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L - Cochin University of Science and Technology

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polychaetes, crustaceans contributed substantially along most transects except <strong>of</strong>T<br />

Mumbai <strong>and</strong> Porb<strong>and</strong>er where molluscs dominated.<br />

Percentage contribution <strong>of</strong> various polychaete families is presented in Table<br />

16. Polychaetes were composed <strong>of</strong> errantia (6%) belonging to 10 families <strong>and</strong><br />

sedentaria (94%) belongigng to 14 families. Eunicidae (2.8%) <strong>and</strong> Pilagidae (1.2%)<br />

were the major families in Errantia. Other important families among errantia were<br />

Nephtydae (0.58%), Aphrodite (0.53%), Glyceridae (0.41 %) <strong>and</strong> Pisionidae (0.27%).<br />

Among 14 sedentarian families, Spionidae was the dominant one (64.2%) followed<br />

by Magelonidae (10.3%), Cirratilidae (5.1 %), Cossuridae (5%), Capitellidae (3.6%),<br />

Paraonida (2.2%) <strong>and</strong> Stemaspidae (1.2%). Of the 76 species present during post­<br />

monsoon, 25 species belonged to errantia <strong>and</strong> 51 species to sedentaria.<br />

Depth wise percentage occurrence <strong>of</strong> polychaete species is presented in Table<br />

17. At 30 m depth zone, 37 species were present <strong>of</strong> which 8 species were coming<br />

under errantia <strong>and</strong> 29 under sedentaria. Of the 37 species, 6 species were considered<br />

as 'abundant' (Prinospio pinnata, P. polybranchiata, Magelona capensis, Cirratulis<br />

cirra/us, Cossura coasta <strong>and</strong> Capitella capitata) <strong>and</strong> 12 were 'moderately abundant'<br />

<strong>of</strong> which Ancystrosyllis constricta, Lumbrineries aberans, Prinospio cirri/era,<br />

Magelona cincta <strong>and</strong> Heteromastus bifidis were the major ones (i.e., present in more<br />

than 50% <strong>of</strong> the stations). The remaining 19 species were considered as 'rare'.<br />

Species contributed more to the total density were Cossura coasta (6100/m 2 ),<br />

Magelona cincta (5800/m 2 ), <strong>and</strong> Prinospio cirri/era (5400/m 2 ).<br />

At 50 m zone altogether 34 species were present, composed <strong>of</strong> II errantia <strong>and</strong><br />

23 sedentaria. Among these, 7 were regarded as 'abundant' (Ancystrosyllis<br />

cons/rieta, Prinospio pinnata, P. polybranchiata, P. cirri/era, Cirratulis cirratlls,<br />

Cossura coasta <strong>and</strong> Capitella capitata) <strong>and</strong> 10 species were treated as 'moderately<br />

abundant' <strong>of</strong> which Lumbrineries aberrans, L. hartmani, Prinospio ehlersi,<br />

Magelona capensis, Paraheteromastus tenuis <strong>and</strong> Sternaspis scutata were the major<br />

132

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