Photosynthetic pigments in relation to dredging in Cochin harbour area

摘要

Estimation of photosynthetic pigments at the dredged and nondredged sites in the Cochin harbour was carried out from November 1994 to October 1995. The quantitative abundance of microflora at the dredged and nondredged locations were analysed with respect to pigments. The higher concentration of chlorophyll a in the bottom water is indicative of the detachment of benthic flora from the sediments due to dredging. The effect of dredging was pronounced in bottom waters leading to the ecological imbalance of benthic microflora due to natural habitat loss.