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IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring", Hyderabad, India, 2002 
APPLICATION OF GIS TECHNIQUES TO STUDY THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY 
METALS (Cu, Zn AND Fe) IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF AVICENNIA AND RHIZOPHORA 
PLANTS IN THE SUNDARBANS MANGROVE, WESTBENGAL 
Soumya Haldar", M. Vijayakumaran" 
"Madras Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, 68/4, Greams Rd., Chennai-600006, India 
(hsoumya@rediffmail.com) 
"National Institute of Ocean Technology, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai-601302, India (vijay @niot.res.in) 
KEY WORDS: Mangrove, Pollution, Metal accumulation, GIS, Remote sensing, Sundarbans, 
ABSTRACT : 
This report presents the distribution of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Fe) in sediments and various parts of mangrove plants Avicennia 
marina and Rhizophora mucronata in the Sundarbans mangrove of West Bengal. Results have been expressed by the use of 
Remotesensing and GIR software IRDAS and ArcView in the Satellite derived map (LISS-III). Study areas were selected on the 
basis of their situation in fringe, buffer and core area. Satellite map was used to locate suitable area of study, GPS was also used to 
locate the study area in the map. Among the three metals, concentration of Fe was higher both in sediments and plant parts. Cu 
concentration was lowest. Distribution trends of metals was similar in all three stations Fe concentration varied from 28500 to 
29250 pg/g, Cu varied from 20.63 to 22.33 ug/g . Both Zn and Fe concentrations were very high in bud, but Cu concentration was 
very high in the root. Concentrations of metals were higher in Rhizophora than in Avicennia. Stem contained lowest concentration of 
all metals compared to other part of the plants. Results of the investigation suggest that the core area of Sundarban is not polluted so 
far. 
INTRODUCTION 
East Coast of India is bestowed with well-developed 
mangroves, especially the Sundarbans harbouring well- 
established mangrove ecosystem. At the same time the east 
coast also receives vast quantities of contaminants in the 
form of effluents. The industrial effluents contain heavy 
metals like zinc, copper, lead, manganese, iron, cadmium, 
cobalt, nickel etc. along with other toxic chemicals. It has 
been established that these metals directly affect the health of 
mangrove plants. Coastal aquaculture also contributes in 
polluting the mangrove environment in a big way. Few 
studies in recent years have indicated that heavymetals are 
gradually increasing in water, sediments and biota of 
Sundarbans (Mitra and Choudhury, 1993). Thus, a detailed 
study of the distribution of metals in different parts of 
Sundarbans and the way they are absorbed and damage the 
plants is a matter of great concern. The present investigation 
attempts to study the. distribution of heavy metals in the 
mangrove plants Avicennia marina and Rhizophora 
mucronata in the Sundarbans. Use of remote sensing data 
proved to be important tool in areas, which are not easily 
accessible for sampling. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
The Sundarbans ecosystem of gangetic West Bengal is 
situated in the Hugli-Matla esturine delta and contains an 
area of about 4266.6. Sq. Km (Anon, 1987). Due to its 
vastness, the area has a wide diversity in its ecosystem. The 
outer boundary 
  
* Corresponding author 
having human habitation is called the fringe area. The core area is 
separated from fringe area by a buffer zone, which is having 
simultaneous characters of core and fringe areas. A survey of all 
three areas is essential for getting an overall idea of the pollution 
limit of this mangrove. 
Keeping this in mind, the three stations were selected in the three 
areas. 
Station 1- This area is situated near the small town 
called Basanti in the fringe region. It is a newly 
developed mangrove area with artificially planted mangrove. 
Station 2- It is a site near an aquaculture farm in the buffer area. 
Station 3- This station is situated in Bidya forest, which is in the 
core areas. 
USE OF REMOTE SENSING AND GIS 
Due to its vast area and inaccessibility to most of the core areas, 
extensive field survey is not possible in the Sundarbans. By 
studying some selected areas and comparing them with the similar 
areas in the satellite derived map, a comprehensive conclusion can 
be drawn about the overall heavy metal pollution of this forest. It 
can also be presumed that metal accumulation can reduce the 
chlorophyll content of the leaf, which can be reflected in the 
satellite-derived photo with very high resolution. This study will 
help in preparation of a model for identifying the presence of 
metal or other pollutants indirectly by satellite derived pictures. 
The study was undertaken using Geographic Information System 
(GIS), image processing of remotesensing data and 
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