Meiobenthos of Cochin mangroves (Southwest coast of India) with special emphasis on free-living marine nematode assemblages

A survey was conducted to examine spatial variations of meiofaunal population density and the assemblage of free-living marine nematodes from areas with different mangrove cover from Cochin, Southwest coast of India. Seven major taxa were recorded. Nematodes were the most dominant taxon, contributing 51.2 – 97.3 % of the total fauna. A maximum meiofaunal density of 508 ind. 10cm2 was recorded in an area with Avicennia marina cover. A total of 16 nematode genera belonging to 23 species were recorded with Dorylaimopsis being the abundant genus in areas with A. marina and Sonneratia caseolaris cover and Daptonema in areas with Rhizophora apiculata cover. Eleven genera were observed in the area with A. marina cover compared to R. apiculata and S. caseolaris cover, which harboured nine genera. Only one species (Daptonema oxycerca) was common to all five stations regardless of plant cover. Epistrate- feders constituted the bulk of the nematodes in areas with A. marina and S. caseolaris cover, whilst deposit-feeders / ciliate feeders were dominant in areas with R. apiculata cover.