Benthic fauna of Tuticorin bay in relation to thermal effluent discharge was studied for a period of two years (March

1990 to April 1992). Station I situated closer to thermal effluent discharging site was characterised by high water

temperature (surface mean 38.92°C, Bottom mean 3S.S6 °C), low dissolved oxygen (surface mean 3.79±O.29 mill) ami high

percentage of sand (mean sand 87.96%, mean silt 7.57%, mean clay 4 .8

Kailasam, M

Sivakami, S

194-201Benthic fauna of Tuticorin bay in relation to thermal effluent discharge was studied for a period of two years (March 1990 to April 1992). Station I situated closer to thermal effluent discharging site was characterized by high water temperature (surface mean 38.92ºC, Bottom mean 38.86ºC), low dissolved oxygen (surface mean 3.79±0.29 ml/l) and high percentage of sand (mean sand 87.96%, mean silt 7.57%, mean clay 4.87 %) with the record of only three benthic species mainly dominated by Cerithedia fluviatilis. Occasional record of Prionopsio sp. and Nassa pulla was also noticed at st. I. Higher water temperature recorded at st. I had resulted elimination of other benthic species with survival of fewer organisms. Station IV, situated far away from thermal effluent discharging site had better water quality parameters of temperature (surface mean 30.84ºC,), dissolved oxygen (surface mean 4.08 ml/l) and improved sediment particle size composition (mean sand 76.27 %, mean silt 16.11 %, mean clay 7.68%) with the record of 23 benthic species. Station I was recorded with the lowest benthic population density (480-1084 no/m²) and species diversity (0-0.44) while other stations showed the highest faunal density (2327-3452 no/m² at st.VI) and species diversity (2.12-2.54 at st. V). Temperature showed significant negative correlation with species diversity (1%), benthos density (5%) and benthos biomass (1%) at st. I, while in other stations, temperature was positively correlated with species diversity, benthos density and benthic biomass but statistically insignificant. Thermal effluent increased the temperature of receiving waters and thereby by affected the benthic population of Tuticorin bay

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Effect of thermal effluent discharge on benthic fauna off Tuticorin bay, south east coast of India

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http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/7326/1/332-IJMS_2004.pdf

Effect of thermal effluent discharge on benthic fauna off Tuticorin bay, south east coast of India

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