Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

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Effect of Soda Ash Industry Effluent on Seaweed Epiphytic and Ambient Fauna in In Situ Condition in Northwest Coast of India


Affiliations
1 Marine Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai-600 028, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar-364 002, Gujarat, India
3 Central Salt andMarine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar-364 002, Gujarat, India
 

The soda ash industry effluent has significantly reduced the species diversity of epiphytic fauna and planktonic fauna of seawater, their numerical density, fresh and dry weight, total number of groups and group diversity as compared to control. However, the reverse trend was shown by benthos. Therefore, considerable degradation in the water quality of seawater as well as epiphytic and planktonic fauna has been observed due to discharge of effluent. Some of the species of epiphytic fauna were specific to effluent affected as well as control sites. The epiphytic molluscan larvae and fish eggs were observed only from effluent affected and control sites respectively. Quite a number of species showed host specificity under effluent affected as well as control conditions. The maximum numerical density on seaweeds under effluent affected and control conditions was shown by Copepods and Foraminiferans respectively. Most of the species of seawater zooplankton as well as benthos from effluent affected as well as control sites were also present as epiphytic forms on different seaweeds. The epiphytic fauna contained significantly higher number of groups and species diversity compared to zooplanktonic and benthic fauna. The Decapods were observed only in benthos whereas Cladocerans, Coelenterate larvae, Cyclopoids, Ostracods and Molluscan larvae were found only in epiphytic fauna. In general, most of the physicochemical parameters of effluent, diluted effluent as well as effluent affected seawaters were many magnitude to considerably high as compared to control seawater. However, magnesium in effluent as well as sulphate and phosphate in the effluent affected seawater showed reverse trend. In general, the effluent has significantly affected the species diversity and biomass production of epiphytic and planktonic fauna. The reduction in growth of epiphytic fauna and zooplankton in the effluent affected region is inhibited due to high concentration of different salts present in effluent affected seawater. However, such salts promoted growth and species diversity of benthos.
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  • Effect of Soda Ash Industry Effluent on Seaweed Epiphytic and Ambient Fauna in In Situ Condition in Northwest Coast of India

Abstract Views: 127  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

C. Raghunathan
Marine Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai-600 028, Tamil Nadu, India
A. Tewari
Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar-364 002, Gujarat, India
Y. Khambhaty
Central Salt andMarine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar-364 002, Gujarat, India
J. T. Jothinayagam
Marine Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai-600 028, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


The soda ash industry effluent has significantly reduced the species diversity of epiphytic fauna and planktonic fauna of seawater, their numerical density, fresh and dry weight, total number of groups and group diversity as compared to control. However, the reverse trend was shown by benthos. Therefore, considerable degradation in the water quality of seawater as well as epiphytic and planktonic fauna has been observed due to discharge of effluent. Some of the species of epiphytic fauna were specific to effluent affected as well as control sites. The epiphytic molluscan larvae and fish eggs were observed only from effluent affected and control sites respectively. Quite a number of species showed host specificity under effluent affected as well as control conditions. The maximum numerical density on seaweeds under effluent affected and control conditions was shown by Copepods and Foraminiferans respectively. Most of the species of seawater zooplankton as well as benthos from effluent affected as well as control sites were also present as epiphytic forms on different seaweeds. The epiphytic fauna contained significantly higher number of groups and species diversity compared to zooplanktonic and benthic fauna. The Decapods were observed only in benthos whereas Cladocerans, Coelenterate larvae, Cyclopoids, Ostracods and Molluscan larvae were found only in epiphytic fauna. In general, most of the physicochemical parameters of effluent, diluted effluent as well as effluent affected seawaters were many magnitude to considerably high as compared to control seawater. However, magnesium in effluent as well as sulphate and phosphate in the effluent affected seawater showed reverse trend. In general, the effluent has significantly affected the species diversity and biomass production of epiphytic and planktonic fauna. The reduction in growth of epiphytic fauna and zooplankton in the effluent affected region is inhibited due to high concentration of different salts present in effluent affected seawater. However, such salts promoted growth and species diversity of benthos.