Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF GASTROPODS OF INTERTIDAL REGION OF NORTHERN GULF OF KACHCHH, GUJARAT, INDIA

Hitesh K. Kardani, P.C. Mankodi and G. A. Thivakaran

Abstract

The present study was conducted at three sites having different coastal characteristics in Northern Gulf of Kachchh namely Mandvi, Mundra and Sanghi. In this study a total of 36 species of 18 families of gastropods were recorded from Gulf of Kachchh of which Sanghi, Mundra and Mandvi recorded 17, 13 and 25 species respectively. The species density of 170 and 472/sqm was observed at Sanghi during summer and monsoon 2008-09 respectively while in Mundra highest density of 1207/sqm was observed during winter 2007-08 and lowest of (267/sqm) during summer 2008-09 was recroded.The species density at Mandvi ranged from 346 to 1003/sqm. The following paper presents the diversity index and distribution pattern. Species like Thias rudolfii and Cerithidea cingulata were observed during all seasons at all stations. The dominant species were Cerithidea cingulata,, Cerithidea fluviatilis, Umbonium vestarium and Assiminea sp. showed more than 200 no/ Shannon diversity index H were calculated for the stations in all three stations. The Highest and lowest value of Shannon index H 1.37 and 2.68 were recorded at Mundra and Mandvi during winter 2007-08.