Meiobenthic composition of manakudy estuary, southwest coast of India

An attempt was made to study the meiobenthic community composition, density, richness, evenness and diversity of Manakudy estuary, south west coast of India, during February 2010 to January 2012. Thirty seven (37) species were identified in the present investigation. Foraminiferans are dominated group of all over the estuary and represented by Ammonia beccarii, Lagena semistriata, Rosalina globularis, Eponides repandus and Globigerinoides sp., The second dominated population group of nematodes was represented by Daptonema conicum, Desmoscolex sp., Halalaimus sp., Theristus sp. and Viscosia sp. Third dominated harpacticoids copepods population was represented by Euterpina acutifrons, Macrosetella sp. and Microsetella sp., Ostrocodes population was represented by Cypridina sp. and Cyprideis sp. Abundance of foraminiferans is concentrated at station I, II, III and IV. Organic pollution indicator Daptonema conicum fairly dominated at station I, II and III. The maximum abundance of meio benthic organisms recorded from station III and minimum at the station IV.