Macrobenthic composition of the southeast continental shelf of India

Manokaran, Seerangan; Khan, S. Ajmal; Lyla, P. S.

doi:10.1111/maec.12107

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…A few studies focused on the economically important bivalve species and associated conservation efforts (Rao, 1974; Kripa & Appukuttan, 2003). Various other studies reported overall diversity of organisms including bivalves from localities in the southern coast (Kurian, 1971; Khan et al , 2010; Kundu et al , 2010; Manokaran et al , 2015), east coast (Ansari et al , 1977; Mahapatro et al , 2011), and west coast (Parulekar, 1973; Parulekar & Dwivedi, 1974; Parulekar & Wagh, 1975; Jayaraj et al , 2007). Such studies conducted at a local scale, although common, may be limited in their utility in explaining larger patterns.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Influence of regional environment in guiding the spatial distribution of marine bivalves along the Indian coast

2017

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Tropical coastal areas are amongst the most diverse ecosystems in the world. However, there are quite a few coasts that have rarely been studied for their macro-benthic diversity. The Indian coastline presents one such gap area. Two sub-parallel coastlines of India have a wide latitudinal span (8–23°N) and strikingly different physiographic environments. While the east coast receives a high siliciclastic input from large river systems flowing to the Bay of Bengal with fluctuating salinity, the west coast has a large shelf area and high productivity of the Arabian Sea. Such difference enables us to evaluate the effect of regional environmental parameters on marine molluscan diversity and distribution in an intra-tropical setting. Because of the wide latitudinal range, it is also possible to assess if spatial difference in species richness in such a regional scale follows the large-scale biodiversity pattern such as Latitudinal Biodiversity Gradient (LBG) despite inherent environmental variation. We used species distribution of marine bivalves, compiled using bioSearch and the Ocean Productivity database, to address this question. Our results show that intra-tropical species richness of marine bivalves is guided primarily by regional environmental parameters. Even with identical latitudinal extent, higher nutrient availability and larger shelf area, the west coast has significantly lower richness than the east coast; among environmental variables, productivity, salinity and coastline length emerged as significant predictors of species diversity. Moreover, a positive influence of a South Asian biodiversity hotspot on east coast fauna and a negative impact of the oxygen-depleted condition of Arabian Sea on west coast fauna, may have a significant contribution in developing such coastal variation in species richness. The latitudinal variation in species richness did not follow LBG. In contrast to the coast-specific diversity difference, species composition is not found to be dictated by coastal affiliation. The composition corresponds primarily to physiographic conditions. We identified three distinct eco-regions (north-western, southern, north-eastern) with characteristic species composition corresponding to unique physiography and productivity mechanism. The NW region has low siliciclastic input and high productivity associated with upwelling during winter cooling. The NE region has a distinctly high riverine input and salinity fluctuation. The southern region, in contrast, has well developed reefal system with moderate variation in salinity. Such correspondence underscores the importance of the regional environment in dictating the species diversity and distribution in the shallow marine realm.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Influence of regional environment in guiding the spatial distribution of marine bivalves along the Indian coast

2017

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“…; Manokaran et al . ) of the offshore continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal (Parangipettai waters). By contrast, little information is available on the distribution, species‐level composition and diversity of free‐living marine nematodes in this region (Ansari et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have been conducted on the sedimentology (Ajmal Lyla et al 2012;Manokaran et al 2014) and macrobenthic communities (Ajmal Kundu et al 2010;Manokaran et al 2013) of the offshore continental shelf of the Bay of Bengal (Parangipettai waters). By contrast, little information is available on the distribution, species-level composition and diversity of free-living marine nematodes in this region (Ansari et al 2012b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity patterns of free‐living marine nematodes in the southwest continental shelf off Bay of Bengal and their link to abiotic variables

et al. 2015

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Marine sediments in continental shelf ecosystems harbor a rich biodiversity of benthic communities. In this study, the spatial and temporal diversity and community assemblages of free-living marine nematodes were studied by sampling at six depths and over 3 years from the southwest continental shelf off Bay of Bengal, one of the least explored tropical shelf ecosystems. The dominant marine nematode species were related with abiotic variables as part of this study. The effects of sediment granulometry generally decreased with increasing depth and the highest nematode density and species diversity were recorded on coarse sand (shallower depths). Multivariate analysis of the nematode community data showed that community structure differed significantly among depths as well as among years. Statistical analyses showed significant correlations between the nematode community and abiotic variables. Sediment texture, organic matter, water pressure and depth profile were crucial factors for determining diversity, vertical profile and feeding types of the nematode community. Other environmental factors, including anthropogenic pressure, did not have an effect on nematode diversity except for the presence of some tolerant species (Metachromadora spp., Sabatieria spp. and Siplophorella sp.). This study represents a baseline of knowledge of free-living marine nematode communities that can be used in the future to compare nematode assemblages from temperate shelf ecosystems.

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“…(2010) observed the polychaetes to constitute 45% of the total macrobenthic abundance. Manokaran et al (2015) reported that the benthic fauna consisted mainly of polychaetes (88.51%) in all three depth zones (shallow (30–75 m), middle (76–150 m) and deeper (>150 m)) of the south-east continental shelf. Joydas & Damodaran (2009) also observed the dominance of polychaetes (56.97%) in the macrofauna of the shelf in the west coast of India.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in macrobenthic community structure from estuary to continental slope in the south-east coast of India

2016

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The pattern of changes in the macrobenthic community was studied along the south-east coast of India from the estuary to continental slope. A transect perpendicular to the coast was selected for sampling in estuary, inshore region, continental shelf and continental slope. Sampling was done in 16 stations in the depth range of 1.7–1000 m. The community structure was characterized in terms of species composition, abundance, diversity and feeding type. Four taxa were encountered in the study area comprising 181 species of polychaetes, 65 species of molluscs, 47 species of crustaceans and six species of ‘others’ (four echinoderms and two cnidarians). Polychaetes were found to be dominant at all the depths constituting 53.89% of the total abundance and 60.54% of the total number of species. Number of species and Shannon diversity of macrobenthos increased from estuary to shelf region and then decreased. The abundance was found to be maximum in the estuary and minimum in the slope. Carnivorous species were found to be dominant in the estuarine and inshore regions and surface deposit feeders in the shelf and slope regions. Dissolved oxygen decreased gradually from 30 m depth and beyond 150 m the decrease was pronounced due to the presence of the oxygen minimum zone. The distance based linear model (DISTLM) showed the environmental variables to explain about 76.45% of the total variability in macrofaunal distribution. Among the various environmental parameters, total organic carbon, depth and salinity explained more variability than others. Gradual change in community structure was quite evident with increase in depth.

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Macrobenthic composition of the southeast continental shelf of India

Cited by 12 publications

References 64 publications

Influence of regional environment in guiding the spatial distribution of marine bivalves along the Indian coast

Influence of regional environment in guiding the spatial distribution of marine bivalves along the Indian coast

Diversity patterns of free‐living marine nematodes in the southwest continental shelf off Bay of Bengal and their link to abiotic variables

Changes in macrobenthic community structure from estuary to continental slope in the south-east coast of India

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