2. 13
Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 7, 13-18 (2014)
ISSN: 0973-9505 (Available online at www.tcrjournals.com) Original Article
BENTHIC ASSOCIATES OF ZOANTHIDS ON INTERTIDAL ZONE
OF SAURASHTRA COAST, GUJARAT
PANDYA KHUSHALI M., SARMA KANGKAN JYOTI, MEENU KUMARI,
UPADHYAY KAPILAND MANKODI. P. C.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002
E. mail: pcmankodi@yahoo.com
Received: March 12, 2014; Revised: August 15, 2014; Accepted: October 30, 2014
Abstract: The current paper deals with the diversity of fauna associated with zoanthids.
Organisms like corals, sponges, tube worms, nematodes and zoanthids are found
occupying same niche and therefore space competition is observed. Molluscs, although
motile, are found within the Zoanthid colony for food andshelter.At the rocky intertidal
area of Saurashtra coast, four sites viz., Veraval, Sutrapada, Okha and Dwarka were
studied to observe the associated fauna of zoanthids. The observation revealed that
though zoanthids and associated organisms are related to each otherand are very
much found sharing the same niche. Most of the associated faunabelonged to the
phylum Molluscs (48%) andArthropods, however, Annelids, Pisces were also observed.
Key words: Zoanthids, Benthic fauna, Saurashtra coast.
Indexed in: ProQuest database Abstract, USA ( ProQuest Science journals, Techonology Research database, Illustrata
Technology, Environment Science collection and Health and Medical complete), EBSCO databases (USA), Indian
Science abstract.
INTRODUCTION
Marine intertidal zone is the most dynamic
environment. This area provides shelter to
diverse flora and fauna from invertebrates to
vertebrates.Intertidal area is mostly affected due
to the changes in tidal influx. There are various
compromises between the maximum and
minimum effects of water flow in an intertidal
ecosystem [1]. The biodiversity of the coastal
ecosystem comprises from micro-benthic to
macro-benthic organisms, covering entire
intertidal zones. In such a dynamic ecosystem,
survival is the most challenging aspect. However,
organisms are adapted to such continuous
changes in their zone. Cnidaria group is highly
diverse possessing organisms from reef building
corals, mat forming organisms as Anthozoans
[2,3] as well as Schypozoans [4]. Gujarat state
has the longest coastline of approx. 1670 km.
Saurashtra coast is divided into patches of mostly
rocky, sandy and muddy zones. According to the
zonation pattern described, the width of the
intertidal area of the Saurashtra Coast ranges
from 50m to 300m [5,6]. The zoanthids usually
participate as epizoic organisms in associated
relationship [7]. According to one study [8],
Sponge-Zoanthid symbioses were focused and
investigated that Parazoanthusand
Epizoanthuspreferred related host sponge
depending on the sponge morphology.
The present paper deals with zoanthids and other
macro-benthos from the Saurashtra Coast of
?
3. Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences
14
Gujarat. The total cnidarians in India are approx.
842 plus 9. Zoanthids are basically divided into
three genera, Zoanthus, IsaurusandPalythoa.
Actiniarians have been studied from the west
coast of India but no detailed records of
biodiversity are available from Gujarat coast10.
Total 225 species of Scleractinian corals have
been known from the Indian coasts [9,10].
Study area: The study was carried out
fromJanuary 2012 till December 2013. Four
rocky intertidal areas were studied. The
geomorphology of all the four areas is similar,
principally madeup of lime stone. Sutrapada (20°
49’ 54"E, 70° 29’ 13"N) and Okha (22° 14’ 28"E,
68° 57’ 21"N ) has larger intertidal zone as
compared to Veraval (20° 54’37’’ E, 70° 21’04"
N) and Dwarka (22° 14’31" E, 68° 57’20" N)
(Fig: 1).
MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
The study sites were randomly and
photographically documentedon a monthly
basisduring low tides. Hand-picking of motile
organisms was carried out. The samples were
identified in situ using standard keys given by
Reimer [11], Apte [12] and those which remained
unidentified, were preserved in 4% formalin and
brought to the laboratory.Achecklist of the fauna
was prepared. Sampling was carried out using
quadrate and visual encounter methods. Data
analysis was carried out and observations of the
Zoanthids and their associates were done [13].
Fig. 1: Study Site locations
Fig. 2
4. 15
D) Aequorea sp.
Pandya et al.
F) Nereis sp.
A) Serpularia sp. B) Cliona sp.
C) Demospongia
E) Porpitaporpita
5. Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences
16
Fig. H: Crab
G) Chiton sp.
RESULTSAND DISCUSSIONS
There is a microenvironment created around
these zoanthids which provide a perfect habitat
to various organisms. Amongst the taxa studied,
the most abundant were Porifera, Cnidaria,
Annelida,Arthropoda and Pisces (Table 1). Total
28 Molluscans were recorded and their percent-
age abundance amongst total organisms observed
48% (Fig. 2). Of all molluscs, Turbo intercosta-
lis, was found to be the most dominant species
at all sites (personal observation). Crassostrea
sp. was found only at Okha, Dwarka and Veraval
intertidal zone. Cellanaradiata and Chitonsp.
Fig. E: Molluscan shell
K) Rhodactis sp.
H) Thais clavigera
I) Charybdisannulata J) Gobiuspaganellus
6. 17
PHYLUM: MOLLUSCA PHYLUM:
ARTHROPODA
PHYLUM:
ANNELIDA
PHYLUM: PORIFERA PHYLUM: CNIDARIA
Astrea semicostata Acetes sp. Nereis Haliclona sp. Zoanthus sansibaricus
Chiton sp. Semibalanus balanoides Eumida sp. Clathria sp. Zoanthus sociatus
Ocenebra sp. Atergatus integerrimus Serpula columbiana Cliona sp. Zoanthus vietnamensis
Conus fingulinus Portunus pelagicus Demospongia Palythoa mutuki
Purpura panama Myomenipppe hardwicki Cliona delitrix Palythoa tuberculatus
Nerita textiles Eriphius smithi Isaurus tuberculatus
Turbo intercostalis Grapsus albolineatus Isaurus maculatus
Cronia subnodulosa Atergatis integerrimus Porpita porpita
Cerithium scabridum Leptodius exeratus Velella velella
Natica picta Cherybdis annulata Actinia equina
Nerita undata Piluminous vespertilio Actinostella spp.
Onchidium verriculatum Petrolishthes lamarckii Actinostola spp.
Chicoreus brunneus Petrolishthes bosiki Anemonia spp.
Olivia nebulosa Uca lactea Anthopleura elegantissima
Turbo intercoastalis Macrodactyla doreensis
Monodonta australis Rhodactis spp.
Tibia curta Urticina spp.
Conus figulinus
Canthrus undosus
Mitra (strigatella) scutulata
Cypraea turdus
Nerita oryzarum
Cerithium columna
Cerithium scabridum
Pyrene flava
Turtitella columnaris
Ostrea spp.
Cellena radiata
Table 1: Phylum and their representative animals
were found occupying the upper intertidal area
of the rocky zone of Okha and Veraval [14].
These molluscs are usually seen in between the
zoanthid colonies, tide pools and edges of the
rock areas.Crustaceans followed molluscs in
relative species richness and they were represe-
nted in majority by barnacles and crabs [15]. The
entire upper intertidal area of Veraval and
Sutrapada was covered by barnacles (Semibala-
nus balanoides). Zoanthids were seen to cover
the dead barnacle shells. The high barnacle
abundance makes the intertidalzone risky to
access. Zoanthids are known to have symbiotic
relation with hermit crabs [16]. Two associated
fauna identified during the study period haven’t
been recorded with zoanthids previously viz.
Acetessp. and Eumidasp.
The neighbouring organism community has to
survive the odds of biochemical compounds
released by the Zoanthids. Taking in to consider-
ation various relations between Zoanthids and
their surrounding organisms (Figs. A-J) viz.,
crabs, sponges, hydrozoans [6,8,15,16,17]. The
maximum association is seen with Molluscs,
Arthropoda and Annelida viz., Turbo, Astrea,
Nereis, Serpulariaetc. Ahypothesis here may be
stated that all these animals find themselves
suitable staying on and in between the zoanthids
colonies.
Pandya et al.
7. Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences
18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors would like to acknowledge Prof. J. D.
Reimer, Associate Professor, University of
Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan and Mr. Jignesh N.
Trivedi, Research Scholar, Department of
Zoologyfor their help in identification of animals.
Pandya K,M. is thankful to UGC-RFSMS for
providing the fellowship. The authors are also
thankful to Prof. K. D. Vachhrajani for the final
edition of this paper.
REFERENCES
[1] Koehl, M.A.R. In: Proc. 3rd Int. Coral Reef
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[8] Swain, T. D., andWulff, J. L.:Biological Journal
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[10]Raghunathan, C, Sen Gupta, R, Wangikar, U,
andLakhmapurkar.: J. Curr. Sci., 87(8): 1131-
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[11]Reimer, J. D.: Galaxea Journal of Coral Reef
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[12]Apte, D. A.: Book of Indian Shells, Bombay
Natural HistorySociety, Oxford UniversityPress
(1998).
[13]Misra, R.: EcologyWork Book. Oxford and IBH
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![13
Electronic Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol. 7, 13-18 (2014)
ISSN: 0973-9505 (Available online at www.tcrjournals.com) Original Article
BENTHIC ASSOCIATES OF ZOANTHIDS ON INTERTIDAL ZONE
OF SAURASHTRA COAST, GUJARAT
PANDYA KHUSHALI M., SARMA KANGKAN JYOTI, MEENU KUMARI,
UPADHYAY KAPILAND MANKODI. P. C.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002
E. mail: pcmankodi@yahoo.com
Received: March 12, 2014; Revised: August 15, 2014; Accepted: October 30, 2014
Abstract: The current paper deals with the diversity of fauna associated with zoanthids.
Organisms like corals, sponges, tube worms, nematodes and zoanthids are found
occupying same niche and therefore space competition is observed. Molluscs, although
motile, are found within the Zoanthid colony for food andshelter.At the rocky intertidal
area of Saurashtra coast, four sites viz., Veraval, Sutrapada, Okha and Dwarka were
studied to observe the associated fauna of zoanthids. The observation revealed that
though zoanthids and associated organisms are related to each otherand are very
much found sharing the same niche. Most of the associated faunabelonged to the
phylum Molluscs (48%) andArthropods, however, Annelids, Pisces were also observed.
Key words: Zoanthids, Benthic fauna, Saurashtra coast.
Indexed in: ProQuest database Abstract, USA ( ProQuest Science journals, Techonology Research database, Illustrata
Technology, Environment Science collection and Health and Medical complete), EBSCO databases (USA), Indian
Science abstract.
INTRODUCTION
Marine intertidal zone is the most dynamic
environment. This area provides shelter to
diverse flora and fauna from invertebrates to
vertebrates.Intertidal area is mostly affected due
to the changes in tidal influx. There are various
compromises between the maximum and
minimum effects of water flow in an intertidal
ecosystem [1]. The biodiversity of the coastal
ecosystem comprises from micro-benthic to
macro-benthic organisms, covering entire
intertidal zones. In such a dynamic ecosystem,
survival is the most challenging aspect. However,
organisms are adapted to such continuous
changes in their zone. Cnidaria group is highly
diverse possessing organisms from reef building
corals, mat forming organisms as Anthozoans
[2,3] as well as Schypozoans [4]. Gujarat state
has the longest coastline of approx. 1670 km.
Saurashtra coast is divided into patches of mostly
rocky, sandy and muddy zones. According to the
zonation pattern described, the width of the
intertidal area of the Saurashtra Coast ranges
from 50m to 300m [5,6]. The zoanthids usually
participate as epizoic organisms in associated
relationship [7]. According to one study [8],
Sponge-Zoanthid symbioses were focused and
investigated that Parazoanthusand
Epizoanthuspreferred related host sponge
depending on the sponge morphology.
The present paper deals with zoanthids and other
macro-benthos from the Saurashtra Coast of
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