Study on the physico-chemical properties of water in the Pokkali wetlands of Ernakulam, Kerala, India

Abstract

The Pokkali wetlands of Ernakulam District, Kerala, are incredibly nutrient-rich, biodiverse habitats that offer a wide range of benefits. There are important bird areas that lie under the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) and the Vembanad Ramsar site. An intensive study was carried out on the physico-chemical properties of water samples collected from the Pokkali wetlands of Ernakulam, Kerala, from 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2019. The water parameters, such as temperature (°C), pH, depth (cm), dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/L), salinity (mg/L), turbidity (NTU), and electrical conductivity (μS cm−1) were analysed and recorded. The correlation between various parameters was analysed using the PAST software. The physico-chemical parameters of water have an influence on the biodiversity and ecology of the study area. Data collection about these aquatic parameters is essential to assess the status and biodiversity of the wetland ecosystem. HIGHLIGHTS This is the first study at Pokkali fields.; Wetlands under the Ramsar site were studied.; This study area comes under the Central Asian Flyway.; A large number of people live in these areas, so water analysis is essential.; Habitat analysis study is essential for understanding the biodiversity as well as for conservation;

Keywords

• central asian flyway
• physico-chemical parameters
• vembanad ramsar site
• water quality
• wetlands