Comparative investigation on physico-chemical properties of the coral reef and seagrass ecosystems of the Palk Bay

Abstract

Coral reef and seagrass ecosystems separated by a distance of 25 km in the Palk Bay region were investigated for their physico-chemical properties. Monthly variations of different parameters investigated are as follows; air temperature (27 - 35 ºC), surface water temperature (25.0 - 31.5ºC), LEC (0.54 - 1.22 k), salinity (28.0 - 36.0 ‰), pH (7.0 - 8.2), DO (3.15 - 6.68 mll⁻¹), nitrate (0.25 - 7.3 µM), nitrite (0.03 - 2.91 μM), inorganic phosphate (0.12 - 4.1 μM), reactive silicate (0.6 - 7.4 μM) and POC (0.28 - 3.25 mg C l⁻¹). There is distinct spatial variation on the above parameters between the stations. The present study had elucidated that the ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass are prefer specific environmental conditions for their survival.