Abstract
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1.
The phytoplankton cycle off Lawson's Bay, Waltair follows a bimodal pattern with a major peak during March–May; a minor peak during October–November months and with a low production during the summer months i.e., June–August.
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2.
During the summer months of 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1962 dumping of dredged spoil from the entrance channel of the harbour into the sea resulted in a natural enrichment of waters.
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3.
Following this enrichment, there was a qualitative and quantitative increase in the phytoplankters thus leading to the development of a bloom.
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4.
Only Thalassiosira subtilis and Chaetoceros curvisetus commonly bloomed during the four years.
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5.
The increase in gross production which varied from 3–13 fold and the high photosynthesis-respiration ratios 5.1 to 10.5 indicated that the bloom populations were in a healthy state.
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6.
The decrease of the populations to the initial levels suggests that some unknown factor, other than those investigated must have been operating.
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7.
Consequences of eutrophication of different origins on stimulation of phytoplankton production are briefly discussed.
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Subba Rao, D.V. Effects of Environmental Perturbations on Short-Term Phytoplankton Production off Lawson's Bay, A Tropical Coastal Embayment. Hydrobiologia 43, 77–91 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014258
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014258