MEIOBENTHOS OF MANGROVE MUDFLATS FROM SHALLOW REGION OF THANE CREEK, CENTRAL WEST-COAST OF INDIA

Studies on the meiobenthos of intertidal zone of mangrove mudflats rev ealed dominance of nematodes (78.35%) with insignificant seasonal vari ations. The other constituents were tube polychaetes and oligochaetes, the latter contributing a major share to meiobenthos only at the stat ion in the proximity of sewage outlet. Generally the meiobenthic abund ance was higher at low level water mark (44.30% of density and 56.40% of biomass) and low during monsoon (20.90%). The meiobenthic productiv ity ranged between 4650 to 9835 g/m(2) and was mainly governed by macr obenthic population density.