Changes in benthic macrofaunal assemblages in relation to bottom trawling in Cuddalore and Parangipettai coastal waters, Southeast coast of India

Variations in benthic biodiversity owing to bottom trawling were studied in the inshore waters of Parangipettai (Lat.11°24′N; Long. 79°464′E) and Cuddalore (Lat. 11°434′N; Long. 79°494′E), India from February 2009 to January 2010. Four stations each in Parangipettai and Cuddalore were prepared and established. A total of 114 species in Parangipettai and 101 in Cuddalore were found. The population density showed a maximum (10,387 no. m-2) in Parangipettai in the sample collected before trawling and a minimum (40no. m^?2) in Cuddalore in the samples collected after trawling. Among the faunal groups, polychaetes topped the list followed by other groups of organisms both in the samples before and after trawling. Shannon diversity varied from 2.23 to 4.24, 1.85 to 3.45; Margalef richness from 3.2 to 5.9, 2.57 to 4.25; Pielou’s evenness varied from 0.79 to 0.94, 0.81 to 0.88 in the samples collected before and after trawling respectively in Parangipettai. In Cuddalore waters, Shannon diversity ranged from 2.15 to 3.85, 1.92 to 3.15; Margalef richness from 2.95 to 5.2, 2.24 to 3.95 and Pielou’s evenness index from 0.84 to 0.91, 0.79 to 0.82 in the samples before and after trawling respectively. Multivariate methods also showed distinct variations in terms of species composition and abundance between regions and samples.