Macrofouling community development at tropical coastal environment (New Mangalore Port, West Coast of India)

Abstract

Recruitment of macrofouling community in tropical waters is generalised as an year round phenomenon. Of course localities which are influenced by seasonal variation in fresh water run-off, mainly during monsoon could be exceptions. In order to evaluate the influence of environment on the development of macrofouling community at a locality which is not directly influenced by river run-off, a coastal station at New Mangalore Port (West coast of India) was monitored. Panels of admeasuring 10 x 15 cms were submerged in duplicate from a jetty at two different depths (viz. sub-surface and near bottom). The microfouling community structure at this station reveals that it has new additions, to that observed by other workers during 1973-75 period. Ascidians which were not reported before the commissioning of the harbour, are one of the dominant macrofouling components in premonsoon months. A scleractinian coral Astrangia sp. which was for the first time reported from Indian waters at Goa is also observed in Mangalore. Observations were also carried out to evaluate the abundance of larvae of the fouling organisms in the environment to find out its relationship with the macrofouling community development. Polychaete and cirripede larvae were encountered throughout the year. Bivalve larvae though present throughout the year were poorly reflected in the macrofouling community. Bryozoan and ascidian larvae were sparsely encountered, but indicate a significant correlation with their recruitment in macrofouling community.