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<p>This study assessed the spatiotemporal variability of plankton communities in relation to environmental drivers in a tropical estuarine complex along the southern coast of India. Seasonal sampling was carried out at three stations: Athur (ATH), Pazhayakayal (PAL) and Punnakayal (PUN). A total of 109 phytoplankton and 37 zooplankton species were recorded, with Bacillariophyceae and Copepoda as the dominant groups, respectively. Plankton assemblages exhibited marked spatial and seasonal variability, with ATH contributing the highest abundance (55%), followed by PUN (27%) and PAL (18%), and maximum abundance observed during the post-monsoon period. Diversity indices indicated relatively higher richness and diversity at ATH (H′ = 4.07; d = 14.52), whereas evenness was higher at PUN. Presence of pollution tolerance genera such as Nitzschia and Navicula suggest the influence of anthropogenic activity. Multivariate analysis revealed that DO, primary productivity, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate as the primary environmental drivers structuring both zooplankton and phytoplankton communities across stations and seasons. The results underscore the role of physicochemical gradients in shaping plankton community structure and implicating plankton as indicator environmental variation. Overall it provides a scientific basis for formulating effective management strategies for conserving the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of the Punnakayal-Pazhayakayal Estuarine Complex.</p>

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Deciphering Environmental Drivers on Plankton Dynamics in Punnakayal–Pazhayakayal Estuarine Complex, Southern Coast of India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月1日

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  • Kamei Ringjonmeilu,
  • N. Jayakumar,
  • R. Durairaja,
  • V. Rani,
  • T. Ravikumar,
  • R. Saravanan,
  • C. Sudhan,
  • Adyasha Sahu,
  • J. Joyson Paul,
  • S. Parkavi

摘要

This study assessed the spatiotemporal variability of plankton communities in relation to environmental drivers in a tropical estuarine complex along the southern coast of India. Seasonal sampling was carried out at three stations: Athur (ATH), Pazhayakayal (PAL) and Punnakayal (PUN). A total of 109 phytoplankton and 37 zooplankton species were recorded, with Bacillariophyceae and Copepoda as the dominant groups, respectively. Plankton assemblages exhibited marked spatial and seasonal variability, with ATH contributing the highest abundance (55%), followed by PUN (27%) and PAL (18%), and maximum abundance observed during the post-monsoon period. Diversity indices indicated relatively higher richness and diversity at ATH (H′ = 4.07; d = 14.52), whereas evenness was higher at PUN. Presence of pollution tolerance genera such as Nitzschia and Navicula suggest the influence of anthropogenic activity. Multivariate analysis revealed that DO, primary productivity, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate as the primary environmental drivers structuring both zooplankton and phytoplankton communities across stations and seasons. The results underscore the role of physicochemical gradients in shaping plankton community structure and implicating plankton as indicator environmental variation. Overall it provides a scientific basis for formulating effective management strategies for conserving the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of the Punnakayal-Pazhayakayal Estuarine Complex.