Do gas seepage sites support distinct macrofaunal community ? - An observation in the tropical shelf region of Goa, Arabian Sea, India
Abstract
The macrofaunal community in the shelf region (depth 15–50 m) of Goa, Arabian Sea, India, at seven sites in the gas seep and seven sites in non-seep areas during March 2005 is examined. A total of 56 species were recorded, among which 21 were found in the seep sites, 12 in the non-seep sites and 23 species were common. The faunal community differed between these two areas and community indices were relatively higher in seep sites, whereas the population density was higher in non-seep sites. Such difference is largely due to relatively high organic carbon and clay content in the seep sites. Polychaetes, Heteromastus similis, Pulliella armata and Capitella capitata belonging to family Capitellidae, were found only at all the seep sites and can be considered as good indicator species.
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