Indian Journal of Marine Sciences

Vol. 39 (2), June 2010, pp. 201-211

Benthic polychaetes as good indicators of anthropogenic impact

S Sivadas, *B Ingole & M Nanajkar
Biological Oceanography Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Dona Paula, Goa-403004, India
*[E-mail: [email protected]]

Received 15 April 2009; revised 29 July 2009

Seven stations were sampled within the Mormugao harbour area for benthos and environmental variables from
September 2003 to July 2004. A total of 71 polychaete taxa were identified from the area. Polychaete abundance, biomass
and species number was highest during post monsoon, mainly due to new recruitment. Pre monsoon is the most stable
period for community development when, the fauna was dominated by opportunistic deposit feeding polychaete species.
Average abundance ranged from 652-4096 ind m-2 reported at channel and harbour station respectively. Harbour station was
dominated by P. pinnata, Magelona sp., Tharyx sp. and Cossura sp. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed clear
demarcation of outer harbour, inner harbour and channel stations. Correlation of physico-chemical and biotic parameters did
not show a significant correlation. Dominance of opportunistic deposit feeding species and low polychaete diversity in the
inner harbour indicate negative impact of harbour activities on the species composition.

[Keywords: Harbour activities, Polychaete, Diversity, Opportunistic species, Goa, West coast of India].

Introduction it accounted to 7% of the total traffic handled by all

Macrofauna forms the dominant biomass in marine the twelve major ports of India. In the vicinity of the
sediment and play an important role in ecosystem harbour, several maritime activities like boat building,
processes such as secondary production, nutrient fishing, dry docking and other related activities are
recycling and pollutant metabolism1. Polychaetes are carried out which further impacts the marine
an important component of macrobenthic community environment. Besides this, urban effluents from
as they often dominate in terms of abundance, nearby establishments also flow into the harbour7.
biomass and species. As a result, they play an Contaminants in the Mormugao harbour are derived
important role in the stability and functioning of the from the shipping activities, from the river runoff,
benthic community and the ecology in general2-3. urban effluent, fishing activities, transportation of
They are extremely diverse taxa, with wide range of ores and mining effluents/rejects. Benthic study in the
reproductive strategies and feeding guilds2. Since the area is restricted to the spatial and temporal variation
taxon contains both sensitive and tolerant species, of macrofauna from the Zuari estuary8-11. Present
they have been identified world wide as group that study was performed with the objective of studying
responds quickly to environmental disturbance4-6. the environmental quality of the harbour using benthic
Potency of the use of polychaetes in marine polychaete as an assessment tool.
environmental assessment are (1) they are the most
abundant macrobenthic group, readily available and Material and methods
easy to sample (2) they include a great diversity of Mormugao harbour (15°25’ N and 73° 47’E)
trophic guilds and reproductive strategies that could located on the southern bank of the Zuari river mouth
be the reason of their success in many environments; (Fig. 1). A breakwater of 522.40 meters long protects
(3) they respond to disturbance induced by different the harbour from the SW monsoon. Harbour is
kinds of pollution exhibiting quantifiable changes in dominated by periodic tidal exchange of oceanic and
the community structure. estuarine water12 with strong bottom currents
Mormugao is one of the oldest and major port on (1.5 m s-1).
the west coast of India. It accounts for ≈ 40% of Field sampling for the present study was carried
India's iron ore export and ranks within the first ten out monthly from September 2003 to July 2004.
leading iron ore exporting ports of the world. In 2007, Sampling in August 2004 was not possible due to
202 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 39, NO. 2, JUNE 2010

MDS analysis, the species having the greatest

contribution to this division were determined using
Similarity of Percentage (SIMPER). All these analysis
were performed using Primer 6.

Results
Sediment chl a was highest at stn 5 (0.48 µg g-1)
and lowest was observed at stn 4 (0.17 µg g-1).
Generally, the values were high in post monsoon
(0.51 µg g-1) and low during pre monsoon
(0.059 µg g-1). Chl a, illustrated a significant seasonal
variation (p<0.001). Average sediment OC was high
at stn 5 (1.8%) and lower at stn 2 (1%). Seasonally,
Fig. 1—Location of the study area OC was highest during post monsoon at all the
stations with average value of (1.86%) and lowest
very rough weather conditions. Samples were during monsoon (1.1 %). ANOVA demonstrated
collected from seven subtidal stations (Fig. 1), stn significant differences among the stations (p<0.05)
1-4 located in the outer harbour, stn 5 in the and seasons (p<0.001). Tukey’s post hoc test for
navigation channel and stn 6-7 in the inner harbour. multiple comparisons showed that OC was
The depth in the study area ranged from 6–15 m. significantly low at stn 2 during monsoon and highest
Sediment was collected with a modified (to avoid any at stn 5 in post monsoon.
spillage) van Veen grab (0.04 m2) in triplicates. Survey of macrofaunal community in the
Macrofauna were sieved on 0.5 mm mesh sieve and Mormugao harbour revealed the total dominance of
fixed in 5% formalin-rose Bengal solution. In the polychaete in terms of abundance (49%) and diversity
laboratory, samples were again washed, sorted, (51%). Polychaete fauna of the area was represented
identified13-14 and counted. Biomass was determined by 71 species belonging to 30 families (Table 1).
by wet weight method. Average polychaete abundance was high at stn 6
At each station, sediment sample was taken for the (4096 ind m-2) and low at stn 5 (652 ind m-2; Fig. 2).
analysis of chlorophyll a (chl a) and organic carbon. Two-way ANOVA and post hoc test detected
Chl a was analysed by acetone extraction method15 significant variation between stations (p<0.05) and
and organic carbon by wet oxidation method16. Water maximum abundance was at stn 6.
parameters (Dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen Species composition and dominance varied
demand, nutrients, chl a, pH, temperature, salinity, significantly among the sampling locations. About
petroleum hydrocarbon Cd, Pb and Hg), sediment 26% of the species identified were observed at all the
metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) and granulometry were studied stations. Ten species dominated the polychaete
concurrently17 and used for correlation analysis with abundance in the area and together contributed to
the biological parameters. 55 - 88% of the total polychaete fauna (Table 2).
The data was divided into three seasons-monsoon Mediomastus sp. and Paraprionospio pinnata were
(June-September), post monsoon (October-January) the most dominant species and contributed to 14%
and pre monsoon (February-May). Significant each to the total polychaete abundance in the study
variation of environmental and biological parameters area. Average abundance of Mediomastus sp. ranged
was tested by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and from 77-453 ind m-2 observed at stn 4 and stn 3,
Tukey’s post hoc test. Correlation was carried out, in respectively. Abundance of P. pinnata was highest at
order to relate the environmental and biological data stn 6 (1008 ind m-2) and lowest in stn 2 (58 ind m-2).
(Statistica 6). Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’), Abundance of Magelona sp. was highest in the
Pielou’s evenness (J’), Margalef’s species richness (d) harbour station (846 ind m-2) and it contributed to
was calculated using MDS ordination (Multi 13% of the total polychaete abundance. Mean
Dimensional Scaling) and Bray-Curtis similarity abundance of Cossura sp. ranged from
index was constructed based on polychaete 78-439 ind m-2 with highest values observed in the
abundance. Following the division into groups from channel (stn 5). Terebellides stroemi contributed to
 SIVADAS et al. : BENTHIC POLYCHAETES AN ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT 203

Table 1—Diversity of polychaete fauna in the Mormugao harbour observed during Sep. 2003- July 2004. + present; - absent
Species Stn1 Stn 2 Stn 3 Stn 4 Stn 5 Stn 6 Stn 7
Family Phyllodocidae
Phyllodoce sp. + + + + - - -
P. malmgreni + + + + + - -
P. madeirensis + + + - - + -
Eteone sp. - + + - + - -
Family Aphroditidae
Sthenelais sp. - - - + - - -
Harmothoë sp. - + + + - + +
Family Pisionidae
Pisione oerstedi + + + + - - -
Family Hesionidae
Podarke sp. - - + + - + -
Hesione sp. - - + - - - -
Family Syllidae
Syllis cornuta - - - - - + -
S. krohni + + + - + - -
Syllis sp. + + + + + - -
Sphaerosyllis sp. - - + - - - -
Exogene sp. + + + - - - -
Odontosyllis sp. - - + - - - -
Family Pilargiidae
Ancistrasyllis constricta + + + + + + +
A. groenlandica + + + + - + +
Family Nephtyidae
Nepthys polybranchia + + + + + + +
Family Nereidae
Neries sp. + + + + - + -
Drilonereis filum - - - + - - -
Family Glyceridae
Glycera alba + + + + - + +
G. longipinnis + + + + + + +
Family Goniadidae
Gylcinde oligodon - + + + - + +
Gylcinde sp. + + + + - + +
Goniadides sp + + + + + - -
Goniada hexadentes + + + + - + -
Goniada sp. - - - + - - -
Family Cirratulidae
Tharyx sp. + + + + + + +
Chaetozone sp. 1 + + + + + + +
Chaetozone sp. 2 + + + + + + +
Family Spionidae
Paraprionospio pinnata + + + + + + +
Prionospio aucklandica - + + - - + -
Polydora sp. + - - - - + -
Contd.—
204 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 39, NO. 2, JUNE 2010

Table 1—Diversity of polychaete fauna in the Mormugao harbour observed during Sep. 2003- July 2004. + present; - absent—Contd.
Species Stn1 Stn 2 Stn 3 Stn 4 Stn 5 Stn 6 Stn 7
P. ciliate + + + + - + +
P. coeca + + + + + + +
Pseudopolydora antennata + + + + - + -
Pseudopolydora kempi + + + + + + +
Minuspio cirrifera + + + + + + +
Family Magelonidae
Magelona sp. + + + + + + +
Family Poecilochaetidae
Poecilochaetus johnsoni + + + + - - -
Family Chaetopteridae
Phyllochaetopterus sp. - + + + - - +
Family Disomidae
Trochochaeta orissae - + + + - + +
Family Maldanidae
Euclymene insecta + + + + - + +
Axiothella obockensis + + + + + + -
Family Capitellidae
Mediomastus sp. + + + + + + +
Heteromastus sp. - - - + - - -
Neomediomastus sp. - - - - - + -
Notomastus sp. + + + + - + +
Dasybranchus sp. - - - + - - -
Capitella sp. - - - - - + -
Unidentified Capitellidae + + + + + + +
Family Dorvilleidae
Protodorvillea egena + + + + + - -
Family Lumbrineridae
Lumbrineris japonica + + + + + + -
Family Eunicidae
Eunice indica + + + + + + +
Family Onuphidae
Diopatra claparedii + + + + + - -
Onuphis eremita + + + + + + -
O. dibranchiata + + - + - + -
Family Sternaspidae
Sternaspis scutata + + + + + + +
Family Sabellariidae
Neosabellaria cementarium + + + - + + -
Family Terebellidae
Terebellides stroemi + + + + + + -
Family Sabellidae
Jasmineira sp. + + + + + - -
Family Saccocirridae
Saccocirrus sp. - - - + - - -
Family Orbiniidae
Contd.—
 SIVADAS et al. : BENTHIC POLYCHAETES AN ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT 205

Table 1—Diversity of polychaete fauna in the Mormugao harbour observed during Sep. 2003- July 2004. + present; - absent—Contd.
Species Stn1 Stn 2 Stn 3 Stn 4 Stn 5 Stn 6 Stn 7
Family Orbiniidae
Scoloplos sp. + + + + + + -
Family Paraonidae
Aricidea catherinae + + + + + + +
A. multiantennata - - - - - - +
A. fauveli - - + - - - -
Aricidea sps. - - - - - + -
Paradoneis armata + + + - - - -
Levinsenia sp. + + + + + + +
Family Cossuridae
Cossura sp. + + + + + + +
Family Opheliidae
Armandia lanceolata
[
+ - - - - - -

Table 2—Composition (%) of dominant species at the sampling location during the present study
Taxa Stn.1 Stn.2 Stn.3 Stn.4 Stn.5 Stn.6 Stn.7
Paraprionospio pinnata (DF) 7 4 8 8 16 25 14
Polydora coeca (DF) 5 16 2 2 - - -
Cossura sp. (DF) 6 6 8 8 18 11 13
Tharyx sp. (DF) 2 1 4 2 2 15 19
Nephtys polybranchia (C) 5 5 6 2 8 2 4
Mediomastus sp.(DF) 14 19 21 26 11 7 12
Capitellidae (DF) 1 - 1 2 2 7 10
Axiothella obockensis (DF) 5 2 2 16 1 - -
Magelona sp (DF) 2 12 18 3 1 21 11
Terebellides stroemi (FF) 8 2 4 1 6 0 0
Others 45 33 26 30 35 12 17
DF: Deposit feeders; C: Carnivorous; FF: Filter feeders

1-8% of the total polychaete abundance. Tharyx sp.

(9%), Nephtys polybranchia (4%), Minuspio cirrifera
(3%), Aricidea catherinae (2%), Axiothella
obockensis (3%) were the other dominant species.
Plate 1 represents some of the dominant species
identified from the area.
Overall, inner harbour (stn 6 and 7) was dominated
by P.pinnata (14-25%), Magelona sp. (11-21%),
Tharyx sp. (15-19%) and Cossura sp. (11-13%). Fig. 2—Spatio-temporal variation of polychaete abundance in the
study area
Other species occurring in the harbour were
M. cirrifera, A. catherinae, Sternaspis scutata, navigation channel was dominated by Cossura sp.
Chaetozone sp.1 and 2 and unidentified Capitellidae. (18%), P.pinnata (16%) and Mediomastus sp. (11%).
Mediomastus sp. was most dominant in the outer Species abundance was subjected to the cluster
harbour, contributing to 14 – 26% of the total analysis and ordination (Fig. 3). The method detected
polychaete abundance. Other commonly occurring two groups and reliability of the data was seen from
species were Polydora coeca (2-16%), A. obockensis the low stress value (0.01). Stns 1-4 clustered together
(2-16%) and Magelona sp. (2-18%). The fauna in the with 74% similarity (Group I). Stn 6 and 7 with 79%
206 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 39, NO. 2, JUNE 2010

Plate 1 — Dominant polychaete species of MPT. P.pinnata (a), Magelona sp. (b), Mediomastus sp. (c), Cossura sp. (d), Tharyx sp. (e),
Capitellidae (f), M.cirrifera (g), T.stroemi (h)
 SIVADAS et al. : BENTHIC POLYCHAETES AN ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT 207

similarity formed the second group (Group II). The The values increased from monsoon (122 ind m-2)
channel station (stn 5) did not cluster with the other to post monsoon (383 ind m-2) and declined in pre
stations. SIMPER analysis was performed based on monsoon (127 ind m-2). Abundance of Cossura sp.
the results of cluster analysis to find out the species, was observed throughout the study period with high
which accounted for the differences between the values in monsoon (210 ind m-2). The abundance of
clustered groups (Table 3). Cossura sp. showed a marginal decrease during post
Polychaete abundance was highest in post monsoon monsoon (180 ind m-2) and pre monsoon (187 ind m-2).
(3362 ind m-2) which dropped drastically during pre Abundance of Tharyx sp. ranged from 48 –
monsoon (735 ind m-2; Fig. 2). During the study, 272 ind m-2. Highest abundance of Tharyx sp. was
polychaetes community showed a distinct seasonal observed in monsoon and lowest value was
pattern. Abundance of P. pinnata was highest in in pre monsoon.
monsoon (533 ind m-2) and dropped during post Polychaete biomass (wet wt) showed a similar
monsoon. However, the minimum abundance trend to that of abundance with lower values being at
(15 ind m-2) was in pre monsoon. Abundance of stn 5 (0.9 g m-2) and higher at stn 6 (4.96 g m-2;
Magelona sp. increased from monsoon (58 ind m-2) to Fig. 4). Seasonally highest biomass was during post
post monsoon (591 ind m-2) and like all other species monsoon at all the stations (Fig. 4). Biomass also
the abundance showed sharp decrease during pre showed significant variation between stations
monsoon (36 ind m-2). Abundance of Mediomastus sp. (p<0.05).
also showed a similar trend to that of Magelona sp.

Fig. 3—Bray Curtis cluster (a) and MDS ordination (b) analysis
based on species abundance. Fig. 4—Spatio-temporal variation of polychaete biomass in the
study area

Table 3—SIMPER analysis based on group obtained from cluster showing the species that contributed to the differences among the
groups. Av. Abund: average abundance; Av. Diss: Average dissimilarity; Contrib: Contribution
Species Av.Abund Av.Abund Av.Diss Diss/SD Contrib% Cum.%
Average dissimilarity 49.90 Group I Group III
Mediomastus sp. 331.02 77.41 10.44 2.51 20.93 20.93
Magelona sp. 154.38 7.03 5.74 1.02 11.5 32.43
Polydora coeca 90.4 3.01 3.93 0.89 7.87 40.3
Axiothella obockensis 97.55 8.03 3.87 0.87 7.76 48.06
Cossura sp. 114.98 132.54 1.59 1.62 3.19 51.25
Average dissimilarity 60.05 Group I Group II
Paraprionospio pinnata 112.57 656.78 10.65 1.78 17.74 17.74
Tharyx sp. 39.25 503.04 9.92 7.56 16.51 34.25
Magelona sp. 154.38 545.38 8.34 1.61 13.89 48.14
Cossura sp. 114.98 356.01 5.07 3.52 8.44 56.58
Capitellidae 18.56 246 4.94 7.97 8.22 64.8
Average dissimilarity 71.62 Group III Group II
Magelona sp. 7.03 545.38 13.06 1.93 18.23 18.23
Tharyx sp. 15.06 503.04 12.96 33.22 18.09 36.32
Paraprionospio pinnata 118.48 656.78 12.71 1.45 17.75 54.07
Capitellidae 13.05 246 6.3 7.39 8.8 62.87
Cossura sp. 132.54 356.01 5.7 4.87 7.96 70.83
208 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 39, NO. 2, JUNE 2010

Average values of species richness, evenness and parameter. The abundance value correlated positively
Shannon-Wiener diversity are shown in figure 5. with DO (r=0.7, p=0.05) and showed negative
Species number and richness was low at stn 7 (31 and correlation with BOD. A similar relation was
3.9) and high at stn 3 (59 and 7.5). Species richness observed between polychaete biomass and DO (r=0.7,
ranged from 1.24 to 2.49 observed during post p=0.05). Correlation with sediment texture showed
monsoon and monsoon respectively. Species richness similar pattern observed in most area i.e positive with
showed significant differences between stations silt (p=0.05) and negative with sand (p=0.05). Species
number showed a significant negative correlation with
(p<0.001). Evenness varied between 0.6-0.8 observed
BOD (r=0.8, p<0.01). The correlation between
at stn 6 and 1, respectively and was statistically
polychaete community and contaminants (water and
significant (p<0.05). Species evenness showed
sediment PHC, Cd, Hg, Pb) were not significant.
significant temporal (p<0.01) variation and mean
species evenness value was significantly highest
Discussions
during pre monsoon (0.79). Shannon-Wiener diversity
Polychaete abundance and biomass was lowest at
was higher at Stn1 (3.2) and lower (2.0) at stn 6.
stn. 5 (Figs 2 and 4). Stn. 5 was located in the
Shannon-Wiener diversity showed significant
navigation channel. Continuous disturbance by vessel
differences between stations (p<0.001). Species
movements and the annual maintenance dredging
diversity ranged from 1.59 – 2.10 recorded during
carried out to deepen the channel after the monsoon
monsoon and post monsoon respectively. Shannon-
affect the fauna. Quantity of the maintenance
Wiener diversity showed significant seasonal
dredging carried out annually along the navigational
difference (p<0.001). The mean diversity value during
post monsoon was significantly high. channel and harbour basin is about 3.7×106 m3 (17).
Community in the outer harbour was represented by
Mediomastus sp., P.coeca and A. obockensis.
Mediomastus sp. is known to dominate moderately
disturbed high energy environment18. T. stroemi was
observed with highest abundance in the outer stations
and are known to have large ecological flexibility
essential for adapting under stress conditions19.
Further, compared to the inner harbour, species
sensitive to pollution occurred in some of the outer
harbour stations. Inner harbour was dominated by
opportunistic species like P.pinnata, Tharyx sp.,
Magelona sp. and Cossura sp. Generally, the benthic
community in an unstable environment is typically
dominated by r-selected species, characterised by
higher reproduction rate and genetic variation, and is
therefore more stress tolerant20. These dominant
species in the inner harbour (P.pinnata, Tharyx sp.,
Magelona sp. and Cossura sp.) are surface or
subsurface feeders, and are established as pollution
indicators21,4. Results of the present study agreed with
other harbour fauna that was also dominated by few
opportunistic polychaete species.
Although the polychaete abundance was highest in
the inner harbour, species number, richness, evenness
and diversity was highest in the outer harbour (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5—Mean (±SD) of species richness (a), evenness (b) and
diversity (c) for the seven stations during the study area.
Low diversity and evenness in the inner harbour was
largely due to the dominance of few opportunistic
The polychaete abundance, biomass and species species that together contributed to > 80% of the total
diversity indices were correlated with abiotic polychaete abundance. Cluster and MDS ordination
 SIVADAS et al. : BENTHIC POLYCHAETES AN ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT 209

was also able to discriminate between inner and outer Cirratulids, Cossurids, Capitellids) are know to have
harbour stations indicating a clear difference in remarkable tolerance of hydrocarbon and other
polychaete community in the two areas. SIMPER, pollutants that are toxic to most other fauna24-25. Their
further confirmed the results that the variations dominance in contaminated sediments is due to higher
observed between the outer and inner harbour were per capita rates of recruitment and adult survival than
due to the dominance of different species. High OC more sensitive taxa24.
may have contributed to the higher abundance of Biotic parameters showed a weak correlation with
opportunistic species in the inner harbour4. But the environmental parameters. Polychaete community did
low diversity in inner harbour reflects the negative not show significant relation with sediment and water
effect of increase organic levels. Present finding contaminants. Chemical concentration in
agrees well with other studies where maximum environmental parameters is not always an accurate
diversity is observed in an area with moderate values predicator of biological and ecological effects26.
of OC and values decreased with increase in OC22. Hence, the use of benthos in environmental
There are very few studies that relate seasonal monitoring has an advantage as it can integrate
variations of fauna with the environmental variables conditions over a period of time rather than reflecting
and thus making it difficult to differentiate between condition during the time of sampling. Lack of any
natural and man-made changes. In the present study significant relationship between the biotic and abiotic
polychaetes showed significant seasonal variability. parameters may be due to the low bioavailability of
Abundance, biomass and species diversity peaked the contaminants. Bioavailability of contaminants
during post monsoon and showed a decline during pre depends on bioturbation, salinity, temperature, redox,
monsoon. Seasonal variability was influenced by pH27-28. On the other hand, organic matter is also
recruitment as juveniles were responsible for the high known to be an important factor controlling the
abundance observed during post monsoon. Majority abundance of trace metals29. Further, iron and
of the polychaete in pre monsoon were adults and manganese oxides (oxyhydroxides) are strong
microscopic inspection of random specimens scavengers of metals, affecting trace metal
indicated presence of eggs in majority of specimens. mobilization, as they precipitate under oxic condition
In the tropical estuaries, increased salinity during pre and dissolve in anoxic environment. Since, Fe and Mn
monsoon triggers the reproduction in most of the are the main ore exported from the harbour, the values
benthic fauna followed by recolonization of these metals were also higher in the study area.
in post monsoon23. Iron concentration in the Zuari water ranged from 0-
However the polychaetes in Mormugao harbor did 20 mg l-1 and 1- 16 mg l-1 in the sediment30.
not follow the general pattern normally observed in An attempt was made to evaluate the change in the
tropical estuaries of increase in abundance from polychaete community in the area by examining
monsoon to post monsoon and pre monsoon8. previous data. However, comparison with previous
Polychaete abundance showed a decline during pre data had its limitations because, studies were often
monsoon which may due to the harbour activities based on short investigation; sampling location and
which increased after the monsoon and peaks during limitations to the species identified were not fully
pre monsoon. During monsoon, harbour activities are presented. Earlier studies revealed that the polychaete
reduced due to the rough weather conditions. as the most diverse and abundant group and was true
Increased harbour activities after monsoon also for the present study. However, notable change was
increase the sediment load and contaminants observed in the community composition. Carnivorous,
(hydrocarbons and metals). Increased harbour D. neapolitana and G.alba were replaced and
activities along with extreme environmental dominated by opportunistic, P.pinnata. A similar shift
conditions can cause considerable stress to the was observed by Raman31 in the Visakhapatnam
organisms and only highly tolerant species survive the harbour. Carnivorous D. neapolitana and Nereis
stressed conditions. Most dominant species during pre glandicincta were replaced by the opportunistic,
monsoon season was Cossura sp. Other dominant Capitella capitata. Ansari et al.7 reported that
species were Tharyx sp., M.cirrifera, Nephtys Nereidae dominated the harbour community. Further,
polybranchia and unidentified Capitellidae. The carnivorous species belonging to the family
adults and larvae of polychaete species (Spionid, Glyceridae, Goniadidae, Eunicidae, Nereidae were
210 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 39, NO. 2, JUNE 2010

recorded in low abundance and mostly in the outer Acknowledgement

station. Out of the 71 identified polychaete species, 62 Authors are thankful to Dr Satish Shetye, Director,
are reported for the first time from the area. NIO, for his encouragement. And to thank Dr XN
Moreover, 43% of the species were deposit feeders Verlecar for kind help. This is contribution number
and dominated in terms of abundance. Mediomastus 4789 of NIO (CSIR) Goa.
sp., which dominated the polychaete community of
the area, was not reported from the area previously. References
Other species which dominated the area and not 1 Snelgrove P V R, The biodiversity of macrofaunal organism
reported earlier are Tharyx sp., A. obockensis, A. in the marine sediment. Biodivers. Conserv., 7 (1998) 1123-
1132.
catherina, Polydora coeca, Pseudopolydora kempi, 2 Hutchings P A, Biodiversity and functioning of polychaetes
Jasmineria sp. Therefore, the increase in deposit in benthic sediments. Biodivers. Conserv., 7 (1998) 1133-
feeding polychaete in the area may be the result of 1145.
increase organic load as average organic carbon value 3 Belan T A, Marine environmental quality assessment using
polychaete taxocene characteristics in Vancouver harbour.
also showed an increase from 1%8 to 2% during the Mar Environ Res., 57 (2003) 89-101.
present study and highest values were in the harbour 4 Pearson T H & Rosenberg R, Macrobenthic succession in
stations. D. neapolitana feeds on algae, sponges, relation to organic enrichment and pollution of the marine
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