Effect of tidal currents and barge traffic on marine foulers in Mandovi Estuary

Abstract

For their growth and development, most marine fouling organisms depend mainly on the organic particulate material present in the water. The influence of tidal currents and barge traffic on concentration of organic particulate material and the rates of growth of marine foulers in the Mandovi estuary. near Ribandar Hospital, Goa, has been studied. The organic particulates are low during ebb tide but become almost double during peak of the high tide. Further, temporary increase in organic particulates caused by heavy barge traffic has also been recorded both during the ebb and flood tides.