Diversity and Distribution of Gastropods on the Sikka Coast: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

An inventory study is a primary method for protecting biodiversity. This study focused on the quantitative assessment of marine gastropods at two adjacent sites on the Sikka coast in the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India, namely Vador and the GSFC jetty site, from December 2021 to May 2022. Random sampling was used for the study, and the two sites were compared using the recorded data. A total of 52 species of Gastropoda (phylum Mollusca) were reported, belonging to 12 orders, 31 families, and 49 genera. A total of 48 and 42 gastropod species were recorded from the Vador and GSFC sites, respectively. Neogastropoda was found to be the dominant order, comprising 16 species. At the family level, five species each were recorded from Discodoridae and Muricidae. The highest density at the Vador site was observed for Pirenella cingulata, at 16 no/30m2, followed by Erronea adusta at 11 no/30m2, whereas at the GSFC jetty site, Euplica scripta had a density of 13 no/30m2, followed by Aplysia argus and Peronia verruculata at 12 no/30m2 each. The station-wise average Shannon diversity index (H’) was higher at the Vador site (3.3165) than at the GSFC jetty site (3.215). Margalef’s richness index ranged from 5.542 to 8.038 during the study period. The station-wise average Margalef’s richness indices for the Vador and GSFC jetty sites were 7.068 and 6.5325, respectively. The average evenness value was 0.7833 at the Vador site and 0.813 at the GSFC site; thus, GSFC recorded a comparatively higher average evenness value than Vador.