Natural and human disturbances can affect population and community assemblages in complex ways. The present study was carried out from June 2019 to January 2020, along the Northern Gulf of Kachchh (can also be spelled as Kutch), western India wherein an effort was made to investigate the intertidal assemblage at three distinct but spatially closely located stations (Kathda, Mandvi, and Modhva). The efforts were also made to correlate anthropogenic effects with intertidal assemblage. The Mandvi station served as an anthropogenically active area whereas the other two remained as control stations with minimal disturbance. Replicate quadrat samples on fixed transect lines and wet biomass analyses were carried out for three seasons. In total, 43 species, viz. Mollusca (21), Crustacea (12), Polychaeta (7), Nemertea (1), and fishes (2) were recorded. Cumulatively, during pre-monsoon, post-monsoon and winter, overall population densities ranged from 0 to 999 individuals/m2; biomass from 0 to 899 g/m2, and the Simpson evenness index score remained between 0.15 to 0.89. Overall, high density and diversity were observed during winter (December 2019 and January 2020) with the maximum number of two Mollusc species Umbonium vestiarium and Cerethidia cingulata. High densities were observed at the Modhva station followed by Kathda and Mandvi stations. Relatively lower intertidal macrofaunal diversity and density were clearly observed at Mandvi station which is a famous tourist destination. Comparative data recorded in the present study can serve as a vital baseline and can be a part of future monitoring processes, especially at anthropogenically influenced stations.
|