Community composition, abundance, biomass and production rates of Tintinnids (Ciliata: Protozoa) in the coastal regions of Sundarban Mangrove wetland, India

The study presents the first preliminary report on the community composition, abundance, biomass and production rate of the ciliated tintinnids in the coastal waters of Sundarban mangrove wetland, formed at the confluence of the Ganges River Estuary, India. Total 32 species under 5 agglomerated (29 species) and 3 non agglomerated (3 species) genera have been identified from six sites of different hydrodynamic conditions. In general, Tintinnopsis (22 species) dominates the community structure followed by Leprotintinnus (2 species), Tintinnidium (2 species), Stenosemella (2 sp), Codonellopsis (1 sp), Amphorellopsis (1 sp), Metacylis (1 sp) and Favella (1 sp). Pronounced seasonal variations were noticed in euvironmental parameters and abundance, biomass, production rates of tintinnids: Being the highest during pre monsoon followed by post monsoon and monsoon. Water temperature, Chl a and salinity were found to regulate the seasonal tintinnid variations as revealed by stepwise multiple regression analyses. Abundance, biomass and production rate of tintinnid ranged from 75 - 1050 ind l(-1), 0.06- 4.81 mu gCl(-1) and 0.006-7.65 mu gCl(-1)day(-1) respectively exhibiting the maximum values (1050 ind l(-1)) at Lot 8 (site 4) during premonsoon season. An impoverishment of tintinnid population was observed due to occurrence of the diatom bloom Hemidiscus hardmannianus [(Greville) Mann, 1907] during July, 2010.