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Assessment of seasonal changes in water quality adjoining Thekkumbad mangrove – sacred grove ecosystem of Kannur district, Kerala, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Division of Environmental Science, Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Malappuram District– 673 635, Kerala, India
  • 2Division of Environmental Science, Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Malappuram District– 673 635, Kerala, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 6, Issue (8), Pages 43-47, August,22 (2017)

Abstract

Thekkumbad Island, falling in Mattool panchayat of Kannur district, is characterized by the presence of a sacred grove - Thazhekkavu, rich in mangrove populations. This sacred grove is characterized by the presence of 11 true mangroves and 6 mangrove associates. The Valapattanam estuary provides tidal waters to these mangrove habitats. The present study attempts to assess the seasonal changes in water quality influencing the growth and establishment of mangrove diversity confining to this sacred grove. Water quality parameters adjoining the mangrove habitats were monitored on a monthly basis for assessing the seasonal changes. The results indicated that there is marked difference in water quality parameters in all the three seasons studied. Variations in salinity related parameters like hardness, calcium, magnesium, sodium and chloride were higher than that of other water quality parameters, which are indicative of the differences in salinity intrusion in these habitats, with respect to seasons. Water quality parameters of Site 1 was found to be highly influenced, which is indicative of their close proximity with the estuarine system.

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