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Variations in Concentrations and Fluxes of Dimethylsulfide (DMS) from the Indian Estuaries

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Abstract

In order to examine the variations in concentrations of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and its fluxes to the atmosphere, 25 major and medium estuaries from Indian subcontinent were sampled during wet and dry periods. River discharge brought substantial amount of nutrients and suspended particulate matter (SPM) to the Indian estuaries; however, the concentration of phytoplankton biomass was severely limited by latter due to shallowing of photic depth. Bacillariophyceae was the dominant phytoplankton group in the Indian estuaries followed by green algae, Cyanophyceae, and Dinophyceae. Relatively higher concentrations of DMS were observed in the estuaries located along the east (3.6 ± 5.7 nM) than the west coast of India (0.8 ± 0.3 nM) during wet period whereas no significant differences were observed during dry period. The concentrations of DMS were significantly lower during wet than dry period and it was consistent with the phytoplankton biomass. The slope of the relation between DMS and phytoplankton biomass displayed a significant spatial variation due to contribution of different groups of phytoplankton in the Indian estuaries. The concentrations of DMS in the Indian estuaries were higher than other estuaries in the world except some Chinese estuaries. The annual mean flux (1.95 ± 2.5 μmol m−2 day−1) from the Indian estuaries is lower than that of other estuaries in the world, except Pearl River estuary due to inhibition of phytoplankton growth by suspended load and low flushing rates.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the director of the National Institute of Oceanography and the scientist-in-charge of the Regional Centre for their constant encouragement and support. We thank the boat personnel for their help during field trips. This program was supported by the funds from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) through the Supra Institutional Project (SIP 1308) and fellowship to the first author. This article has NIO contribution number of 5814.

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  1. CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, 176 Lawsons Bay Colony, Visakhapatnam, 530017, India

    R. Viswanadham, M. D. Bharathi & V. V. S. S. Sarma

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  1. R. Viswanadham
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  2. M. D. Bharathi
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Viswanadham, R., Bharathi, M.D. & Sarma, V.V.S.S. Variations in Concentrations and Fluxes of Dimethylsulfide (DMS) from the Indian Estuaries. Estuaries and Coasts 39, 695–706 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-015-0039-z

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