Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Growth studies of foulers in a polluted Indian harbour

Volume 54 Issue 1

S.K. Pati and M.V. Rao doi: 10.6024/jmbai.2012.54.1.01692-05

Abstract

Growth of five important/dominant foulers viz. Polydora sp., Dasychone cingulata Grube, 1878, Hydroides elegans (Haswell, 1883), Balanus amphitrite amphitrite Darwin, 1854 and Mytilopsis sallei (Recluz, 1849) was monitored on monthly and cumulative panels at three stations (Slipway Complex, Ore Berth and Marine Foreman Jetty) in the polluted Visakhapatnam harbour from February 2007 to January 2009. Growth of Polydora sp. and B.amphitrite amphitrite was highest at Marine Foreman Jetty, thereby, indicating that growth of these two species is affected by competition for space rather than pollution. But, growth of D. cingulata and H. elegans showed a reduction from Slipway Complex to Ore Berth to Marine Foreman Jetty, which reflects the probable indirect effect of pollution stress on their physiology. Mytilopsis sallei being a pollution loving species had grown to maximum size at Marine Foreman Jetty. This dreissenid bivalve gradually adjusted to newer localities (Slipway Complex and Ore Berth) in the harbour giving a very alarming signal of its capacity to cause potential biodiversity losses and ecosystem damages. Currently, this invasive species reached the third and most dangerous stage of biological invasion i.e. ‘diffusion’.

Keywords

Biofouling, growth, pollution, invasion, diffusion, Visakhapatnam harbour.

Date : 27-06-2012