IDENTIFICATION OF POLLUTED AND UNPOLLUTED SITES USING ZOOPLANKTON ABUNDANCE

摘要

Ennore, Tamilnadu, India, is an industrial region having many industries on chemical, fertilizer, refinery etc., discharging their effluents into the Buckingham Canal. In addition, two thermal power plants draw coolant water and discharge in this area. At present, dredging is done in the creek to avoid closure of the tidal inlet. Around 25km stretch of Buckingham Canal in Tamilnadu, India, near Ennore Creek had been selected as the study area. The present study examined the seasonal changes in the pollution load from the various discharges into the Canal and their impacts on the plankton. Water samples were collected from 6 stations each month from January 2005 to December 2005. The linkage between the pollution load and plankton were generated through the statistical analyses using Primer software. The present study confirms that if pollution control measures are not adopted, there is a likely danger for the ecologically rich Pulicat lagoon.