Open AccessThe diversity of marine invertebrate macrofauna in selected rocky intertidal zones of Matara, Sri Lanka
Author(s) -
Manupa Pabasara Wickramasinghe,
K.A.M. Sudarshani,
H.C.E. Wegiriya
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.213
H-Index - 3
ISSN - 2278-7666
DOI - 10.53562/ajcb.ozdk5526
Subject(s) - rocky shore , intertidal zone , ecology , species richness , fauna , intertidal ecology , invertebrate , tide pool , species diversity , quadrat , diversity index , biology , geography , transect
The present study was conducted in intertidal rocky shores at Wellamadama and Kamburugamuwa of Matara district from June to November 2018. A line transect method was employed perpendicular to the shore and randomly placed quadrats were used to identify and quantify the species. Collectively 34 species of intertidal macroinvertebrate fauna were identified. Shanon-Weiner index, Menhinick’s index, and Pielou’s index for Wellamadama were 1.8271, 0.5612, and 0.7620 respectively, while those in Kamburugamuwa were 1.9281, 0.4307, and 0.7517. Higher species diversity was recorded at the rocky shores of Kamburugamuwa, while higher species richness and evenness at Wellamadama rocky shores. The Jaccard similarity index indicates a low similarity (<50%) between two study rocky shores. Clypidina notata, Cellana rota, and Patelloida striata were the dominant species in the low tide zone. Highly abundant species in mid tidal zone at Wellamadama was Nodilittorina quadricincta, while that of in mid-tide zone at Kamburugamuwa was Chiton sp. Periwinkle snails were dominating the high tide zone of both study rocky shores of which Nodilittorina trochoides dominated at Wellamadama and Littoraria undulata dominated atKamburugamuwa. The study indicates that community assemblages in intertidal rocky shores vary spatially and comprehensive studies are essential to investigate the controlling factors.