Record Details

Macrobenthos off Mahim (Bombay), west coast of India in relation to coastal pollution and aquaculture

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Macrobenthos off Mahim (Bombay), west coast of India in relation to coastal pollution and aquaculture
 
Creator Varshney, P.K.
Govindan, K.
 
Subject population density
Faunal diversity
 
Description Deterioration of water quality clearly indicated a moderate to severe coastal pollution around Mahim whereas a relatively healthy marine environment towards offshore was noticed. Foraminiferans, polychaetes, crustaceans and pelecypods were the dominant macrofaunal groups encountered in the area. The occasional inhabitants like pennatularians, nemertines, sipunculids, ophiuroids and fish larvae were mostly restricted to offshore regions. Biomass and population density of macrofauna were moderate and showed fluctuating trend. Similarity coefficients of foraminifera (0.89) and polychaetes (0.81) were high for high for offshore unpolluted stations (3 and 4) as compared to nearshore coastal stations (1 and 2). Faunal diversity was relatively more in unpolluted zone. The diversity Index (H) was more at station 3 for polychaetes (1.39) and at station 4 for foraminiferans (0.54). In general, biomass was high during postmonsoon excepting station 1 which was invariably under severe pollution stress throughout the study period. Foraminiferans were abundant at sandy bottom while polychaetes preferred muddy (clayey-silt) bottom. A noticeable ecological modification associated with faunal abundance and diversity were related to deteriorating marine water quality due to anthropogenic waste disposals. The prevailing water quality around Mahim is unsuitable for any kind of culture practices and also for harvesting economically important marine species.
 
Date 2006-09-19T08:57:00Z
2006-09-19T08:57:00Z
1995
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Journal of Indian Fisheries Association, vol.25, 47-56p.
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/395
 
Language en
 
Format 120315 bytes
application/pdf
 
Publisher Indian Fisheries Association