Sediment geochemistry with population of recent benthic ostracoda in Palk Bay, southeast coast of India

Seasonal observation on trace elements of shallow inner shelf sediments and their correlation with the population of recent benthic ostracoda off Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, Southeast coast of India is the aim of this study. The sediments were analysed for trace elements Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co and Cr and being correlated with the population of benthic ostracoda for four different seasons. Cu has a positive correlation, and Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co and Cr have negative correlation with the total population of ostracoda. Al has no considerable correlation with the total population of ostracoda. In the middle segment plenty of corals were found in the study area and their effect being discussed.