Impact of the 2004 tsunami on the macrofauna of the continental slope of the southeast coast of India

Abstract

The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004 devastated the southeast and southwest coasts of India. The impact of this tsunami on the macrobenthic communities of the continental slope off the southeast coast of India was assessed using samples collected prior to the tsunami (May–June, 2004), 6 months after the tsunami (June–July, 2005), and 18 months post‐tsunami (May–June, 2006). Samples from three different transects (Chennai, Cuddalore, and Karaikkal) and at three different depths (200 m, 500 m, and 1000 m) revealed the impact very clearly. Sediment granulometry, numerical abundance of macrofauna, number of species, diversity (Shannon–Wiener index and Total taxonomic distinctness index), species richness, species assemblages, and feeding types of macrobenthos showed the impact of the tsunami and the slow recovery thereafter. Our data showed that the macrobenthic community had not returned to the pre‐tsunami state after one and one‐half years.