Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of benthic macroinvertebrate response to anthropogenic and natural disturbances in the Kodungallur-Azhikode estuary, southwest coast of India

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Benthic biotic indices are important ecological tools extensively used to understand the ecological quality of coastal wetlands. The present study aimed to assess the ecological status of Kodungallur-Azhikode estuary for the first time by using widely used benthic indices such as species richness (S), Shannon diversity index (H′log2), BENTIX, benthic opportunistic polychaetes amphipods (BOPA), AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI). In the canonical correspondence analysis, salinity, dissolved oxygen, organic matter, sediment Eh, sediment pH and sand were identified as important variance descriptors. A single species of an opportunist, Americorophium triaeonyx, an amphipod belonging to the ecological group (EG) III, significantly contributed to the total macrofaunal density. Other dominant opportunistic species included Obelia bidentata (EGII), Arcuatula senhousia (EGIII), Cirolana fluviatilis (EGII), Prionospio cirrifera (EGIV) and Capitella sp. (EGV). The overall assessment indicated a ‘good to moderate’ condition in AMBI, ‘good to poor’ condition in M-AMBI, ‘high to moderate’ condition in BENTIX, ‘high to poor’ condition in BOPA and ‘moderate to poor’ condition in univariate Shannon diversity index. All the multivariate indices tested in the study were correlated with each other except BOPA and M-AMBI. The group of stations dominated with a sandy substrate and a moderate level of organic content indicated high to good conditions while other stations demonstrated moderate to poor conditions. However, no significant variation in indices tested between seasons was observed. The present study recommends long-term monitoring of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages with proper taxonomic identification and functional trait analysis for better calibration of indices, which is the key factor for getting better results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdul Jaleel, K. U. (2012). Macrobenthos of the continental margin (200-1000m) of southeastern Arabian Sea with special reference to polychaetes. Kochi: Thesis, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajmal Khan, S., Manokaran, S., & Lyla, P. S. (2014). Assessment of ecological quality of Vellar and Uppanar estuaries, southeast coast of India, using benthos. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 43(10), 1989–1995 http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/34556.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajmalkhan, S., Murugesan, P., Lyla, P. S., & Jaganathan, S. (2004). A new indicator macroinvertebrate of pollution and utility of graphical tool and diversity indices in pollution monitoring studies. Current Science, 87(11), 1508–1510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M. J. (2001). A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecology, 26, 32–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M. J., Gorley, R. N. & Clarke, K. R. (2008). PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: guide to software and statistical methods, PRIMER-E (pp. 214). Plymouth, UK.

  • Andrade, H., & Renaud, P. E. (2011). Polychaete/amphipod ratio as an indicator of environmental impact related to offshore oil and gas production along the Norwegian continental shelf. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(12), 2836–2844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.032.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anu, P. R., Bijoy Nandan, S., Jayachandran, P. R., & Don Xavier, N. D. (2016). Toxicity effects of copper on the marine diatom, Chaetoceros calcitrans. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 8, 498–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2016.07.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anu, P. R., Bijoy Nandan, S., Jayachandran, P. R., Don Xavier, N. D., Midhun, A. M., & Mohan, D. (2018). Toxicity effects of zinc on two marine diatoms, under varying macronutrient environment. Marine Environmental Research, 142, 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.10.013.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA. (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (Vol. 21st Ed). Washington: American Public Health Association - American Water Works Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asha, C. V. (2017). Assessing the structural and functional ecology of benthic fauna in Vembanad estuarine system, India. Kochi: Thesis, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asha, C. V., Retina, I. C., Suson, P. S., & Bijoy Nandan, S. (2016). Ecosystem analysis of the degrading Vembanad wetland ecosystem, the largest Ramsar site on the south-west coast of India - measures for its sustainable management. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 8(3), 408–421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2016.06.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bald, J., Borja, A., Muxika, I., Franco, J., & Valencia, V. (2005). Assessing reference conditions and physicochemical status according to the European Water Framework Directive: a case-study from the Basque Country (Northern Spain). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50(12), 1508–1522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.06.019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bijoy Nandan, S. (2008). Current status and biodiversity modification in the coastal wetland ecosystems of India with objectives for its sustainable management. In: Proceedings of the Conserv-Vision Conference, The University of Waikato, 2-4th July 2007. https://www.waikatoacn/wtass/conserve-vision.

  • Blanchet, H., Lavesque, N., Ruellet, T., Dauvin, J. C., Sauriau, P. G., Desroy, N., Desclaux, C., Leconte, M., Bachelet, G., Janson, A. L., Bessineton, C., Duhamel, S., Jourde, J., Mayot, S., Simon, S., & de Montaudouin, X. (2008). Use of biotic indices in semi-enclosed coastal ecosystems and transitional waters habitats—implications for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. Ecological Indicators, 8(4), 360–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2007.04.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borja, A., & Tunberg, B. G. (2011). Assessing benthic health in stressed subtropical estuaries, eastern Florida, USA using AMBI and M-AMBI. Ecological Indicators, 11(2), 295–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.05.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borja, A., Franco, J., & Pérez, V. (2000). A marine biotic index to establish the ecological quality of soft-bottom benthos within European estuarine and coastal environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(12), 1100–1114. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00061-8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borja, A., Dauer, D. M., Díaz, R., Llansó, R. J., Muxika, I., Rodríguez, J. G., & Schaffner, L. (2008). Assessing estuarine benthic quality conditions in Chesapeake Bay: a comparison of three indices. Ecological Indicators, 8(4), 395–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2007.05.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borja, A., Ranasinghe, A., & Weisberg, S. B. (2009). Assessing ecological integrity in marine waters, using multiple indices and ecosystem components: challenges for the future. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 59(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.11.006.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carver, R. E. (1971). Procedures in sedimentary petrology. New York: Wiley-Interscience.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R., & Gorley, R. N. (2006). PRIMER v6: user manual/tutorial. Plymouth: PRIMER-E.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damodaran, R. (1973). Studies on the benthos of the mud banks of Kerala coasts. Bulletin of the Department of Marine Sciences, University of Cochin, VI:1-126.

  • Dauer, D. M. (1993). Biological criteria, environmental health and estuarine macrobenthic community structure. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 26(5), 249–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(93)90063-P.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dauvin, J. C., & Ruellet, T. (2007). Polychaete/amphipod ratio revisited. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55, 215–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.08.045.

  • Don Xavier, N. D., Bijoy Nandan, S., Jayachandran, P. R., Anu, P. R., Midhun, A. M., & Mohan, D. (2019). Chronic effects of copper and zinc on the fish, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1790) by continuous flow-through (CFT) bioassay. Marine Environmental Research, 143, 141–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.11.002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eleftheriou, A., & Mc Intyre, A. (2005). Methods for the study of marine benthos (Vol. 3). Oxford: Blackwell Science Publishers.

  • El-Wakeel, S. K., & Riley, J. P. (1957). The determination of organic carbon in marine muds. Journal du conseil - Conseil international pour l'exploration de la mer, 22, 180–183.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Equbal, J., Thiruchitrambalam, G., Lakra, R. K., Savurirajan, M., & Satyam, K. (2017). Assessing the ecological quality of the Port Blair coast (South Andaman, India) using different suites of benthic biotic indices. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 97(5), 1007–1021. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315417000753.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Equbal, J., Lakra, R. K., Savurirajan, M., Satyam, K., & Thiruchitrambalam, G. (2018). Testing performances of marine benthic biotic indices under the strong seasonality in the tropical intertidal habitats, South Andaman, India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 135, 266–282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.034.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feebarani, J. (2009). Meiobenthos of Cochin backwaters in relation to macrobenthos and environmental parameters. Kochi: Thesis, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feebarani, J., Joydas, T. V., Damodaran, R., & Borja, A. (2016). Benthic quality assessment in a naturally- and human-stressed tropical estuary. Ecological Indicators, 67, 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.03.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gesteira, J. L. G., & Dauvin, J. C. (2000). Amphipods are good bioindicators of the impact of oil spills on soft-bottom macrobenthic communities. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(11), 1017–1027. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00046-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., & Bijoy Nandan, S. (2012). Assessment of trophic change and its probable impact on tropical estuarine environment (the Kodungallur-Azhikode estuary, India). Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 17(7), 837–847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-011-9347-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Bijoy Nandan, S., & Sreedevi, O. K. (2012). Water quality variations and nutrient characteristics of Kodungallur-Azhikode Estuary, Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 41(12), 180–187.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Prabhakaran, M. P., Asha, C. V., Vijay, A., & Bijoy Nandan, S. (2015). First report on mass reproductive swarming of a polychaete worm, Dendronereis aestuarina (Annelida, Nereididae) Southern 1921, from a freshwater environment in the south-west coast of India. International Journal of Marine Science, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.5376/ijms.2015.05.0003.

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Bijoy Nandan, S., Sanu, V. F., Anu, P. R., Jima, M., Midhun, A. M., et al. (2018a). Authentication of Nassodonta insignis H. Adams, 1867 (Gastropoda: Nassariidae) from the Kodungallur - Azhikode backwater, southwest coast of India using mitochondrial COI marker. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 47(3), 623–628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Jima, M., Philomina, J., Sanu, V. F., & Bijoy, N. S. (2018b). Invasion of biofouling mussel Mytilopsis Conrad, 1857 (Bivalvia: Dreissenacea) in the Cochin backwaters, southwest coast of India. Current Science, 115, 2198–2200.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Aneesh, B. P., Oliver, P. G., Philomina, J., Jima, M., Harikrishnan, K., et al. (2019a). First record of the alien invasive biofouling mussel Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843) (Mollusca: Mytilidae) from Indian waters. BioInvasions Records, 8(4), 828–837. https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2019.8.4.11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Bijoy Nandan, S., Jima, M., Joseph, P., Don Xavier, N. D., & Sreedevi, O. K. (2019b). Macrobenthic functional feeding groups in a microtidal monsoonal estuary (Kodungallur–Azhikode estuary, India). Regional Studies in Marine Science, 25, 100444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2018.100444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayachandran, P. R., Bijoy Nandan, S., Jima, M., Sreedevi, O. K., Philomina, J., & Prabhakaran, M. P. (2019c). Bioecology of macrobenthic communities in the microtidal monsoonal Kodungallur–Azhikode Estuary, southwest coast of India. Lakes & Reservoirs: Science, Policy and Management for Sustainable Use, 24(4), 372–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/lre.12292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennish, M. J. (2002). Environmental threats and environmental future of estuaries. Environmental Conservation, 29(1), 78–107. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892902000061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennish, M. J., & Townsend, A. R. (2007). Nutrient enrichment and estuarine eutrophication. Ecological Applications, 17(sp5), S1–S2. https://doi.org/10.1890/06-1623.1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, D. (1984). Practical scientology. Pennsylvania: Huctchinson Ross publishing company.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLusky, D. S., & Elliott, M. (2004). The estuarine ecosystem: ecology, threats, and management (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mulik, J., Sukumaran, S., Srinivas, T., & Vijapure, T. (2017). Comparative efficacy of benthic biotic indices in assessing the ecological quality status (EcoQS) of the stressed Ulhas estuary, India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 120(1), 192–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muxika, I.,  Borja, Á. &  Bald, J. (2007). Using historical data, expert judgement and multivariate analysis in assessing reference conditions and benthic ecological status, according to the European Water Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55, 16–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.05.025.

  • Naidu, S. A., Rao, G. D., Vardhan, K. V., Kumaraswami, M., Rao, V. R., & Ramu, K. (2018). Impact of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the benthic ecological quality of the coastal waters of Kochi, southwest coast of India. International Journal of Environmental Research, 12(6), 861–875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-018-0140-9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, D. W. & Sommers, L. E. (1982). Methods of soil analysis. Madison, Wisconsin.

  • Oliver, P. G., Hallan, A., Jayachandran, P. R., Philomina, J., Sanu, V. F., & Bijoy Nandan, S. (2018a). Taxonomy of myid bivalves from fragmented brackish-water habitats in India, with a description of a new genus Indosphenia (Myidae, Myoidea, Myidae). ZooKeys, 799, 21–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, P. G., Jayachandran, P. R., & Nandan, S. B. (2018b). Cuspidaria cochinensis Preston, 1916 transferred to the Corbulidae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) and assigned to the genus Cuneocorbula. Marine Biodiversity, 48(2), 1223–1227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-016-0578-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, T., & Rosenberg, R. (1978). Macrobenthic succession in relation to organic enrichment and pollution of the marine environment. Oceanography and Marine Biology - An Annual Review, 16, 229–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Philomina, J., Bioy Nandan, S., & Jayachandran, P. R. (2018). New species of Victoriopisa Karaman & Barnard, 1979 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eriopisidae) from Vembanad backwaters, southwest coast of India. Zootaxa, 4433(1), 69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philomina, J., Bijoy Nandan, S., Adarsh, K. J., Anu, P. R., Rani, V., et al. (2019). Heavy metal contamination in representative surface sediments of mangrove habitats of Cochin, Southern India. Environmental Earth Sciences, 78(15), 490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8499-2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, R., Patrício, J., Baeta, A., Fath, B. D., Neto, J. M.& Marques, J. C. (2009). Review and evaluation of estuarine biotic indices to assess benthic condition. Ecological Indicators, 9(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2008.01.005.

  • Rahayu, D. L., Jayachandran, P. R., Jima, M., Bijoy Nandan, S., Hershey, N. R. & Prabhakaran, M. P. (2020). Notes on Neorhynchoplax alcocki (Kemp 1917) and Neorhynchoplax demeloi (Kemp 1917) from the Kochi Backwater, India (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae). Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, 36(1), 79–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-019-00176-w.

  • Rehitha, T. V., Ullas, N., Vineetha, G., Benny, P. Y., Madhu, N. V., & Revichandran, C. (2017). Impact of maintenance dredging on macrobenthic community structure of a tropical estuary. Ocean & Coastal Management, 144, 71–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.04.020.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rehitha, T. V., Madhu, N. V., Vineetha, G., Vipindas, P. V., & Lallu, K. R. (2018). Macrobenthic fauna with special reference to the ecology and population structure of a tubicolous amphipod, Chelicorophium madrasensis (Nayar, 1950) in a tropical estuary, southwest coast of India. Marine Biodiversity, 49, 1013–1026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-018-0886-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, H., & Kröncke, I. (2005). Seasonal variability of benthic indices: an approach to test the applicability of different indices for ecosystem quality assessment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50(12), 1490–1499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.06.017.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reizopoulou, S., Simboura, N., Sigala, K., Barbone, E., Aleffi, F., Kaisakis, G., et al. (2014). Assessing the ecological status of Mediterranean coastal lagoons using macroinvertebrates. Comparison of the most commonly used methods. Mediterranean Marine Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.606.

  • Revichandran, C. (1993). Studies on the dynamics and suspended sediment transport in the Azhikode estuary (south - west coast of India). Thesis, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

  • Revichandran, C., & Abraham, P. (1998). Mixing and flushing time scale in the Azhikode estuary, south-west coast of India. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 27, 163–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Revichandran, C., Srinivas, K., Muraleedharan, K. R., Rafeeq, M., Shivaprasad, A., Vijayakumar, K., et al. (2012). Environmental set-up and tidal propagation in a tropical estuary with dual connection to the sea (SW coast of India). Environmental Earth Sciences, 66, 1031–1042. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1309-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riera, R., & de-la-Ossa-Carretero, J. A. (2014). Response of benthic opportunistic polychaetes and amphipods index to different perturbations in coastal oligotrophic areas (Canary archipelago, North-East Atlantic Ocean). Marine Ecology, 35(3), 354–366. https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santibañez-Aguascalientes, N. A., Borja, Á., Kuk-Dzul, J. G., Montero-Muñoz, J. L., & Ardisson, P.-L. (2018). Assessing benthic ecological status under impoverished faunal situations: a case study from the southern Gulf of Mexico. Ecological Indicators, 91, 679–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.048.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigamani, S., Perumal, M., Arumugam, S., Preetha Mini Jose, H. M., & Veeraiyan, B. (2015). AMBI indices and multivariate approach to assess the ecological health of Vellar–Coleroon estuarine system undergoing various human activities. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 100(1), 334–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.028.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sigovini, M., Keppel, E., & Tagliapietra, D. (2013). M-AMBI revisited: looking inside a widely-used benthic index. Hydrobiologia, 717(1), 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1565-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simboura, N., & Zenetos, A. (2002). Benthic indicators to use in ecological quality classification of Mediterranean soft bottom marine ecosystems, including a new biotic index. Mediterranean Marine Science, 3(2), 35. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simboura, N., Papathanassiou, E., & Sakellariou, D. (2007). The use of a biotic index (Bentix) in assessing long-term effects of dumping coarse metalliferous waste on soft-bottom benthic communities. Ecological Indicators, 7(1), 164–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2005.11.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivadas, S. K., Nagesh, R., Gupta, G. V. M., Gaonkar, U., Mukherjee, I., Ramteke, D., & Ingole, B. S. (2016). Testing the efficiency of temperate benthic biotic indices in assessing the ecological status of a tropical ecosystem. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 106(1), 62–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.026.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivaraj, S., Murugesan, P., Muthuvelu, S., Vivekanandan, K. E., & Vijayalakshmi, S. (2014). AMBI and M-AMBI indices as a robust tool for assessing the effluent stressed ecosystem in Nandgaon coastal waters, Maharashtra, India. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 146, 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.05.024.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spagnolo, A., Punzo, E., Santelli, A., Scarcella, G., Strafella, P., & Grati, F. (2014). Offshore platforms: comparison of five benthic indicators for assessing the macrozoobenthic stress levels. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 82(1–2), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.023.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H., & Parsons, T. R. (1972). A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bulletin of Fisheries Research Board, Canada.

  • ter Braak, C. J. F., & Smilauer, P. (2002). CANOCO reference manual and CanoDraw for Windows user’s guide: software for canonical community ordination (version 4.5), (microcomputer power). Ithaca NY, USA: www.canoco.com.

  • Trask, P. D. (1939). Recent marine sediments. Tulsa, Oklohama, USA: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Publication 736.

  • Trivedy, P. K., & Goel, P. K. (1986). Chemical and biological methods for water pollution studies, series in methodology. Karad: Environmental Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vijith, V., Sundar, D., & Shetye, S. R. (2009). Time-dependence of salinity in monsoonal estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 85, 601–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2009.10.003.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vineetha, G., Kripa, V., Karati, K. K., Rehitha, T. V., Vishal, C. R., Vineetha, V., & Manu, M. (2020). Impact of a catastrophic flood on the heavy metal pollution status and the concurrent responses of the benthopelagic community in a tropical monsoonal estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 155, 111191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111191.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, S. C. L., Paterson, D. M., Widdicombe, S., & Beaumont, N. J. (2018). Evaluation of estuarine biotic indices to assess macro-benthic structure and functioning following nutrient remediation actions: a case study on the Eden estuary Scotland. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 24, 379–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2018.09.012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WoRMS (2017). World Register of Marine Species. Available from http://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2017-06-20. https://doi.org/10.14284/170.

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work forms part of the research project entitled ‘Ecology and fish production potential of the Kodungallur - Azhikode backwater ecosystem’ funded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), and the authors are thankful for their financial assistance. Authors are also thankful to the Head, Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, for providing necessary facilities. The first author is grateful to Ángel Borja, AZTI, Marine Research Division, Spain, for his pieces of advice and help for this study. The reviewers of the manuscripts are acknowledged for their constructive criticism for improving the manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Kerala, India.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Lakeside Campus, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala, 682016, India

    P. R. Jayachandran, M. Jima, J. Philomina & S. Bijoy Nandan

Authors
  1. P. R. Jayachandran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Jima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Philomina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Bijoy Nandan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to P. R. Jayachandran or S. Bijoy Nandan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(XLSX 23 kb)

ESM 2

(XLSX 25 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jayachandran, P.R., Jima, M., Philomina, J. et al. Assessment of benthic macroinvertebrate response to anthropogenic and natural disturbances in the Kodungallur-Azhikode estuary, southwest coast of India. Environ Monit Assess 192, 626 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08582-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08582-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation