Physico-Chemical and Floristic Studies ofMangalavanamMangrove Ecosystem in Ernakulam District, Kerala, South India

The present investigation was carried out to study the physical, chemical and biological (biodiversity) characteristics of a mangrove region of Ernakulam district namely Mangalavanam ecosystem. Physicochemical parameters like pH, temperature, phenolphthalein alkalinity, acidity, free CO₂, chloride, hardness, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD and total alkalinity were analysed. In order to study the quantitative estimation of plant communities in Mangalavanam field, quadrat analysis was done. Frequency, density, abundance and similarity Index were also calculated using standard equations. In the present study five species of true mangroves and a total of 11 mangrove associates were noticed. Among the five true mangrove species, Acanthus ilicifolius was found to be abundant, while Bruguiera cylindrica and Bruguiera sexangula were the least represented mangrove species in this area. The leaf anatomy of four species of mangrove plants was also investigated to determine the taxonomic value of their leaf anatomical and micromorphological characters.