ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION STATUS THROUGH THE DIVERSITY OF INTERTIDAL MEIOBENTHOS OF THE ESTUARY OF BHAYANDER AND NAIGAON, THANE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Dr. Devdatta Lad; Dr. Shashikant Patil

Volume : V, Issue : X, October - 2016

ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION STATUS THROUGH THE DIVERSITY OF INTERTIDAL MEIOBENTHOS OF THE ESTUARY OF BHAYANDER AND NAIGAON, THANE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Dr. Devdatta Lad, Dr. Shashikant Patil

Abstract :

The diversity of intertidal Meiobenthos from estuary of Bhayander and Naigaon of Thane district were studied from May 2008 to June 2009. In the present investigation, total twenty three species belonging to 8 Phylum were observed at Station No. 1 Bhayander and Station No. 2 Naigaon. The mean Shannon Wiener Diversity Index for Meiobenthos for Station No. 1 Bhayander and Station No. 2 Naigaon was 3.02 � 0.04 and 3.03 � 0.05 respectively. The mean Margalef Species Diversity Index for Meiobenthos for Station No. 1 Bhayander and Station No. 2 Naigaon was 2.05 � 0.06 and 2.06 � 0.07 respectively. The present study on benthos has revealed that at both the Station No. 1 Bhayander and Station No. 2 Naigaon there is slight or moderate pollution according to Staub et. al. scale of pollution in terms of Shannon�s species diversity index and Margalef species diversity index for Meiobenthos.