Abstract
Comparing meiofaunal assemblages in the seagrass zone with bare sediment will provide information on the structuring factors and phytal preferences of meiobenthic invertebrates since differences in density and diversity of meiofauna are to be expected between vegetated and bare zones. A total of 11 groups of meiofauna, with harpacticoids dominating (51 %) and comprising 48 species within 14 families, have been identified. At all localities, the following harpacticoids were found to be relatively abundant, contributing 30.9 % of all harpacticoids: Longipedia weberi, Canuellina nicobaris, Scottolana longipes, and Parastenhelia hornelli. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.987, r 2 = 0.974, F (1,9) = 337.3, P < 0.001) of meiofaunal assemblage was found between seagrass leaf blades and the canopy sediment compared to bare sediment which was found to have a moderate correlation (r = 0.543, r 2 = 0.294, F (1,9) = 3.756, P = 0.085). In addition, the abundance of harpacticoids was significantly higher (ANOVA, F (2,144) = 19.53, P < 0.001) in seagrass sediments and differed markedly from blades and bare sediments, and the composition was unique in the different zones of the present study. Productive seagrass ecosystems are as yet inadequately studied in the Andaman Islands. This study provides a first step to characterize a faunal group from the seagrass community.
Highlights
Comparing meiofaunal assemblages in the seagrass zone with bare sediment will provide information on the structuring factors and phytal preferences of meiobenthic invertebrates since differences in density and diversity of meiofauna are to be expected between vegetated and bare zones
The reviews of seagrass associates reveal that harpacticoid copepods were the key taxon among the macrophytal communities (Arunachalam and Nair 1988; De Troch et al 2001; 2003)
Totally, 11 major groups of meiofaunal size organisms were identified by this study
Summary
11 major groups of meiofaunal size organisms were identified by this study. The dominant groups were Harpacticoida (51 %) followed by Nematoda (12.6 %) and Foraminifera (12 %). The presence of two major clusters of families became apparent with one of the clusters comprising families such as Porcellidiidae, Ameiridae, and Peltidiidae which were found to be the numerically dominant harpacticoid copepods of the seagrass leaf blade and sediment zones. The Harpacticoida were numerically dominant in the canopy sediment, whereas assemblage in the leaf blade and canopy sediment showed high species richness (Fig. 5a, b) and was numerically dominated by Canuellina nicobaris and Scottolana longipes. Longipedia weberi, Canuellina nicobaris, Scottolana longipes, and Parastenhelia hornelli were found to be relatively abundant, contributing 30.9 % of all harpacticoids Other species such as Noodtiella ornamentalis (6.4 %) were the dominant in blades. The Shannon index shows higher diversity of copepods in the vegetated region than in the bare sediment where as the equitability of species was more or less equal in all zones during the period of collection (Fig. 5c, d)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
