Benthos of the Kali Estuary, Karwar

Abstract

Seasonal changes in the benthic production were studied at 7 stations in the Kali Estuary (Karwar, Karnataka, India) from January to December 1974. The production was high in the pre and postmonsoons. Bivalves, Paphia malabarica and Meretrix casta followed by polychaetes were the dominant animals. The clams contributed to more than 65% of the total biomass, which has been found to vary from 0.125 to 110.52 g/m2. Salinity showed a wide variation from 6.45 to 33.65 ppt. A comparison of benthic fauna at different stations showed changes in its composition which may probably be attributed to differences in substrata and fluctuations in salinity