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 sea- grass bed, coral reef waters and an estuary near Mandapam. Chlorophyll u values ranged from 0.893 to 9µg/1 in the Waters of seagrass bed, in coral reef waters the range was from 0.177 to 0.695 µg/l, In estuary chlorophyll-a varied from 0.962 to 8.762µg/l. Among the three environments taken for study, the coral reef waters showed lower chlorophyll concentration than seagrass bed wjtets and estuary. A proper understanding of the role of the free phytoplankton and their association with corals and seaweeds in ascertaining their contribution lo the production in selected environments has been stressed.