Seasonal variations in chlorophyll-a of some tropical environments

Abstract

Seasonal variations in phytoplankton pigment were studied for a period of one year from May 1973 to April 1974 in three environments, viz seagrass bed, coral reef waters and an estuary near Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, India. Chlorophyll a values ranged from 0.893 to 9.49 mu g/l in the waters of seagrass bed, in coral reef waters the range was from 0.177 to 0.695 mu g/l. In estuary chlorophyll a varied from 0.962 to 8.762 mu g/l. Among the three environments taken for study, the coral reef waters showed lower chlorophyll concentration than seagrass bed waters and estuary. A proper understanding of the role of the free phytoplankton and their association with corals and seaweeds in ascertaining their contribution to the production in selected environments has been stressed