observed in other two stations. A close correlation between bacteria and TMP in all
stations is not surprising because as pointed out earlier, bacteria form the major component of the TMP. When the data were analysed biotope and season-wise, no significant
relationship could be observed except for TMP and bacteria.
In conclusion, the present investigation reveals that (1) exogenous bacteria are predominantly supplied through floods (2) seasonal distribution may be influenced by the interaction of multiple environment factors and (3) each site will be different, due to physical and
chemical factors regulating activity and distribution not only of microorganisms but also
of predatory benthic organisms which in turn influence prey population.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to the authorities of the Annamalai University and one of us (PLP) thanks CSIR and
UGC for financial assistance. Thanks are due to the Head of the Department of Physics, A.C. College of
Technology, Anna University, Madras for Computer analysis.
AYYAKKANNU, K. and D. CCHANDRAMOHAN, 1971. Occurrrence and distribution of phosphate solubilizing
bacteria and phospatase in marine sediments at Portonovo. Mar. Biol. 11 : 201-205.
BARNES, H. (Ed), 1959. Apparatus and methods of oceanography. Part I Chemical. Allen and Unvin, London,
pp 341.
BOEYE A.M. WAYENBERG and M. AERTS, 1975. Density and composition of heterotrophic bacterial populations
in North sea sediments Mar. Biol. 32: 263-270.
COOPER M.F. and R.Y. MORITA, 1972. Interaction of salinity and temperature on net protein synthesis and
viability of Vibrio marinus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 17: 556-565.
DHEVENDARAN K.., 1977. Studies in arylsulfatase activity of marine sediments. Ph.D. Thesis, Annamalai Univ.
pp 155.
ERKENBRECHER C.W. and L.H. STEVENSON, 1977. Factors related to the distribution of microbial biomass in
salt marsh creeks. Mar. Biol., 40.121-125.
GREIN, A. and S.P. Meyers, 1958. Growth characteristics and antibiotic production of actinomycetes isolated
from littoral sediments and materials suspended in sea water. J. Bact., 76 : 457-468.
HARVEY H.W., (Ed). 1955. The chemistry and fertility of sea water. Cambridge University Press (Second
edition) pp 240.
KRUMBEIN W.C. and E.J. PETTIJOHN, (Eds) 1938. Manual of sedimentary petrography. Appleton-century.
Grofts, New York, pp 549.
LARSEN H., 1962. Halophilism In : (I.C. Gunsalus and Stanier, eds.) The bacterTial IV. Academic Press, New
York, London, 297-342p.
MULLER-HAECKEL, A. and G. RHEINHEIMER, 1983. Studies on the annual cycle of bacteria and fungi in the
Angeran, a coastal stream in northern Sweden. Aquilo Ser. Zool., 22: 51-56.
MURPHY J. and J.P. RILEY 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in
natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta., 27: 31-36.
PAULRAJ, S. 1973. Studies on certain aspects of marine streptomycetes M.Sc. Thesis, Annamali Univ. pp 109.
RANGASWAMI, G. G. OBLISAMY and R. SWAMINATHAN, 1967. Antagonistic actinomycetes in the soils of South
India. Phoenix press, Bangalore, India, pp 156.
RAMAMOORTHI K.., 1954. A priliminary study of the hydrology and fauna of Vellar estuary (South Arcot). Proc.
Indo-Pacific Fish. Council Sym. 9: 25-28.
54
stations is not surprising because as pointed out earlier, bacteria form the major component of the TMP. When the data were analysed biotope and season-wise, no significant
relationship could be observed except for TMP and bacteria.
In conclusion, the present investigation reveals that (1) exogenous bacteria are predominantly supplied through floods (2) seasonal distribution may be influenced by the interaction of multiple environment factors and (3) each site will be different, due to physical and
chemical factors regulating activity and distribution not only of microorganisms but also
of predatory benthic organisms which in turn influence prey population.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to the authorities of the Annamalai University and one of us (PLP) thanks CSIR and
UGC for financial assistance. Thanks are due to the Head of the Department of Physics, A.C. College of
Technology, Anna University, Madras for Computer analysis.
AYYAKKANNU, K. and D. CCHANDRAMOHAN, 1971. Occurrrence and distribution of phosphate solubilizing
bacteria and phospatase in marine sediments at Portonovo. Mar. Biol. 11 : 201-205.
BARNES, H. (Ed), 1959. Apparatus and methods of oceanography. Part I Chemical. Allen and Unvin, London,
pp 341.
BOEYE A.M. WAYENBERG and M. AERTS, 1975. Density and composition of heterotrophic bacterial populations
in North sea sediments Mar. Biol. 32: 263-270.
COOPER M.F. and R.Y. MORITA, 1972. Interaction of salinity and temperature on net protein synthesis and
viability of Vibrio marinus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 17: 556-565.
DHEVENDARAN K.., 1977. Studies in arylsulfatase activity of marine sediments. Ph.D. Thesis, Annamalai Univ.
pp 155.
ERKENBRECHER C.W. and L.H. STEVENSON, 1977. Factors related to the distribution of microbial biomass in
salt marsh creeks. Mar. Biol., 40.121-125.
GREIN, A. and S.P. Meyers, 1958. Growth characteristics and antibiotic production of actinomycetes isolated
from littoral sediments and materials suspended in sea water. J. Bact., 76 : 457-468.
HARVEY H.W., (Ed). 1955. The chemistry and fertility of sea water. Cambridge University Press (Second
edition) pp 240.
KRUMBEIN W.C. and E.J. PETTIJOHN, (Eds) 1938. Manual of sedimentary petrography. Appleton-century.
Grofts, New York, pp 549.
LARSEN H., 1962. Halophilism In : (I.C. Gunsalus and Stanier, eds.) The bacterTial IV. Academic Press, New
York, London, 297-342p.
MULLER-HAECKEL, A. and G. RHEINHEIMER, 1983. Studies on the annual cycle of bacteria and fungi in the
Angeran, a coastal stream in northern Sweden. Aquilo Ser. Zool., 22: 51-56.
MURPHY J. and J.P. RILEY 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in
natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta., 27: 31-36.
PAULRAJ, S. 1973. Studies on certain aspects of marine streptomycetes M.Sc. Thesis, Annamali Univ. pp 109.
RANGASWAMI, G. G. OBLISAMY and R. SWAMINATHAN, 1967. Antagonistic actinomycetes in the soils of South
India. Phoenix press, Bangalore, India, pp 156.
RAMAMOORTHI K.., 1954. A priliminary study of the hydrology and fauna of Vellar estuary (South Arcot). Proc.
Indo-Pacific Fish. Council Sym. 9: 25-28.
54