Meiofauna of the outer channel of Chilka lagoon, Bay of Bengal

Abstract

A study of the meiofauna of the outer channel of Chilka lagoon revealed the presence of 12 major taxa, of which nematodes and copepods were the dominant. The average total meiofaunal densities were significantly correlated with the sediment temperature at st. 3 (r = 0.9972), Eh at st.2 (r = 0.9816) and salinity at st. 1 (r = 0.9914). No significant correlation was found between total meiofaunal densities and the mean grain size and the percentage organic matter present in the sediments. Higher densities of average total meiofauna (138.09 +/- 35.71 no/cm(2)) were observed at st. 2 than at st, 1 (88.85 +/- 24.60 no/cm(2)) and st. 3 (72.31 +/- 31.39 no/cm(2)). Average total meiofaunal densities were high in general at the low and mid water marks. Exceptionally, at st. 3 high average total meiofaunal densities were found at high water mark. Maximum meiofaunal densities and diversities of the taxa were confined to 0-5 cm depth. The observed higher densities of average total meiofauna in the outer channel stations (sts 1 and 2) than in the adjacent marine sands (st, 3) signify the biological advantages of brackish water environs over the adjacent marine environs.