Rate of salt excretion by salt excreting mangroves of sundarban under varying environmental conditions

Abhishek Mukherjee¹, Minati De², Subhajit Das¹, Tushar Kanti Maiti³ and Tarun Kumar De¹*

¹Department of Marine Science, Ballygunge Science College, Calcutta University; 35. Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700 019

²Maniktala Siksha Bhavan, Kolkata - 700 054

³Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Burdwan -713104

*Corresponding Author Email: tarunde@yahoo.co.in and abmsws@gmail.com; Phone: +919432249136

Accepted 20 March 2012

A study was conducted on six salt excretory species of mangrove plants (Avicennia officinalis, A. alba, A. marina, Aegialitis rotundifolia, Acanthus ilicifolius, Aegiceras sp.) for evaluating the their rate of salt ion (Na, K, Cl) excretion from leaves at various sites and times in Sundarban. A correlation was established in between the overall rate of excretion from the species studied and surface water salinity, showing insignificant values mostly, indicating to the soil salinity as the controlling factor for excretion. A relationship between Na and K excretion was also established with seasonal and temporal variations. Nature of chloride excretion was also studied. A detailed account of the excretion patterns for all the species individuals was also discussed in the current study.

Keywords: Mangrove, Salt excretion, Salt ions, Salinity, Temporal variation.