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Ecology of Macrobenthos
Ecology of Macrobenthos
ECOLOGY OF MACROBENTHOS IN
THE COASTAL WATERS OF GULF OF
KACHCHH, WEST COAST OF INDIA
G.A. Thivakaran and Sourav Kundu
ABSTRACT
The ecology of the macrobenthos was investigated in the near coastal waters of Gulf of Kachchh,
in northwest Indian coast at three sites during June 2007 to May 2008. In a coastal stretch of 300
km three stations namely, Mundra, Mandvi and Kharo were chosen for the study. Seasonal
variation in diversity, composition and density of macrobenthic fauna and associated environmental
factors influencing this benthic community were studied during winter, summer and monsoon
seasons. A total of 42 taxa in 5 major groups were recorded. Crustaceans were the dominant group
(78%) followed by gastropods (7%), polychaetes (6%), bivalves (5%) and others (4%). Benthic
faunal distribution among different stations and seasons showed a significant variation. Maximum
(2.93) and minimum diversity was recorded at Mundra during summer and winter. Multivariate
analyses like hierarchical clustering and MDS ordination on species abundance showed highest
similarity (97.13%) between Kharomonsoon and MandviSummer. Kharo during winter registered
maximum faunal density of 6002/m 2 while the minimum of 1759/m 2 was at Mundra during summer.
Multiple kdominance plots showed highest faunal diversity at Kharo during monsoon and lowest
diversity at Mundra during winter but no major difference could be discerned among stations. The
study, in general established a clearcut spatial and temporal variation in benthic faunal assemblage
in the studied stations.
Keywords: Arabian Sea, Ecology, Macrobenthos, PRIMER (Permanova +)
INTRODUCTION
Marine organisms that habitually live in or near the seabed at any time during their life
history constitute the benthos. Benthic monitoring is a relatively sensitive, effective and
reliable technique that can detect subtle changes that serve as an early indicator before
more drastic environmental changes occur. Benthos reflects the effect of pollution like
organic enrichment by responding through detectable changes in population dynamics. In
shallow waters, benthos dynamics are tightly related with processes occurring in the
208 Marine Biodiversity: Present Status and Prospects
overlying water column (Magni and Montani, 2000; Fabiano et al., 2001). Integrated
measurements of physical, chemical and biological components of the benthos may thus
represent important tool in the assessment of the ecosystem (Magni, 2003). The type of
sediment is a major determining factor in the distribution of the subtidal macrobenthos
(Gray et al. 1992). Benthic community provides a significant food source for many fish
species. Macrobenthos in marine sediment play an important role in ecosystem processes
such as nutrient cycling, pollutant metabolism, dispersion and burial, and in secondary
production (Snelgrove, 1998). The classic work of Sanders (1968) showed that within
habitat marine benthic diversity for soft bottom was high in the tropics than in the boreal
region. Warwick and Ruswahyuni (1987) compared the soft bottom macrobenthic
community of tropical and temperate regions and suggested that abundance and biomass
of tropical region is low compared to temperate region. Thorson (1957) argued that
number of infaunal species of soft bottom was roughly same in arctic, temperate and
tropical seas. Ellingsen (2002) studied the macrobenthic infauna in relation to the
environmental variability in Norway and found that the best correlative variable combination
included depth, median grain size and siltclay content. Studies on benthos along the shelf
region of the northwestern India are limited to the studies of Neyman (1969) who studied
the benthos of the shelves in the northern part of Indian Ocean. Other works in the north
west coast of India include that of Parulekar and Wagh (1975), Parulekar et al. (1976),
Harkantra et al. (1980), Joydas and Damodaran (2001), Joydas (2002) and Parulelkar
et al. (1982). Kundu et al. (2010) characterized benthic communities in the inshore
waters of the Bay of Bengal and linked them to a suite of environmental factors. An
extensive report on the benthic fauna of Gulf of Kutch was brought out by Nair (2002)
who along with other faunal assemblages, presented a list of subtidal fauna of Gulf of
Kachchh. In the present study an attempt has been made to gain further information on
seasonwise composition, distribution and abundance of subtidal fauna during June 2007
to May 2008 in inshore coastal stretches along northern coast of Gulf of Kachchh. This
study gains further importance in view of the unprecedented coastal developments this
coast is witnessing.
because it is land locked in the north by Asian landmasses and has marked continental
influence. It experiences seasonal reversal of atmospheric forcing, and consequently the
upper layers exhibit different oceanographic characteristics during different seasons. The
ecosystem is very much influenced by seasonal winds, thermohaline circulation and remote
forcing. Enhanced evaporation is a peculiarity of the AS. During the northeast monsoon
(Nov–Feb), the winds in the coastal regions of the western India are northerly but
currents flow pole ward (Darbyshire, 1967). Coastal current along the east coast of India
(East India Coastal Current, EICC) flows equator wards, which carries low saline Bay
of Bengal (BOB) waters, turn round Sri Lanka and continue to flow towards north as
West India Coastal current (WICC) along the west coast of India.
This facilitates further sorting and identification in the laboratory. All taxa were first
segregated into different groups and then identified to specific generic or other higher
levels to the extent possible with the help of standard taxonomic references (e.g.
Polychaetea: Fauvel 1953; Day 1967; Mollusca: Subba Rao et al. 1991). The organisms
were counted under stereoscopic microscope and abundance was expressed as individuals
per square metre.
Data Analysis
Benthic community structure was studied through the following indices; Margalef’s richness
index (Margalef, 1968) for species richness, Pielou’s index (Pielou, 1966) for species
dominance, ShannonWeaner index (Shannon and Wiener, 1963) for species diversity and
Heips evenness index (Heip, 1974) for evenness. Multivariate tools such as BrayCurtis
similarity after suitable transformation of sample abundance data, classification (hierarchical
agglomerative clustering using groupaverage linking) and ordination [multidimensional
scaling (MDS)] were used to gain further insight into the community structure. All the
univariate, graphical and multivariate analyses of data were done using PRIMER 6
(Version 6.1.12) and PERMANOVA+ (Version 1.0.2).
RESULTS
The environmental parameters recorded during the three seasons are given in Fig. 2. In
Kharo, the temperature varied from 21 0% C to 30.9 0% C during entire study. Minimum
temperature (21°C) was recorded at Kharo during winter and the maximum (31.9°C) was
recorded both in Mundra and Mandvi during monsoon. The minimum value of salinity
recorded was 34.9 ppt at Mundra during monsoon and the maximum (39.6 ppt) was in
Kharo during summer. In Kharo, the salinity varied between 36 and 39 ppt (monsoon,
winter and summer). In Mundra, it varied from 34.9 to 39.4 ppt. In Mandvi, it varied from
36 to 39.1 ppt. In Kharo, the dissolved oxygen varied from 3.3 to 4.8 ml/l during entire
Ecology of Macrobenthos in the Coastal Waters of Gulf of Kachchh, West Coast of India 211
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Fig. 2. Environmental parameters [aDissolved oxygen (DO), btemperature, c salinity; d
pH] during entire collections in relation to season.
212 Marine Biodiversity: Present Status and Prospects
collection period (monsoon, winter and summer). At Mundra, it ranged between 3.6 and
4.6 ml/l. In Mandvi, the level of dissolved oxygen fuctuated from 3.5 to 4.7 ml/l. The
minimum (3.3ml/l) and maximum (4.8 ml/l) values of DO was recorded during summer
and monsoon at Kharo. In general, the pH level increased from the minimum values
recorded during the monsoon season to reach the maximum during winter. The maximum
value (8.2) was recorded in Kharo during winter and the minimum (7.7) was recorded
in Mandvi during monsoon.
In total 42 macrobenthic infaunal species represented by five diverse groups were
encountered, of which crustaceans, gastropods, polychaetes and bivalves were the most
dominant group. Crustaceans dominated the infauna (6 species) and contributed numerically
upto 78% of the population but polychaetes consisted highest number of 13 species but
their numerical abundance was only 6% of the total. Gastropods consisted of 11 species
and contributed 7% of total infaunal density. Seasonwise and stationwise, crustaceans
were numerically dominant but species wise polychaetes were more followed by gastropods,
bivalves and others. This order of cumulative dominance was observed in all the 3 seasons
and stations. Distribution of benthic faunal groups among different stations and seasons
showed a significant variation. Among polychaetes, Armandia leptocirrus, Amphitrite sp,
Cirratulus sp., Nephtys capensis; among gastropods Bursa granularis, Haminoea, Oliva
gibbosa, Terebralia palustris; among bivalves Cucullea cucullata, Epitonium scalare
and Solen lamarcki were not recorded at Kharo in all the 3 seasons while they were
present in any one or two seasons in other two stations (Table 2). Similarly, polychaetes
such as Sigalion sp. and gastropods such as Dentalium sp. Nassarius pullus and
N. dorsatus were recorded only during one season at Kharo whereas same polychaetes
(Glycera sp, Magelona capensis, Prionospio pinnata) gastropods (Nassa sp, Umbonium
vestiarium); bivalves (Catelysia sp, Paphia sp.) and Crustaceans (Apseudes sp.) were
recorded in any two of the three seasons. Forms like polychaetes (Glycera sp., Nereis
sp., Sabellides sp., Amphitrite sp.); gastropods (Cerithidea cingulata, Nerita sp.); bivalves
(bivalve spat, Donax cuneatus, Meretrix meretrix, Pholas sp. Solen kempi); crustaceans
(Eriopisa sp., Grandidierella sp. isopods, shrimp larvae) and others (brittle star and
foraminiferans) were recorded in all the three seasons at Kharo. In Mundra forms like
bivalves (bivalve spats, Solen kempii and Pholas sp.) were not recorded in any seasons
and were totally absent. However, these species were recorded in all the seasons at
Kharo. In Mundra, forms like polychaetes (Glycera sp.,); gastropods (Nerita sp.,); bivalves
(Meretrix meretrix); crustaceans (Shrimp larvae) occurred in only in one season whereas
polychaetes (Amphitrite sp.) were recorded in all the seasons. Forms like polychaetes
(Neries sp. Sabellides sp.); gastropods (Cerithidea cingulata); bivalves (Donax
cuneatus); crustaceans (Eriopisa sp., Grandidierella sp., Isopods) and others (brittle
star and foraminiferans) were recorded at Mundra. At Mandvi polychaetes (Sabellides
sp.) gastropods (Cerithidea cingulata); bivalves (Donax cuneatus) and others (brittle
star) were recorded. Taxa like Nereis sp., Cirratulus sp., Glycera sp, Sabellides sp.,
Umbonium vestiarium; Donax cuneatus; Eriopisa sp., Grandidierella sp., Apseudes
sp., Isopods and Foraminiferans were recorded in all the three seasons and stations.
Ecology of Macrobenthos in the Coastal Waters of Gulf of Kachchh, West Coast of India 213
Table 2. Taxa and their Relative (%) Frequency of Occurrence in the Three Study Stations
Polychaetes
Armandia leptocirrus 0.0 66.7 66.6 77.8
Amphitrite sp. 0.0 66.7 0 55.6
Cirratulus sp. 0.0 100.0 66.6 88.9
Glycera sp 66.7 66.7 100 88.9
Nephtys capensis 0.0 66.7 33.3 66.7
Nereis sp. 100.0 100.0 100 100.0
Magelona capensis 66.7 0.0 0 33.3
Sabellides sp. 100.0 100.0 66.6 88.9
Sigalion sp 33.3 100.0 33.33 77.8
Prionospio pinnata 66.7 66.7 66.6 77.8
Gastropods 0.0 0.0 0 33.3
Bursa granularis 0.0 100.0 33.3 77.8
Cerithidea cingulata 100.0 100.0 33.3 77.8
Dentalium sp. 33.3 100.0 33.3 77.8
Haeminoea sp. 0.0 33.3 0 44.4
N. dorsatus 33.3 66.7 0 55.6
Nassa sp 66.7 0.0 33.3 44.4
Nassarius pullus 33.3 66.7 0 55.6
Nerita sp 100.0 33.3 33.3 55.6
Oliva gibbosa 0.0 100.0 0 66.7
Terebralia palustris 0.0 33.3 33.3 55.6
Umbonium vestiarium 66.7 100.0 66.6 88.9
Bivalves 0.0 0.0 0 33.3
Bivalve Spat 100.0 0.0 100 66.7
Catelysia sp 66.7 0.0 0 33.3
Cucullea cucullata 0.0 100.0 33.3 77.8
Donax cuneatus 100.0 100.0 66.6 88.9
Epitonium scalare 0.0 100.0 33.3 77.8
Meretrix meretrix 100.0 33.3 33.3 55.6
Paphia sp 66.7 0.0 33.3 44.4
Pholas sp 100.0 0.0 33.3 44.4
Solen kempi 100.0 0.0 33.3 44.4
Solen lamarcki 0.0 100.0 0 66.7
Crustaceans 0.0 0.0 0 33.3
Eriopisa sp. 100.0 100.0 100 100.0
Grandidierella sp. 100.0 100.0 100 100.0
Isopods 100.0 100.0 100 100.0
Shrimp larvae 100.0 33.3 33.3 55.6
Apseudes sp. 66.7 100.0 66.6 88.9
Others 0.0 0.0 0 33.3
Brittle star 100.0 100.0 33.3 77.8
Foraminiferans 100.0 100.0 100 100.0
214 Marine Biodiversity: Present Status and Prospects
Fig. 3. Dendrogram showing grouping of stations sampled during different seasons for
subtidal macrofauna.
Results of hierarchical clustering and MDS ordination on species abundance representing
3 stations and seasons (monsoon, winter and summer) clearly showed very good similarity
(97.13%) between kharomonsoon and mandvisummer but less similarity (69.83%) during
monsoon and winter in Mandvi. In the MDS plot, the same trend was confirmed (Fig. 4).
The species count (Figs. 5a and 6a) was maximum (29) at Kharo during monsoon and
minimum (14) at Mandvi during winter. The maximum number of organisms (Figs. 5b and
6b) was 6002 animals/0.1 m 2 (Kharo, winter), and the minimum was 1759 animals/0.1 m 2
(Mundra, summer). The Shannon–Wiener index (Figs. 5c and 6c) ranged between 2.15
(Mundra, winter) and 2.93 (Mundra, summer). The evenness component (J’) (Figs. 5d
and 6d) varied from 0.45 (Mundra, winter) to 0.66 (Mandvi, monsoon). In the case of H’
(Fig 6c.), difference between stations were marginal, through seasonwise difference
were significant (Fig. 5c). It was low during winter and gradually increased during
summer. The evenness component (J’) (Fig. 6d) showed a gradual decrease in Kharo and
Mundra, and seasonwise (Fig. 5d), it was lower during winter and higher during monsoon
seasons. The species richness (Margalef’s d) (Figs. 5e and 6e) ranged between 1.7
(Mandvi, winter) and 3.44 (Mundra, winter). Multiple “k”dominance plot facilitated the
discrimination of benthos according to speciesrelative contribution to standard stock.
When all the stations and seasons were plotted together, the curve for Kharo, monsoon
was lying low and was Sshaped, indicating highest diversity whereas the curve for
Ecology of Macrobenthos in the Coastal Waters of Gulf of Kachchh, West Coast of India 215
Mundra, winter was lying high without any bent showing lowest diversity (Fig. 7). When
the k”dominance plot was plotted according to stations (Fig. 8), it did not show any major
difference between the stations. The “k”dominance plot for the seasons (Fig. 9) indicated
highest diversity during monsoon, whereas the curve for the winter showed the lowest
diversity (Fig. 9).
DISCUSSION
Kachchh coast of late, is witnessing an aggressive industrialization with the development
of thermal power plants, port facilities, and special economic zones, thus becoming highly
vulnerable to coastal water quality degradation. Nevertheless, recorded water quality
parameters did not show any major deviation from the normal range expected from an
arid coastal zone. Temperature is one of the important hydrographic parameters affecting
the distribution of benthic communities (Tait, 1981). Recorded surface water temperature
(2131.9°C) reflected the arid nature of the coast where fluctuations are pronounced.
Surface water temperature was clearly temporal with monsoon and summer recording
higher values followed by winter. A vertical temperature gradient was earlier shown in
Gulf of Kachchh waters (Vethamony et al., 2007). Monsoon and summer maximum and
winter minimum were apparently due to atmospheric cooling. However, variations between
seasons except winter months were marginal. Atmospheric variation played a major role
in governing temperature variation and water exchange between the sea and the creek
216 Marine Biodiversity: Present Status and Prospects
Monsson
Monsson 9000 Winter
40 Winter Summer
Summer
No. of organisms (N os 2 )/0.1m
7500
30
No. of Species
6000
20
4500
10 3000
0 1500
0
Monsson Winter Summer
Monsson Winter Summer
Season
Season
(a) (b)
Monsson
Monsson Winter
Winter 4.5
3.5 Summer
Summer
4.0
3.0 3.5
Shannon index
3.0
Marga let’s d
2.5 2.5
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
1.5
Monsson Winter Summer
Monsson Winter Summer
Season
Season
(c) (d)
0.8 Monsson
Winter
Summer
0.7
Even net’s s
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
Monsson Winter Summer
Season
(e)
Kharo
Kharo 7500 Mundra
45 Mundra Mandvi
No. of organisms (N os 2 )/0.1m
Mandvi
40 6000
No. of Species
35
30 4500
25
3000
20
15
1500
10
Kharo Mundra Mandvi 0
Season Kharo Mundra Mandvi
Season
(a) (b)
Kharo
Kharo Mundra
3.5 Mundra 4.0 Mandvi
Mandvi
3.5
3.0
Shannon index
3.0
Marga let’s d
2.5 2.5
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.5 1.0
Monsoon winter summer Kharo Mundra Mandvi
Season Season
(c) (d)
Kharo
Mundra
0.8 Mandvi
0.7
Even net’s s
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
Kharo Mundra Mandvi
Season
(e)
Fig. 6. Univariate measures for macrobenthic infauna of Gulf of Kachchh (stationwise).
a Number of species, b abundance, c Shannon–Wiener index H’, d Margalef’s
richness e evenness J’, Data presented as mean (squares), ±1SE (boxes) and ±1SD
(whiskers). Upsidedown triangles: minimum; rightsideup triangles: maximum.
218 Marine Biodiversity: Present Status and Prospects
Fig. 9. kDominance curves for species abundance data in relation to season.
fresh water into the study area coupled with residual effect of summer which reduces
dissolved oxygen levels in the water column. De Souza and Gupta (1986) and Zingde
et al. (1987) have attributed seasonal variations in dissolved oxygen mainly to the freshwater
influx and teregenous impact of sediments. The pH remained alkaline throughout the study
period, registering a maximum during winter, which could be attributed to the high salinity
of water. Most of the natural coastal waters are generally alkaline due to the presence
of sufficient quantities of carbonate (Trivedy and Goel, 1984). The low value of pH
noticed during monsoon season was due to dilution and mixing of coastal waters by
terrestrial runoff that leads to reduction in salinity and temperature. The present findings
are in agreement with that of Rajendran (1974), Chandran (1982), Chandran and
Ramamoorthi (1984), Upadhayay (1988), Mitra et al. (1990) and Kannan (1992). Generally,
fluctuation in pH values during different seasons of the year is attributed to factors like
removal of CO 2 by photosynthesis through bicorbonate degradation, dilution of seawater
by freshwater influx, reduction of salinity and temperature, and decomposition of organic
matter (Upadhyay, 1988; Ragothaman and Patil, 1995).
Subtidal faunal assemblages in the studied sites are comparable with those reported
in other west coast stretches. In Thane creek of Mumbai, 42 faunal types representing
12 major groups were recorded by Quadros and Athalye (2002) whereas in the present
study, 42 taxa in 5 major groups were recorded. Venkatachalam and Kale (2002) recorded
polychaetes as the dominant group in terms of abundance at Thane creek. Contrarily, in
the present study, crustaceans represented by only 6 groups were numerically dominant,
though polychaetes were more diverse with 13 groups. Temporal and spatial variation in
species abundance and diversity as recorded presently seems to be governed by many
factors. All the study sites were characterized by high polychaetes diversity with low
abundance similar to the earlier report by Varshney et al (1981) in Narmada estuary;
Govindan et al (1983) in Ambika and Purna estuaries, Chandran (1987) in Vellar estuary,
Vizakat et al (1991) in estuaries along Konkan coast, Jagadeesan and Ayyakannu (1992)
in Coleroon estuary and Mukherjee (1993) and Kotibhaskar (1998) in Thane estuary.
Among crustaceans, amphipods and isopods were the dominant groups. Presence of
amphipods in high density enhances litter breakdown by feeding directly on detritus
(Poovachiranon et al. 1986). Mangrove lined creeks in the vicinity might favor the higher
density of this group. Macrobenthic faunal density ranged from 1,759 to 6,002 animals/
m 2 at all stations. Occurrence of highest abundance (6,002 animals/m 2 ) at Kharo during
winter could be due to low temperature and turbidity coupled with a stable environment
during this season. Similarly low population density (1,759/m 2 ) recorded during summer at
Mundra might be due to pronounced port activity and pollution. Species diversity is a
simple and useful measure of a biological system. Sanders (1968) and Redding and Cory
(1975) found a high level of agreement between species diversity and the nature of the
environment, thus regarding the measure of species diversity as an ecologically powerful
tool. Moreover, Pearson and Rosenberg (1978) proposed that the use of diversity indices
is advantageous for the description of fauna at different stages in the succession. Sanders
(1968) postulated that the species diversity is mainly controlled by the fluctuations in the
Ecology of Macrobenthos in the Coastal Waters of Gulf of Kachchh, West Coast of India 221
environment that lead to less diversity. In the study stations, species diversity registered
a fluctuation between 2.15 (Mundra, winter) and 2.88 (Kharo, monsoon) between stations
and seasons. Salinity of the sediment and overlying water column seem to play a crucial
role in determining faunal density. The pattern of lower species diversity during winter and
higher diversity values in summer recorded in the study area is in conformity with the
earlier observations made in Vellar (Chandran 1987) and Coleroon estuaries (Devi, 1994).
Similarly, richness of benthic macrofauna was maximum (3.44) during the winter at
Mundra similar to the observation by Kumar (1995) in Cochin backwaters. The low
richness recorded in this study during winter (1.7) might be due to the low water
temperature, which in turn affected the distribution of benthos, particularly, the polychaetes.
Maximum diversity recorded during summer at the study sites might be due to stable
environmental factors, such as salinity, which play an important role in faunal distribution.
CONCLUSION
The temporal distribution of benthos exhibited not only higher density during summer
season but consisted of more diverse fauna in Gulf of Kachchh region. Usually in the
subtidal benthic habitat, polychaetes are dominant in terms of density, whereas in the
present study crustaceans dominated and polychaetes were comparatively less dominant
though they were group wise richer. It can be deduced from the study that environmental
factors like temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH exert great influence on the
abundance and distribution of benthic organisms.
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