INTRODUCTION
Marine Biome: It is defined as an environment that is distinguished by the availability of saltwater. The marine biome is considered the largest biome on the Earth and it is usually based in oceans present anywhere on the Earth.
Coast Biome: It is defined as a varied ecosystem or it is a blend of various ecosystems that is present along the coast.
Characteristics of Marine and Coastal Biome: This biome has characteristic features such as the presence of nutrients, food, and availability of sunlight. Marine and coastal biome is further described by local topography, climate such as water temperature, salinity, and depth. Any changes in the mentioned terms might also induce changes in the biodiversity that inhabits this biome.
Also check out: Marine Pollution – Its Risky Effects on Marine Life & Humans
MARINE AND COASTAL BIOME OF PAKISTAN
Marine and coastal biome include mangrove forest, salt marshes, estuaries, freshwater, brackish, and saline lagoons, dune systems, salt or mudflats, rocky coasts, barrier islands, meadows, seagrass beds, coral reefs, etc.
Location of Marine and Coastal Biome of Pakistan: It is present in Baluchistan and Sindh Provinces of Pakistan.
- Sindh: Tarparker, Lower Sindh, Central Hyderabad, and Western Karachi.
- Balochistan: Makran Coast and Lasbela, and Gawadar.
The climate of Marine and Coastal Biome of Pakistan: The marine and coastal biome of Pakistan is characterized by the tropical climate. This biome experiences southwest and northeast monsoon seasons. The coastlines receive sea breeze. The highest temperature ranges 45-47 °C during summers and the lowest temperature is 5 °C. The precipitation is recorded less than 300mm. The overall climate is often described as semi-arid tropical.
Also read: Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Areas and Marine Resources of Pakistan
BIODIVERSITY OF MARINE AND COASTAL BIOME OF PAKISTAN
The marine and coastal biome provides habitats to a variety of species including living organisms such as microscopic cyanobacteria to numerous animals and plant species.
FLORA OF MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEM OF PAKISTAN: PLANTS/VEGETATION
| Serial No. | Plants Common Name | Scientific Name |
| 1. | Lai | Tamarix dioica |
| 2. | Ber | Ziziphus nummularia |
| 3. | Kumbat | Acacia senegal |
| 4. | Neem | Azadirachtaindica |
| 5. | Rohida | Tecomella undulata |
| 6. | Grey Mangroves | Avicennia marina |
| 7. | Mangrove Apple | Sonneratia acida |
| 8. | Spurred Mangroves | Ceriops tagal |
| 9. | Babul | Acacia nilotica |
| 10. | Khabbar | Salvadora persica |
FAUNA OF MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEM OF PAKISTAN: ANIMALS
| Serial No. | Animals Common Name | Scientific Name |
| 1. | Giant Mud Crab | Scylla serrata |
| 2. | Flathead Lobster | henus orientalis |
| 3. | the Great Indian Bustard | Ardeotis nigriceps |
| 4. | Green Sea Turtles | Chelonia mydas |
| 5. | Saw-scaled viper | Echis carinatus |
| 6. | Chinkara | Gazella bennettii |
| 7. | Sarus Crane | Grus antigone |
| 8. | Asiatic wild ass | Equus hemionus khur |
| 9. | Gray wolf | Canis lupus |
| 10. | Finless Porpoise | Neophocaena phocaenoides |
Also read: Threats to Natural Ecosystems – Causes, Effects, Management
THREATS TO MARINE AND COASTAL BIOME OF PAKISTAN
Threats to the marine and coastal biome of Pakistan include both natural and anthropogenic activities. Natural threats are seasonal variations in dissolved oxygen in the upper water layer that surges from the deeper water layer. Others are salinity, maximum/high temperature, wave actions, etc.
Anthropogenic threats are human-induced climate change, marine pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, the introduction of invasive species, land-use changes such as expanding agricultural lands, etc.
Also check out: Coral Reef Destruction – Causes, Effects, and Solutions
IMPORTANCE OF MARINE AND COASTAL BIOME OF PAKISTAN
The Arabian Sea is considered the special and unique feature of the marine and coastal biome of Pakistan. It holds great economic importance for Pakistan. The country has Sindu Sagar in the south connected to the Arabian Sea. It is among the most unique seas in the world because it is widely known as a large marine ecosystem with the high productive zone.
For information about other types of Biomes or Ecosystem Zones of Pakistan, check out this list of: Ecosystem Zones and Climatic Biomes of Pakistan.
I hope you all liked this post! Please comment below if you have any suggestions, comments, or feedback! We at #envpk love hearing from our readers! Thanks!
