Primary productivity in Minicoy atoll (Lakshadweep) of Arabian Sea

Primary productivity in Minicoy atoll during 1990- 1992 was estimated from five stations around the island from the diurnal curves prepared for dissolved oxygen. Areas characterised by seagrass beds recorded a maximum produc-tivity of 3.48 g Cm3 d and the open sea registered a minimum of 0.97g Cm3d, with an average productivity of 2.42 g cm3 d. Major contribution of NPP was due to seagrasses (54 %) and seaweeds (31 %). Since the results indicated heterotrophic conditions, the need to protect the highly productive seagrass beds in Minicoy atoll against human interferences is projected. Primary productivity of an atoll largely depends on the photosynthetic rates and standing crop of macro pro-ducers such as seagrasses and seaweeds. However, information on relative con-tribution of each producer component o