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Hydrographic and sediment characteristics of seagrass meadows of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, South India

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the spatial and temporal variations in the physicochemical parameters of seagrass meadows of the Gulf of Mannar, South India using multivariate statistical techniques, namely, cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA), to explore the relationship. There were clear spatial and temporal variations in physicochemical variables of the seagrass meadow of the Gulf of Mannar, but such changes were subjected to seasonal variations especially during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The multivariate statistical techniques, viz., CA and PCA helped in the discrimination of islands according to the physicochemical parameters of the seagrass meadows. It was inferred that electrical conductivity, nitrate, particulate organic carbon, and phosphate strongly determined the discrimination of 19 islands, respectively, upon physicochemical characteristics of their seagrass meadows. These results highlight the important role of seagrasses in the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve.

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Abbreviations

AT:

Atmospheric temperature

SWT:

Surface water temperature

MWT:

Meadow water temperature

ST:

Sediment temperature

SAL:

Salinity

pHW:

Hydrogen ion concentration in water

pHS:

Hydrogen ion concentration in sediment

NO2 − :

Nitrite

NO3 − :

Nitrate

PO4 − :

Phosphate

SiO3 − :

Reactive silicate

EC:

Electrical conductivity

POC:

Particulate organic carbon

SND:

Sand

SIL:

Silt

CLY:

Clay

Shi:

Shingle

Kru:

Kurusadai

Pul:

Pullivasal

Poo:

Poomarichan

Mnp:

Manoliputti

Man:

Manoli

Har:

Hare

Mul:

Mulli

Val:

Valai

Thl:

Thalaiyari

Apa:

Appa

Vli:

Vaalimunai

Ani:

Anaippar

Nal:

Nallathanni

Puz:

Puzhuvinichalli

Kar:

Karachalli

Kas:

Kasuwar

Van:

Van

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof. T. Balasubramanian, Dean, Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences and the authorities of Annamalai University for providing the necessary facilities. The authors also thank UNDP-GEF and GOMBRT for financial support and the Department of Forest, Tamil Nadu for giving permission to carry out this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, 608 502, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India

    Radjassegarin Arumugam, Rengasamy Ragupathi Raja Kannan, Thirunavukarasu Thangaradjou & Perumal Anantharaman

  2. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, 3rd Cross Street, Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai, 600 113, Tamil Nadu, India

    Kannan Rajasekaran Saravanan

  3. Present address: Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, AVC College, Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, 609 305, Tamil Nadu, India

    Radjassegarin Arumugam

  4. Present address: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X 01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Rengasamy Ragupathi Raja Kannan

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Arumugam, R., Kannan, R.R.R., Saravanan, K.R. et al. Hydrographic and sediment characteristics of seagrass meadows of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, South India. Environ Monit Assess 185, 8411–8427 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3183-6

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