OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHAETOGNATHA OF THE WATERS AROUND MANDAPAM

Abstract

DIFFERENT species of organisms belonging to diverse groups hke diatoms,
medusae, pteropods, chaetognaths and tunicates that occur in the plankton
are known to be indicators of the water-masses and changing hydrological
conditions and of those, chaetognaths have been successfully used in many
regions during recent times. Further, the chaetognaths take their place in
the food cycle of the sea as predators, competitors and prey in relation to the
other constituents of the marine animal community and hence the importance
of their study cannot be overemphasised