Benthic microalgal biomass showed significant seasonal and spatial variation, but unaffected by the changes in the bottom water chemistry. The seasonal variation of biomass may be due b pazing or due to the recruibnent of the flora from adjoining marine and freshwater environments. Ihe average contribution of benthic microalgal biomass of 50.8 mg/m2 is indicative of its substantial contribution to the total micmalgal biomass in the estuarine system. The lower biomass value and higher percentage of pheophytin a at station 8 projects the impact of industrial pollution at the station. The average value of biomass in terms of active chlorophyll a and standing crop are found to exhibit no direct relationship This may be due to the variation in size and pigment concentration of individual species. Hence quantification of active chlorophyll a may be preferred to numerical analysis for a more reliable estimation of primary organic production.

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