Distribution of Phytoplankton & Chlorophyll <i>a</i> around Little Andaman Island

Abstract

Surface chl <i>a</i> and phaeopigments of the whole phytoplankton varied from 0.02 to 0.085 mg/m³ (av. 0.043) and 0.017 to 0.068 mg/m³ (av. 0.039)respectively; chl <i>a</i> of the nannoplankton fluctuated from 0.013 to 0.085 mg/m³ (av.0.034) and phaeopigments from 0.014 to 0.064 (av.0.029). Depthwise distribution of phytoplankton chl <i>a</i> and phaeo-pigments showed an increasing trend up to 1% light in the 2 coral banks. Phytoplankton population ranged from 1400 to 4900 cells/litre. Dinoflagellates formed an important constituent unlike those of the Arabian Sea and coastal waters of Bay of Bengal. Comparison of environmental data from the shallow coral banks with those from similar locations in the Arabian Sea was made.