Primary productivity of some seagrass beds in the Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

Primary productivity of two seagrass beds and one algal bed in the Gulf of Mannar was studied by diurnal curve method. The sea grass bed close to Mandapam Camp was found to be autotrophic, with P/R ratios ranging from 1.65 to 3.90. The seagrass and algal beds around Kurusadai Island were heterotrophic. Production of oxygen by individual sea grasses equalled or exceeded their consumption. Chlorophyll a values in the waters over the seagrass bed ranged from 0.893 to 9.49 mg/m2