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DISTRIBUTION PATTERN & SPECIES DIVERSITY OF SEAWEEDS AT URAN (NAVI MUMBAI), WEST COAST OF INDIA

Prabhakar R Pawar

Seaweeds were collected from substations along Sheva creek, Peerwadi coast and Dharamtar creek of Uran (Raigad), Navi Mumbai, west coast of India. Seaweeds attached to the boulders, jetties, rocks on the shores, stones, pebbles, fishing nets and pneumatophores of mangrove were collected monthly from June 2013 to May 2015. A total of 19 species of seaweeds representing 16 genera, 15 families and 13 orders were identified from Uran coast. Of these, 7 species belongs each to Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, 2 each to Cyanobacteria and Ochrophyta and 1 to Charophyta. At all study sites, maximum species diversity was recorded during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon than monsoon. Diverse species composition of seaweeds is recorded at Peerwadi coast than the Sheva creek and Dharamtar creek. Lower species diversity at Sheva creek and Dharamtar creek is attributed to the non-availability of rocky substratum for settlement and maritime activities of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). The study shows that seaweeds from Uran coast are under stress due to industrial pollution and Port operations.