Planktons as Indicators of Heavy Metal Pollution along South West Coast of India

Planktons are excellent indicators of environmental stress. Due to differential tolerance and very restricted movements, they are among the most common organisms used to access anthropogenic impacts. The study was carried out on the plankton diversity along two environmentally disturbed sites along the coast of Kollam, Kerala. The sites selected for the study were Chavara-titanium (9? 07' N latitude & 76 ? 31' longitude-site I) characterized by industrial pollution from the Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd, titanium dioxide factory and Neendakara (80 56? latitude & 760 32? longitude-site II) which is a large fish landing center of South India. Sampling was carried out for two seasons (pre-monsoon and monsoon) from March to June 2015. Hydrological variables such as pH, Temperature, DO, TDS, Nutrients, Chlorophyll-a and Heavy Metals (Hg, Pd, Cd & Cr) were analyzed. Pollution tolerant species such as Navicula, Trochophore larvae and Discorbis sp were found at site 1. Three factor ANOVA and t- test shows that there is significant seasonal and site wise difference in hydrological parameters and heavy metal concentrations. The outcome of the study will serve as a baseline data to carry out future environment impact assessment (EIA) studies for minimizing pollution and also a pointer that stringent biomonitoring may be necessary along the coast of Kerala.