Physico-chemical and microbial characteristics of the coral reef environment of the Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere reserve, India.

Investigation on physico-chemical parameters and bacteial characteristics of the coral reef environs of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve was studied. The study found the influence of different physico-chemical parameters on one another and also on the distribution of the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) in the coral reef areas. Nutrients exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial variations with influence on the bacterial population.