Seasonal Variations and Diversity of Marine Diatoms of Jegathapattinam and Kattumavadi, South East Coast of India

The present study entitled on Seasonal variations and diversity of plantonic marine diatoms of Jegathapattinam (Lat. 09�º 95 N: Long. 79�º 18 E) and Kattumavadi (Lat. 10�º 13 N; Long.79�º 22 E) South East Coast of India was carried out for a period of one year (from June 2011 to May2012).The study focuses attention on the survey, systematics of marine diatom diversity and the influence of physico-chemical factors on their seasonal distribution. A total of 52 species belonging to 38 genera of marine diatoms were recorded from both stations. The most common genera were Actinocyclus, Amphora, Bacteriastrum, Biddulphia, Chaetoceros, Coscinodiscus, Cyclotella, Diploneis, Gyrosigma, Licmophora, Melosira, Navicula, Nitzschia, Pleurosigma and Tropidoneis were present in the two stations. Higher values of diatom population density were found during summer at both stations. The seasonal distribution and abundance are discussed in relation to physico- chemical parameters.