Distribution of Meiofauna and Community Structure of Free-Living Marine Nematodes in Uppanar Estuary South East Coast of India

Author(s): M. Victorraj, P. S. Lyla*, S. Ajmalkhan and T. Suthakar

Abstract: The composition of meiofauna was studied in the Uppanar estuary of southeast coast of India. Overall, seven meiobenthic taxa nematodes, harpacticoid copepods, foraminifera, polychaetes, ostracods, napulii, tardigrada and others (isopodes, cumaceans, kinohycha, amphipoa, gastrotrich) were observed. As many as 72 species of nematodes belonging to 42 genera and 21 families were recorded. The species Viscosia viscose, Sabatieria pulchra Terschellingia longicaudata and Daptonema sp. were found to be dominant in the study area. This result of the present study showed a basic data of meiobenthic composition in the Uppanar estuary which will be useful for continuous monitoring of the benthic ecological quality.

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