Quantitative distribution of benthic fauna on the inner shelf of central west coast of India

Abstract

One hundred ninety-eight benthos samples, from 34 stations situated along 7 transects, were examined to study the quantitative distribution of macrobenthic fauna on the inner shelf of the Central West Coast of India. The average biomass values indicated a higher concentration of macrobenthos near the coast than at greater depths. The population density also decreased with increasing depth. The benthic organisms were unevenly distributed at various depths and the individual faunal assemblage exhibited a positive substratum selectively. Amongst the ten faunal subgroups observed in the present investigation, the annelids were most dominant and in order of biomass and population density, followed closely by molluscs. Crustaceans and echinoderms were present in low population density and biomass.