Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403 004, India.
Environ Monit Assess. 2011 Jul;178(1-4):423-36. doi: 10.1007/s10661-010-1701-3. Epub 2010 Sep 17.
Macrobenthic polychaetes play a significant role in marine benthic food chain. A study was carried out to observe the abundance and diversity of soft bottom macrobenthic polychaetes along the South Indian coast, along with observations on sediment characteristics. The present study indicated an increase in the polychaete diversity as compared to earlier reports. Sixty-three different forms of polychaetes were identified along the coast, which constitute the bulk of the macrobenthic fauna. Thirty-eight species of polychaetes showed higher abundance along the west coast, whereas 25 species showed higher abundance along the east coast. Seabed composition showed a spatial variation in its composition along the coast. Occurrence of Prionospio pinnata and Capitella capitata the deposit feeders and indicators of organic pollution suggesting the sampled area is organically rich. Polychaete abundance was found to be higher along the west coast and was attributed to loose texture of sediment due to high sand and sandy-silt resulting in higher interstitial space for organisms to harbor. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that majority of polychaete species preferred low organic carbon, sandy silt, or sandy-clay substratum. The lower polychaete abundance at high organic carbon and high silt and clay areas can be attributed to avoidance of organisms to rich organic matter and suboxic levels, being a possible indication that these characteristics adversely affects the polychaete abundance and distribution.
底栖多毛类环节动物在海洋底栖食物链中起着重要作用。本研究旨在观察印度南部沿海软底底栖多毛类环节动物的丰度和多样性，并对沉积物特征进行观察。与早期的报告相比，本研究表明多毛类环节动物的多样性有所增加。在沿海地区共鉴定出 63 种不同形式的多毛类环节动物，它们构成了大部分底栖动物群。38 种多毛类环节动物在西海岸的丰度较高，而 25 种多毛类环节动物在东海岸的丰度较高。海底组成在沿海地区的组成上表现出空间变化。食沉积物的 Prionospio pinnata 和 Capitella capitata 的出现以及有机污染的指示物表明，采样区域富含有机物。多毛类环节动物的丰度在西海岸较高，这归因于由于高砂和砂质粉土导致的沉积物松散质地，为生物提供了更高的间隙空间。典范对应分析表明，大多数多毛类环节动物更喜欢低有机碳、砂质粉土或砂质粘土基质。在高有机碳和高粉土和粘土区，多毛类环节动物的丰度较低，这可能是由于生物避免了丰富的有机物和亚缺氧水平，这可能表明这些特征对多毛类环节动物的丰度和分布有不利影响。
