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Vol. 54, 2015
Spatial heterogeneity of benthic copepods: a comparative aspect on composition, abundance, and correlation
R Jayabarathi*, G Padmavati and I Anandavelu
Department
of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University,
Brookshabad Campus, P. Bag. No. 01, Chakkargoan, Port Blair 744112,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Abstract
Background: Comparing
meiofaunal assemblages in the seagrass zone with bare sediment will
provide information on the structuring factors and phytal preferences
of meiobenthic invertebrates since differences in density and diversity
of meiofauna are to be expected between vegetated and bare zones.
Results: A
total of 11 groups of meiofauna, with harpacticoids dominating (51 %)
and comprising 48 species within 14 families, have been identified. At
all localities, the following harpacticoids were found to be relatively
abundant, contributing 30.9 % of all harpacticoids: Longipedia weberi, Canuellina nicobaris, Scottolana longipes, and Parastenhelia hornelli. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.987, r2 = 0.974, F(1,9) = 337.3, P
< 0.001) of meiofaunal assemblage was found between seagrass leaf
blades and the canopy sediment compared to bare sediment which was
found to have a moderate correlation (r = 0.543, r2 = 0.294, F(1,9) = 3.756, P = 0.085). In addition, the abundance of harpacticoids was significantly higher (ANOVA, F(2,144) = 19.53, P
< 0.001) in seagrass sediments and differed markedly from blades and
bare sediments, and the composition was unique in the different zones
of the present study.
Conclusions: Productive
seagrass ecosystems are as yet inadequately studied in the Andaman
Islands. This study provides a first step to characterize a faunal
group from the seagrass community.
Key words: Andaman; Harpacticoids; Meiofauna; Seagrass; Sediment.
*Correspondence: E-mail: arjayabarathi@gmail.com
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