प्रायोगिक जीवविज्ञान के यूरोपीय जर्नल खुला एक्सेस

अमूर्त

Ecological status of biofouling animals along coastal areas of Palghar, Maharashtra with special reference to anthropogenic activities and climate change

Kadam Surendra S , Samal Deepika 

The distribution and diversity of macrofoulers along the coastal areas of Tarapur Atomic Power Plant(19.86°N , 72.68 °E) and Dahanu Thermal power Station(19.97, 72.73 ) °E in Palghar district of Maharashtra state. Macrofoulers being a prominent community in rocky coasts, the influence of environmental parameters on the prevailing species was also explored. FeyotnfeHydroideselegans, Pernaviridis, Modiolusmodiolus, Modiolusstriatulus, Modiolus undulates, Balanus Amphitrite, Crassostreacuttackensis, Saccostreacuculata, Ilyanassaobsoleta ,Chiton,Nassariussp. ,Mytilusgalloprovincialis, Myaarenaria, Martesiastriata, Pholas sp., Bankiasp.,etc. There was a wide variation in the colonies of macrofoulers. The overall dominant species were hydroids and barnacles throughout the study period. In Tarapur coast, hydroids were dominant during January, followed by barnacles and amphipods. Additionally, complete dominance of barnacles was observed in the Dahanu coast during May. Barnacles were found dominant on the bottom of boats during April, followed by hydroids and crabs. Barnacles formed a major contribution of the macro fouling organisms throughout the study period. Significant variation in the occurrence and abundance of fouling organisms was observed between two coastal sites. Physico-chemical parameters including Depth, temperature, pH, Salinity, DO, BOD, Nitrates, Nitrites, total nitrogen, inorganic phosphate, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a , phyophytin and phytoplankton showed significant variations during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon seasons.