Community structure and seasonal distribution of intertidal macrofauna from two rocky shores of Karachi coast

Rocky shores are considered heterogeneous environments due to their composition and structure. Therefore, they support numerous habitats for flora and fauna. Organisms found on rocky shores are facing intense physicochemical conditions during tidal changes from upper to lower intertidal zones. Total (N=1888) specimens were collected on seasonal basis from intertidal zone during low tide from two rocky sites of Karachi coast, Buleji and Sunehri during January 2017 to December 2017. The highest number of individuals (N=1041), were recorded from Buleji than Sunehri (N= 847). The seasonal abundance in Mollusca were measured as (36.84%), (63.67%), (25.08) and (40.38%) from Buleji while from Sunehri (45.16 %), (46.01%), (48.65) and (42.79 %) during pre-monsoon, south-west monsoon, post monsoon and north-east monsoon season respectively. Group Arthropoda, Mollusca and Echinodermata were shows the highest abundance of the species at both sites as compare to other groups. The highest diversity index from Sunehri (H'=0.64) was measured in north-east monsoon season meanwhile, (H'=0.61) was measured in post monsoon season from Buleji coast. Evenness index (J'=0.25) in pre-monsoon season from Buleji and (J'=0.28) in south-west monsoon season from Sunehri coast. Season shows the great abundance of species as compare to other seasons. No significant correlation was observed in between seasons, water temperature and salinity with macrofauna groups at both sites.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ali, Qadeer Mohammad, Ghory, Farhana S., Ahmed, Quratulan, Siddique, Saima, Mubarak, Shumaila, Memon, Sehrish
Format: article biblioteca
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:Biology, Ecology, seasonal distribution, macrofauna, Karachi coast, Buleji, Sunehri,
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1834/41272
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