Abstract
Benthos inhabiting brackishwater ecosystems is subjected to transitional environment of freshwater and saltwater conditions. In the present paper the effects of environmental variables were studied along with anthropogenic activities, selecting two man-made fishery systems (bheri) and one natural estuarine system at Canning town, West Bengal, India. 11 water parameters and five sediment parameters were studied. Qualitative study of macrozoobenthos indicates that natural estuarine ecosystem harbours 57 species of nine groups while brackishwater impoundments are inhabited by 17–20 species only. The population density of the commonly occurring macrobenthic species reveals variation with respect to season and sites. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and canonical correspondence analysis results suggest that more than 15 macrozoobenthic species bear significant correlation with one or more water and sediment parameters, within which 12 species showed significant correlation in estuarine ecosystem indicating more environmental stress in impoundments than estuary.
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