Pravin S. Shinde and Snehal S. Donde
Abstract
Heavy metal is very essential micronutrient which is required for mangrove growth but excess amount of these nutrients may adversely affect the mangrove growth and its functioning. Mangroves and their sediments act as natural sinker for heavy metals because they highly sequester such metals from tidal waters, anthropogenic pollution, mining activity and industrial waste. Dahisar creek sediment contains large quantity of heavy metals concentration due to discharge of anthropogenic pollutions. Seasonal observation shows that, heavy metal concentrations was highest in post monsoon season followed by monsoon and was lowest in the pre monsoon season. Mangrove roots act as barrier for metal translocation as well as carbon sequestration. Hence the study shows seasonal heavy metal pollution level affect the mangrove plant and its sequestration capacity. Avicennia marina, a dominant mangrove species inhabiting in Dahisar creek of Mumbai region as well as it is more sturdy species in mangrove community with respect to pollution. CHNS analyzer was used for estimation of total carbon sequestration in mangrove plant. Subsequently sediment heavy metals pollution was assessed and results are correlated with mangrove carbon sequestration, to understand its impact & severity on mangrove and its carbon sequestration capacity. Overall finding demonstrates that Dahisar creek mangrove absorbs and accumulates higher quantities of heavy metals and it is shown significant correlation with carbon sequestration capacity.