Assessing the in situ bacterial diversity and composition at anthropogenically active sites using the environmental DNA (eDNA).

In this study, we identified the in situ bacterial groups and their community structure in coastal waters influenced by anthropogenic inputs. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and high throughput sequencing (HTS) were employed to derive accurate and reliable information on bacterial abundance. The V3 and V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified and the sequences were clustered into operational taxonomic units to analyze the site-specific variations in community composition. The percentage composition within the bacterial orders varied significantly among nearshore anthropogenic hotspots and offshore (5 km) samples. The microbial network constructed taking the bacterial abundance as nodes displayed strong positive and negative correlations within the bacterial families. Overall, the use of eDNA coupled with HTS is an incredible means for monitoring and assessing the abundance of bacterial communities and also serves as a biomonitoring tool to understand the degree of anthropogenic contamination in coastal waters.

Seasonal variability in plankton food web composition in Tuticorin coastal waters, south east coast of India.

To understand the impact of seasonal variability on plankton food web composition in tropical coastal waters, samples were collected from three locations along Tuticorin coastal waters during postmonsoon, summer, and northeast (NE) monsoon seasons. During the NE monsoon, the total suspended matter (TSM) and nutrient concentrations were relatively higher, whereas salinity and plankton (phytoplankton and zooplankton) abundances were lower. Cluster analysis also revealed that the NE monsoon formed into a separate cluster because of the lower phytoplankton abundance caused by higher loads of TSM; this arrests light penetration, thereby resulting in a decrease in plankton abundance. The increase in zooplankton biomass coincided with the decrease in diatoms (p < 0.05), and the increase in cyanobacteria may reflect that grazers food choice has a significant impact on the base of the food web composition. The present study states that the phytoplankton biomass was greatly influenced by seasonality and associated changes rather than the huge supply of nutrient loads.

Elucidation of seasonal variations of physicochemical and biological parameters with statistical analysis methods in Puducherry coastal waters.

The present investigation aimed to study the effect of monsoonal and anthropogenic influences on the water quality parameters of Puducherry coastal waters. Surface water sampling was performed at three fixed stations in four distinct seasons during 2011. Physical water quality parameters such as salinity and TSM showed strong seasonal and spatial variability. Evaporation and monsoonal runoff seem to be the major controlling forces for these parameters in the coastal waters. Seasonal distribution of the parameters showed a random pattern for nitrate and a well-defined pattern for silicate. Chl-a was minimum during monsoon when high TSM was encountered in the system. Moreover, factors that regulated the phytoplankton biomass varied with seasons. Moreover, TSM was strongly correlated with silicate. The relationship between Chl-a and nutrients were more consistent throughout the year, and much weaker correlations were noticed between Chl-a and TSM. Cluster analysis depicted the existence of a marked seasonal heterogeneity.