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Monsoon-induced changes in the size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass and production rate in the estuarine and coastal waters of southwest coast of India

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

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Title Monsoon-induced changes in the size-fractionated phytoplankton biomass and production rate in the estuarine and coastal waters of southwest coast of India
 
Creator Madhu, N.V.
Jyothibabu, R.
Balachandran, K.K.
 
Subject Phytoplankton
Size structure
Primary production
Nanoplankton
Cochin estuary
 
Description Changes in the autotrophic pico- (0.2–
2 μm), nano- (2–20 μm), and microplankton
(>20 μm) biomass (chlorophyll a) and primary
production were measured in the estuarine and
coastal waters off Cochin, southwest coast of India
during the onset and establishment of a monsoon.
During this period, the estuary was dominated
by nutrient-rich freshwater, whereas the coastal
waters were characterized with higher salinity values
(>30 psu) and less nutrients. The average
surface chlorophyll a concentrations and primary
production rates were higher in the estuary (average
13.7 mg m−3 and 432 mgC m−3 day−1) as
compared to the coastal waters (5.3 mg m−3 and
224 mgC m−3 day−1). The nanoplankton community
formed the major fraction of chlorophyll
a and primary production, both in the estuary
(average 85 ± SD 8.3% and 81.2 ± SD 3.2%)
and the coastal waters (average 73.2 ± SD 17.2%
and 81.9 ± 15.7%). Nanoplankton had the maximum
photosynthetic efficiency in the coastal waters
(average 4.8 ± SD 3.9 mgC mgChl a m−3
h−1), whereas in the estuary, the microplankton
had higher photosynthetic efficiency (average 7.4 ± 7 mgC mgChl a m−3 h−1). The heavy cloud
cover and increased water column turbidity not
only limit the growth of large-sized phytoplankton
in the Cochin estuary and coastal waters but also
support the proliferation of nanoplankton community
during the monsoon season, even though
large variation in nanoplankton chlorophyll a and
production exists between these two areas.
 
Date 2010-06-30T11:37:20Z
2010-06-30T11:37:20Z
2010
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol.166(1-4); 521-528
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/3646
 
Language en
 
Rights An edited version of this paper was published by Springer. This paper is for R & D pupose and Copyright [2010] Springer.
 
Publisher Springer