Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF CHITRAPUZHA RIVER WITH REFERENCE TO DISCHARGE OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS IN COCHIN AREA

K.N. Remani, P.S. Harikumar and K.J. Shiny

Abstract

Ecology of rivers is amongst the most severely altered, by human activities and industrialisation.The ecological status of Chitrapuzha river, one of the tidal tributaries of Periyar river in Kerala, receiving effluents from several industrial establishments was evaluated with respect to species composition, community structure and residual pollutants in plant and animal tissues. Dominance of tolerant species of flora and fauna, low population density and high residual concentration of heavy metals indicated the existence of stress conditions in the area.