Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PRIMARY PRODUCTIVI Y OF MINICOY LAGOON,LAKSHADWEEP

P.T.Sarada and S.Godtivin Wesley'

Abstract

Phytoplankton productivity of Minicoy lagoon, its annual and seasonal variations and various factors including secondary production affecting productivity were studied during April 1999 to March 2001. The monthly gross production of the lagoon ranged from 3.98 to 44.17 with mean of 16.95 ± 2.1 mgC/mIhr. The peak production was in August. The net production varied from 0 to 18.15mgC/ml/hr. The mean net production was 6.18 ±1.11 mg C/m7hr. The seasonal variations of primary production were found to be insignificant. The gross production showed good positive correlation with net production and surface temperature.