Mangrove swamps of Dugarajapatnam & Kondurupalem

Fishermen at Konduru estuary

Konduru estuary

Dugarajapatnam in Vakadu mandal was once a sea port. Here the mangroves are very stunted and degraded. Much of the mangrove swamps are now converted into shrimp ponds.

Kondurupalem is one of the mouths of the Pulicat Lake in Nellore district, the other being Pudirayaduruvu. Here also there is not any diversity of mangroves. Even the mangroves present here are very much stunted due to the non-availability of fresh water.

1. Dugarajapatnam (Vakadu mandal)

Location : 13⁰59¹00.97¹¹ N, 80⁰09¹21.39¹¹E

The village is a accessible from Mallam and is about 25 km from the latter. There is Buckingham canal at Dugarajapatnam. It is very shallow here. When we cross Buckingham canal we find mangrove swamp. Avicennia marina is the only mangrove found here and it is stunted, 4-5 ft tall.

4. Kondurupalem (Konduru estuary)

Coordinates : 13⁰59¹11.21¹¹ N, 80⁰09¹47.47¹¹E

This is one of the two mouths of Pulicat Lake to Bay of Bengal. The Kondurupalem estuary has a few mudflats where mangroves are found.

True mangroves:

1. Avicennia marina - 6-8 ft tall, no flowers

2. Excoecaria agallocha- 10 ft tall, no flowers

Mangroves associate:

Sesuvium portulacastrum, no flowers

salinity: 45 ppt.

Water Temperature : 28⁰C