Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 11(1), pp. 195 - 205
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110114
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Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Sediment Characteristics of Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, India

Shivangi Singh ^*, Sathyanathan Rangarajan
SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Chennai 603203, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT

This study examined the variability in salinity, colour, and texture in five sediment cores taken from three sites near Avicennia mangle and two sites beneath the fringing Rhizophora zone in the Pichavaram mangrove forest in Tamil Nadu. The results showed that there were significant differences in the salinity levels of sediment cores collected from beneath the two different mangrove species, suggesting that the distribution of vegetation in the area is largely determined by soil salinity. The sediment cores taken from the Rhizophora zone displayed signs of anaerobic conditions, possibly due to the presence of high levels of sulphur in the soil close to the surface of the cores. In contrast, the sediment cores from beneath Avicenna Marina exhibited characteristics of forest evolution. The texture analysis revealed that the cores were mostly composed of fine clay, with varying amounts of sand. Salinity levels were higher in the clay layers and lower in the sand layers due to the adsorption of salt. This research helps to understand how the characteristics of sediment cores in the Pichavaram mangrove forest vary seasonally and spatially. Previous studies have shown that rising salinity levels are a major contributor to species extinction in this forest, and this information on sediment core characteristics can be used to develop strategies for mitigating these effects.

KEYWORDS
Mangroves, Sediment Profile, Salinity, Munsell Colour Chart, Pichavaram Mangrove Forest

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Shivangi Singh , Sathyanathan Rangarajan , "Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Sediment Characteristics of Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, India," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 195 - 205, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110114.

(b). APA Format:
Shivangi Singh , Sathyanathan Rangarajan (2023). Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Sediment Characteristics of Pichavaram Mangrove Forest, India. Environment and Ecology Research, 11(1), 195 - 205. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2023.110114.