Macrobenthic production in Vambanad Lake

Abstract

The macrobenthic fauna in the Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India is mainly composed of polychaetes, bivalves, decapods and amphipods. There is a progressive decrease in the animal population from lower part of the backwater towards the upper reaches which has low salinity. Of the environmental parameters that affect the distribution of benthic fauna, the most significant seem to be salinity and the nature of the substratum. The faunal assemblage exhibited a relationship with a particular type of substratum