Mangroves of Kandaleru Estuary

Over the last two years I had been visiting the Kandaleru estuary and other brackish water creeks around the estuary in the Gudur subdivision of Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh as part of my investigations of mangroves of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Unlike other mangrove swamps of Nellore District, the Kandaleru estuary has robust, tall and dense mangroves. I have reported nine true mangroves of Nellore district from this estuary in my publication during 2007. I have tested the Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen and PH of water in the estuary. They are quite conducive for the growth of mangroves.



I visited Gummalladibba, Varagali, Ipuru-Vekannapalem and Momidi along the Kandaleru estuary during my visit in the first week of January 2010. There are pure Rhizophora and Avicennia communities as well as mixed communities of these two dominant true mangroves.



Also, there are Aegiceras corniculatum associated wtih Avicinnia. Excoecaria agallocha are spread landwards. Further, I noticed Clerodendron, Miriostachia and tamarix sp along the estuary.

During my recent visit, I recorded the following fauna in the mangrove swamps of Kandaleru estuary: Hermit Crab, Fidler Crab, Spider Crab, Mangrove Crab, Pelicypods and Electrice Fish.

Investigation on Mangroves in South costal Andhra Pradesh, India

A perusal of literature shows that there is scant information on mangroves of South costal Andhra Pradesh comprising Nellore and Prakasam districts. In Nellore district there are Pennar, Kandaleru and Swarnamukhi estuaries where mangroves of varying size and density occur. But most of these mangroves are located in the revenue lands and hence indiscriminately destroyed for aquaculture, salt pans and firewood. Of late the outflow of fresh water from the river Pennar, Kandaleru and Swarnamukhi has also declined and this has a telling effect on the growth of mangroves. In Prakasam district, there are only minor rivers and streams viz.Gundlakamma, Musi, Paaleru and Maaneru which bring nutrients along with water for the sustenance of mangroves at the costal regions. But most of these mangroves are ill developed. Floristic and ecological studies have been conducted by us to assess their present position, the effect of their deforestation and aquaculture in these districts.