Plankton Composition in two Estuaries of the Konkan coast during Premonsoon Season

Abstract

Plankton composition of the Shastri and the Kajvi estuaries of the Konkan Coast were studied during the premonsoon season. Phytoplankton constituents were more abundant at the mid and upper reaches in the former whereas in the latter they were abundant at the mouth region. Zooplankton biomass was relatively high in the Kajvi Estuary and all the major groups occurred in high density throughout this estuary. In the Shastri Estuary, the zooplankton biomass was relatively lower and all the major groups declined considerably in number towards upstream. The Kajvi Estuary was found to be very rich in molluscan resources. The abundance of decapod larvae was also quite high in the Kajvi Estuary, but the larvae of commercially important penaeid and sergestid shrimps were poor in both the estuaries during this season