Variations on the infaunal polychaetes due to bottom trawling along the inshore waters of Kerala (south-west coast of India)

Abstract

Variations of the infaunal polychates populations due to bottom trawling were studied during December 2000 to November 2002 at depth ranging from 0-50 m along Cochin-Munambam area (Kerala, long.76º10’ 94” to 75º 56’ and lat. 9º58’ to 10º10’), in the southwest coast of India. Infaunal polychaetes from the sediment samples were collected both before and after experimental trawling in order to assess the variations on their abundance (no.m⁻²), biomass (g.m⁻²) and diversity due to bottom trawling. Highest variations in polychaetes were recorded at station 9 in May 2002 where polychaete abundance increased to 20710 no.m⁻² after trawling from 2787 no.m⁻² before trawling. Biomass showed highest variations at station 3 in December 2000 where biomass increased from 7.16 g.m⁻² recorded before trawling to 34.53 g.m⁻² in the samples collected after trawling. Multivariate community analysis carried out based on both species abundance and biomass of polychaetes also confirm the wide variations in the similarities of the stations comparing both before and after trawling