It is essential to understand how the distribution and composition of
microalgae as well as dynamics of HABs in economically important shelf seas
relate to the particular physico-chemical and biological properties of the water
column in which they live. In view of the importance of southwest coast of
India, which is considered as one of the most biologically productive areas in
the world, regular monitoring of distribution and abundance of microalgae
is important. The present work is concentrated on the estuarine and coastal
open sea stations along the southwest coast of India. In order to get further
insights into the abiotic factors governing bloom dynamics, the physicochemical
parameters that regulated three particular bloom events during
this period were studied. Bearing in mind the role of bacterial fauna
associated with algal blooms as a biological factor in regulating its
dynamics, isolation of bacteria associated with the algal blooms, their
identification, enumeration, and ability to produce extracellular enzymes
have been duly incorporated into this studyCochin University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry
School of Marine Sciences
Cochin University of Science and Technolog
