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Influence of suspended particulate matter on nutrient biogeochemistry of a tropical shallow lagoon, Chilika, India

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Abstract

The behaviour of suspended particulate matter (SPM), salinity profile, dissolved nutrients, total (T.Chl-a) and size fractionated chlorophyll-a (F.Chl-a) were studied seasonally at Chilika Lagoon, east coast of India, during 2008–2009. The study showed large spatio-temporal variations among these parameters. The concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and inorganic phosphate were found to be maximum during the monsoon, followed by post- and pre-monsoon, although the mean N:P ratios, which indicate the relative availability of N with respect to P, were 9.13 ± 3.09, 16.57 ± 11.53 and 5.47 ± 3.13, respectively. It was evident from the results that during pre-monsoon and postmonsoon, the lagoon exhibits nitrogen limitation. Mean T.Chl-a biomass in the lagoon showed distinct seasonality with maximum values during the pre-monsoon (23.12 ± 9.75 mg m−3) followed by monsoon and post-monsoon. Irrespective of seasons, maximum T.Chl-a was found in the northern part of the lagoon. SPM concentrations during the monsoon were relatively higher in the freshwater dominated zones compared to seawater dominated areas, indicating its riverine sources. The correlation between SPM and various dissolved nutrients (p < 0.05) suggests its influence on the physico-chemical conditions at varying levels. It is summarized that seasonal variation of SPM and nutrients contributed by rivers, wind induced re-suspension events and in situ  regeneration processes play a crucial role in the lagoon biogeochemical cycle.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India for his constant encouragement. We are grateful to the Indian Navy and the INS Chilika in particular, for providing logistic support during the course of the investigation. We are also thankful to the research staff of Andhra University for the generous field support. This study is a part of MoES-ICMAM’s comprehensive project “Ecosystem Modelling for Chilika Lake”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICMAM Project Directorate, Ministry of Earth Sciences, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India

    Sivaji Patra, D. Ganguly, R. S. Robin, VishnuVardhan Kanuri, K. R. Abhilash & B. R. Subramanian

  2. Marine Biological Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530 003, India

    A. V. Raman & B. Charan Kumar

  3. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai, 600 025, India

    D. Ganguly, R. S. Robin & K. R. Abhilash

  4. Wetland Research and Training Centre, Chilika Development Authority, Balugaon, Odisha, 752 030, India

    P. R. Muduli

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  1. Sivaji Patra
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  2. A. V. Raman
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  3. D. Ganguly
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  4. R. S. Robin
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  6. VishnuVardhan Kanuri
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  7. K. R. Abhilash
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  8. B. Charan Kumar
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  9. B. R. Subramanian
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Correspondence to D. Ganguly.

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Patra, S., Raman, A.V., Ganguly, D. et al. Influence of suspended particulate matter on nutrient biogeochemistry of a tropical shallow lagoon, Chilika, India. Limnology 17, 223–238 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-015-0475-2

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