Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
(http:/www.bioline.org.br/im)
[ISSN: 0379-5136
VOLUME 30
CODEN : IJMNBF]
NUMBER 4
DECEMBER 2001
CONTENTS
Papers
Application of remote sensing data to monitor mangroves and other coastal vegetation
of India
Shailesh Nayak & Anjali Bahuguna
195-213
Phytoplankton bloom monitoring in the offshore water of northern Arabian Sea using
IRS-P4 OCM satellite data
R K Sarangi, Prakash Chauhan & S R Nayak
214-221
Distribution of heparinoid-active sulphated polysaccharides in some Indian marine
green algae
M Shanmugam, B K Ramavat, K H Mody, R M Oza & A Tewari
222-227
Effect of light intensity, photoperiod, ESP medium and nitrogen sources on growth of
marine brown alga Padina boergesenii (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta)
S Vasuki, M Ganesan & P V Subba Rao
228-231
Effect of pre-incubation of nitrate and ammonium in cultures on nitrate reductase
activity in marine red algae Gelidiella and Gracilaria from southeast coast of
India
M Ganesan, O P Mairh & P V Subba Rao
232-236
Population fluctuation and vertical distribution of meiofauna in a tropical mudflat at
Mandovi estuary, west coast of India
Azra Ansari, C U Rivonkar & U M X Sangodkar
237-245
Biochemical changes induced by mercury in the liver of penaeid prawns Penaeus
indicus and P. monodon (Crustacea : Penaeidae) from Rushikulya estuary, east
coast of India
Snehalata Das, Sunil K Patro & B K Sahu
246-252
Short Communications
Photosynthesis of seagrass Cymodocea serrulata (Magnoliophyta/Potamogetonales/
Cymodoceaceae) in field and Laboratory
M K Abu Hena, K Misri, B Japar Sidik, O Hishamuddin & H Hidir
253-256
Reproductive biology of the siboga squid Doryteuthis sibogae (Adam) from
Thoothukkudi (Tuticorin) coast, southeast coast of India
N Neethiselvan, V K Venkataramani & B Srikrishnadhas
257-260
Length-weight relationship and morphometric study on the squid Loligo duvauceli
(d’Orbigny) (Mollusca / Cephalopoda) off Mumbai (Bombay) waters, west coast
of India
Nirmala S Karnik & Sushant Kr Chakraborty
261-263
Control of bacterial pathogens, associated with fish diseases, by antagonistic marine
actinomycetes isolated from marine sediments
R Patil, G Jeyasekaran, S A Shanmugam & R Jeya Shakila
264-267
Evaluation of the Nethravathi spit complex, west coast of India: Integrated change
detection study using topographic and remotely sensed data
B R Raghavan, B T Vinod, K A Dimple, H Venkatesh Prabhu,
H N Udayashankar & T R Sreedhara Murthy
268-270
Annual Index
271-282
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December 2001, pp. 195-213
Application of remote sensing data to monitor mangroves and
other coastal vegetation of India
Shailesh Nayak & Anjali Bahuguna
Marine and Water Resources Group, Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad-380 015, Gujarat, India
Received 10 May 2000, revised 30 May 2001
Remote sensing data, because of its repetitive, synoptic and multi-spectral nature, has proved to be of
an immense value in monitoring of coastal vegetation. Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) data have
been extensively used to map mangroves and other coastal vegetation for the entire country’s coastline.
Large database on spatial extent of mangroves and their condition has been created on 1:250,000,
1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale using IRS data (the database provides information for the first time on the
mangrove areas of the entire Indian coast). Based on this study, it was observed that the Kori creek,
Gujarat, has large area under mangroves. The repetitive nature of the data has helped in monitoring vital
and critical areas, periodically. In one such study, on the Marine National Park, in the Gulf of Kachchh,
mangrove areas were monitored for the last 25 years. The degradation of mangroves continued up to 1985
and the condition significantly improved due to the adoption of conservation measures. This has helped
in planning various management actions to conserve this vital ecosystem. IRS data have been used in
identifying dominant plant communities in many mangrove areas such as Bhitarkanika, Coringa, Mandovi
estuary in Goa and the Gulf of Kachchh, etc. This is a unique approach for providing spatial information
at plant community level and can be seen as a first step towards bio-diversity assessment. Along with the
mangroves, seaweed, seagrass beds and dune vegetation have also been mapped with reasonable accuracy.
With the better sensors planned for future, remote sensing-based information is going to be one of the
major inputs in the preparation of management action plans.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December, 2001, pp 214-221
Phytoplankton bloom monitoring in the offshore water of northern
Arabian Sea using IRS-P4 OCM satellite data
* R.K.Sarangi, Prakash Chauhan & S.R.Nayak
Marine and Water Resources Group, Remote Sensing Applications Area, Space Applications Centre
(ISRO), Ahmedabad 380 015, India
Received 23 October 2000, revised 30 July 2001
IRS-P4 Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) satellite data were analyzed to generate chlorophyll-a images
during the winter monsoon period to understand the high productivity and algal bloom patches as
observed in the chlorophyll images. The winter bloom in the northern Arabian Sea is the most intense
because of the nutrient build-up prior to its onset is so large and the mixed layer detrains earlier than in the
other regions, which in turn triggers the surface productivity. A few bloom forming features are identified
in the OCM derived chlorophyll images in nine days of overpasses (February, 15 to March 4, 2000) of the
late winter monsoon period and their movement mechanism on temporal scale has been studied. Very
high chlorophyll concentration in the range of 2.0 to 5.0 mg/m3 have been observed around the bloom
forming waters in satellite images. The peak chlorophyll concentration observed in the center of patches
reduces towards their peripheral water. The curly bloom forming features initiates with moderate
chlorophyll concentration (0.6-1.0 mg/m3), grows to high concentration (1.0-2.0 mg/m3) and diminishes
with low concentration (<0.6 mg/m3) ranges, lasting for about two-three weeks duration.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December, 2001, pp. 222-227
Distribution of heparinoid-active sulphated polysaccharides in
some Indian marine green algae
M. Shanmugam, B. K. Ramavat, K. H. Mody*, R. M. Oza & A. Tewari
Marine Algae and Marine Environment Discipline, Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute,
Bhavnagar 364 002, Gujarat, India
Received 26 February 2001, revised 6 August 2001
Sixteen species of Indian marine green algae belonging to the genus Caulerpa,. Cladophora,
Bryopsis, Boodlea, Chaetomorpha, Ulva, Enteromorpha and Valoniopsis were screened for blood
anticoagulant activity. Cold and hot water sulphated polysaccharides extracts were prepared, their
chemical constituents i.e. sulphate, sugar, protein and uronic acids were estimated and molecular weight
(MW) range was determined. Blood anticoagulant activity was evaluated by prothrombine time (PT) test.
It was found that activity was associated with sugar and sulphate contents and MW. Extracts possessing
comparatively high molecular weight (12-14  105) with higher sugar ( 20%) and sulphate ( 8%) and
lower protein ( 12%) and low uronic acid ( 2%) contents showed maximum activity. Species of
Caulerpa exhibited highest activity which is comparable to heparin i.e. they contained 93-151 heparin
units/mg (IU/mg), species of Ulva and Enteromorpha showed feeble activity (6.0 IU/mg) and all other
species had moderate activity with 60IU/mg. Thus, SPS isolated from different Chlorophycean algae
had different chemical composition, MW range and blood anticoagulant activity which were
comparable within species level, but those differed in degrees from one genus to another.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December, 2001, pp 228-231
Effect of light intensity, photoperiod, ESP medium and nitrogen
sources on growth of marine brown alga Padina boergesenii
(Dictyotales, Phaeophyta)
S.Vasuki, M.Ganesan* & P.V.Subba Rao
Marine Algal Research Station, Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Mandapam Camp- 623 519,
Tamil Nadu, India
Received 30 October 2000, revised 12 September 2001
Experiments were conducted on germlings of Padina boergesenii to understand the effects of
different light intensity, photoperiod, strength of ESP medium and nitrogen sources on its growth in terms
of increase in fresh wt. and thallus area. Maximum increase (fr.wt. and area) over initial was observed in
germlings cultured under 76 µE/m2/s light intensity, 14:10 L:D cycle photoperiod, quarter strength of ESP
media and 16 and 33 mg N/liter as sodium nitrate. From the present study it is very clear that high light
intensity, long day condition that generally exist during most of the months along the southeast coast of
India are favourable for cultivation of this alga. In addition, ¼ concentration of ESP medium and nitrate
nitrogen (NaNO3) with higher concentration (16 and 33 mg N/l) are favourable for growth of Padina
boergesenii in the laboratory.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30 (4), December 2001, pp. 232-236
Effect of pre-incubation of nitrate and ammonium in cultures on
nitrate reductase activity in marine red algae Gelidiella and
Gracilaria fromsoutheast coast of India
M.Ganesan1*, O.P.Mairh2 & P.V.Subba Rao1
1Marine
Algal Research Station, Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute,
Mandapam Camp 623 519, TN, India
2Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar 364 002, Gujarat, India
Received 30 October 2000, revised 18 June 2001
Nitrate reductase (NR) activities of six agar yielding seaweeds viz. Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria
corticata, G. crassa, G. edulis, G. foliifera and G. verrucosa pre-incubated in different concentrations
(150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 µmol/l) of nitrate (NaNO3) and ammonium (NH4)2S2O8 (700, 1400, 2100,
2800 and 3500 µmol/l) were studied. NR activity ranged from 0.07 to 24.72 mol/g (f.wt)/h in G.
acerosa; 0.19 to 5.83 mol/g (fr.wt.)/h in G. corticata; 0.23 to 9.99 mol/g (fr.wt.)/h in G .crassa; 0.06 to
0.43 mol/g (fr.wt.)/h in G. edulis; 0.37 to 19.92 mol/g (fr.wt.)/h in G. foliifera and 0.74 to 10.54 mol/g
(fr.wt.)/h in G. verrucosa. Maximum NR activity was found at an optimum nitrate concentration of 600
µ mol/l in all five species of Gracilaria and at 450 µmol/l in Gelidiella acerosa. Nitrate enhanced NR
activity in all six species of agarophytes. Ammonium suppressed NR activity in all algae except G. edulis
in which no obvious difference was observed in NR activity between NO3 and NH4 added culture.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December 2001, pp. 237-245
Population fluctuation and vertical distribution of meiofauna in a
tropical mudflat at Mandovi estuary, west coast of India
Azra Ansari, C U Rivonkar* & U M X Sangodkar
Department of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau,
Goa 403 206, India
Received 9 October 2000, revised 9 July 2001
A study was conducted to observe the meiofaunal community structure and its temporal and spatial
fluctuation and a profile of vertical distribution of a mudflat in relation to sediment temperature, grain
size, organic carbon and sedimentary chlorophyll a. The sampling was carried out for three seasons viz.
Pre-monsoon (summer), monsoon and post-monsoon. The faunal density (no/10 cm2) ranged between
945-2063/10 cm2 and 704-1549/10 cm2 at stations 1 and 2 respectively. The fauna was dominated by
nematodes, turbellarians and harpacticoid copepods. The fauna fluctuated seasonally. A vertical zonation
in the distribution of fauna was significantly correlated with interstitial water, chlorophyll a and sediment
organic carbon. It is suggested that meiofauna in mudflats serve as food for the higher trophic levels.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December 2001, pp. 246-252
Biochemical changes induced by mercury in the liver of penaeid prawns
Penaeus indicus and P. monodon (Crustacea : Penaeidae) from
Rushikulya estuary, east coast of India
Snehalata Das, Sunil K. Patro & B.K.Sahu*
Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, Berhampur 760 007, Orissa, India
Received 16 October 2000; revised 6 June 2001
The biochemical components viz. protein, lipid and carbohydrate of the liver of two important
penaeid prawns were significantly reduced, following six days of exposure to 0.005 ppm and 0.01 ppm of
mercuric chloride during various reproductive stages i.e. preparatory, prespawning, spawning, and
postspawning. Liver protein recorded highest in contrast to lipid and carbohydrate irrespective of the
species, sex and medium of exposure. Depletion percentage with respect to control for protein was less
compared to lipid and carbohydrate and the maximum depletion was at 0.01 ppm Hg medium. The effect
of mercury was more in Penaeus indicus than that of Penaeus monodon, the female species and
prespawning stage. Liver-lipid deleteriously affected the female P. indicus during spawning while
carbohydrate affected it prominently during preparatory stage. Hg concentration of 0.01 ppm had much
damaging effect on liver. The change caused due to test solutions in the biochemical constituents of the
liver of the prawns indicate that female had more affected than male.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30 (4), December 2001, pp. 253-256
Photosynthesis of seagrass Cymodocea serrulata (Magnoliophyta/
Potamogetonales/Cymodoceaceae) in field and laboratory
M K Abu Hena *, K Misri, B Japar Sidik, O Hishamuddin & H Hidir
Department of Biology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor D E, Malaysia
Received 27 February 2001, revised 20 August 2001
In situ photosynthetic study for seagrass Cymodocea serrulata at two depths (0.5 m, 2.0 m) at Port
Dickson, Negeri Sembilan was conducted. The photosynthetic rate at 0.5 m was comparatively higher
(0.4760.080 mg O2/hr/g fr wt or 0.5710.182 g O2/hr/cm2) than at 2.0 m depth (0.2920.030 mg
O2/hr/g fr wt or 0.4260.135 g O2/hr/cm2). Respiration rate was not significantly difference at the two
depths. Laboratory study showed that the rate of photosynthesis varied with light intensity, exhibiting
saturation at 200-800 mol/m2/sec with a light compensation point at 20-40 mol/m2/sec. The
in situ light measurement recorded at 2.0 m depth was 108.339.18 mol/m2/sec, which is comparatively
higher than those at compensation light point, which suggests that this seagrass may inhabit the depth
more than 2.0 m. However, based on field observation, this seagrass was only found at depth of 1.5-2.0 m
HWL.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December 2001, pp. 257-260
Reproductive biology of the siboga squid Doryteuthis sibogae
(Adam) from Thoothukkudi (Tuticorin) coast, southeast coast of
India*
N Neethiselvan, V K Venkataramani & B Srikrishnadhas
Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Thoothukkudi (Tuticorin) 628 008 , Tamil Nadu, India
Received 27 November 2000, revised 18 June 2001
Studies on the seasonal occurrence of maturity stages of Doryteuthis sibogae revealed that it is a
prolonged breeder as matured and spent specimens of both the sexes were recorded almost round the year.
Two peak spawning periods, one from August to September and another from December to January were
observed. Matured animals were represented by a wider length range inferring non semelparous nature of
the species. However, dominance of males during peak spawning season as evidenced from sex ratio
studies do confirm existence of a minor degree of post spawning mortality in females. The weight of
gonad and nidamental glands increased during maturation and proved as good indices of maturation.
Females attained maturity earlier than males. Fecundity showed a significant correlation with dorsal
mantle length. Doryteuthis sibogae form regular fishery in Thoothukkudi coast on commercial scale.
Since this species is a continuous spawner as evidenced in the present study and is intensively exploited at
Thoothukkudi bay, an in depth study on stock assessment of this species is an urgent need to sustain the
fishery.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December 2001, pp. 261-263
Length- weight relationship and morphometric study on the squid Loligo uvauceli
(d’Orbigny)(Mollusca / Cephalopoda) off Mumbai (Bombay) waters,
west coast of India
Nirmala S Karnik & Sushant Kr Chakraborty
Fishery Biology Division, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, (ICAR),
Seven Bunglows, Versova, Bombay- 400061, India
Received 12 February 2001, revised 6 August, 2001
The length- weight relationship and morphometric study on the squid, Loligo duvauceli (d’Orbigny)
is reported from Mumbai waters. The regression coefficient between the sexes was found to be not
significant at 1% level. The ‘b’ value differed from the ideal cube law of ‘3’as is with the case of lengthweight relationship studied on this species elsewhere. The morphometric characters indicated high degree
of correlation among the compared characters. The study substantiated further that the length-weight
relationship of squids do not follow ideal cube law. The morphometric characters compared here would be
very useful for comparison with the same species in other geographical locations.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December 2001, pp. 264-267
Control of bacterial pathogens, associated with fish diseases, by
antagonistic marine actinomycetes isolated from marine sediments
R Patil, G Jeyasekaran*, S A Shanmugam & R Jeya Shakila
Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Tuticorin 628 008, Tamil Nadu, India
[E.mail: fishco@vsnl.com]
Received 20 February 2001, revised 13 August 2001
Actinomycetes were isolated from different marine samples collected from various stations along the
Tuticorin coast. About 133 cultures of actinomycetes were isolated from 129 marine samples. Of the 104
isolates of actinomycetes screened for their inhibitory activity against the bacterial pathogens associated
with fish diseases viz. Aeromonas hydrophila, A. sobria and Edwardsiella tarda, 77 isolates were found to
be inhibitory to at least one of the pathogens. The highest incidence of inhibitory isolates was from the
sediment samples. All the isolates of antagonistic marine actinomycetes were identified to be
Streptomyces. The findings suggest that the antagonistic marine Streptomyces isolates or the antibacterial
substances produced by them could be used as antibiotics, which might have a future application in
aquaculture systems.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 30(4), December, 2001, pp 268-270
Evaluation of the Nethravathi spit complex, west coast of India:
Integrated change detection study using topographic and remotely
sensed data
†
B. R. Raghavan, B. T. Vinod, K. A. Dimple, H. Venkatesh Prabhu,** H. N. Udayashankar* &
T. R. Sreedhara Murthy
Department of Marine Geology, Mangalore University, Mangalore-574 199, Karnataka, India
* Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka, India
** College of Fisheries, Mangalore-575 002, Karnataka, India
Received 31 July 2000, revised 9 August 2001
The Nethravathi spit complex of Karnataka coast consists of Mangalore spit to the north and Ullal
spit to the south of Nethravathi-Gurupur river mouth. The integration of topographic sheets and satellite
imageries of this area has enabled the evaluation of the migration of spits over a period of 83 years.
Morphologically, Mangalore spit has shrunk by 750 m in length and 749780 m2 in area. On the other hand
the Ullal spit exhibits an increase in length of 800 m and an area of
111620 m2. The spits show no prominent lateral migration. Shrinkage of the Mangalore spit and the
growth of the Ullal spit indicates net northward migration of the estuarine mouth.