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The marine resource covering 70 percent of the earth’s surface is a key asset in the biosphere. Of the nearly 1.5 million species known, nearly a quarter million live in the world’s oceans. More importantly, nearly 50 percent of the global primary production takes place in the upper stratum of sea water. Seafood presently represents 20% of the protein in global diet.
The health of the marine food web and the fisheries resources invariably depend upon the long-term viability of the autotrophic algae (phytoplankton - primary producer) and the zooplankton (primary consumers) in the marine food pyramid.
Plastics represent the latest contaminant in the marine environment; the increased use of plastics has lead to negative environmental impacts.
Plastics pollution can interfere with the plankton species that form the foundation of the food web, and other organisms adversely affecting the delicate balance in the marine ecosystem.
Do you know?
“Science Express” is an innovative mobile science exhibition mounted on a 16-coach AC train, which has been custom-built for Department of Science & Technology (DST) by Indian Railway. The Express is a unique collaborative initiative of Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Ministry of Railway. The unique mobile expo was launched in October 2007 by DST. The 2012, 2013 and 2014, three phases/runs of “Science Express” were rolled out as a joint initiative of DST and MoEFCC as Biodiversity Special and showcased the myriad “Biodiversity of India”. 2015 run with the focus to
the theme “Climate Change” and run it as “’’Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS).