AMPHIPOD (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, researchers at Berhampur University, Odisha, made an exciting discovery as they identified a new species of marine amphipod, a shrimp-like crustacean belonging to the genus Demaorchestia, in Chilika Lake on the east coast of India."

Amphipod

• Distribution: They may be pelagic (living in the water column) or benthic (living on the ocean bottom).
• Features: The new species is white in colour and less than 15 millimetres in length. It has 13 pairs of legs.
• Amphipods are a significant group in the marine ecosystem and play a vital role in the marine food chain. 
• As an Indicator: They also serve as indicators for studying the impact of climate change and health of coastal ecosystems.

Chilika Lake

• About: It is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and second largest coastal lagoon in the world.
• Spread: Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts of Odisha state.
• First Indian Wetland: "In 1981, Chilika Lake achieved the distinction of being the inaugural Indian wetland to receive international importance designation under the Ramsar Convention.