Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences

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A Comparative Investigation of Physicochemical and Biological Variables of Aerial & Port Blair Bays, Andaman Islands With Focus on the Anthropogenic Influence


Affiliations
1 Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Port Blair, India
2 Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Chennai – 600 100, India
 

Major anthropogenic activities surround the Port Blair Bay, while Aerial Bay remains as a pristine environment. A field study was carried out during the south-west monsoon season (July – August, 2011) in the two bays to compare the physico-chemical parameters and their effect on phytoplankton community structure. Among the physico-chemical parameters, water temperature (p < 0.01, n = 18), DO (p < 0.01, n = 18) and TP (p < 0.05, n = 18) showed significant variation between the Bays. Salinity and Redfield ratio (N:P) was lower in Aerial Bay as compared to Port Blair Bay; while the Si:N ratio was higher in the Aerial Bay. The average chlorophyll-a concentration as well as species richness was found to be higher in the Port Blair Bay as compared to the Aerial Bay. The highest phytoplankton density and centric diatom abundance were observed in Port Blair Bay. In Aerial Bay, the centric diatoms like Dactyliosolen fragilissimus (44.5 %) and Guinardia flaccida (7.1 %) dominated, while in the Port Blair Bay, the centric diatom Skeletonema costatum (25.0 %) and a pennate diatom Nitzschia closterium (24.3 %) dominated the phytoplankton. The phytoplankton community was influenced by the nutrients from the tidal mud flats and rain-fed rivulets in the Aerial Bay; while, in the Port Blair Bay, the phytoplankton abundance was influenced by nutrients from land runoff, inundated areas and anthropogenic sources.

Keywords

Biomass, Chlorophyll-a, Physicochemical parameters, Phytoplankton, Oceanic island, Zooplankton
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  • A Comparative Investigation of Physicochemical and Biological Variables of Aerial & Port Blair Bays, Andaman Islands With Focus on the Anthropogenic Influence

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Authors

B. K. Sahu
Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Port Blair, India
P. Goswami
Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Port Blair, India
M. Begum
Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Port Blair, India
D. K. Jha
Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Port Blair, India
N. V. Vinithkumar
Atal Centre for Ocean Science & Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Port Blair, India
G. Dharani
Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Chennai – 600 100, India

Abstract


Major anthropogenic activities surround the Port Blair Bay, while Aerial Bay remains as a pristine environment. A field study was carried out during the south-west monsoon season (July – August, 2011) in the two bays to compare the physico-chemical parameters and their effect on phytoplankton community structure. Among the physico-chemical parameters, water temperature (p < 0.01, n = 18), DO (p < 0.01, n = 18) and TP (p < 0.05, n = 18) showed significant variation between the Bays. Salinity and Redfield ratio (N:P) was lower in Aerial Bay as compared to Port Blair Bay; while the Si:N ratio was higher in the Aerial Bay. The average chlorophyll-a concentration as well as species richness was found to be higher in the Port Blair Bay as compared to the Aerial Bay. The highest phytoplankton density and centric diatom abundance were observed in Port Blair Bay. In Aerial Bay, the centric diatoms like Dactyliosolen fragilissimus (44.5 %) and Guinardia flaccida (7.1 %) dominated, while in the Port Blair Bay, the centric diatom Skeletonema costatum (25.0 %) and a pennate diatom Nitzschia closterium (24.3 %) dominated the phytoplankton. The phytoplankton community was influenced by the nutrients from the tidal mud flats and rain-fed rivulets in the Aerial Bay; while, in the Port Blair Bay, the phytoplankton abundance was influenced by nutrients from land runoff, inundated areas and anthropogenic sources.

Keywords


Biomass, Chlorophyll-a, Physicochemical parameters, Phytoplankton, Oceanic island, Zooplankton

References