Ecological and Climatic Insights from Seasonal Ponds of Nediyenga, Kerala, India: Vegetation Diversity and Environmental Variability

Seasonal pools and ephemeral wetlands are ecologically significant habitats that support diverse flora and fauna. This study, conducted during the 2022–23 monsoon at Nediyenga, Sreekandapuram, Kannur District, Kerala, explores herbaceous plant diversity, soil and water characteristics, and climate trends. A total of 53 vascular plant species from 34 families were documented, with angiosperms accounting for 96% and dicots being dominant. Endemic and threatened species such as Rotala malabarica and Utricularia cecilii highlight the site's conservation value. Climate data from 2019 to 2023 reveal increasing summer temperatures, warmer winter nights, and erratic monsoon rainfall, indicating shifting ecological conditions. Soil analysis showed slightly acidic pH, with high nutrient variability and elevated iron and manganese levels suggestive of anthropogenic influence. Water analysis revealed low TDS(79-89ppm), acidic pH (5.7-5.8), and slightly improved quality in 2023. These findings emphasize the biodiversity, the endemic plant diversity, ecological sensitivity, and vulnerability to climate change and anthropogenic pressures, calling for urgent, adaptive conservation strategies.