The Atri hot spring in Odisha - A natural ecosystem for global warming research

Abstract

Global warming has been a challenging environmental problem in the recent decades. For managing and surviving the negative impacts of high temperature stress, specific preventive measures need to be developed. The organisms constantly exposed to high temperature stress, like fishes inhabiting the hot-spring runoffs might be able to provide insights and clues to develop strategies to cope with the climate extremes like high-temperature stress. The Atri hot spring located in eastern India appears to be a natural ecosystem for global warming research. The hot spring runoff joins to a nearby rivulet thereby providing connectivity to the hot spring water. A variety of aquatic flora and fauna including fish are found to inhabit this place and these organisms could be useful for understanding the mechanism of thermal acclimation and thermotolerance. Fishes present in the hot spring runoff can be utilized for investigating physical, biochemical and metabolomic responses to the adaptation pressure and the prevailing high temperature stress as observed in our preliminary investigations. The rivulet is relatively free from pollution as anthropogenic activities are less and it is not receiving effluents; thus temperature is the major abiotic stress. All these factors make the Atri hot spring an ideal, natural ecosystem for global warming research and it could perhaps be developed as a ‘hot spring research laboratory’.

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International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online)
An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm
2014 Vol. 4 (1) January-April, pp. 85-90/Mohanty et al.
Research Article
© Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech)
85
THE ATRI HOT SPRING IN ODISHA - A NATURAL ECOSYSTEM FOR
GLOBAL WARMING RESEARCH
Sasmita Mohanty1, Arabinda Mahanty1, Ravi Prakash Yadav1,2, Gopal Krishna Purohit1, Biranchi
Narayana Mohanty3 and *Bimal Prasanna Mohanty2
1School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
2ICAR- Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Biochemistry Laboratory, FREM Division,
Barrackpore, Kolkata, India
3Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Ankleswar, Gujarat, India
*Author for Correspondence
ABSTRACT
Global warming has been a challenging environmental problem in the recent decades. For managing and
surviving the negative impacts of high temperature stress, specific preventive measures need to be
developed. The organisms constantly exposed to high temperature stress, like fishes inhabiting the hot-
spring runoffs might be able to provide insights and clues to develop strategies to cope with the climate
extremes like high-temperature stress. The Atri hot spring located in eastern India appears to be a natural
ecosystem for global warming research. The hot spring runoff joins to a nearby rivulet thereby providing
connectivity to the hot spring water. A variety of aquatic flora and fauna including fish are found to
inhabit this place and these organisms could be useful for understanding the mechanism of thermal
acclimation and thermotolerance. Fishes present in the hot spring runoff can be utilized for investigating
physical, biochemical and metabolomic responses to the adaptation pressure and the prevailing high
temperature stress as observed in our preliminary investigations. The rivulet is relatively free from
pollution as anthropogenic activities are less and it is not receiving effluents; thus temperature is the
major abiotic stress. All these factors make the Atri hot spring an ideal, natural ecosystem for global
warming research and it could perhaps be developed as a ‘hot spring research laboratory’.
Keywords: Atri, Hot Spring, Climate Change and Global Warming, Fish, Thermal Acclimation, Thermal
Adaptation
INTRODUCTION
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the earths near surface air and oceans
since the mid-twentieth century and its projected continuation, and implies an anthropogenic influence
(Doran and Zimmerman, 2009; Chen et al., 2013). It has become a challenging environmental problem in
recent decades (IPCC, 2007; Mohanty and Mohanty, 2009; Mohanty et al., 2010). Increase in global
temperatures has been projected to lead to broader changes, including glacial retreat, arctic shrinkage, and
worldwide sea level rise. There has been undeniable evidence on how changing climate and global
warming together have had profound effects on our planet as well as the ecosystem as a whole. Climate
change has been implicated in rapid pole ward shifts in distributions of fish and plankton in regions such
as North East Atlantic, where temperature change has been rapid and there have been mass mortalities of
several aquatic species including plants, fishes, corals and mammals (Harvell et al., 1999; Brander, 2007).
Because many disease pathogens and carriers are strongly influenced by temperature, humidity and other
climate variables, climate change may also influence the spread of infectious diseases or the intensity of
disease outbreaks. Many plants and animals have already begun to respond to the changing climate but
are struggling to adapt to the climate change.
Organisms have adapted to low temperature extremes in the Antartics
Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or
expected climatic stimuli or their effects, by lessening the harmfulness or by exploiting the beneficial
opportunities. For survival in a changing environment, animals and plants must be able to fit or adapt to
the changing environment occurring in their habitat. The Antarctic animals have adapted well to the harsh

International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online)
An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm
2014 Vol. 4 (1) January-April, pp. 85-90/Mohanty et al.
Research Article
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86
Antarctic environment which made it possible for them to survive in an environment where the
temperature is perennially low and during winter falls to -8 to -12 oC. Studies on the physiological,
biochemical and molecular basis of adaptations in these animals have contributed to the mechanistic
understanding of ‘how they cope with such extreme climatic conditions’, and ‘what makes them different
from their temperate counterparts’. The presence of blood-borne anti-freeze proteins (AFPs) in Winter
flounder and other Antarctic organisms provide them the capability to survive in the frigid marine
environment (Marshall et al., 2004; Marshall et al., 2005; Patel and Graether, 2011). The AFPs prevent
freezing of the body fluids by binding with ice crystals resulting in freezing point depression or ‘thermal
hystereses. Other than AFPs, in response to low temperature stress, the up-regulation of stress proteins
(heat shock proteins, HSPs) such as HSP70 has been demonstrated in several species of Antarctic
notothenoid fishes (Clark et al., 2008). Another important feature of the Antarctic notothenoids is the
high degree of cold stability of their constituent eye lens proteins which prevents development of cold-
cataract and hence, the lens transparency is maintained even at the perennially freezing subzero
temperature, as low as -12 oC (Kiss et al., 2004). The lens proteins (crystallins) possess high protein
density-constrained mobility thus reducing the propensity of the cold-induced structural rearrangement.
Thus, starting from the regulation of membrane proteins by altering the lipid composition of the
membranes to increasing the mitochondrial density and capillaries in skeletal muscles, the mechanism of
adaptation varies in all aspects in animals acclimatized to cold temperatures.
Surviving the high temperature stress under projected climate change regime
In contrast to the temperature extremes faced by the Antarctic organisms, the animals inhabiting the
tropical environment face high temperature stress, which is projected to go up under the climate change
regime. To prevent the ill effects of high temperature stress, including sudden shock and death upon
exposure to heat stress, specific preventive measures need to be found out. The organisms constantly
exposed to high temperature stress, like fishes inhabiting the hot-spring run-offs, might provide clues on
‘how to cope with high-temperature stresses. The acquired thermo tolerance mechanisms operating in
these lower vertebrates living in stressful environment might provide the insights to develop strategies to
cope with the climate extremes, especially the high-temperature stress and global warming.
Hot springs
Hot springs are sites that discharge hot ground water, the temperature of which is notably higher than the
ground water. The springs usually emerged along the deep faults or fissure of earth along which the
ground water comes out. The high temperature of hot spring water is because of the geothermal energy,
exothermic recations and disintegration of radioactive elements (Mahala et al., 2013). Usually, hot spring
water contains a wide range of minerals like alkali, alkaliline metals, sulphates, carbonates and trace
elements (Reddy et al., 2013). The dissolved minerals are found because of the water-rock interaction.
Therefore, the water of hot springs is thought to have medicinal properties and is used in folklore
medicine. It also contains gases like hydeogen sulphide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2) and low amount of
oxygen (Mahala et al., 2013) and the sulphorus odor of the hot spring water may be because of such
gases.
There are about 340 hot spring in India out of which 8 are present in the state of Odisha. These hot
springs are located within the Eastern Ghat mobile belt, North Odisha craton and Western Odisha
proterozoic sedimentary basins. The water temperature of these hot springs range from 32 - 67 oC (Bisht et
al., 2011).
The Atri hot spring- An ideal ecosystem for global warming research
We surveyed many hot springs in eastern India, especially in West Bengal and Odisha, with the objective
of identifying a natural system for investigating acclimation and adaptation to thermal stress in
eukaryotes. Out of the springs surveyed, the Atri hot spring appeared to be an ideal ecosystem for this
purpose.
Atri hot spring is located in the Khurda district of Odisha (20o09’N 85o 18’E) in eastern India. The hot
spring takes its name from the village Atri where it is located and as per the revenue records it exists for
many centuries. As this area is a low seismic zone, there has been no change in its flow and existence.
The hot spring has a religious dimension also; its water is considered pious and there are some temples

International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online)
An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm
2014 Vol. 4 (1) January-April, pp. 85-90/Mohanty et al.
Research Article
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located nearby. It is a place of tourists’ attraction and is justifiably maintained by the state-run tourism
development corporation. The main source of the spring at Atri has a circular tank (Fig. 1), the
temperature of which has been recorded to be at 57-58 oC, except the rainy season. The water from this
tank is then channelized in to cemented tanks outlets to prevent stagnation where it is used for bathing.
The outlet which carries the hot-spring run-off water, temperature of which is about 38 oC connects to a
nearby rivulet, a branch of river Rananadi; the temperature of the confluence and immediate periphery
remains about 36-38 oC.
Figure 1: Atri Hot spring, Odisha: Atri hot spring located in a small village called Atri is about 42 km
from Bhubaneswar, is famed for its hot sulphur water spring (A). The temperature of the spring water is
58 oC which always remains steady (B), is believed to have medicinal properties for curing skin diseases.
The bathing complex, located close to the spring provides steam bathing facilities for the tourists. For
this, water of the hot spring is collected in a reservoir with a depth of around 15 feet and a circumference
D
a
E
C
F
f
B
A

International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online)
An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm
2014 Vol. 4 (1) January-April, pp. 85-90/Mohanty et al.
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of 10 feet (C) and it is provided to the tourist with outlets to prevent stagnation (D). This outlet which
carries the hot-spring run-off water temperature of which is about 38 oC connects to a nearby rivulet (E)
branch of river Rananadi, the temperature of the confluence and immediate periphery remains at about
36-38oC and fishes are present in this hot water (F).
Table 1: Physico chemical parameters of soil and water samples collected from Atri hot spring and
the confluence point of hot spring runoff water and river Rananadi (samplings were done during
May 2013)
S. No.
Analysis Parameters
Main Tank (Water)
Confluence (Water)
Confluence (Soil)
1
Color
Clear Transparent
Clear Transparent
-
2
Odour
Sulphorous
Odorless
-
3
Temperature (oC)
56
36
4
Total dissolved solids (ppm)
309
312
-
5
Turbidity (NTU)
1.0-1.5
1.2-1.7
5.5
6
pH (units)
8.4
7.7
7.85
7
Salinity
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
8
EC ((mS/cm))
0.618
0.609
0.615
9
Nitrite- Nitrogen (µg/ml)
0.0129
0.09
0.38
10
Nitrate- Nitrogen (µg/ml)
6.71
5.56
3.02
11
Ammonia (mg/l)
0.2
0.45
0.76
12
Inorganic phosphate (mg/l)
0.16
0.17
0.48
Physicochemical studies of the water of the main tank as well as the confluence point was carried out
following standard methods as prescribed by APHA (2005). The pH of the water of the main tank was
found to be 8.8 while the electrical conductivity and nitrate content was 618 µS/cm and 6.71 mg/ml,
respectively, similar to that of the previously reported values by Das et al. (2013). The physico chemical
properties of the main tank water have been studied by earlier workers (Das et al., 2012 and 2013).
However, no such data were available for the confluence point. The pH of water at the confluence zone
was 7.7 (Table 1), which according to the Central Pollution Control Board, falls under the category D and
can be used for propagation of wild life and fisheries (CPCB 2007). Dissolved oxygen (DO) is an
important indicator of water quality. The average DO of the main tank water has been reported to be
6.095 which gradually changed to 6.23 - 7.17 as the water flows down towards the canal connecting the
rivulet making it suitable for growth of phytoplanktons and zooplanktons (Das et al., 2013, 2012).
Inorganic phosphate is a limiting factor for survival of various aquatic organisms. The inorganic
phosphate concentration of the main tank water was found to be 0.16 mg/ml (Table 1), which is higher
than the value reported earlier (0.015 mg/ml) by Das et al. (2013). The phosphate concentration of the
confluence zone water was also found to be 0.17 mg/ml (Table 1), which is within the range prescribed
for fisheries and aquaculture (Stone and Thomforde, 2004).The average chloride concentarion of the main
tank has been reported to be 263.5 mg/ml which showed positive correlation with water temperature
which decreased from the main tank to the subsequent overflows (Das et al., 2013). The electrical
conductivity and nitrate content was found to be 609 µS/cm and 5.56 mg/ml, respectively (Table 1).
The main tank water has sulphorus smell which could be because of the formation of hydrogen sulphide
due to interaction between the water and sulphide mineral bearing rocks (Mahala et al., 2012). However,
the confluence point water was found to be odorless which might be due to the dilution with the river
water. The Atri hot spring water is known to have minerals like calcium, magnesium, nitrate, sulphate,
fluorine and chlorine (Das et al., 2013). It also harbors a wide range of zooplanktons like Copepod spp.,
Diatoms, Rotifers, Cladospora (Das et al., 2012) and phytoplanktons like Chlorophycea, Cyanophycea,
Bacilarophycea and Euglenophycea in the overflow tanks (Das et al., 2012).
Hot springs have long been of interest to geologists and biologists. However, biological research in hot
springs is so far confined to microbiological and metagenomic investigations. Atri hot spring
distinguishes itself from others in having existence of higher life forms like fish (lower vertebrates) at its
confluence with the rivulet, thus making it unique as an ideal ecosystem that offers a scope to carry out

International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online)
An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm
2014 Vol. 4 (1) January-April, pp. 85-90/Mohanty et al.
Research Article
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investigations on fishes constantly exposed to thermal stress. Experimental fishing at the confluence zone
showed presence of miscellaneous fish and shellfish species including the minor carps Puntius sophore
and Cirrhinus reba (occasionally), the murrel Channa striatus and prawns (Yadav, 2012). Investigations
on the heat shock (stress) protein (Hsp) gene expression profile, muscle proteome profile, amino acid
composition and GC-MS fingerprinting of fatty acids in Puntius sophore and Channa striatus collected
from the hot spring runoff has been carried out, using fish of same species collected from aquaculture
ponds from nearby areas as control. Preliminary findings look exciting (Yadav, 2012; Mahanty et al.,
2013a, b, c). Puntius sophore, belongs to the same family (Cyprinidae) as Zebrafish Danio rerio, one of
the most well studied animal models, and is available almost round the year in Atri. The complete
blueprint of the genome of Danio rerio available would facilitate for molecular studies on its cousin
Puntius sophore for understanding thermal acclimation and adaptation to high temperature.
Epilogue
The Antarctic animals have adapted to the harsh Antarctic environments because of the blood-borne anti-
freeze proteins and other adaptation mechanisms. Synonymous with AFPs, the organisms (fishes)
constantly exposed to high temperature in the hot spring runoffs, can be ideal candidates for searching for
novel heat tolerance proteins (HTPs), which could be helpful in thermal stress management in humans
and animals. Puntius sophore and Channa striatus appear to be ideal candidates for such studies
(Mahanty et al., 2013c). Keeping in view, the attention it is getting of late, from experts and investigators
from different fields, like geologists, environmentalists and biologists, the Atri hot spring perhaps can be
developed in to a class ‘Hot Spring Research Laboratory’.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was funded by ICAR /National Fund for Basic, Strategic and Frontier Application Research in
Agriculture (NFBSFARA) Project # AS/2001 to BPM and SM
(http://www.icar.org.in/nfbsfara/projectslist.php). AM, GKP are NFBSFARA Senior Research Fellows.
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An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm
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