Viruses are recognized as the most abundant and dynamic biological entities in the marine and estuarine environment. However, studies on the dynamics and activity of viruses in transient estuarine systems are limited. This study examines temporal and spatial variations in viral abundance (VA) and viral activity across the salinity gradient in a monsoon-driven tropical estuarine system (Cochin e...

Our understanding on the importance of viral lysis in the functioning of tropical estuarine ecosystem is limited. This study examines viral infection of prokaryotes and subsequent lysis of cells belonging to different morphotypes across a salinity gradient in monsoon driven estuarine ecosystem (Cochin estuary, India). High standing stock of viruses and prokaryotes accompanied by lytic infection...

Eutrophication has often been one of the major problems encountered in estuaries and coastal waters. The oxic/anoxic status of an estuary can be effectively determined by measurement of the Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD). The present study forms a pioneering attempt to evaluate the SOD of the Cochin Backwater System (CBS), a tropical eutrophic estuary in the south-west coast of India. The CBS exh...

Changes in the autotrophic pico- (0.2-2 microm), nano- (2-20 microm), and microplankton (>20 microm) biomass (chlorophyll a) and primary production were measured in the estuarine and coastal waters off Cochin, southwest coast of India during the onset and establishment of a monsoon. During this period, the estuary was dominated by nutrient-rich freshwater, whereas the coastal waters were charac...

Microbes play a central role in the decomposition and remineralization of organic matter and recycling of nutrients in aquatic environments. In this study, we examined the influence of physical, chemical, and biological parameters on the rate of bacterial production (BP) and viral production (VP) with respect to primary production over a diurnal period in Cochin estuary. Time series measurement...

phytoplankton communities play a significant role in the oceanic biological pump by forming the base of the trophic structure. increase in nutrients loading affects spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton. this study examined the phytoplankton community structure and ecological indices in relation to nutrients dynamics in both estuarine and oceanic areas of ramisi-vanga systems alon...

Department of Hepatology and Transplant Medicine, PVS Institute of Digestive Diseases, PVS Memorial Hospital, Cochin, Kerala, India Department of Rheumatology, Care Clinics, Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission Hospital, Cochin, Kerala, India Department of Pathology, PVS Memorial Hospital, Cochin, Kerala, India Department of Pathology, Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Ltd, Cochin, Kerala, Indi...

The geochemical condition of surface sediments in a tropical estuary and adjoining shelf region is presented for their elemental interactions using statistical methods. Principal component analysis separated two clusters comprising of (i) heavy metals possessing significant correlation with texture (organic carbon, clay and silt), which belong to sediments in the shelf region and (ii) heavy met...

Seasonality in carbon chemistry of Cochin backwaters, Southern India, was investigated between 2018 and 2019. Dissolved inorganic (DIC) showed strong seasonal variations. Lowest DIC observed during the Southwest Monsoon (SWM), conjunction with low salinity surface waters, suggesting freshwater influence. The maximum concentration partial pressure dioxide water (pCO 2 w) recorded from polluted w...