BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF ENNORE CREEK, THIRUVALLUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

Abstract :

Ennore Creek, a brackish-water arm of the Kosasthalaiyar River in Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu, supports diverse but increasingly stressed biota. Using standard field sampling complemented by published and community-derived records, we inventoried the system’s biodiversity and assessed ecosystem condition. A total of 56 vascular plant species of 17 families were recorded, with Avicennia marina dominating intertidal zones, while the invasive Prosopis juliflora proliferated in disturbed uplands. Floral observations revealed mangrove and salt-tolerant plant species adapted to estuarine conditions. Faunal surveys documented 17 butterfly species, 9 fishes, 6 crustaceans, 3 mollusks, 9 herpetofaunal taxa, 66 bird species and 8 mammals, indicating moderate faunal richness. Interviews with fishermen and residents, together with literature review, highlighted declines linked to industrial effluents, habitat encroachment and invasive species. Although biodiversity remains substantial, the trajectory is negative. Immediate, integrated management—removal of invasives, mangrove restoration and pollution abatement—is essential to safeguard ecological functions and the livelihoods of local communities.