Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Habitat heterogeneity determines structural characteristics of gastropod communities in the intertidal zones of Sakthikulangara Coast, Kerala

Volume 67 Issue 2

D. Dhanyaraj, S. Soumyath, P. Kiran and R. Krishna Priya

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2025.67.2.2626-12

Abstract

An evaluation of intertidal gastropod biodiversity along the Sakthikulangara coast, Kollam district, Kerala, was conducted from January to June 2025. A total of 50 gastropods belonging to 27 families and 8 orders were recorded. The Neogastropoda were the most dominant order with 23 species, followed by the Littorinimorpha (15), Cycloneritida (5), Trochida (3) and the remaining 4 orders with 1 species. Shannon-Weiner index showed the highest value of 2.117 in the (rocky area), followed by the station 3 sandy (1.807) and the station 2 muddy area (1.702). The Margalef species richness values were 2.158 for the rocky zone, 1.87 for the sandy shore and 1.67 for the muddy zone. Pielou’s evenness index showed a high value of 0.987 in the rocky zone, indicating a more even distribution of species and comparatively lower values of 0.6052 in the muddy zone and 0.7893 in the sandy zone, indicating less even distribution of species in the muddy zone.

Keywords

Biodiversity, intertidal gastropod, species diversity, Shannon-Weiner index, species richness

Date : 09-12-2025