Seasonal dynamics and implications of macroalgae species composition in Pulicat Lagoon, India

Macroalgae are the valuable bioresources in the marine ecosystem. These renewable resources phase several challenges for its existence due to industrial and anthropological activities. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the seasonal patterns of the marine macroalgal species in Pulicat Lagoon, Tamil Nadu. The study was conducted from July 2015 to June 2016. Fresh algal samples were collected once in a month from three different sites at a depth of around 0.5 m. The collected samples were identified and analysed for species variation and distribution. Totally, 15 species of marine macroalgae were noticed during the entire study period. Among them, the phylum Rhodophyta (Red algae) ranked the maximum with 6 species followed by Chlorophyta (Green algae) with 5 species, and Phaeophyta (Brown algae) with 4 species. Maximum species variations (9) were observed from July 2015 to August 2015. Ulva intestinalis was found to be dominant throughout the study, followed by Enteromorpha compressa. The changes in the macroalgal species composition noticed at different seasons indicate the influence of environmental factors such as temperature and salinity. This study describes for the first time, the diversity of marine algal species in Pulicat Lagoon in different seasons. Our data provide the present status of macroalgal biodiversity in the Pulicat Lagoon and emphasize the importance of preserving those renewable resources.