Intense blooms of <i>Trichodesmium erythraeum</i> (Cyanophyta) in the open waters along east coast of India

Abstract

Two blooms of <i>Trichodesmium erythraeum</i> were observed during April 2001, in the open waters of Bay of Bengal and this is the first report from this region. The locations of the bloom were off Karaikkal (10°58<img src=‘/image/spc_char/right_quote.gif’>N, 81°50<img src="/image/spc_char/right_quote.gif">E) and off south of Calcutta (19°44<img src="/image/spc_char/right_quote.gif">N, 89°04<img src="/image/spc_char/right_quote.gif">), both along east coast of India. Nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, silicate) concentration in the upper 30 m of the water column showed very low values. High-integrated primary production (Bloom 1- 2160 mgC m^-2 d^-1, Bloom 2-1740 mgC m^-2 d^-1) was obtained in these regions, which indicated the enhancement of primary production in the earlier stages of the bloom. Very low NO₃-N concentrations, brownish yellow bloom colour, undisturbed patches and high primary production strongly suggested that the blooms were in the growth phase. Low mesozooplankton biomass was found in both locations and was dominated by copepods followed by chaetognaths.