Abstract

The olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is known for its spectacular mass nesting behavior. The Rushikulya river mouth has emerged as one of the major mass nesting site in the world. To study the status of hydrological characteristics viz. depth, air and water temperature, salinity, conductivity, pH, total suspended solid, turbidity, dissolve oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nutrients (NO₂-N, NO₃-N, (NH₃+NH₄)-N, SiO₃ and PO₄-P), petroleum hydrocarbon and dissolved trace metals such as Pb, Cd and Hg are evaluated in mass nesting period of olive ridley turtles at Rushikulya mass nesting site. In order to evaluate the status level of the pollutants and ultimately to protect the precious marine environment, an intensive monitoring has been carried out near Rushikulya, Gopalpur, Chatrapur and Haripur Creek of mass nesting site. The basic scientific objective of the present study is to determine the concentration, migration pattern and dynamics of the pollutants in the estuary and coastal environment.

Key words: Environmental pollution, water quality, trace metals, olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Rushikulya mass nesting site.