Smith and Ross Islands, are within or proximate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and have received renewed attention from central government schemes, which aim to further promote this archipelago as a global tourism destination. However, this is filled with challenges as the design of MPAs are based on concepts borrowed from terrestrial ecosystems and there is a lack of consensus among government institutions on even basic aspects such as the legal definition, boundaries, and total number of MPAs in these islands. Dr. Madhuri Ramesh, Ms. Deepika Sharma and Ms. Shimul Bijoor from ANET/ Dakshin Foundation initiated this project in 2018 to understand their management and tourism in the Andaman Islands. This project was initiated with assistance from WWF-India.
The project is divided in two phases: during the first phase, researchers examined the existing management challenges in two PAs which significant marine components, i.e. the Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, and Smith and Ross Islands. In the second phase, a preliminary assessment of the engagement of different stakeholders involved in tourism around these MPAs as well as the state of related public infrastructure, was carried out. Some key findings from this study are as follows: many well-educated islanders are interested in investing and working in the tourism sector because it offers them comparatively high-paying jobs, hence, there is a scope for capacity building to engage more islanders in tourism. But at present only high-ranking officials and businessmen are involved in the planning and implementation of tourism-related projects. There is also a considerable lack of public infrastructure and services in the islands, and with the rise in tourism this gap between requirement and availability is expected to widen.