Abstract: Distribution of macrobenthic organisms in estuaries are mainly based on the optimal physico-chemical nature of the estuaries. The nature of estuaries is being modified by the climatic changes and also the manmade activities. In the presents study, the distribution and seasonal variations of macrobenthic faunal composition in 5 different major estuaries were assessed from South east Coast of Tamilnadu (Manakkudi estuary, Thengaipattinam estuary Rajakkamangalam estuary, Punnaikayal estuary and Vembar estuary). Totally 64 species of macrofaunal species have been recorded in various estuaries. Among the benthic groups, polychaetes were the most dominant group in the present study followed by other faunal groups. The maximum diversity (H’) value (4.12) was observed in (st-1) Manakkudi estuary during summer season compared to other estuaries and the minimum diversity value (1.53) was recorded in (st-3) Rajakkamangalam estuary during monsoon season. BIO-EN method proved the salinity, DO, silt, clay, TOC and total phosphorous as the major environmental variables influencing the faunal distribution.
Keywords: Macrobenthos, Polychaetes, Community structure, Estuaries, Diversity.
Title: Diversity of macrobenthos in the estuaries of south Tamil Nadu
Author: P. Selvaraj, M. Muniasamy, P. Murugesan
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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