title: Heavy metal pollution monitoring with foraminifera in the estuaries of Nellore coast, East coast of India.
abstract: A total of 112 bottom water and sediment samples collected at fixed stations in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon from four estuaries (Pennar, Uppateru, Swarnamukhi, and Kalangi) showed foraminiferal test abnormalities in heavy metal concentrations (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb). Low diversity of fauna was due to the predominance of a limited number of opportunistic species capable of achieving high densities in adverse environmental conditions and the reduction in the number of species intolerant of such conditions. In this study, classification of 54 common species according to their distribution is presented. Approximately 15 species showed quite low diversities at stations 23-27 and 44-51. Because of the effect of heavy metal pollution in these estuaries, drastic changes in the number of species and diversity of foraminifera were observed. These changes in foraminiferal species and the increase in test abnormalities are proxies of environmental stress on the estuarine ecosystem.
authors: Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India. Electronic address: sundherbc@rediffmail.com.
authors: B C
authors: BC
authors: Sundara Raja Reddy
authors: Department of Geology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa 516 003, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Jayaraju
authors: Department of Geology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa 516 003, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sreenivasulu
authors: Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Suresh
authors: OIDB Chair, Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: A N
authors: AN
authors: Reddy
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D056908:Foraminifera; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Abnormalities; East coast of India; Estuary; Foraminifera; Heavy metals