Meiobenthos of Saphala salt marsh, west coast of India

Abstract

Benthic fauna of the salt marsh comprised 10 taxonomic groups, dominated by nematodes (63.9%), harpacticoids (18.5%), turbellaria (5.6%), crustacean nauplii (5.4%) and polychaetes (4.1%). The population density varied from 282 to 17300 (10 cm)-2 with a mean value of 3435 (10 cm)-2. More than 60% fauna occurred in the top 5 cm sediment layer and the major groups showed clumpped distribution. Meiofaunal distribution and abundance was influenced by salinity, dissolved oxygen and the availability of food