Distribution of macrophytic vegetation in relation to salinity in the Chilka lake, a lagoon along east coast of India

Growth and distribution of the macrophytic vegetation in the Chilka lake in relation to the distribution of salinity were studied during 1996 to 1998 in order to assess its ecological condition. The lake was found to be highl y heterogeneous with regard to the distribution of salinity; its value duri ng summer varied from almost negligible (in the northern sector) to as high as 23.65 +/- 8.13 ppt (in the central sector). The inter-seasonal variatio n of salinity was found to be the highest in the central sector. It was fur ther observed that the western region of the central sector of the lake rem ained even more saline than the southern sector during summer. Altogether 1 2 macrophyte species were identified from the lake. The lake, particularly its northern and the central sectors, was found to be extensively colonized by these macrophytes. It was also observed that the distribution of the ma crophytes and the massiveness of their colonization were dependent on the s alinity condition of the lake. The study suggests that the Lake is threaten ed to loose its identity, which could be avoided by adopting methods to inc rease its salinity.