Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Physico-Chemical Parameters and Chlorophyll-a in Chilika Lagoon, East Coast of India

Present study contains the current status of Chilika Lagoon water quality during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon seasons of the year 2012. Spatial and seasonal distributions of water quality parameters viz. WT, pH, Salinity, DO, TSM, Chl-a and inorganic nutrients (NO2-, NO3-, NH4+, SiO44-) were examined in this study. Twenty locations were selected covering all the ecological sectors of the lagoon. Study reveals significant spatio-temporal variation in water quality parameters. The pH of the lagoon was found to be slightly alkaline. DO concentration was controlled by photosynthetic activities of autotrophs. Results of one-way ANOVA indicated spatio-temporal variation in the nutrients especially NH4+ and SiO44- (p<0.01). Concentration of PO43- was found below the pollution limit for aquatic lives. Among the nutrients, SiO44- was the most influencing factor regulating phytoplankton production of the lagoon throughout the year. However, NH4+ was found as the second influencing factor for distribution of Chl-a.