Biological characteristics as a part of pollution monitoring studies

Abstract

Ecosystem modifications can be considered as an integral part of any pollution monitoring studies and in such cases community structure/diversity is of prime importance. Considering this advantage of aquatic life, pelagic and benthic communities have been considered to evaluate the intensity of pollution in the nearshore waters of Bombay. Polluted and unpolluted areas were selected for the study. The polluted regions were characterised by wide fluctuations in the standing stock of zooplankton (0.04 - 54.53 ml/100m3) while the clean area showed comparable rates of production with limited variation (5.14 - 25.38 ml/100m3). The clean areas showed higher incidence of siphonophores, lamellibranchiates, appendicularians and fish larvae. Aggressions of medusae, ctenophores, mysids and polychaetes were characteristics of polluted areas. Concentration of Cu and Cd in zooplankton was more at Versova and Mahim than at Thana. Co and Ni concentration in zooplankton were invariably high at Thana creek. Based on the results importance of biological characteristics to identify or classify the nature of pollution has been discussed