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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Effective Mitigation: The Cumulative Impact of Climate Change on Transportation Network and its Implications on Aquatic Biodiversity of Ganges Headwaters, Garhwal Himalayas

Integrated approach to planning, building, maintaining and monitoring the health of the transportation system and natural ecosystem of Ganges headwaters, Garhwal Himalayas need to be addressed in the context of global climate change. It is a cause of concern that the poorly designed network of roads and trails in the mountain area are expanding, without giving due consideration to natural process of ecosystem function and climate change. These cumulative effects have been quantified for a period of five years (January 2004–December 2008) of climate change on transportation network and its implications on aquatic biodiversity of rapids and riffles of Ganges headwaters (Latitude 29° 61‘- 30°28‘ N; Longitude 77°49‘ – 80° 6‘ E). Transportation network of 573 km long passing along the glacier-fed Ganges headwaters, a project of US $ 290 million, is one of the most important networks in the mountain region of Garhwal Himalayas. Monitoring of meteorological data revealed an erratic behaviour of rainfall, temperature, humidity, sunshine, changes in the frequency of snowmelt, snow falls, floods, drought, in addition to increased CO₂ emission (370-403 μmol. mol⁻¹) in the valley of Ganges. It has cumulative impacts on transportation network in terms of massive landslides, submergence of roads at few places, thawing, and slope failures in monsoon and winter seasons, which have direct or indirect implications on transparency, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, bottom substrate composition and aquatic organisms of Ganges. A decline of 49% in annual mean density, 49% in alpha diversity and 17% in Shannon Weiner index (H) of periphyton was recorded during a five-year period. Periphyton of Ganges were represented by genera of Bacillariophyceae (25), Chlorophyceae (11) and Myxophyceae (4). A decline of 15% in mean annual density, 22% in alpha diversity and 17% in Shannon Weiner index (H) of zooplankton was estimated. Zooplankton were represented by the genera of Cladocera (2), Protozoa (2), Copepoda (2) and Rotifera (3). A depletion of 80% in annual mean diversity, 67% in alpha diversity and 28% in Shannon Weiner index (H) of macrozoobenthos was computed. Macrozoobenthos of Ganges headwaters were reported by the genera of Ephemeroptera (11), Trichoptera (3), Diptera (4), Coleoptera (5), Hemiptera (2), Plecotera (2), Odonata (1) and Molusca (1). A shrinking of 24% in annual density, 18% in alpha diversity and 30% in Shannon Weiner index (H) of fish was also calculated. Fish of Ganges headwaters were represented by 39 species belonging to 15 genera and five families. The authors have recommended the following mitigation measures: regular maintenance and monitoring of roads, raising the height of the roads from the river bed, natural recovery of functional habitats and effective management of landslides and slope failures through bioengineering methods and construction of retaining walls and toe walls, close watch on erratic behaviour of meteorological parameters and the strong co-ordination among transport planners, geologists, civil engineers, environmental biologists and climatologists. The suggestion to address climate change by providing alternative fuels, increasing vehicular efficiency and changes to travel behaviour has also been recommended.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 512-522
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 2009 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET 2009)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01558617
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 9780977809448
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 31 2015 9:06AM