Multivariate approach to evaluate the factors controlling the phytoplankton abundance and diversity along the coastal waters of Diu, northeastern Arabian Sea
P. Sathish Kumar,
S. Venkatnarayanan,
Vikas Pandey,
Krupa Ratnam,
Dilip Kumar Jha,
S. Rajaguru,
G. Dharani,
R. Arthur James,
M.A. Atmanand
Affiliations
P. Sathish Kumar
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding authors at: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India; Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India.
S. Venkatnarayanan
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Vikas Pandey
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Krupa Ratnam
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Dilip Kumar Jha
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
S. Rajaguru
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
G. Dharani
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding authors at: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India; Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India.
R. Arthur James
Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding authors at: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India; Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India.
M.A. Atmanand
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
The present study investigated the phytoplankton assemblage and diversity with physicochemical parameters of Diu coastal waters in different seasons during 2018–19. During the study period, 61 phytoplankton species comprising diatoms (50 sp.), dinoflagellates (8 sp.), and cyanophyceae (3 sp.) were recorded. Diatom was found to be a major community and contributed 79 to 99% of total phytoplankton abundance. Reduction in dinoflagellate and dominance of pennate-diatoms were observed during the monsoon. Chlorophyll-a concentration also showed a similar trend and decreased during the monsoon. However, the phytoplankton abundance was low particularly during the monsoon which might be due to the elevated total suspended solids (TSS) load. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that diatoms were able to survive in high TSS with the support of high nutrients; while dinoflagellates were limited due to those conditions. Overall, the reduction in phytoplankton abundance, diversity, and biomass was recorded due to the elevated TSS input along the coastal waters of Diu.
