Abstract
The existing study revealed that the present status of Cerithium caerulum along the Rangbai coast of Gujarat. Cerithium caerulum is a dominate mollusc species that are found mostly in the intertidal zone. During study period August 2014 to January 2015, it was observed regularly all seasons. During study Clypeomrus bifasciata and Rhinoclayis sinesis also found, these both species are belonging cerithiidae family. Cerithium caerulum was not shown any significant changes with different Temperature and Salinity.Cerithium caerulum species is herbivorous algal detritus-feeders or grazers on diatoms and microalgae. Due to low pH also cerithium caerulum was dominated than other cerithiidae. During the January pH value was very low may be due to industrial effluent discharges into the seawater. It indicates may be cerithium caerulum play a resist role against pollution.
[Key words: Rangbai coast, Current ecology status, Cerithium caerulum]
Introduction
Earth’s richest, most varied cerithiid fauna is found in the tropical and subtropical biotopes of the Indo-Pacific Marine Province.The main object of study is to study the current ecological status of C.caerulum on study site. Temperature, pH, CO2 and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) saturation are among the most important environmental factors controlling the distribution, physiological performance, morphology and behavior of marine invertebrates (Kinne 1970, Portner et al. 2005, Maria Byrne 2 Portner &Knust 2007, Portner 2008, Widdicombe& Spicer 2008, Doney et al. 2009).Many intertidal animals, especially the Molluscan, crustaceans and other coelenterates, among others inhabit the intertidal zone of this coastline and many of them are collected for food or industrial purposes. The largest and most diverse Phylum in the tropical seas is Mollusc. The Molluscs are extremely old in terms of evolution. The first mollusc appeared as far back as the Cambrian period, approximately 500 million years ago. Shells are the external skeletons of molluscs, an ancient and diverse phylum of invertebrates that was present in the earliest fossil record of Multicellular life from the Cambrian period, over 500 million years ago. Molluscs are second only to the insects in terms of species numbers. Over 100,000 kinds have been recorded and some estimates of yet to be discovered species exceed a million. Some breathe air; others live in fresh water, but most live in the ocean. The recorded species diversity of marine faunal groups of the world is 2, 41,563 of which India has a total number of 23,960(Both terrestrial and marine). Out of the total species occurring in India, only 12,244 species (51.10%) are recorded from marine regions of India. The biodiversity of the Indian Ocean region, like most of the Word’s marine domain, is poorly known (John and Tennille, 2005). About 80 % of all marine species occur in the coastal zone (Ray, et al., 1999; Arjunan, et al., 2010) and this figure is properly conservative (Reaka-Kudla, 1997). Currently, the World’s biodiversity is estimated at 1.75 million species, excluding microbial species (Heywood and Watson, 1996), but Reaka-Kudla (1997) estimates a range from 5 to 120 million. Approximately 300000 marine species are known (Reaka-Kudla, 1997; Gray, 1997). Molluscs, in general, had a tremendous impact on Indian tradition and economy and were popular among common man as ornaments and currency.Cerithium caeruleum is a dominating mollusc species that are fluctuation in physical condition hardly brings any change on their distribution.(Bharatsinh Gohil and Rahul Kundu 2012).The main objective of present work was to study the Less affected by seasonal variations of Cerithium caerulem at the selected site, this study may useful to the ecological aspects of the Intertidal zone of the selected site.it is distribution in East Africa, Arabian Sea, Red Sea The molluscs directly as well as indirectly from economically very important group for human being. In India eight species of oysters, two species of mussels,17 species of clams, six species of oysters, four species of giant clams, one species of windowpane oyster are exploited extensively from marine regions. Hence, the present study was undertaken to estimate the cultivable Molluscan distribution in Pulicat Lake. Arthropods, 2013, 2(2): 53-65.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
STUDY AREA
The present study was carried out on rocky and sandy intertidal belt at Rangbai coast. Between N 21”33’05.4″ E 069”41’15.4″ and N 21”35’57.7″ E 069”41’26.6″. Porbandar also encounters thunderstorms because of its closeness to the Arabian Sea.The total length of the sampling site was about 1.25 km.The survey for the study was made from Aug-2014 to january-2015. During the study, selected sites were frequently surveyed at regular interval during the lowest tides.
Surface water samples were collected during period from August 2014 to January 2015 at the time of low tide for the estimation of various physical- chemical parameters. Insitu parameters like temperature and pH were measured immediately after collection of the water sample with the help of the electronic thermometer and portable digital pH meter. Salinity was measured by Refractometer.
The quadrate method was used for generating the data on the selected criss-cross direction was followed to cover the maximum exposed area on the intertidal belt. The surveys were made at the lowest tides of the months.Quadratus of 1m2were laid while following an oblique direction covering the maximum area at almost regular occurrence vertically across the complete intertidal area from upper littoral to lower littoral zone for recording.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Fig 1 cerithium caerulum species
DESCRIPTION:- Shell colour greyish blue colour with spiral rows of black tubercles. This species usually occurs in large populations intertidal rocky shelf with a thin covering of sediment and is frequently mentioned in ecological studies. Yaron(1979:235) and Mastaller (1979:46) recorded it to be common in the upper intertidal zone on beach stones.In a study, this specific species is undertaken for study because of its less effect with seasonal variation, values and salinity.(Fig.2) From August’14 to January’15 density was highest in October3.8 No.of individual/m2 .month while lowest in November2.8 No. of individual/m2. From August to November frequency distribution was similar, but in December month frequency was 90% No. of individual/m2 and January month highest occur 100% No. of individual/m2. Abundance was highest in August month 4.57 No. of individual/m2 and lowest in January month 3.2No. of individual/m2. C.caerulum is belonging to family Cerithiidae. On study site two other Cerithiidae species occur .i.e. C.morus, and C.obliscus. Now cerithium morus name declared as Clypeomorus bifasciata and C.obliscus as Rhinoclayissinesis.throught study compared with other two cerithidae species c.cerulum was highest than other species. Quite uniform distribution along the sites around Rangbai coast was observed. On rangbai coast three species belonging to cerithiidae.cerithium caerulum, Clypeomorus bifasciata and Rhinoclayis sinesis.(Fig.3) among all species during study observed. Cerithium caerulum was highest occurred than Clypeomorus bifasciata and Rhinoclayis sinesis.
Fig.2 Monthly Population ecology of cerithium caerulum Fig.3 Family Cerithiidae monthly Data
Fig. 3 Temperature with population ecology of cerithiumcaerulum Fig no 4: Salinity with population ecology of cerithium caerulum.
Conclusion:
Algal growth was enough quantity. Here we observed other marine diversities like annelids, crustacean etc. On the Rangbai coast, the present status of cerithium caerulum shows their less significant sensibility to seasonal variation even low pH value. Among three Cerithiidae species were observed, C.caerulum was one of the species. C.caerulum is always highest value than other Cerithiidae species, C.caerulum recorded Irresponsive of seasonal fluctuation C.caerulum.in future, and this species will be helpful to the indicator as environmental issues, even during low pH also cerithium caerulum was found also observed in highest density than other months. We conclude cerithium caerulum is indicating less seasonal fluctuation on Rangbai coast.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank for my Guide and friends for the valuable help and guide.
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