Benthic studies in Goa estuaries: Biomass and faunal composition in the Zuari Estuary

Abstract

Benthic biomass and faunal composition in relation to salinity and substratum were reported for a 22.1 km stretch of the Zuari Estuary, Goa, India. The fall in salinity in 22.1 km was 13.90%. Medium sand with a mixture of silt and clay dominated the bottom deposits. The average biomass (dry weight) was 40.2 gm-2. Polyhaline conditions and sandy substratum accounted for higher biomass, but population density was high in euhaline zone. Polychaetes and bivalves were dominant in silty and sandy bottoms respectively. The observations add to baseline information on the bottom fauna of Goa estuaries.