NATURAL SCIENCES – 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
PROJECT REPORT
RIVER ECOSYSTEM – TAPI RIVER BASIN

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
 1. Aim

2. Objectives

3. Observations

 Environment – River Ecosystem and Tapi river system

 Flora
 Fauna
 Uses and Significance
 Man-made Developments
 Water quality and Pollution

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

5. Bibliography

AIM: To study the structure, components, functions and condition of a river ecosystem –
Tapi River Basin
OBJECTIVES:
1. To study the biotic and abiotic components present in the river ecosystems.
2. To study the water quality and pollution standards in the Tapi river
3. To study the recent developments and threats to the Tapi.

OBSERVATIONS:

1. Environment:

 River Ecosystems –

River Ecosystems are prime examples of lotic ecosystems. They are flowing
waters that drain the landscape and include the biotic (living) interactions
amongst plants, animals, and micro-organisms, as well as abiotic (nonliving)
physical and chemical interactions of its many parts. River ecosystems may
be considered one of the most dynamic ecosystems in the world. River
ecosystems are part of more extensive watershed networks or catchments,
where smaller headwater streams drain into mid-size streams, which
progressively drain into more extensive river networks. 

Unifying Characteristics of the Ecology:

- Unidirectional movement of flowing water

- State of continuous physical change

- High degree of Spatial and Temporal heterogeneity

Biotic Components:
The living components of an ecosystem are called the biotic components. Streams have
numerous types of biotic organisms that live in them, including bacteria, primary producers,
insects, other invertebrates, fish, etc.
• Algae, consisting of phytoplankton and periphyton, are the most significant sources of
primary production in most streams and rivers.
• Invertebrates act as both consumers and prey items and in river ecosystems about
90% of them include insects.
• Fish are the best-known inhabitants of river systems. Other vertebrate taxa
include amphibians, reptiles, various bird species, and mammals.

Abiotic Components:

The non-living components of an ecosystem are called abiotic components—E.g., stone, air,
soil, etc.
• The Unidirectional flow can be continuous or intermittent, and the speed may be
subject to chaotic turbulence. It is strongly determined by slope and can alter the
general shape or direction of the stream bed.
• Internal temperature varies with the environment and may show
strong diurnal fluctuations and seasonal variations. The amount of shading, climate,
and elevation can also influence the temperature.

Food Chain and Trophic Levels:

The Aquatic food chain usually starts with primary producers in an ecosystem, or
phytoplankton. These are eaten by the small consumers, zooplankton, which is eaten by
macroinvertebrates, which are eaten by small fish, and so on. Decomposers break down the
organic carbon and nutrients to be used again by the primary producers.
Bacteria are naturally abundant in aquatic ecosystems. When bacteria eat the dead organic
matter, they thrive and become food for zooplankton. They also release carbon dioxide and
other nutrients, which can be utilized by the phytoplankton.
River Pollution:

It is the release of substances into rivers to the point where the substances interfere with
beneficial use of the water or with the natural functioning of the ecosystem. 
In addition to the release of substances, such as chemicals, trash, or microorganisms, it may
also include the release of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat, into body of water.
Water bodies can be polluted by a wide variety of substances, including pathogenic
microorganisms, putrescible organic waste, fertilizers and plant nutrients, toxic chemicals,
sediments, heat, petroleum (oil), and radioactive substances.
Water pollutants come from either point sources or dispersed sources. Contamination from
sewage outfall pipes, from dumping of sludge or other wastes, and from oil spills can harm
marine life, especially microscopic phytoplankton that serve as food for larger aquatic
organisms.

 Tapi River System –

Tapti River, Tapti also spelled Tapi, is a river in central India, rising in the Gawilgarh
Hills of the central Deccan plateau in south-central Madhya Pradesh state. It flows
westward between two spurs of the Satpura Range, across the Jalgaon plateau region
in Maharashtra state, and through the plain of Surat in Gujarat state to the Gulf of
Khambhat.
Tributaries of the River:

The Tapi receives several tributaries on both banks. There are 14 major tributaries having a
length more than 50 Km. On the right bank 4 tributaries namely, the Vaki, the Gomai, the
Arunavati and the Aner join the Tapi. On the left bank, 10 important tributaries namely the
Nesu, the Arunavati, the Buray, the Panjhra, the Bori, the Girna, the Vaghur, the Purna, the
Mona and the Sipna drain into the main channel. 

Physiography:

The Tapi Basin is situated in the northern part of the Deccan Plateau and extends over an area
of 65145 sq.km. which is nearly 2% of the total geographical area of the country. Nearly 80%
of the basin lies in the State of Maharashtra. The basin has an elongated shape with a
maximum length of 587 km from east to west and the maximum width of 210 km from north
to south.

State-wise distribution of river drainage area:

• Tapi river is one of only three rivers in peninsular India that run from east to west.  
• It covers a large area in the State of Maharashtra besides areas in the states of Madhya
Pradesh and Gujarat.
• The Tapi River Basin lies mostly in northern and eastern districts Maharashtra state
viz, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar, Malegaon,
Nashik districts but also covers Betul, Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh and
Surat district in Gujarat as well.
• The Tapi River drains an area of 65145 sq km out of which nearly 80 percent lies in
Maharashtra.

2. Flora:

The Tapi basin exhibits two distinct geographical regions, viz., the plain regions in
the east and south-east and the hilly regions of the Satpura Ranges in the north and
north-west. The plain region is extensively cultivated and forests appear only in
dotted, scattered patches.

A total of 94 species belonging to 90 genera and 41 families have been reported from
near the Tapti river.

The river is under increasing pressure due to:

 Drought

 Erosion

 Over exploitation

 Pollution

 Encroachment by human activity

The above factors have caused reduction in the number of flora as well as
wetland area. Thus, these areas need conservation of aquatic and wetland flora.
 3. Fauna:

Tapi river is the home to the natural habitats of many wild animals including tigers,
sloth bear, lions and snakes.

The number of crocodile sightings have been on a rise in and around the river Tapi
resulting in Wildlife Trust of India and Forest Department to start a new capacity
building project to mitigate the human-crocodile conflict.

The fisheries of the river Tapi consist of the following species –

Carps:
 Tor tor

 Peninsula carp

 Orangefin labeo

Catfishes:
 Mystus seenghala

This habitat attracts 29 bird species belonging to 10 families, which are local and migratory.
Highest population of migratory Red crested pochard, Spot billed ducks and Great Whistling
Ducks are recorded in January, while residents are herons and little cormorants.

4. Uses and Significance:

 In earlier times, the Tapi River played an important role in Surat as the
major port was often used for the export of many goods.
  Tapti River has very high quality and rich fertile soil which is highly
suitable for agricultural activities and provides most important benefits to
the farmers living in the area.

 The river is used heavily for irrigation reasons and also provides a means of
transport for the people living on its banks.

 Tapi river supports a large number of indigenous population such as

Dhodia, and Bhils, who are heavily dependent on it for livelihood.

5. Man-made Developments:

The Tapi river, the lifeline of India’s diamond city Surat, is proposed to be
transformed with riverfront development. Facilities for recreation, transport and
tourism will be developed in phases on both banks of the 33 km. long Tapi river.
The implementation of the riverfront project is expected to contribute to the beauty
and aura of the city. City dwellers and tourists will get new facilities.
Steps will be taken to prevent floods by managing river water and land. The river
would be kept clean and polluted water would be prevented from entering the river.
Flood protection lines will be renovated and a road will also be constructed along the
riverbank.

6. Water Quality :

Sources say that the water quality in the river's upstream has deteriorated. The soil
quality has deteriorated the quantity of the dissolved oxygen in the water of the river
and the carbon-dioxide level in the water has gone up.  The intrusion of harmful
chemicals is a real threat to the flora and fauna in the river. The heavy metals are
knowns to be persistent in the aquatic environment, and gradually accumulate and
magnify through the process known as bioaccumulation and biomagnification, while
 they move up in the food chain. Thus, lead and mercury may magnify in their
concentrations at different trophic levels, including fish and birds inhabiting the
river, which finally reaches the humans through food.

7. Pollution of Tapi:

● The Tapi River supports several class-I towns, many of which are well-known for
their industrial activities. About 80 percent of the domestic and about 70 percent of
the industrial waste are disposed of into the River as wastewater.

● One of the primary and significant contributors to pollution loads is the largely
untreated industrial effluents and urban waste. 

● The total BOD load is about 488 tons daily, about 39 percent. This part is highly
contributed by the urban domestic wastewater and the 21 percent contribution
followed by the surrounding industries.

● The total carry-over amount of the nitrogen and potassium compounds is about 10
percent, aggravated during the summer months when the river flow is considerably
reduced. 

● The water quality has been adversely affected due to anthropogenic activities,

municipal waste, domestic sewage, washing clothes, primarily by laundries, and
agricultural run-off.

● It was concluded that the water of the Tapi river is moderately polluted due to
discharges of industrial waste, domestic waste, and agricultural run-off in river
water, which requires more efficient management to conserve the Tapi river.

8. Conclusion and Recommendations:

 Remediate the legacy waste accumulated at disposal sites.

 Work for bio-mining of waste overflowing from sanitary landfills.

 Prevent solid waste dumping in the river Tapi by using wire nets/barricading.
 9. Bibliography:

• A Case Study of Surat: Using Remote Sensing and GIS. Dhruvesh K. Mathur, Praful
MU. (2016).

• Fauna of Narmada and Tapi Estuaries Gujarat. (2019). Laishram Kosygin, S. Rath.
Zoological Survey of India.

• Ichthyofaunal diversity of Tapi River. (2017). Ravi N. Khade, Sachin N. Tayade

•
Water Quality and Pollution Status of Tapi River, Gujarat, India. (2013). Monica
Dubey. International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology

• Indiawris.gov.in

• Ecoindia.com

• Sciencedirect.com