Spatio-temporal distribution of copepods in the mangrove areas of Munroe Island, adjacent to Ashtamudi estuary, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to assess the species composition of copepods around Munroe Island of Kerala (South India) from October 2020 to September 2022. Copepod samples collected from the mangrove habitats around Munroe Island revealed 31 species belonging to 18 genera and 15 families. The order Calanoida was recognized as the most dominant taxon, with 23 species, followed by Harpacticoida (5 spp.) and Cyclopoida (3 spp.). Spatially, sampling station 3 (Palliyanthuruthu) had the highest species richness (28 spp.); in contrast, the lowest species richness was found at sampling station 1 (Villimangalam, 13 spp.). When exploring the seasonal effects on copepod richness it was found that the highest species richness was seen in the post-monsoon season (31 spp.) followed by the pre-monsoon season (29 spp.), while the least diversity was found during the monsoon season (28 spp.). Species such as Acartia bilobata, Paracalanus parvus, Pseudodiaptomus aurivillii, Pseudocalanus elongatus, Microsetella norvegica, and Oithona similis were found to be perennial in nature. The investigation calls for intensive surveys of copepods to reveal their ecology and diversity in the hitherto less studied region in South India.

KEYWORDS:

• Species
• diversity
• Munroe Island
• Copepoda
• Ashtamudi estuary

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the authorities of St Stephen’s College, Pathanapuram, University of Kerala, for providing all the infrastructure and facilities for the successful completion of the present research. The authors are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions and comments. The first author expresses gratitude to the University of Kerala for providing a Research Fellowship (AcEVI/2860/2020/UOK).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arya Madhu Sajidevi

Arya Madhu Sajidevi is a PhD researcher at the Zoology Research Centre, St. Stephen’s College, University of Kerala in India. Her current research looks at the ecology of plankton in the mangrove areas of Munroe Island, Kerala She has authored or co- authored more than 12 peer-reviewed scientific publications in national and international journals, in addition to other contributions to books and conference proceedings. Her areas of interest are biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems, DNA barcoding and molecular systematics, environment-organism interaction, and mangrove ecology.

Biju Abraham

Dr. Biju Abraham is an Associate Professor and Head at the Zoology Research Centre, St. Stephen’s College, University of Kerala in India, where he teaches courses in zoology. She has authored or co- authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications in national and international journals, in addition to other contributions to books and conference proceedings. His extensive experience in the taxonomy of zooplankton spans over 20 years.

Dani Benchamin

Dr. Dani Benchamin is a former PhD scholar at the Zoology Research Centre, St. Stephen’s College, University of Kerala in India. He has authored or co- authored more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications in national and international journals, in addition to other contributions to books and conference proceedings. His major research areas are biodiversity in rivers and estuaries, benthic ecology, biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems, water and sediment quality of aquatic ecosystems and environment-organism interaction.