ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN SELECTED MYRISTICA SWAMPS, WESTERN GHATS, INDIANiji Joseph and Sreejai R.Abstract Myristica swamps are one of the most remarkable wetland forest ecosystems in the Western Ghats, India in which members of the Myristicacea family are predominant. Water logged condition and humic deposition changes these swamps into an acidic environment. Amount of rainfall, and water availability throughout the year are the two important abiotic factors necessary for the endurance of Myristica swamps. Every Myristica swamps comprises a central stream and it helps in ensuring a constant water availability. The Hydrology of Myristica swamps is particularly well suited to providing high quality to these streams and providing diverse aquatic habitat. So, physico-chemical parameters of water in Myristica swamps serve as a powerful indicator of environmental conditions that are prevalent in these freshwater ecosystems. The present study was carried out in Shendurney wildlife sanctuary and Kulathupuzha reserve forest, Kerala, India during the pre-monsoon season. The water quality in selected Myristica swamp forests were studied in detail by taking representative water samples. The data on physico-chemical variables of water have been given under the present contribution. The present qualitative study also showed the present aquatic status of Myristica swamp, which would be very helpful for future ecological and conservational study of this economically important ecosystem in Western Ghats in India. |