Mangroves of Utukuru – Pallepalem, Nellore district

As part of my study on the mangroves of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, I visited several swamps in Nellore district between Feb - Dec 2011. I had noted down the true mangroves, mangrove associates and other flora at the swamps. I give below a detailed account of the mangrove floral diversity of the swamps of Nellore district I had so far covered.

Utukuru – Pallepalem mangrove swamps

Mandal : Vidavaluru

Date of visit: 10-02-2011

Coordinates: 14⁰ 34¹29.72¹¹ –14⁰35¹11.63¹¹ N, 80⁰10¹40.17¹¹-80⁰10¹51.47¹¹E

The mangrove swamps at Pennar estuary near Utukuru – Pallepalem are surveyed. There are extensive aquaculture ponds at the mouth of the estuary, where river Pennar merges with Bay of Bengal. This results in further reduction of fresh water and sediment into the mangrove swamps.

Survey was conducted at three stations:

• Pathapalem Dibba*
• Erravenkaiah Dibba
• Dayyam kalva

*’Dibba’ is a mud flat/ tidal flat

All the above stations are privately – owned lands. There is extensive bio-invasion of Prosopis chilensis at the above mangrove swamps.

1.Pathapalem Dibba:

True mangroves:

a. Avicennia marina (Forsk) Vierh Family: Avicenniaceae. Plants abundant in number, but stunted growth, 4-5 ft tall. No flowering and fruiting.

b. Excoecaria agallocha – Family: Euphorbiaceae – In terms of number of plants, next toAvicennia marina 10 – 12 ft tall, No flowers and fruits.

c. Rhizophora mucronata Poir – Family: Rhizophoraceae – Scarce, one or two in number, 6 - 8 ft tall, no flowers and fruits.

Mangrove associates:

a. Suaeda maritima(L.) Dumort – Family: Chenopodiaceae-abundant with flowers and fruits.

b. Suaeda nudiflora (Willd.)Moq – Family: Chenopodiaceae-abundant with flowers and fruits

• Salinity: 23 ppt
• Dissolved oxygen : 02.6
• Water temperature : 270C

2. Yerra Venkaiah Dibba:

True mangroves:

a. A. marina: dominant and stunted 4-5 ft tall, no flowers and fruits

b. R.mucronata: more in number compared to Pathapalem Dibba 6-8 ft tall, but degenerating; no flowers and fruits

c. Excoecaria agallocha L. : next to A. marina in terms of numbers; flowering.

Mangrove associates:

a. Suaeda maritima: abundant, flowers and fruits

b. Suaeda nudiflora : abundant, flowers and fruits

c. Arthrocnemum indicum(Willd.)Moq : Family: Chenopodiaceae, abundant, no flowers

d. Sesuvium portulacastrum(L.)L : Family: Aizoaceae, distributed fairly; no flowers and fruits.

e. Salicornia brachiata Roxb: Chenopodiaceae, flowers and fruits

f. Clerodendrum inerme Gaertn: Family: Verbenanceae- a few in number, flowering

g. Caesalpinia crista L. Family: Caesalpinaceae ; a few in number; flowering;

h. Ipomoea pes-caprae(L): Sweet Family: Convolvulaceae- a few in number; flowering

Other flora :

a. Cassytha filiformis L. : Family: Lauraceae: a few in number; flowering

b. Asparagus racemosus: (Wlld) Family: Asperagaceae, a few in number, no flowers

c. Phoenix sylvestris Roxb: Family: Arecaceae; one or two; flowering and fruiting

• Salinity : 30 ppt
• Dissolved oxygen : 12.5
• Water temperature : 22 C

3. Dayyam Kalva:

In the entire Utukuru estuary, it is here that there are thick stands of Avicennia marina. Some of the trees are about 10 ft. tall, where as in the other two stations they are stunted. These trees occur at the fringes of the creek which is about 0.75 km long. A few plants of Excoecaria agallocha are found. On the whole, A.marina is the dominant mangrove at the above three stations.

• Salinity: 22 ppt
• Dissolved oxygen: 10.2
• Water temperature: 260C.
• Sediment samples are collected at fixed points for chemical analysis