| 1 | Preliminary studies on the polychaete fauna of the mangrove areas of Cochin Polychaetous annelids were studied based on bottom collections from three localities in the mangrove areas of Cochin during 1990-'91. The species composition, distribution and seasonal variation of the polychaete fauna are given. Thirty three species of polychaetes belonging to 20 genera under 10 families have been identified. Marphysa gravelyi, Paraheteromastus tenuis, Nereis glandicincta, Dendronereides heteropoda and D. aestuarina are found to be the most dominant species in the mangrove swamps of Cochin. The effect of salinity on the occurrence and abundance of polychaetes in the area is given Source: Sanilkumar, R.; Antony, A. Proceedings of the Sixth Kerala Science Congress, 27-29 January 1994, Thiruvananthapuram. Ravikumar, R. ed. 1994; 74-77. 0872. | ||
| 2 | Impact of environmental parameters on polychaetous annelids in the mangrove swamps of Cochin, south west coast of India Species composition, distribution and seasonal variation of polychaete fauna in the Cochin mangroves were evaluated. Effect of environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen. pH, sediment texture and organic matter on the distribution of polychaetes was studied. Thirty three species of polychaetes belonging to 20 genera under 10 families were identified. The errantia group were common than the sedentaria. Correlation was observed between polychaete fauna and salinity. Species diversity and richness was higher at st 1 (located near the Cochin barmouth) during premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons Source: Kumar, R.S.; Antony, A. Indian J. Mar. Sci.. 23(3); 1994; 137-142. 0874. | ||
| 3 | Polychaetes The species composition of the polychaete fauna in the Hugli-Matla estuary, West Bengal, India belonging to different families shows that the errantiate polychaetes are more abundant than sedentarians. A list of the polychaete species studied with records of their occurrence at different zones of the estuary is of considerable distributional significance. The polychaete fauna of the Hugli-Matla estuary is dominated by the brackishwater components. The reasons for the apparent richness of polychaete species in the Hugli-Matla estuary have also been presented Source: Misra, A. Hugli Matla Estuary, West Bengal. Estuar. Ecosyst. Ser Pt. 2. 1995; 93-155. 0904. | ||
| 4 | Macrobenthos in the mangrove ecosystem of Cochin backwaters, Kerala (southwest coast of India) Structure, composition and seasonal distribution of macrobenthic fauna in the intertidal areas of the mangrove ecosystem of Cochin backwaters were studied. Benthic fauna was mainly represented by Polychaeta, Crustacea and Mollusca. Faunal diversity was higher at st. 1 near Cochin barmouth than at interior 2 stations. Species diversity and richness varied from 0.52 to 3.03 and 0.38 to 4.50, respectively. Evenness varied from 0.43 to 1.03. Maximum macrofaunal density and dry weight recorded were 8970 m-2 and 57.86 g.m-2 respectively. Polychaetes constituted the bulk of fauna in the 3 stations studied. Significant similarity and strong association were noticed among macrobenthos. Detritivorous benthos were found to be common at all stations and well adapted to mangrove habitat Source: Sunilkumar, R. Indian J. Mar. Sci.. 24(2); 1995; 56-61. 0910. | ||
| 5 | Vertical distribution and abundance of sediment dwelling macro-invertebrates in an estuarine mangrove biotope - southwest coast of India Depth wise distribution of macro-invertebrates in sediments of intertidal areas of Cochin mangroves were studied. The fauna mainly composed of polychaetes, crustaceans and molluscs. At all tidal levels the macro-fauna tended to be concentrated at the top 0-5 layer substratum (65%) and they substantially decreased towards deeper levels. The polychaete, Marphysa gravelyi was abundant below 10 cm depth. The aggregation and coexistence of organisms were perceptible in the apex (0-5 cm) soil. Stability of the community structure of infauna was far pronounced in the surface layer zone than the deeper. Anoxic condition of the deep soil and the availability of food in the atop soil determines the vertical distribution of the fauna Source: Kumar, R.S. Indian J. Mar. Sci.. 26(1); 1997; 26-30. 0996. | ||
| 6 | New record of five Annelids (Class : Polychaeta) from the mangrove habitat of the South West Coast of India This short communication reports the new record of five Polychaetous annelids from the mangrove ecosystem of Cochin backwaters, south west coast of India. Literature survey revealed that these polychaete species namely Marphysa gravelyi, Nereis glandicincta, Eunice tubifex, Branchiocapitella singularis and Pista indica are the first ever record from the mangroves of Indo-Pacific region. Source: Kumar, R.S. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. India. 41(1-2); 1999; 116-118. 1076. | ||
| 7 | Biomass, horizontal zonation and vertical stratification of polychaete fauna in the littoral sediment of Cochin estuarine mangrove habitat, south west coast of India Biomass distribution, horizontal zonation, relative dominance and vertical distribution of polychaetes were studied. Highest biomass was recorded in the mid tidal region in both study areas. The monthly values varied from 4.43 to 128.28 g.m@u-2@@ at st 1 and 2.57 to 67.31 g.m@u-2@@ at st 2. Multiple regression analysis between biomass and environmental parameters indicate that they could not individually or in combination bring about the spatial and temporal variability in biomass distribution. Moreover, at st 1 edaphic factors appear to be responsible for partial variation in biomass indicating comparatively high F ratio for variance analysis than station 2. ANOVA of species diversity indices values (P < 0.5) between the three tidal regions showed a clear horizontal zonation of polychaetes, especially at st 1. A substantial difference in percentage composition of fauna, up to 15 cm depth of mangrove soil, was found in all the three tidal zones studied. This variability in the community structure in the top (0-5 cm) and deeper mangrove sediment (10-15 cm) is pertained to a variety of characteristic features of both upper and deeper sediments. High numerical abundance and coexistence of certain euryhaline species showed significant similarity index (>70%) among polychaete fauna. This similarity and affinity of fauna for a long period evidently indicate the habitat stability that is pertained to the existence of species diversity and abundance. This is related to the prolonged food resource input and profound standing capacity in the littoral mangrove soil, which virtually render in building up a stable community structure of polychaetes. As a result of this, selection of habitat by polychaetes, its survival and subsequent long-term biomass production were occurred. The strong similarity of polychaete fauna between months and biomass productivity can be considered for deriving the productive characteristic of the mangrove habitat, and also for assessing demersal fishery potential. Source: Kumar, R.S. Indian J. Mar. Sci.. 31(2); 2002; 100-107. 1168. | ||
| 8 | Biodiversity and affinity of polychaetous annelids within the mangrove ecosystem of Indo-Pacific region The affinity and diversity of polychaetous annelids in the mangrove habitats of Malaysia, Thailand(Phuket), Japan(Okinawa), Australia, China, Taiwan, South Africa, Hawaii and India(Sunderbans, Bombay and Cochin) have been discussed. The study revealed a similarity in the polychaetes of Malaysia, Phuket, Sunderbans and Cochin. The members of the family Nereidae, Eunicidae dominated the mangrove habitat. Marphysa gravelyi, Nereis, glandicincta, Eunice tubifex, Eunice sp., Branchiocapitella singularis and Pista indica were found at Cochin, Kerala, India though hitherto not reported from Malaysian, Phuket and Sunderbans mangrove habitats. The members of the genera Dendronereis, Marphysa and Lumbriconereis are found to be typical mangrove polychaetous annelids throughout the Indo-Pacific region. It is interesting to note that, in general, the errantia polychaete group was more dominant than the sedentaria. The latitudinal difference may be a factor in the diversity of species while the physiological adaptation and long standing inter-relationship among various elements seems to be a controlling factor. Source: Kumar, R.S. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. India. 43(1-2); 2001; 206-213. 1531.
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