Abstract

A STUDY ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND DIVERSITY OF MICROBES IN THE MANAKUDY MANGROVES

V. Ramamurthy* and R. L. Abhinand

Abstract

Mangrove biodiversity have received considerable attention in recent years since research has increased the understanding of the values, functions and attributes of mangrove ecosystems. The present study was carried out to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of water in mangrove ecosystem of Manakudy, South west coast of India, for periods of one year (2014 to 2015). The study revealed that the physico-chemical parameters like temperature, transparency, pH, total dissolved solids, salinity, dissolved oxygen, carbonate, bicarbonate and nutrients such as nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and chlorides exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial variations. The diversity and load of microorganisms, cyanobacteria, bacteria and fungi associated with the mangrove water were determined by using the standard method. One year study revealed that 12 species of bacteria, 20 fungi and 30 species of cyanobacteria were observed from the water stream. Among bacteria, Pseudomona, Aeromonas and Vibrio with two species and others with single each were recorded. Aspergillus was dominant (6 species) among the fungi followed by Penicillium with three. Cyanobacteria were a dominant group, recorded 30 species. Ocillatoria, Microcystis and Spirulina with each three species were the dominant genus and followed by Phormidium and Lyngbya with two species other with single one each. More hardness and alkalinity with sufficient amount of oxidizable organic matter, limited dissolved oxygen content and alkaline pH were probably the factors favouring the growth of microbes especially cyanobacteria. The study exemplified the fact that the Manakudy mangrove ecosystem is in a good state of health.

Keywords: Mangrove, Biodiversity, Cyanobacteria, Bacteria, Fungi..