Diversity status of benthic macro polychaetes species in estuarine region of Karwar, West Coast of India

Abstract

Polychaetes play an important role in the food chain of estuarine ecosystem, especially fisheries point of view. For the present study monthly survey in two mangroves and one mouth area in Kali estuary Karwar were carried out from March 2015 to March 2016. Species diversity of benthic macro polychaetes of 61- species, 25-families have been studied, Out of those under Errentia group (9-species) were dominant compared to Sedenteria group (16-species). Among identified 25-families, the species diversity were found to be high in family Neriedae, Eunicidae, Glyceriedae, Capitallidae, Phyllodidae, Sabellaridae.