No abstract

No abstract

Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS data of Tupilipalem coast demonstrations the periodic closure of lagoon mouth over a brief period affecting the ecological setting and the faunal diversity and distribution. The coastal ecosystem includes a significant metal pollutant due to anthropogenic activities. This study documents forty-nine numbers of benthic foraminiferal species and establishes its relationship with heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd). The factor loading matrix generated using factor analysis grades the positive and negative correlations among the heavy metals species. The results of geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, and pollution load index, construes the seasonal differences in metal concentrations and prevalence of higher concentrations of metals in the sediments. Besides, this paper discusses the impact of coastal morphology on heavy metal concentrations coupled with ecology and distribution of benthic foraminifera.

The inter-relationship between the environmental magnetic parameters, geochemical and granulometric distribution are addressed in this paper to assess the environmental conditions employing the surficial sediments of Beypore Estuary, Kerala. The magnetic results elucidate the dominance of magnetic grain size in the lower estuary, magnetic concentration in the middle, and magnetic mineral in the upper estuary, respectively. The magnetic parameters confirm the presence of ferrimagnetic minerals such as magnetite in the estuary. The geochemical elements affinity attribute towards the lower estuary. Further, intense weathering in the lower estuary and moderate to weak weathering in the middle and upper estuary are observed which is reflected in the micro-texture features of quartz grains. The Beypore sediments are moderately polluted based on the pollution indices. The finding elucidates the combination of natural and anthropogenic activities, controlling the environmental conditions in the estuary.