Abstract

Abstract: The present study aims to monitor theseasonal variability in the chlorophyll concentrations of eight major mangrovespecies recorded from Pichavaram mangroves of Tamil Nadu. Along with the leafpigment variation, the study also concentrates on the prevailing soilconditions which are likely to affect the plant processes. Soil salinity,conductivity, presence of major and minor elements was recorded. A study of theleaf pigments reveals that the highest values of total chlorophyll (< 1) wasobserved during winter season for Bruguiera cylindrica, Excoecaria agallochaand Rhizophora mucronata and the least observed was for Excoecaria agallocha andLumnitzera racemosa for the summer season. The Chlorophyll a/b ratio variedthroughout the seasons. The ranges varied from 2.0-3.5 in summer to 1.0 -2.6during post monsoon (expect for Aegiceras corniculatum and Excoecariaagallocha, which possessed higher ratio greater than 6.0) and typically around1.0-2.0 (except Aegiceras corniculatum) for all the mangrove species understudy. The highest carotenoid content observed was for Avicennia officinalisduring winter season (22.5 mg/g). Such studies on seasonal dynamics aids themanagement, restoration and conservation practices of mangroves worldwide on alarge scale. This provides a better aid to ecological assessment activitiestoo. Mangroves are majorly found along the coast lines of tropical and subtropicalregions, where the seasons are distinct and the climatic and environmentalconditions are highly variable. Hence the leaf pigment variability among theseasons highly affects the physiological processes like productivity. Thus theresearch could be o greater aid to studies related to mangrove ecosystemfunctioning and productivity.

Keywords: Chlorophylla, chlorophyll b, Total chlorophyll, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll a/b ratio,Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient analysis