Occurrence of bloom of the diatom Asterionella glacialis (Castracane) in the Rushikulya Estuary, East Coast of India

Abstract

The occurrence of a bloom of the diatom Asterionella glacialis (Castracane) was recorded in the Rushikulya Estuary (Orissa), East Coast of India for a period of about 5 weeks during April-May 1988. Phytoplankton cell counts during this period ranged from 3.98-9.42 x 10 super(4) cells 1/1 in which A. glacialis alone contributed 72-86.2% of the total population. Intensity of the bloom declined towards later part of May