Primary productivity in the Karwar Bay, Karnataka, west coast of India
Abstract
The measurement of primary production is of great importance because of its significance to the problems of aquatic ecology and fishery management. The interaction of light intensity, temperature and nutrient levels determines the photosynthetic efficiency of an aquatic ecosystem. Studies on primary productivity was carried out in Karwar bay at three study sites during September 1999 to August 2000. Study area was quite turbid and the euphotic zone never exceeded 2.2 m. The column production ranged from 3.81 to 257.7 mg C/m sup(2) per day (with an average of 55.56 mg C/m sup(2) per day). Rate of production at all study stations was maximum during August/September. Chi. a maxima was registered during July/August. Correlation between nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) and production was low indicating an instantaneous concentration of these nutrients salts. An estimated annual primary production potential of the present study area (15.54 km sup(2) was 315 t C
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