Abstract:
The success of mangrove restoration depends on suitable hydrological conditions and water quality. To
improve restoration efforts, this study assessed four water quality parameters: pH, temperature,
conductivity, and salinity at the Accelerated Natural Regeneration of Mangroves (ANRM) site in
Anawilundawa Ramsar Sanctuary. Sampling was conducted in six different environmental sites: natural
mangroves, nearby brackish water canal, shrimp pond outlet, and mangrove plots restored in 2021, 2023
and 2024, with three replicates collected from each site, yielding 18 water samples. These parameters
were measured using a portable multi-parameter meter. Although the significance of sampling site
differed among the measured parameters, significant month× site interactions occurred only for salinity
and conductivity, demonstrating that seasonal changes in these parameters varied across sampling sites.
Both sampling month and site significantly influenced pH (p < 0.05), with values declining steadily
from a peak in November (8.40±0.08) to a minimum in April (7.58±0.06), while the 2023 restoration
site recorded a significantly higher pH than all other settings. Water temperature varied significantly
with month (p < 0.05) but not with site, with the highest values recorded in February and April
(31.4±1.08°C, 31.3±0.19 °C) and the lowest in December and January (26.18±0.1 °C, 26.89±0.24 °C),
reflecting a typical dry-season versus wet-season temperature pattern. Both salinity and conductivity
exhibited a strong dry-season increase (February– April) relative to the wet season (November–
January). These findings suggest that seasonal changes and spatial location play a key role in changing
the water quality of this system. This highlights the importance of considering seasonal timing,
alongside location, when assessing or managing water quality in similar environments.
