Animal-sediment relationship of the crustaceans and polychaetes in the intertidal zone around Mandvi,Gulf of Kachchh,Western India |
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Authors: | Satish J Patel Bhawanisingh G Desai |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Geology,M. S. University of Baroda,Vadodara,India;2.Institute of Petroleum Technology,Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University,Gandhinagar,India |
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Abstract: | Animal-sediment relationships of two benthic communities (Crustaceans and Polychaetes) were studied around Mandvi coast in
the Gulf of Kachchh, Western India. This coast consists of many micro-geomorphic landforms in which benthic communities are
inhabited and select their niches and produce endemic biogenic structures. Five intertidal subfacies have been described and
four types of grounds are identified, based on substrate consistency. 18 species of crustaceans, 15 species of polychaetes
and unsegmented worm nemertea have been identified. Crustacean behavioural activities were observed in dunes, beaches and
ridge-runnel in the form of burrowing, pellet making, feeding and crawling traces. Pelleted wall lining burrows of the suspension
feeder stomatopodean species of Oratosquilla striata are also abundant in runnels. Motile, deposit feeder polychaetes are abundant on the ridges and are occasionally found on
the lower reaches of the beaches, while suspension and filter feeders are found in the runnels. Lagoons consist of mainly
grouped funnel branched burrows of Oniphus eremita which is identical to ichnogenus Balanoglossites. Nemertea, which are opportunistic algal grazers, have exploited restricted niches for dwelling-feeding purposes and constructed
vertical burrow with pentamerous conical mound. The shore platform consists of cemented, calcareous tubes of filter feeder
Serpula along with symbiotic encrusters like Ostrea and barnacles. Ichnocoenoses are discussed and three-dimensional ichno-sedimentologic models are reconstructed for Beach,
Ridge, Runnel and Lagoon of the Mandvi intertidal zone. |
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