Context:
Cabomba furcuta, popularly called as Pink Bloom due its massive flowering, has been a new threat to the kole fields, in addition to water hyacinth and Salvinia molesta.
About Cabomba furcuta:
- An invasive alien species
- Native to Central and South America
- It is a submerged perennial aquatic plant that grows in stagnant to slow-flowing freshwater.
- It requires a large quantity of oxygen for its growth.
- It prefers nutrient-rich habitats.
- Impacts –
- Decline in diversity of native aquatic plants
- Causes economic losses by affecting yield of freshwater fishes.
- Pink bloom had emerged as a tourist attraction.
What are invasive alien species?
- Any biological species that are introduced outside their natural range and negatively impact the native biodiversity, ecosystem function, health and human welfare are called invasive alien species.
- They are the 2nd biggest cause for biodiversity loss, next to habitat destruction.
- Invasive alien species could reproduce rapidly and out-compete the native species for food, water and space.
About Vembanad Kole Wetland:
- It is the largest brackish lake of Kerala, fed by 10 rivers.
- Longest Lake in India.
- Pamba and Achankovil rivers in Vembanad form part of the Kuttanad.
- Kuttanad is famous for exotic fish varieties and paddy fields that are below sea level.
- It gets in the way of the Central Asian Flyway, harbors birds like Spot billed Pelican and others.
- 2nd largest Ramsar site in India only after the Sundarbans in West Bengal.
Ramsar Convention adopted in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty under UNESCO that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Currently, there are 75 Ramsar sites in India.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area?
1. Global warming
2. Fragmentation of habitat
3. Invasion of alien species
4. Promotion of vegetarianism
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (a)
