Diversityof Mollusc at Disturbed & undisturbed Intertidal Region of Sikka Coast, Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India
M. K. Gadhavi1, B. B. Shiyani1, R. J. Jani1, H. K. Kardani3, S. K Chovatiya1 and Rutva Dave2*
1Department of Zoology, 2Department of Botany, H. and H. B. Kotak Institute of Science, Rajkot-360001 (India) 3Fisheries Research Station, Junagadh agricultural University, Sikka, Gujarat, (India) *Corresponding Author: rutvad@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Ever-increasing industrialization in the Gulf of Kachchh (GoK) presents multiple issues of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. One of many issues is port, harbor, and jetty development. The present paper highlights the siltation load in the middle Gulf of Kachchh due to the presence of a GSFC jetty. GoK inundates tide from the west (mouth of GoK) hence west side of the intertidal GSFC jetty received a high siltation load and the east side of the intertidal area got shelter due to the GSFC jetty. We have selected two sites; west (Vador) and east (GSFC Jetty) side intertidal are of GSFC jetty to compare the diversity of mollusc fauna. Site Vador site considers a disturbed site and GSFC jetty is considered an undisturbed site with reference to siltation load. A molluscan study was carried out during the post-monsoon, winter, and pre-summer season of 2018-19 at both sites. Dead molluscs were collected and live molluscs were photographed then sorted and identified as per the standard method and standard key. A total of 34 species of molluscs were recorded from Vador (16 species) and GSFC sites (24 species). Only 6 species were common among the two sites though both the sites are very near to each other. This result shows that heavy siltation load at Vador site alters the microhabitat while shelter at GSFC jetty site provides a low current of water and low siltation resulted in differences in the species recorded. Our results support the well-known fact that changes in the substrate quality lead to changes in the structure of a benthic community.