International Journal of Marine Science 2015, Vol.5, No.16, 1-12
7
excellent scavengers for trace metals (Tessier et al.,
1979). This would lead the co-precipitation of other
metals in the water column and so increase the
concentration of many metals in sediments.
The nickel levels were ranged between 0.32 µg/g and
10.48 µg/g (Figure 5). It was maximum found in
station 1 during monsoon and the minimum was
recorded in station 2 during postmonsoon. The lead
levels were ranged between 2.68 µg/g and 17.56 µg/g
(Figure 5). It was maximum found in station 1during
monsoon and the minimum was recorded in station 2
during post monsoon. The zinc levels were ranged
between 1.6 µg/g and 29.72 µg/g (Figure 5). It was
maximum found in station 1 during monsoon and the
minimum was recorded in station 2 during
postmonsoon. This similar observation reported in the
Pichavaram mangrove (Glory Dally, 1984) and in the
Kodiakkarai coastal area (Pragatheeswaran et al., 1986).
In total, 86 macro-benthic infaunal species
represented by five diverse groups were
encountered, of which polychaetes, bivalves,
gastropods, amphipod and isopods were the most
important groups. Polychaetes dominated the
infauna (49 species) and contributed numerically up
to 56% of the population. Bivalves were consisting
of 7 species and contributed 8% of total infauna
production. Gastropods were consisted of 8 species
and contributed 9%, amphipods were 10 species and
contributed 12%, Isopods were 8 species 9% and
the other families of the infauna were 4 species and
contributed 5% of the total population (Table 1).
Species composition of the benthic macro-fauna in
the present observation showed numerical
dominance in the order of polychaetes, molluscs
(bivalves and gastropods), crustaceans and others,
as was observed earlier by Kumar, (2001).
Table 1 Species checklist for Cuddalore and Parangipettai
S.No Polychaetes
St1-POM St1-SUM St1-PRM St1-MON St2-POM St2-SUM St2-PRM St2-MON
1
Arabella mutans
*
*
*
*
-
-
-
-
2
Armandia intermedia
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
3
Armandia longicaudata
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
4
Boccardia polybranchia
*
*
*
*
*
-
*
*
5
Capitella capitata
*
*
*-
*
*
*
*
*
6
Chone collaris
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
7
Cirratulus africanus
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
*
8
Cirratulus chrysoderma
-
-
*
-
-
-
-
*
9
Cirratulus concinnus
-
-
-
-
*
-
*
-
10
Cirratulus filiformis
*
*
*
*
-
-
-
-
11
Cirriformia
sp.
-
-
-
-
*
*
-
-
12
Cossura coasta
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
13
Dorvillea gardineri
-
-
-
-
*
*
*
*
14
Drilonereis monroi
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
15
Epidiopatra gilchristi
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
16
Eulalia bilineata
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
17
Eunice indica
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
18
Exogone clavator
*
*
*
*
*
-
-
*
19
Fabricia filamentosa
*
*
*
-
-
-
-
-
20
Glycera alba
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
21
Glycinde capensis
-
-
-
-
*
-
*
-
22
Goniada emerita
*
*
*
*
*
-
*
*
23
Goniadides falcigera
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
24
Hesione
sp.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
25
Hesionura laubieri
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
*
26
Jaeropsis beuroisi
*
*
*
*
**
*
*
*
27
Leanira hystricis
*
*
*
-
-
-
-
-
28
Lumbrinereis aberrans
-
-
-
-
*
*
*
-
29
Lumbrineris sp
*
*
*
*-
-
-
-
-
30
Maldane sarsi
-
-
-
-
*
-
*
*
31
Nephtys dibranchis
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
32
Nephtys sphaerocirrata
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
33
Nereis capensis
-
-
-
-
*
*
*
*
34
Notocirrus australis
*-
*
*
*
*
*
*-
*
