Assessment of Seaweed Biodiversity under the Influence of Chemical Industry Effluents : A Case Study at Veraval, Gujarat Coast

Abstract

The coastal zone is an interface between land and sea. the interaction between land and sea involves physical and chemical processes, which produce characteristic shapes of coast line. Thus, in a coastal zone the terrestrial ecosystem has its influence on the sea and vice versa. The physical features of the land bordering the sea, wind, speed, water currents, salinity, pollutants, light, temperature and number of other related factors influence coastal productivity and its species diversity. The present investigation was carried out at Veraval at Lat 210 35’N; Long 690 36E’. It is one of the important port cities located along the western coast of Gujarat in India. Its water is polluted by viscous filament of yarns. Sulphuric acid, carbon disulphide & sodium sulphate discharge through chemical industry effluent. In order to achieve the aim following parameters were studied to assess species diversity of seaweeds along increasing distance from the discharge point. Number of seaweed species showed a trend similar to that of species diversity was more related to species richness. Ratio of species number for Green, Brown and Red algae indicated that red algae were in greater proportion than green and brown algae. Seaweed species diversity was minimum near Chemical industry effluent discharge point during post monsoon, Pre monsoon and Monsoon. Whereas it increases as the discharge point from the outfall increases.