Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDY OF DIFFERENT HYDROGRAPHIC VARIABLES AT ENNORE AND CHENNAI FISHERIES HARBOUR REGION OF CHENNAI, INDIA

Hemasankari Palani, D. Prema, P. Kaladharan, Vasanth Kripa and M. Sivadas

Abstract

The knowledge of hydrographic variables is very important in determining the abundant availability offishes in a particular region. The study site selected includes an industrially polluted area, Ennore andChennai fisheries harbour region. The hydrographic variables selected for study includes temperature,salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, b and c, primary productivity, gross and net and the nutrients,phosphate, ammonia and nitrate. The important hydrographic variables and its effect on the region andthat influence the fish abundance throughout the year are discussed. At Ennore, the salinity level wasmaximum during the month of July, 37.00 ppt at a lowest temperature of 27.00 °C and at a highest temperatureof 31.00 °C in the month of Sept’09, the salinity level was 32.00 ppt. At Chennai fisheries harbour, thelowest temperature recorded was 26.40 ºC at Jan’09 and the highest temperature was 30.0 ºC at April’09,lowest salinity level was 26.80 ppt at Feb’09 and highest salinity level was 38.50 ppt at July’09. The variationsamong months and from 2 different locations viz. Ennore and Chennai Fisheries harbour were studiedduring the entire year. The interaction effects between the two locations were also studied. Temperature,salinity, chlorophyll a, b and c primary productivity, gross and net are non significant p0.05 at Ennoreand at Chennai Fisheries harbour location. The response optimization of the different hydrographic variablesviz. temperature, 28.14 °C, salinity, 30.80 ppt, pH, 6.37, dissolved oxygen, 3.12 ml/l, and total soluble solids,0.40 mg/l for a predicted response of chlorophyll a of 3.35mg/m3 at Ennore and at Chennai Fisheriesharbour region the hydrographic variables viz. temperature, 30.00 °C, salinity, 26.80 ppt, pH, 6.38 dissolvedoxygen, 2.86 ml/l and total soluble solids of 0.40 mg/l for a predicted chlorophyll a response of 1.88mg/m3were worked out.