Abstract
The geomorphic and geologic evolution of coastal lands of Southwest India is influenced by many local and regional factors, including changes in climate, sea level and local and regional tectonics in the late Quaternary period. The wetlands in Kerala State in Southwestern India, forming an interlacing network, act as an integral part of the socio-environmental frame of the state (Kerala) playing vital roles in the hydrological, biological and biogeochemical features of the environment. However, these systems were mismanaged due to lack of scientific data and proper appreciation of the ecosystem functions. During the recent years, there is a growing concern for conservation and management of the wetlands. This chapter provides some baseline data on the geochemical characteristics of the sediments and the water quality of four important wetlands in the state, namely, Vellayani Lake, Sasthamkotta Lake, Pookot Lake (lacustrine wetlands) and Ashtamudi Lake (estuarine wetland), and provides some insights into the need for their conservation.
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Acknowledgement
The authors wish to express their gratitude to Director T. N. Prakash, NCESS, for the encouragement and support. The help provided by Dr. Anoop Krishnan and Dr. Reji Srinivas during the fieldwork is hereby revered. The financial assistance provided by the Department of Ports and Fisheries, Government of Kerala, for the estuarine wetland studies is gratefully acknowledged.
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Krishnakumar, A., Saranya, P., Das, R. (2017). Hydrogeochemistry and Environmental Issues of the Wetlands of Kerala, Southwestern India. In: Prusty, B., Chandra, R., Azeez, P. (eds) Wetland Science . Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3715-0_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3715-0_8
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