Authors : P. Damotharan, N. Vengadesh Perumal, M. Arumugam, P. Perumal, S. Vijayalakshmi and T. Balasubramanian
Abstract: The spatial, temporal and tidal dynamics of the zooplankton community of the Kodiakkarai (also known as point calimere ) was studied from September 2006 to August 2007. The monthly sampling procedure included the measurement of hydrological parameters salinity, temperature, pH and the collection of zooplankton with plankton net (0.35 m mouth diameters), made up of bolting silk (Cloth No. 10; mesh size 158) for 20 min. The hydrographical parameters were found to very month-wise and station-wise. Air temperature showed summer peak and pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and monsoon decline and the variations were associated with the seasonal changes of meteorological events. Salinity was high during the post monsoon and summer seasons and low during the monsoon season at both stations and was mainly influenced by the rainfall pattern. pH was high during the monsoon and summer seasons and low during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at both stations and the rainfall mainly influenced the variation. Dissolved oxygen concentration was high during the monsoon season and low during the summer season at both stations. Distribution of dissolved nutrients also exhibited considerable seasonal due to the flooding and land runoff. The silicate concentration was especially found to be much higher than other nutrients. Among the 121 zooplanktonic forms recorded, the Copepoda formed the dominant group followed by larvae.
P. Damotharan, N. Vengadesh Perumal, M. Arumugam, P. Perumal, S. Vijayalakshmi and T. Balasubramanian, 2010. Studies on Zooplankton Ecology from Kodiakkarai (Point Calimere) Coastal Waters (South East Coast of India). Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 187-198.