POLYCHAETE DIVERSITY OF COCHIN, SOUTH WEST COAST OF INDIA

Polychaetes are usually the most abundant taxon among the benthic communities and have been most often utilized as indicator species to know the environmental conditions of an area.    Recent efforts have therefore been concentrated in updating the taxonomic position of polychaete species.  Polychate species are known to occur in appreciable densities in the Cochin area.  The taxonomic investigation of the present study can form a baseline for future monitoring programmes in this area. Based on the above said information, the polychaete diversity in the proposed study area was surveyed and assessed with the objective to identify the presence of polychaete species in Cochin area. Three stations were sampled at random for the study of polychaetes taxonomy and a total of 20 species were identified from the area. Out of this 16 are reported for the first time from the study area.