Microflora of muthupettai estuary and adjoining coastal water system-south East coast of India

Estuarine habitat of Muthupettai mangroves and adjoining coastal systems in Tamilnadu encompassed with dense mangrove vegetation, abundance of seagrasses and heavy humus content, supports high proliferation of marine microbial members. Water samples were collected regularly during monsoon and summer seasons for a period of six months to isolate and enumerate marine microflora using plating and baiting techniques. Thirty two species of fungi, sixteen genera of bacteria, seven actinomycetous members and unidentified forms of five gram positive bacteria were isolated and enumerated in the present study.