Lathika Cicily, Thomas; Bijoy Nandan, S(Cochin University of Science And Technology, February , 2015)
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Abstract:
The overall attempt of the study was aimed to understand the
microphytoplankton community composition and its variations along a highly
complex and dynamic marine ecosystem, the northern Arabian Sea. The data
generated provides a first of its kind knowledge on the major primary
producers of the region. There appears significant response among the
microphytoplankton community structure towards the variations in the
hydrographic conditions during the winter monsoon period. Interannually,
variations were observed within the microphytoplankton community associated
with the variability in temperature patterns and the intensity of convective
mixing. Changing bloom pattern and dominating species among the
phytoplankton community open new frontiers and vistas towards more intense
study on the biological responses towards physical processes. The production
of large amount of organic matter as a result of intense blooming of Noctiluca
as well as diatoms aggregations augment the particulate organic substances in
these ecosystem. This definitely influences the carbon dynamics of the
northern Arabian Sea. Detailed investigations based on time series as well as
trophodynamic studies are necessary to elucidate the carbon flux and
associated impacts of winter-spring blooms in NEAS. Arabian sea is
considered as one among the hotspot for carbon dynamics and the pioneering
records on the major primary producers fuels carbon based export production
studies and provides a platform for future research. Moreover upcoming
researches based on satellite based remote sensing on productivity patterns
utilizes these insitu observations and taxonomic data sets of phytoplankton for
validation of bloom specific algorithm development and its implementation.
Furthermore Saurashtra coast is considered as a major fishing zone of Indian
EEZ. The studies on the phytoplankton in these regions provide valuable raw
data for fishery prediction models and identifying fishing zones. With the
Summary and Conclusion
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baseline data obtained further trophodynamic studies can be initiated in the
complex productive North Eastern Arabian Seas (NEAS) ecosystem that is still
remaining unexplored.