SEAGRASS HABITAT COMPLEXITY AND MACROINVERTEBRATE ABUNDANCE IN LAKSHADWEEP CORAL-REEF LAGOONS, ARABIAN SEA

Macrofauna of seagrass community in the five Lakshadweep atolls were studied and compared. The associated epifaunal and infaunal taxa comprising nine major taxonomic groups, showed significant differences in the total number of individuals (1041-8411 m-2) among sites and habitats. The density of macrofauna was directly related to mean macrophytic biomass (405-895 g wet wt. m-2). The fauna was dominated by epifaunal polychaetes, amphipods and isopods in the vegetated areas. When compared with the density of nearby unvegetated areas (xBAR = 815 m-2), seagrass meadows harbour a denser and richer macroinvertebrate assemblage (xBAR = 4023 m-2).