Abundance of the Boring Polychaetes of Eunicidae (Annelida) in Great Nicobar Islands

Abstract

Bioerosion is a major destructive force by mechanisms of grazing and boring organisms harmful on coral reef. The name of crypto fauna is associated with colonies of dead coral due to their role as bioeroding that alter the physical structure of reefs. Analysis of the cryptic polychaetes, totally 874 individuals were collected belonging to eight families among these families Eunicidae (14 species) is the best represented families, varied from 6 to 14 species in all the stations, where as the least number of species and numbers were collected in Johinder nagar (16.66 %) and maximum abundant in Bcori (52.56 %). The mean density of all the three stations varied from 8.785 ± 9.175 (Bcori), 5.142 ± 5.545 (Breakwater) and 2.785 ± 4.370 Johinder nagar. During this survey most abundant species Lydice collaris (30.34 %) followed by Eunice afra punctata (16.66%), L.ninetta (10.68%) and E. antennata (10.25 %) in all the three stations. They accounted for up to 50 % of the total number of individuals collected on dead corals and hard substrates. This study to evaluate the knowledge of the coral inhabiting polychaete distribution and to assist forthcoming researchers to know the particular groups taxonomy and towards better understanding utilization, in coral patches of the Nicobar areas.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v10i1.7754