In the present investigation, dissolved oxygen was high during the
monsoon season at all sites, which might be due to the cumulative effect
of higher wind velocity coupled with heavy rainfall and the resultant
freshwater mixing. Relatively lower values were observed during
summer; this may be due to the increased surface water temperature
which reduces the dissolvation of O2 in the coastal waters. It is well
known that temperature and salinity affect the dissolution of oxygen
[39]. Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in surface waters remained
alkaline at all sites throughout the study period with the maximum
value during summer seasons and the minimum during the monsoon.
However, the present study did not find a characteristic relationship
between pH, salinity, and temperature and macrobenthic fauna,
confirming that the fauna of independent mangrove system requires
specific environmental characters.