Characterization of phytoplankton functional types in the western Bay of Bengal: HPLC- and CHEMTAX-based approach.

This study investigates phytoplankton functional group variations in the western Bay of Bengal (WBoB) during the Spring Intermonsoon. Samples were collected from four cross-shore transects: Mahanadi (MN), Vamsadhara (VD), Godavari (GD), and Krishna (KS). East India Coastal Current and warm gyre influenced the southern transects (KS, GD), VD was experiencing moderate upwelling and MN was characterized by low salinity and oligotrophic conditions due to freshwater input.

Alarming waterweeds proliferation in the Vembanad Lake System might significantly increase water loss through transpiration.

Eichhornia crassipes and Monochoria vaginalis are waterweeds, and their uncontrolled proliferation in fresh and brackish water habitats is a serious ecological problem in many parts of the world. These weeds are quite common in the Vembanad Lake System (VLS), India's second-largest Ramsar wetland. During the non-monsoon season, the Thannermukkom saltwater barrage divides the VLS into two zones: saline water downstream and freshwater upstream.

Copepod carcasses in the western Bay of Bengal and associated ecology.

Although a portion of all copepods in the natural environment are physiologically inactive or dead, there is little data on this aspect in Indian seas. Using the classical neutral red live staining technique, the dead percentage of copepods in the western Bay of Bengal (BoB) is determined for the first time in this study, which takes into account hydrography and zooplankton samples collected on April 2015 (Spring Intermonsoon [SIM]) from 6 inshore and 8 offshore locations in the western BoB. The offshore parts of the research area were infested with a persistent and extensive warm-core eddy/gyre during the sampling time, as demonstrated by satellite data of sea surface temperature, mean sea level anomaly, and surface currents.

Impact of a large hydraulic barrage on the trace metals concentration in mesozooplankton in the Kochi backwaters, along the Southwest coast of India.

This study delineates the impact of a man-made hydrological barrage [Thannermukkom barrage (TB)] on the concentration of selected trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb) in mesozooplankton from the Kochi backwaters (KBW). The overall results point out that during Pre-Southwest Monsoon (PRM), the concentration of trace metals in mesozooplankton was high in the upstream due to the closure of the barrage, which essentially causes stagnancy of the waters. Trace metal concentrations in the downstream and upstream regions of KBW were found to be lower during Post- Southwest Monsoon (PSWM) compared to the rest of the seasons.

Impact of salinity on the grazing rate of a cladocera (Latonopsis australis) in a large tropical estuarine system.

Cladocerans are ecologically important as active grazers at the secondary trophic level, and they are economically important in aquaculture as potential live feed for many commercially valuable fishes. This study deals with the effect of salinity on grazing of the rare cladocera Latonopsis australis. The experimental specimens were collected from the lower reaches of the Kochi backwaters, the largest estuarine system along the west coast of India, during the Pre-Southwest Monsoon (May 2015), and their cultures developed in the laboratory.