MARINE AEROSPORA OF THE INDIAN-OCEAN ALONG THE KERALA COAST - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Aeromonitoring along the sea route from Cochin to Theingapatnam along the coast of Kerala was carried out with the support of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) ship Samudra Shaudhikama, by various methods. T he occurrence of a large number of pollen grains and fungal spores of which Cocos nucifera and grasses among pollen-bearing plants and Alter naria, Helminthosporium and Curvularia among fungal taxa were signific ant. The study shows that the pollen grains travel to a distance of at least 25 km into the sea, and maybe also far beyond. The various appl ications of marine aerospora studies have been suggested.