• Sanjay Kumbhar

Bhatye estuary Ratnagiri is cradle bed for estuarine clams like M.meretrix.It is source of livelihood for local fishermans.In the present study, seasonal concentration of cadmium in water, sediment and soft tissues of the estuarine clam, M.meretrix was analyzed. Estuarine water parameters varied according to season. Cadmium was below detectable level in summer while significant in months of monsoon and winter. It may be due to rainy freshets, carrying considerable load of cadmium which enriched sediment and accumulated in sediment fauna like clams. Cadmium content in gill, mantle, heoatopancreas and foot varied according to season. Gills were main depositories of cadmium. Cadmium content was found in ascending order of hepatopancreas < foot < gonad < mantle < gill in summer and winter .In monsoon cadmium content was present in ascending order of – gill < mantle < foot < hepatopancreas <gonads .Cadmium content in gill, mantle, hepatopancreas, foot varied according to season. In gonad cadmium content varied with breeding season.

Estuarine clams, Meretrix meretrix, Bhatye estuary, Cadmium, Bioaccumulation

"Study of seasonal accumulation of cadmium in estuarine clam, Meretrix meretrix (Linnaeus) ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 4, page no.287-291, April-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2004041.pdf

"Study of seasonal accumulation of cadmium in estuarine clam, Meretrix meretrix (Linnaeus) ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 4, page no. pp287-291, April-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2004041.pdf