Abundance, bathymetric distribution and diversity of deep sea demersal finfish resources along the south-west coast of India
Abundance, bathymetric distribution and diversity of deep sea demersal finfish resources along the south-west coast of India
Date
2013
Authors
Govindam, S.V.S.
Sreedhar, U.
Meenakumari, B
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ICAR
Abstract
Abundance, bathymetric distribution and diversity of deep sea demersal finfish resources along the south-west coast of
India were studied. A total catch of 4255 kg (96.7 kg h-1) was recorded by sampling in the depths ranging from 100 to
1100 m. The major constituents were finfishes i.e., teleost fishes (67%) followed by elasmobranchs (14%), crustaceans
(13%), cephalopods (2%) and others (4%). Maximum abundance (113.81 kg h-1) of finfishes was observed in the depth zone
of 100-300 m, followed by 500-700 m (86.91 kg h-1), 700-900 m (67.71 kg h-1) and 900-1100 m (7.58 kg h-1). Nettastoma sp.
(12.13 kg h-1), Lamprogrammus exutus (5.22 kg h-1), Chlorophthalmus bicornis (4.19 kg h-1), Bembrops caudimaculata
(5 kg h-1) and Uranoscopus sp. (4.95 kg h-1) were the dominant fish species. The bathymetric distribution of the fishes which
occurred more than one time were analysed using measures of the centre of gravity (COG) and the habitat width (HW). The
analysis revealed that most of the species exhibited a wide distribution range, although a few were restricted to the greatest
depths. Species richness index was maximum (8.25) at 500-700 m depth zone and minimum (3.20) at 900-1100 m depth
zone. Species diversity did increase up to the depth of 900 m and declined beyond this depth, whereas the species evenness
increased with depth.
Description
Keywords
abundance, bathymetric distribution, deep sea, demersal, diversity, EEZ, finfishes
Citation
Indian Journal of Fisheries 2013: 60(4), 1-6