Community structure of benthic amphipods in four estuaries of northwest India
Abstract
This is the first comprehensive study of the community structure and spatial-temporal distribution of amphipods in estuarine sediments of northwest India. Specifically, amphipods from Ulhas, Amba, Kundalika and Savitri estuaries were investigated seasonally to study species composition, distribution, diversity, and functional traits of Amphipods and the influence of hydrographic parameters on community structure. There were fifty-seven taxa, thirty-four genera belonging to nineteen families with Aoridae and Ampeliscidae being the most speciose families. The seasonal variations in abundances were influenced by the population dynamics of the dominant species. Cheiriphotis trifucata, Grandidierella japonica and Podocerus spongicolus were reported for the first time in Indian waters. Most of the amphipod taxa belonged to the functional group that was represented by detritivory and domiculous behaviour (DEDO). Salinity, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, pH, sediment texture and Corgwere the suite of variables that best explained the estuarine amphipod community structure. The irregular distribution trends of the amphipods in all estuaries were probably due to the low densities of this group.
Collections
- Scholarly literature [9069]