Structure And Productivity Trends Of Plankton Communities In The Kadalundi Estuary, South West Coast Of India

Abstract

Phytoplankton is not only an important primary producer in aquatic ecosystems and the base of the food chain, but it also plays a big part in the material cycle and energy conversion. Phytoplankton only make up 0.2% of the biomass of primary producers, but they are responsible for 50% of the world's net primary production. We have taken measurements of the phytoplankton's abundance, biomass, and primary production at 10 different locations along India's southwest coast. We assessed the number of phytoplankton, its biomass, and its primary production at 10 sites along the southwest coast of India during the research period. We also looked at the nutritional elements such as calcium, magnesium, salt, and carbonate. A unique representation of an environmental gradient with a fascinating connection to variety and variation is ecosystem production. Primary output may be impacted both directly and indirectly by an ecosystem's species diversity. Little is known about the precise mechanisms underlying the disparate productivity-diversity relationships (PDR). This study sought to understand the effects of various environmental conditions on the C-fixing capacity and phytoplankton community composition in the Kadalundi Estuary.