Assessment of Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Heavy Metal Content of Mangrove Water and Sediment from Selected Sites, Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Due to their function in averting catastrophic weather occurrences like tsunamis and cyclones, mangrove forests are of paramount importance. The current study sought to determine the heavy metal content in water and sediment as well as the physico-chemical quality of mangrove water and sediment. Physico-chemical parameters and edaphic characteristics were studied for different sites i.e. Vadgam, Tada Talav and Kantiajal of the Gulf of Khambhat having mangrove vegetation. Physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals were higher at Kantiajal which is situated in Hansot tehsil of Bharuch district. This might be because it is adjacent to the industrial area of Ankleshwar and Panoli. Some of the physico-chemical parameters studied were turbidity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, COD, sulphate, phosphate, ammonical nitrogen, Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co) and Lead (Pb) were the metal selected for the study. In order to develop conservation and management plans, a thorough research of the mangrove species in the Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat, is required. The current study gives the baseline data for these species.