Status on Seasonal Distribution of Macrobenthos from the Gulf of Mannar (South East Coast) of India

摘要

The present study on assessment of Macrobenthos is to construct a baseline data for the health of the ecosystem; such organisms may not persist on the chemical stress and anthropogenic pollution activity. Here the total macrobenthos consisting of 21 species in 5 major groups, viz. crustaceans (6), gastropods (5), bivalves (4), polychaetes (11) was recorded in Gulf of Mannar region of Tamilnadu. The population densities of benthic macrofauna ranged from 307 to 497 ind.m-2, the diversity ranged from 1.0630 to 1.2480 bits ind.-1, the richness varied between 3.263 and 4.324, and the evenness varied between 0.8885 and 0.9557. And the mean values for macrobenthos were tabulated and the Station wise percentage distribution of marine macrobenthos were as in Shingle Island: Bivalves > Polychaetes > Gastropods > Crustaceans, in Pamban Backwater: Gastropods > Bivalves > Crustaceans > Polychaetes, in Kurusadai Island: Polychaetes > Bivalves > Gastropods > Crustaceans. and in Rameshwaram backwater: Polychaetes > Bivalves > Gastropods > Crustaceans, were observed throughout the study period, although there is no changes observed on the distribution and abundance, all the study locations were free from pollution.