Short communication
1
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
(www. bioline.org.br/im ; www. niscom.res.in)
[ISSN: 0379-5136
VOLUME 31
CODEN : IJMNBF]
NUMBER 2
JUNE 2002
CONTENTS
Papers
Variability of wind stress curl over the Indian Ocean during years 1970-1995
A. D. Rao
87-92
Macrobenthic communities of the coastal waters of Dabhol, west coast of India
Baban Ingole, Nimi Rodrigues & Zakir Ali Ansari
93-99
Biomass, horizontal zonation and vertical stratification of polychaete
Fauna in the littoral sediment of Cochin estuarine mangrove habitat,
south west coast of India
R. Sunil Kumar
100-107
Oyster species of the sub tropical coast of Pakistan (northern Arabian Sea)
Ghazala Siddiqui & Muzammil Ahmed
108-118
Maturation and spawning of four commercially important penaeid shrimps
of Pakistan
Zarrien Ayub & Muzammil Ahmed
119-124
Biochemical composition of zooplankton from Visakhapatnam harbour waters,
east coast of India
I. Nageswara Rao & R. Ratna Kumari
125-129
Decomposition and seasonal changes in nutrient constituents in mangrove
litter of Sundarbans mangrove, Bangladesh
M. Enamul Hoq, M.L. Islam, H.K. Paul, S.U. Ahmed & M.N. Islam
130-135
Quantitative study of Co(II) complexation by synchronous fluorescence
spectroscopy with Sundarban mangrove habitat humic substances
H. Ghatak, S.K. Mukhopadhyay, H. Biswas, S. Sen & T.K. Jana
136-140
Trace metals concentrations in the sediment cores of estuary and tidal zones
between Chennai and Pondicherry, along the east coast of India
Hema Achyuthan, D. Richardmohan, S. Srinivasalu & K. Selvaraj
141-149
Short communication
2
Short Communications
Intercapsular embryonic development of the big fin squid Sepioteuthis 150-152
lessoniana
(Loliginidae)
V. Deepak Samuel & Jamila Patterson
Distribution of sediment nutrients of Vellar estuary in relation to shrimp 153-156
farming
M. Rajasegar, M. Srinivasan & S. Ajmal Khan
Quantification of halophilic Azospirillum from mangroves
S. Ravikumar, G. Ramanathan, N. Suba, L. Jeyaseeli & M. Sukumaran
157-160
Antimicrobial substances of potential biomedical importance from holothurian
species
T. Jawahar Abraham, J. Nagarajan & S.A. Shanmugam
161-164
Book Review
Prawns of Japan and the World [Ed-in-chief Chiaki Koizumi]
C.T. Achuthankutty
165-166
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 87-92
Variability of wind stress curl over the Indian Ocean during years 1970-1995
A.D. Rao
Climatological and interannual variability aspects of monthly mean pseudo-stress curl over the Indian Ocean for the
period 1970-1995 are explored. A harmonic analysis of the curl fields finds most of the variance of the northern basins
dominated by semi-annual variability. In particular the coastal areas of Somalia and south/southwestern India have large
contributions from this harmonic. In the southern basin, interannual harmonics are the primary ones of curl variance.
Biennial oscillatory behaviour is only sporadically evident in various harmonics between 20 and 30 months, and was
absent north of 10S. An EOF analysis confirms that the summer monsoon is the dominant feature compared to the
wintermonsoon. The mean positive curl in the eastern Arabian Sea indicated positive Ekman velocities (upwards)
enhancing coastal upwelling in this region. More exceptional and not previously noted factor is an opposite and somewhat
dramatic reduction of curl magnitude since 1988/89. The rate of decline is much larger than the (positive) trend in the
early 1980’s and was most notable in the early part of the summer monsoon. It is also evident in the winter monsoon
periods, but not so for other months of the year. Additional evidence supports this change in variability patterns.
[ Key words. Interannual variability, Indian Ocean, surface curl, EOF analysis, harmonic analysis ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 93-99
Macrobenthic communities of the coastal waters of Dabhol, west coast of India
Baban Ingole, Nimi Rodrigues & Zakir Ali Ansari
Macrobenthic community of a shallow subtidal (5-20 m) muddy deposit off Dabhol was investigated. Sediment
Short communication
3
comprised mainly of silt and clay with less of sand. Dominance of clayey-silt fraction reflects on active flocculation of
fine grain particles. The sediment organic carbon with a mean value of 1.42% was rather high. The population density of
macro-invertebrates varied from 250 to 600 no.m-2 (mean=395±111) during December 1994. The values increased
significantly during December 1996 and ranged between 400 and 975 no.m-2 (mean = 621±194). Macrofaunal community
comprised of typical near-shore species, numerically dominated by polychaetes. The sediment organic content reflects on
the high biological productivity of the area, particularly benthic production that was evident from a good fish catch in the
experimental bottom trawling. Values for species diversity followed more or less similar trends and less variability among
the sampling stations in Dec.1994 and Dec. 1996. However, species composition indicated the dominance of different
taxa among the sampling locations during two sampling years. The occurrence of juvenile forms of decapods (shrimps
and crabs) in the benthic samples suggest that the coastal waters of Dabhol provide favourable environmental conditions
for feeding and breeding of commercially important prawn and crab species.
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 100-107
Biomass, horizontal zonation and vertical stratification of polychaete fauna in the
littoral sediment of Cochin estuarine mangrove habitat, south west coast of India
R. Sunil Kumar
Biomass distribution, horizontal zonation, relative dominance and vertical distribution of polychaetes were studied.
Highest biomass was recorded in the mid tidal region in both study areas. The monthly values varied from 4.43 to 128.28
g.m-2 at st 1 and 2.57 to 67.31 g.m-2 at st 2. Multiple regression analysis between biomass and environmental parameters
indicate that they could not individually or in combination bring about the spatial and temporal variability in biomass
distribution. Moreover, at st 1 edaphic factors appear to be responsible for partial variation in biomass indicating
comparatively high F ratio for variance analysis than station 2. ANOVA of species diversity indices values (P < 0.5)
between the three tidal regions showed a clear horizontal zonation of polychaetes, especially at st 1. A substantial
difference in percentage composition of fauna, up to 15 cm depth of mangrove soil, was found in all the three tidal zones
studied. This variability in the community structure in the top (0-5 cm) and deeper mangrove sediment (10-15 cm) is
pertained to a variety of characteristic features of both upper and deeper sediments. High numerical abundance and
coexistence of certain euryhaline species showed significant similarity index (>70%) among polychaete fauna. This
similarity and affinity of fauna for a long period evidently indicate the habitat stability that is pertained to the existence of
species diversity and abundance. This is related to the prolonged food resource input and profound standing capacity in
the littoral mangrove soil, which virtually render in building up a stable community structure of polychaetes. As a result
of this, selection of habitat by polychaetes, its survival and subsequent long-term biomass production were occurred. The
strong similarity of polychaete fauna between months and biomass productivity can be considered for deriving the
productive characteristic of the mangrove habitat, and also for assessing demersal fishery potential.
[ Key words: Mangrove, sediment, polychaetes, biomass, estuary, India ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 108-118
Oyster species of the sub tropical coast of Pakistan (northern Arabian Sea)
Ghazala Siddiqui & Muzammil Ahmed
In the present study 9 species of oysters belonging to three genera (Crassostrea, Saccostrea and Ostrea) were
identified on the basis of their conchological and malacological features. These included Crassostrea gryphoides,
C. madrasensis,C. belcheri, C. glomerata, Saccostrea cucullata, S echinata, Ostrea nomades, O. folium and O. cristagalli.
Two species Ostrea nomades and O. cristagalli which are being reported for the first time from Pakistan. Crassostrea
gryphoides and C. rivularis from Hub River Delta were earlier treated as separate species have been assigned to a single
species C. gryphoides. Crassostrea gryphoides and C. madrasensis, which occur in the same habitat and show marked
similarity in their external shell morphology, but differ in the colouration of their adductor muscle scar, are treated here as
separate species.
[ Key words : Taxonomy, oyster, Crassostrea, Saccostrea, Ostrea ]
Short communication
4
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 119-124
Maturation and spawning of four commercially important
penaeid shrimps of Pakistan
*Zarrien Ayub & Muzammil Ahmed
The spawning seasons of four species of penaeid shrimp, Penaeus penicillatus (Alcock), P. merguiensis (de Man),
Metapenaeus affinis (Milne Edwards) and Parapenaeopsis stylifera (Milne Edwards) from Pakistan’s inshore waters were
studied on the basis of ovarian colour and ovarian histology. During maturation shrimp ovaries pass through a series of
colour changes. Females with green ovaries (green yellow, green white, light green and dark green) were considered as
spawning females while those with other than green ovaries (translucent, white, cream and yellow) were considered as
non-spawning. The maturation stages of the ovaries recognized histologically in these shrimps are: undeveloped,
developing, nearly-ripe, fully-ripe, resorbing and resorbing/developing. Presence of nearly-ripe or fully-ripe ovaries in
these species throughout the year suggests that these shrimps have the potential for spawning throughout the year.
However, P. penicillatus, P. merguiensis and M. affinis showed two spawning peaks, the first one in winter-spring
(February-May) and second one in July, September and/or October. In P. stylifera the spawning was more frequent from
November to February. The present study indicated that the spawning seasons based on the colouration of the ovaries and
on ovarian histology are more or less similar.
[ Key words: Maturation, spawning, penaeid shrimps Pakistan ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 125-129
Biochemical composition of zooplankton from Visakhapatnam harbour waters,
east coast of India
*I. Nageswara Rao & R. Ratna Kumari
Proximate composition, zooplankton biomass, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, organic carbon and calorific content of
mixed zooplankton in the Visakhapatnam harbour waters were estimated. Biomass varied from 15.2 to 74.0 ml.100 m-3
( x =31.05 17.7) in the outer harbour and 10 to 64.0 ml.100 m–3 ( x =26.3014.8) in the inner harbour. Copepods,
tintinnids, decapods and chaetognaths formed dominant groups of total zooplankton ( > 90%) in the harbour waters
throughout the year. Of the biochemical fractions of zooplankton, protein formed the major component, varied from 233.6
to 563 mg.g-1 ( x =379.62107), lipid varied from 61.2 to 181 mg.g-1 ( x =10332.7). Carbohydrate ranged from 65.5 to
127.4 mg.g-1 ( x =85.7816.92), organic carbon varied from 334.9 to 461.2 mg.g-1 ( x =380.4433.6) and calorific values
varied from 2.2 to 5.4 ( x =3.5.94) k.cal.g-1. Higher values of these constituents were observed during high saline
premonsoon and postmonsoon periods when the population densities of copepods, tintinnids, decapods, chaetognaths
were high. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) observed between calorific values, protein, lipid indicates to certain
extent, that latter act as metabolic reserve of the zooplankton. Based on the results zooplankton do not have extensive
lipid storage suggesting that protein in addition to the lipid may serve as metabolic reserve. Relatively higher calorific
values were attributed to the dominance of copepods in the zooplankton population throughout the year.
[ Key words : Zooplankton, biomass, biochemical composition, Visakhapatnam harbour ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 130-135
Decomposition and seasonal changes in nutrient constituents in mangrove litter
of Sundarbans mangrove, Bangladesh
Short communication
M. Enamul Hoq, M. L. Islam, H. K. Paul, S. U. Ahmed & M. N. Islam
Decomposition of Heritiera fomes, Xylocarpus mekungensis, Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Avicennia officinalis leaf
and non-leaf litter was studied using litter bag in Sundarbans reserve forest. During 45 days decomposition experiment
both in field and lab, 43-78% weight loss of fresh mass was recorded. Proximate and micro-nutrient concentrations were
similar among different classes of leaf and non-leaf litter. Concentrations of nutrient constituents were higher during the
monsoon, and winter showed the highest level of heavy metal concentrations in mangrove litter of Sundarbans.
Decomposition of mangrove litter resulted in a decrease in lipid content, and increased the metal concentrations, than
fresh one.
[ Key words : Mangrove litter, decomposition, nutrients, Sundarbans ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 136-140
Quantitative study of Co(II) complexation by synchronous fluorescence
spectroscopy with Sundarban mangrove habitat humic substances
H. Ghataka, S. K. Mukhopadhyaya, H. Biswasa, S. Senb & T. K. Janaa *
Attempt has been made to isolate and characterize humic substances and their relative role for complexation of Co
(II) in the mangrove sediment. Conditional stability constant (Kc) for Co (II) complexes with humic and fulvic acids were
determined by studying quenching of fluorescence intensity of humic substances with Co (II) using synchronous
fluorescence spectroscopy. Fulvic acid forms more stable complex than humic acid with Kc of the order of 4.7  1011 and
1.02  1011, respectively at pH 7, ionic strength of 0.1 and temperature of 25 0C. Rigid frame work of fulvic acid having
more electron donor groups as –OH, -NH2 and less incorporation of –COOH than humic acid could be the reason for its
formation of more stable complex with Co (II) than humic acid.
[ Key words: Humic substances, spectral characteristics, Co (II) complexation ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 141-149
Trace metals concentrations in the sediment cores of estuary and tidal zones
between Chennai and Pondicherry, along the east coast of India
*Hema Achyuthan, D. Richardmohan ,S. Srinivasalu & K. Selvaraj
Four sediment cores collected from the water depths varying between 1.0 and 1.50 m in estuarine and tidal zones
between Chennai and Pondicherry, along the Tamil Nadu coast, were analysed for major elements (Fe and Al), trace
metals (Mn, Zn, Cr, Co, Pb and Ni), carbonate and organic carbon contents to understand the behaviour of trace metals
and their probable sources. The results reveal that Ni and Cr are higher in the Adyar estuarine sediments compared to
other three sites at Muttukadu, Mamallapuram and Marakkanam. Higher content of Ni and Cr in the entire core sediments
of Adyar points to mixing of sediments and bioturbation. Calculated enrichment factor (EF) with respect to upper
continental crust (UCC) values show that analysed sediments are depleted in Mn, Co, Pb and enriched in Ni, Cr. Adyar
estuary is highly contaminated especially with respect to Ni and Cr due to metal inputs from anthropogenic activity.
Higher Fe and Mn content in Mamallapuram sediments may be due to the variability of source rock exposed in this
region. The EF values of Marakkanam sediments reveal unpolluted nature and the positive correlation among Fe, Mn and
other trace metals indicate the influence of early diagenetic process.
[ Key words : Trace metals, concentrations, sediment cores, east coast, Tamil Nadu ]
5
Short communication
6
Short Communications
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 150-152
Intercapsular embryonic development of the big fin squid
Sepioteuthis lessoniana (Loliginidae)
V. Deepak Samuel & Jamila Patterson*
The egg masses of big fin squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana were collected from the wild and their intercapsular
embryonic development was studied. The average incubation period of the egg varied between 18-20 days. The cleavage
started on the first day and the mantle developed between third and fifth day. The yolk started decreasing eighth day
onwards. The tentacles with the sucker primordia on the tip were prominent from tenth day. The yolk totally reduced
between thirteenth and seventeenth day and the paralarvae hatched out on eighteenth day.The developmental stages of the
embryo inside the capsules during the incubation period is understood.
[ Key words: Sepioteuthis lessoniana , intercapsular development ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 153-156
Distribution of sediment nutrients of Vellar estuary in relation to shrimp farming
M.Rajasegar, M.Srinivasan & S.Ajmal Khan
Sediment composition, organic carbon, total phosphorus and total nitrogen content of sediments in Vellar estuary
were studied in relation to shrimp farming. Data collected over a 2 year period showed that the nutrient rich water (due to
settling of unfed feed particle) discharged periodically from the shrimp farms, did not influence much the sediment
nutrients of the estuary.
[ Key words : Sediment, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, shrimp farms, Vellar estuary ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 157-160
Quantification of halophilic Azospirillum from mangroves
*S. Ravikumar, G.Ramanathan, N. Suba , L. Jeyaseeli & M. Sukumaran
Bacterial density of Azospirillum was found higher in the roots of Avicennia marina (148.88  104 g-1 dry weight) and
rhizosphere sediment of Suaeda monoica (20.0  103 g-1 dry weight). The growth, production of indole acetic acid (IAA)
and the rate of nitrogen fixation in Azospirillum brasilense were found to be maximum at pH 7.0. At 3 % NaCl, it showed
better growth and production of IAA, however the rate of nitrogen fixation was slowed down at 1 % NaCl and was
Short communication
7
completely arrested at 1.5 %. The percentage of germination in coastal crop plants increased by 70 % in black gram and
45 % in rice with the inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense compared with control. The saline tolerant Azospirillum is
recommended as biofertilizer for improving crop yield in coastal agricultural fields
[ Key words : Azospirillum, indole acetic acid, mangroves, nitrogen fixation ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 161-164
Antimicrobial substances of potential biomedical importance
from holothurian species
T. Jawahar Abraham*, J. Nagarajan & S.A. Shanmugam
Antibacterial and antifungal activities of alcoholic extracts of holothurian species such as Actinopyga echinites,
A. miliaris. Holothuria atra and H. scabra of Tamil Nadu coast were studied. Bacteria such as Aeromonas hydrophila,
Escherichia coli, Enterococcus sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus
aureus and Vibrio harveyi, and fish-borne mold, Aspergillus sp. were inhibited at varying levels by the extracts of
A. miliaris, H. atra and H. scabra. Bacillus sp. was not affected by holothurian extracts. The results of the study revealed
the presence of antimicrobial substances possibly steroidal sapogenins in holothuria. There exist a great potential for the
extraction of bioactive substances of medical importance at a lower cost from marine holothurians.
[ Key words : Holothuria spp., Actinopyga spp., antimicrobial activity, bioactive substances, human pathogens ]
Indian Journal of Marine Sciences
Vol. 31(2), June 2002, pp. 165-166
Book Review
Prawns of Japan and the World (Translated from Japanese), Special Indian Edition, Editor-in Chief, Chiaki
Koizumi (Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, Calcutta), 2001, xiii+259 pp, Hard Cover,
Rs. 950/[ISBN: 81-204-1445-4]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------