Spatial variation of hydrochemical characteristics in and around Port Blair bay Andaman and Nicobar islands, India

Spatial distributions of hydrochemical characteristics were studied during three seasons of 2007 in Port Blair Bay andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Nutrients (NO ₂-N, NO ₃-N, NH ₄-N, PO ₄-P, SiO ₄-Si) in relation to some physicochemical features (pH, DO, BOD, Salinity, SSC) and biological parameters like pigment concentration, zooplankton biomass and net primary productivity was studied in seven selected locations along the bay to understand the relative importance of external nutrient inputs and the internal biogeochemical processes. Variation in nutrients and biological status of polluted stations were reflected through higher values with regional anthropogenic activity from adjacent residential areas. From the results nutrients did not show any obvious tidal effect with flood tide and ebb tide. Further, Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were applied to evaluate the relationships between the various physico-chemical and biological features with existing environmental conditions. The statistical analysis revealed that the Flat Bay and Junglighat Bay were more vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. Hence, the present study is essential to safe guard the interest of local fisher folk community in and around Port Blair waters.