Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Water Quality at Important Coral and Mangrove Areas of Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat

L. Christian; R. Patel; R. Bhagat; H. Salvi; R.D. Kamboj

Abstract

AbstractThe present study was carried out to assess the physico-chemical characteristics of water in the regions of coral reef and mangrove in the Gulf of Kachchh during the period from November 2011 to December 2014. Surface water samples were collected from the selected sampling sites on monthly basis and analyzed to provide information regarding spatial and seasonal variation observed in different water quality parameters. The range of parameters was recorded as follows: [pH (6.59–9.89); Water temperature (17.45-37.60°C); Turbidity (3.24–110 NTU); Conductivity (32.67–60.89 mS); Total Dissolved Solids (12.41–52.55 ppt); Dissolved Oxygen (4.8-10.2 mg/l); Alkalinity (73-264 mg/l); Total Hardness (4360–11440 mg/l); Salinity (25.56–53.93 ppt); Nitrate (0.01 to 4.95 mg/l); Nitrite (0.02–0.34 mg/l) and Phosphate (0.02–3.56 mg/l)]. The cluster analysis showed formation of two major clusters based on the similarity in the water quality parameters at coral and mangrove sites.Keywords: Coral, Gulf of Kachchh, mangrove, seasonal, water qualityCite this ArticleR. Patel, L. Christian, R. Bhagat, H. Salvi,R.D. Kamboj Assessment of SeasonalVariation in Water Quality at ImportantCoral and Mangrove Areas of Gulf ofKachchh, Gujarat Research & Reviews:Journal of Ecology . 2019; 8(3): 32 43 p.