SEASONAL VARIATION IN ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF THE TWO MARINE ALGAE, GRATELOUPIA FILICINIA AND PADINA BOERGESNII IN RELATION TO THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SEAWATER

摘要

Seasonal variation in mineral composition of Grateloupia filicinia and Padina boergesnii, collected from Pudumadam, Gulf of Mannar, was studied over a period of one year from May 2005 to February 2006 at three months interval. Significant seasonal variation in the elemental composition of the two species was observed, which was correlated to the seawater chemistry. The accumulation factor of certain ions by the algae is also discussed.