Published Paper Details:

ABSTRACT The present study deals with prevailing biodiversity of micro and macro algae of the coastal areas of Arabian Sea near Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd. (KMML), Chavara, Kerala. The study mainly aimed at assessing the impacts of environmental changes and the marine ecology on flora of the Arabian Sea especially on algal population. Different study locations were fixed at the seacoast such as three sites for Lithophytic algae, benthic algae and periphytic algae (KM1, KM2 and KM3). In addition to these, General plankton was also identified. The study was carried out during January to March 2020. The air temperature of the area ranged between 330 C to 340 C, and the water temperature was between 310 C to 320 C. Highest number of Phytoplankton were observed at KM2 (18) and the lowest was at KM3 (14). Highest number of periphyton was observed at KM1 (9). The highest number of Benthic algae was observed at KM2 (7) and the lowest was at KM1 (3). More number of Lithophytic algae was observed at KM2 (10). About five species of planktonic algae were observed at KM1, three species each at KM2 and KM3. Navicula, Nitzchia, Oedogonium and Tabularia were the most prominent microalgae observed. The results from the present study indicate that the Arabian Sea coast is an important algal hotspot. As a hotspot of phytoplankton, greater numbers of algae were existing there; it needs to be investigated in detail to understand the influence of effluents discharging to the Sea near Kattil Mekkathil Coast.