04.01.2013 Views

L - Cochin University of Science and Technology

L - Cochin University of Science and Technology

L - Cochin University of Science and Technology

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

were located in the nearshore waters. However they noticed an increase in the<br />

diversity <strong>of</strong> benthos in deeper waters as observed by Parulekar et al., (1992). High<br />

production reported by Devassy et al., (1987) in the near shore areas (5m depth) was<br />

also attributed to the variation in sediment texture. High biomass <strong>and</strong> numerical<br />

abundance in shallow depth zones can be due to high primary productivity<br />

(Radhakrishna et al., 1978). Parulekar <strong>and</strong> Wagh (1975) stated that Arabian Sea is<br />

charecterised by rich bottom fauna which is attributed to the inflow <strong>of</strong> equatorial<br />

waters <strong>of</strong> low salinity causing stratification in the water column. Low benthic<br />

biomass at higher depths is probably because <strong>of</strong> an inflow <strong>of</strong> subsurface water with<br />

low oxygen content.<br />

In the present study there was no obvious latitudinal variation in benthic<br />

biomass but comparatively high biomass values were observed in north in both<br />

seasons. This is in agreement with earlier reports <strong>of</strong> Neyman (1969), Humphrey<br />

(1972), Parulekar <strong>and</strong> wagh (1975), Parulekar et al., (1982a) <strong>and</strong> Ansari et al.,<br />

(1996). As per the differential production in the south <strong>and</strong> north latitudes, Parulekar<br />

<strong>and</strong> Wagh (1975) demarcated the Arabian Sea shelf into two zones, one north <strong>of</strong> 20°<br />

N upto 23° <strong>and</strong> south <strong>of</strong> 20° N upto 17° N<strong>and</strong> biomass in the Arabian Sea decreases<br />

gradually southward. Humphrey (1972) has attributed high phosphate content <strong>and</strong><br />

higher primary production to the di fference in biomass production in the northern<br />

region as compared to the southern region. The rich bottom life in the Arabian Sea is<br />

attributed to rich plankton in the region enhanced by upwelling <strong>and</strong> intrusion <strong>of</strong><br />

subsurface water during monsoon (Qasim, 1977). Neyman (1969) suggested that 15°<br />

N is the boundary between high <strong>and</strong> low productive zones. During pre-monsoon, <strong>of</strong>f<br />

Ratnagiri showed an exceptional high biomass <strong>and</strong> density at 75 m depth. This<br />

variation observed may be due to the impact <strong>of</strong> localized biotic or abiotic factors or<br />

both. But Elizarov (1968) reported abundance <strong>of</strong> bottom life in the southern part <strong>of</strong><br />

Arabian Sea <strong>and</strong> correlated the abundance to an inflow <strong>of</strong> equatorial waters <strong>of</strong> low<br />

salinity causing a strongly expressed stratification <strong>of</strong> water masses. Harkantra et al.,<br />

105

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!