Indian Journal of Ecology

Web of Science
  • Year: 2023
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue: 5

Crustaceans diversity along mangroves of Sikka coast, Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India

  • Author:
  • Siddharth Kumar Jatav*, Hitesh Kardani1, Lata Tandel, Arun Kumar, Pragya Mehta2, Shri Ram Yadav2
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 1553 to 1557

Department of Fisheries Resources Management, College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Veraval, 362 265, India

1Fisheries Research Station, Kamdhenu University, Sikka-361 440, India

2Department of Fisheries Resources Management, College of Fisheries Science, CCSHAU, Hisar-125 004, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted at two identical sites of the Sikka coast namely DCC (Digvijay Cement Company) jetty area and the GSFC (Gujarat State Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited) jetty area from October 2020 to March 2021. The observation s were recorded at monthly intervals for the abundance of crustacean species. In total 13 crustacean species were identified of 13 genera and 11 families, including 9 brachyuran crabs, 2 shrimps, 1 porcelain crab and 1 barnacle. Nine genera, eight families, and nine species of brachyuran crabs were recorded. Shrimps encountered with two families, two genera, and two species. Presence of Avicenna marina, a common mangrove, is a good sign as it provides sites of attach ment to the barnacle (Amphibalanus Amphitrite). The GSFC jetty area recorded the highest number of species during December and lowest was in October. In DCC area, the highest number of species were in March and the fewest number in October. Metapograpsus thukuhar and Austruca iranica (Uca crab) were the most common species of family Grapsidae and Ocypodidae, respectively.

Keywords

Mangrove, Crustaceans, Brachyuran crabs, Porcelain crab, Sikka coast, Jetty