Short term variations in particulate matter in Mahi river estuary

Abstract

The particulate matter (PM) collected from Mahi River Estuary was analysed for organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON), and chlorophyll a (Chl a). The concentration of PM, POC, PON and Chl a showed short term variations. Average surface concentration of PM, POC, PON, and Chl a varied from 56-1976 mg l-1, 0.6-4.19 mg l-1 0.10-0.21 mg l-1 and 3.11-26.80 mu gl-1 respectively. POC/PON, POC/Chl a and PON/Chl a varied from 3.7-23.31, 25.64-1112 and 9.24-65 respectively in the surface waters. POC/PON ratios of bottom samples ranged from 4-31.50. Regression analyses showed that PM was significantly correlated with POC (r = 0.853, P 0.001). Significant correlation (r