Indian mangroves have a rich diversity
of soil-dwelling organisms which include
micro, meio and macro forms. Mangrove
ecosystem provides an ideal nursery and
breeding ground for most of the marine
and brackish water fish and shellfish.
India has only 2.66% of the world’s mangroves1,
covering an estimated area of
4827 sq. km. The present study area lies
within the margins of lat. 11°90′107″–
11°90′703″N and long. 79°80′547″–
79°81′851″E. Mangrove exists as fringing
vegetation over 168 ha distributed
along the sides of Ariankuppam estuary,
which empties into the Bay of Bengal
(Coromandal coast) at Veerampatinam
on the southeastern coast of Indi