Pink Lakes in Kerala : Cabomba Furcata | UPSC

• Cabomba is a submerged perennial aquatic plant that grows in stagnant to slow-flowing freshwater.
• It dominantly belongs to Central and South America.
• “The plant will spread in the water bodies across the state, choking them as well as the drainage canals.

• The water quality would also be affected.
• The invasion of Cabombas has led to a decrease in the diversity of native aquatic plants and caused economic losses by affecting the yield of freshwater fishes.

Invasive species are the second-biggest cause for biodiversity loss, next to habitat destruction

INVASIVE PLANT

• They are the second-biggest cause for biodiversity loss, next to habitat destruction.
• Invasive alien species could reproduce rapidly and out-compete the native species for food, water and space.

SOLUTIONS

Among the measures to contain the spread of Cabomba include:

• Habitat modification to increase shading (planting trees)
• Tarpaulin shadeover Cabomba-infested area, especially where it cannot be mechanically removed.
• Regular weeding on both aquatic and terrestrial habitats based on inputs from monitoring.

Pink Flowers : Cabomba Furcata 

• It is a common aquarium plant and its widespread trade in the industry has led to its proliferation to areas outside of its native range.
• It has beautiful flowers and dissected leaves, and is commonly used in aquaria.
• Cabomba prefers nutrient-rich habitats.
• They can spread fast via stem fragments and form dense stands in water bodies.

• Its main habitats include freshwater bodies such as rivers, reservoirs, ponds, irrigation canals and other shallow wetlands.
• The main pathways of dispersal are humans by intentional aquarium plantings and via inappropriate disposal.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

• The first known information on Cabomba in Kerala became available in 1952.
• A decade later, in 1977, Cabomba was first authentically reported from the environs of Cochin.
• In 2003, the Cabomba plant was found around the industrial area of Eloor and Thottumugham in Kerala’s Aluva area, stretching approximately for around 13 kilometres.
• Around the same time, the plant was reported from several localities Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alapuzha and Pathanamthitta districts.

OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES IN KERALA

• TERRESTRIAL INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS : Plants such as Chromoleanaodorata, Lantana Camara, Mikaniamicrantha, Mimosa diplotricha, and Sphagenticolatrilobata etc have affected biodiversity.
• INVASIVE ALIEN FAUNA : The giant African snail Achatinafulica, papaya mealybug Paracoccusmarginatus, etc have affected the biodiversity of rural and urban spaces in Kerala.