Diversity and Ecology of Phytoplankton in Manakudy Estuary, Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu, India

The present study was performed to explore the diversity and ecology of phytoplankton in Manakudy estuary, Kanyakumari from January 2013 to June 2013. Estuarine water samples were collected fortnightly during the morning hours between 0830 and 0900 A.M. and the same were fixed in 4% formalin. The samples were concentrated by centrifugation and the phytoplankton cells were observed, photographed and identified with the help of identification manuals. The ecological role of phytoplankton was studied by field survey of Manakudy estuary. During the present study 26 species of phytoplankton were recorded. The results of ecological survey showed that Manakudy estuary treasures an abundant diversity of phytoplankton that play a key role in maintaining the ecological interlinks in Manakudy estuary and the adjacent Indian Ocean, where it joins. Our study favors a continuous monitoring and further assessment of phytoplankton which is needed to explore more about ecological enigma in Manakudy Estuarine Ecosystem (MEE), Kanyakumari.