Studies on the seasonal abundance and diversity of Echinoderms (Asteroidea, Oophiuroidea, Echinoidea, and Holothuroidea) from coastal areas of Karachi (Northern Arabian Sea)
Item Type article
Authors Ahmed, Quratulan; Ali, Qadeer Mohammad; Mubarak, Shumaila; Farooq, Sumera
Download date 30/09/2021 19:39:35
Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/40807 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 101-117, 2016.
STUDIES ON THE SEASONAL ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF ECHINODERMS (ASTEROIDEA, OPHIUROIDEA, ECHINOIDEA, AND HOLOTHUROIDEA) FROM COASTAL AREAS OF KARACHI (NORTHERN ARABIAN SEA)
Quratulan Ahmed, Qadeer Mohammad Ali, Shumaila Mubarak and Sumera Farooq Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi, Karachi (QA, QMA, SM); Marine Science Division, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Karachi (SF). email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT: Species diversity and abundance of four major groups of Echinoderms (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) were recorded from two rocky shores Buleji and Sunehri during January to December 2014. Twenty surveys were done during low tides from intertidal zone. Twenty one (21) species of Echinoderms were identified including Asterina lorioli, Asteropectin indicus, Anthenea rudis, Asterina sp. Ophioplocus imbricatus, Ophionereis dubia, Macrophiothrix aspidota, Ophiothrix sp. Ophiothella sp., Echinometra mithai, Echinometra sp., Holothuria atra, Holothuria arenicola, Holothuria leucospilota, Holothuria pardalis, Holothuria verrucosa, Holothuria cinerascens, Aslia forbesi, Staurothyone rosacea, Stolus buccalis and Ohshimella ehrenbergii. A total of 1,062 specimens were collected from Buleji and 778 from Sunehri. Holothuria arenicola and Holothuria pardalis shows highest relative abundance in all seasons. The highest abundance (28.14%) and (34.45%) of Holothuria arenicola was recorded during pre-monsoon season and the lowest relative abundance (0.29%) was observed in Holothuria leucospilota and Aslia forbesi from Buleji in Southwest monsoon and Holothuria cinerascens (0.42%) from Sunehri in post-monsoon season. Highest Shannon –Wiener diversity index (H') at Buleji was recorded in Northeast monsoon season (2.24) and in post-monsoon season (1.97) at Sunehri. No significant difference was observed in between seasons and species at (P>0.05, 0.49) and species between localities at (P>0.05, 0.11).
KEYWORDS: Abundance, diversity, Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuroidea and Karachi coast.
INTRODUCTION
Echinoderms are marine invertebrates characterized by hard, spiny covering skin belonging to the phylum Echinodermata having universal occurrence at every ocean depth, from the intertidal zone to the abyssal zone. The phylum contains about 7000 living species and 13,000 fossil species is epitomized by the familiar sea star, a universal symbol of the marine realm (Pawson, 2007). This is the largest phylum without any freshwater or terrestrial forms (Brusca and Brusca, 2003; Waggoner, 1999), except for a few species which inhabit brackish waters, all are benthic organisms found in marine 102 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016. environment. Echinoderms are numerous and relatively large invertebrates and play an important role in marine, benthic ecosystems (Uthicke et al., 2009). The Echinoderms are important both ecologically and geologically. Ecologically, there are few other groupings so abundant in the biotic desert of the deep sea, as well as shallower oceans. They can alter the structure of seafloor sediments in a variety of ways. Many sea cucumbers feed by swallowing large quantities of sediment, extracting organic matter as the sediment passes through the intestine, and ejecting the remainder. Large populations of sea cucumbers in an area can turn over vast quantities of surface sediments and can greatly alter the physical and chemical composition of the sediments. Echinoderms may compete for food resources with demersal fish, predate on commercially important bivalves and be a major food source for fish (Anger et al., 1977; Packer et al., 1994). Five extant classes of Echinoderms are universally recognized: Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuroidea, and Crinoidea. A sixth class, Concentricycloidea, was described 21 years ago (Baker et al., 1986). Asteroidea are approximately 1600 extant species (Hyman 1955; Clark 1977; Clark and Downey 1992) which are found throughout the world's oceans. The 800 species of echinoids are alive today (Pawson, 2007). The Ophiuroidea contain over 2,000 species of brittle stars live today. They are found in all seas, at all latitudes, and from the intertidal to the abyssal zone (to a depth of 6,000 meters) (Stöhr et al., 2012). The number of Holothurian species are found worldwide on the sea floor is about 1,717 (Paulay, 2014). A total of 36 species of the Phylum Echinodermata pertaining to 25 genera and 19 families are reported from Pakistan (Tahera, 1996). Total 8 species of Asteroidea are reported from Pakistan (Hoque, 1969; Clark and Rowe, 1971; Ahmed et al., 1982; Tahera 1996; Tahera 2005) , 11 species of Ophiuroidea fauna are compiled from the Pakistan coast (Hoque, 1969; Clark and Rowe, 1971; Tahera and Naushaba, 1995; Tahera 1996b, 2001 and Tahera and Kazmi, 2005), while Echinoidea order from Pakistani coast consists of 4 species as mentioned by Hoque, 1969; Clark and Rowe 1971 and Tahera, 1993. 19 species of Holothuroidea have been reported from coastal areas of Pakistan, 12 species reported by Clark and Rowe (1971), 5 species recorded by (Tahera, and Tirmizi, 1995; Tahera, 1997; Tahera and Kazmi 2005) and 2 species recorded by Ahmed et al. (In press). No work has been done on seasonal and spatial abundance of Echinoderms from Pakistan; hence this is the first attempt. The aim of these studies is to determine abundance and occurrence of four major groups of Echinoderms (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) from two rocky sites Buleji and Sunehri during January to December 2014.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The study was conducted at two rocky sites bordering northern Arabian Sea (Fig. 1). Buleji (24°50'20.41'' N, 66°49'24.15'' E) is a small village popularly known as French beach. The rocks of Buleji were laid in post tertiary period. These rocks are more or less like mounds. And are rough and hard. The area investigated is approximately eight hundred (800) meters long and one hundred fifty (150) meters wide at 0.0 m low tide. The rocky ledge is gradually sloping more or less triangular platform which protrudes out in the Arabian Sea. The site may be classified as exposed wave beaten rocky coast, with slightly Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 103 uneven profile consisting of slightly elevated and depressed areas. Therefore, part of the shores, which exposed to direct wave action, is somewhat elevated compared to the hinder part where small and large pools of water are created at low tides. Boulders of various sizes can be seen scattered on the rocky ledge. Buleji has sandy pebbly beach lying at relatively low level compared to the main rocky ledge.
Fig. 1. Map showing two rocky sites, Buleji (24°50'20.41'' N, 66°49'24.15'' E) and Sunehri (24°52'33.49'' N, 66°40'40.20'' E).
Sunehri is located at (24°52'33.49'' N, 66°40'40.20'' E) situated near a fishing village Goth Manjhar. The area monitored during the study period is approximately twelve hundred (1200) meters long and two hundred (200) meters wide at 0.0 m low tide. The area is a continuation of lime stone ridges of Jhill hills. Jhill hills starts submerging into the Arabian Sea at Cape monze forming peninsular area between the Hub estuary and the open sea coast. Gravelly or stony soils are consequently the predominant class and sandy soil. Soil texture varies from coarse to clay. The shore is relatively low in diversity of flora and fauna. The habitat is physically complex, with the presence of rockpools, gullies, crevices and boulders increasing the range of habitats and consequently the number of species present. Because most of the substrate is stable, it provides a secure surface for a variety of organisms such as seaweeds, barnacles, mussels and limpets.
104 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016.
Data and sample collection: Both the sampling sites were surveyed from January to December 2014 on seasonal basis, pre-monsoon as (March to April), Southwest monsoon as (May to September) post-monsoon as (October) and Northeast monsoon as (Mid November to February). A total of 20 surveys were conducted in the intertidal area during low tides. For sampling, transect method was adopted, four quadrats measuring 2 x 2 m were taken at each belt transect, employed at three equidistance, perpendicular to the shore. Samples of Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuroidea were collected by hand-picking. All samples were carefully kept alive in water filled containers. Specimens were transported to the laboratory and shifted in well aerated aquaria. Sample Identification: For taxonomic studies of Echinoidea, specimens were morphologically examined and microscopic studies were conducted. For holothurians, body wall tissues were taken from three positions (dorsal and ventral body walls, and tentacles). A small piece of skin tissue on a slide and adding a few drops of 3.5% bleach, and the slides were then rinsed with drops of distilled water. The slides were examined under a microscope at 10 × 10 magnification. For the identification of Asteroidea, the oral and aboral surfaces and shape of madreporite were examined under the stereozoom microscope. The proportion of the body was also observed from the radius of the disc and the length of an arm from the centre of the disc. For the identification of Ophiuroidea, jaws of the animal, aboral surface of disc, number of arms and arm’s length with the shape of arm plates were examined under the stereozoom microscope. Community structure analysis (i) Shannon-Wiener diversity index: The comparison of Echinodermata group diversity at both the stations were analyzed by using, the Shannon – Wiener diversity index (1949): Diversity index = H = – ∑ Pi In Pi where Pi = S / N S = number of individuals of one species N = total number of all individuals in the sample In = logarithm to base e (ii) Margalef’s index: Margalef’s index (Margalef, 1951) was applied to analyze the relationship between the number of zooplankton groups and individual numbers with their distribution based on abundance. Margalef’s index = (S – 1) / In N S = total number of species N = total number of individuals in the sample In = natural logarithm (iii) Evenness: The Pielou’s Evenness Index (J') (Pielou, 1966) was applied to exemplify the pattern of distribution of individuals between major groups. J' = H / In S H = Shannon – Wiener diversity index S = total number of species in the sample Statistical Analysis: IBM SPSS Statistics 20 version with a 5% significance level was used to determine the difference between species, localities and seasons.
Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 105
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data on physico-chemical parameters is presented in (Fig. 2a and 2b). Highest water temperature (32.6 oC), salinity (38.9ppt), pH (8.4), and dissolved Oxygen (4.95 mg/L) were recorded from Buleji and highest water temperature (34.5 oC), salinity (40.3ppt), pH (8.7) and dissolved Oxygen (7.22 mg/L) were recorded from Sunehri.
45 Buleji a 40 35 30 25
20 chemical chemical parameters
- 15 10
Phusico 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Water temperature (oC) Salinity (ppt) pH Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
45 Sunehri b 40 35 30 25
20 chemical chemical parameters
- 15 10
Phusico 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Water temperature (oC) Salinity (ppt) pH Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
Fig. 2. Physico-chemical parameters collected from Buleji and Sunehri during January to December 2014. 106 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016.
Table 1. Total abundance of Echinodermata (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuridea) at Buleji and Sunheri.
S.no. Name of species Buleji Sunheri
1 Asterina lorioli 16 * 2 Asteropectin indicus 17 * 3 Anthenea rudis * 5 4 Asterina sp. 57 110 5 Ophioplocus imbricatus 137 64 6 Ophionereis dubia 117 55 7 Macrophiothrix aspidota 23 * 8 Ophiothrix sp. 37 22 9 Ophiothella sp. 15 * 10 Echinometra mithai 60 * 11 Echinometra sp. * 34 12 Holothuria atra 20 9 13 Holothuria (Thymiosycia) arenicola 201 222 14 Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota 4 * 15 Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis 271 184 16 Holothuria (Lessonothuria) verrucosa 72 50 17 Holothuria (Semperothuria) cinerascens * 3 18 Aslia forbesi 4 * 19 Staurothyone rosacea 11 * 20 Stolus buccalis * 9 21 Ohshimella ehrenbergii * 11 Total no of sample 1,062 778 *not present
Total (1,840) specimens were collected during pre-monsoon as (March to April), Southwest monsoon as (May to September) post-monsoon as (October to November) and Northeast monsoon as (December to February). The total number of Asteroidea (90), Ophiuroidea (329), Echinoidea (60) and Holothuroidea (583) were collected from Buleji and Asteroidea (115), Ophiuroidea (141), Echinoidea (34) and Holothuroidea (488) were collected from Sunehri. A total of 21 species of Echinoderms were recorded from both study sites as Asterina lorioli, Asteropectin indicus, Anthenea rudis, Asterina sp. Ophioplocus imbricatus, Ophionereis dubia, Macrophiothrix aspidota, Ophiothrix sp. Ophiothella sp., Echinometra mithai, Echinometra sp., Holothuria atra, Holothuria arenicola, Holothuria leucospilota, Holothuria pardalis, Holothuria verrucosa, Holothuria cinerascens, Aslia forbesi, Staurothyone rosacea , Stolus buccalis and Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 107
Ohshimella ehrenbergii (Table 1). Higher number of species were collected from Buleji (16) as compare to Sunheri (13). Holothuria pardalis (271 and 184) and Holothuria arenicola (201 and 222) were the most abundant echinoderms at Buleji and Sunheri. Anthenea rudis, Echinometra sp., Holothuria cinerascens, Stolus buccalis and Ohshimella ehrenbergii were not recorded from Buleji (Table 1). Total number of species were collected from Sunehri as, Anthenea rudis (05), Asterina sp.(110), Ophioplocus imbricatus (64), Ophionereis dubia (55), Ophiothrix sp.(22), Echinometra sp.(34), Holothuria atra (09), Holothuria arenicola (222), Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis (184), Holothuria verrucosa (50) , Holothuria cinerascens (03), Stolus buccalis (09) , Ohshimella ehrenbergii (11) (Table 3). Comparative distribution of individuals of Echinodermata groups (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuridea) were presented in Fig. 3.
1200
1000
800
600
400
200 Total no. ofindivisulas no. Total 0
Buleji Sunehri
Fig. 3. Total number of individuals of Echinodermata (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuridea) collected from Buleji and Sunehri.
The seasonal composition of echinoderm species were presented in (Table 2 and 4; Fig. 5a and 5b). Buleji shows the highest relative abundance in Holothuria arenicola (28.14 %) and Holothuria pardalis (27.59%) in pre-monsoon and Northeast monsoon season while the lowest level was observed in Holothuria leucospilota, (0.29 %) and Aslia forbesi (0.29 %) in Southwest monsoon season (Table 2). From Sunehri highest relative abundance were also observed in Holothuria arenicola (34.45%) and Holothuria pardalis (31.16 %) in pre-monsoon and Northeast monsoon season while the lowest level of relative
108 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016.
and
* * 5 * 4 * *
16 17 57 23 37 15 60 20 72 10
137 117 201 271
number of of number
1,062
sample
Total
Echinoidea
* * * * *
(0.89)
337
05 05 (1.48) 04 (1.18) 16 (4.74) 05 (1.48) 15 (4.45) 04 (1.18) 07 (2.07) 02 (0.59) 16 (4.74) 03 06 (1.78)
37 37 (10.97) 39 (11.57) 35 (10.38) 50 (14.83) 93 (27.59)
Ophiuroidea,
Northeast monsoon Northeast
* * *
* * * * *
248
monsoon
-
Asteroidea,
04 04 (1.61) 05 (2.01) 09 (3.62) 03 (1.20) 03 (1.20) 02 (0.80) 20 (8.06) 03 (1.20) 21 (8.46)
(
43 43 (17.33) 32 (12.90) 37 (14.91) 66 (26.61)
Post
* *
* * *
342
(11.11)
05 05 (1.46) 06 (1.75) 26 (7.60) 33 (9.64) 09 (2.63) 09 (2.63) 07 (2.04) 05 (1.46) 06 (1.75) 01 (0.29) 01 (0.29) 04 (1.16)
Monsoon
38 38 76 (22.22) 81 (23.68) 35 (10.23)
Southwest Southwest
Echinodermata
of
* * * * * * * * *
135
(28.14)
monsoon
-
02 02 (1.48) 02 (1.48) 06 (4.44) 13 (9.62) 06 (4.44) 10 (7.40) 02 (1.48) 04 (2.96) 02 (1.48)
19 19 (14.07) 38 31 (22.96)
Pre
abundance
i
at Buleji.
sp.
sp.
atra
sp.
sp.
buccalis
Holothuridea)
Total no of sample no Total
Name of species of Name lorioli Asterina indicus Asteropectin rudis Anthenea Asterina imbricatus Ophioplocus dubia Ophionereis aspidota Macrophiothrix Ophiothrix Ophiothella mithai Echinometra Echinometra Holothuria arenicola (Thymiosycia) Holothuria leucospilota (Mertensiothuria) Holothuria pardalis (Lessonothuria) Holothuria verrucosa (Lessonothuria) Holothuria cinerascens (Semperothuria) Holothuria forbesi Aslia rosacea Staurothyone Stolus ehrenbergi Ohshimella
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
S.No.
Table2. Seasonaldistribution and relative
Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 109
* * 5 * * * 9 * 3 * * 9
64 55 22 34 50 11
110 222 184 778
sample
Total number of of Total number
* * * * * * * *
215
02 02 (0.93) 13 (6.04) 20 (9.30) 11 (5.11) 06 (2.79) 11 (5.11) 01 (0.46) 19 (8.83) 02 (0.93) 03 (1.39) 01 (0.46)
59 59 (27.44) 67 (31.16)
Northeast monsoon Northeast
* * * * * * * * *
(0.42)
235
monsoon
-
02 02 (0.85) 17 (7.23) 16 (6.80) 05 (2.12) 18 (7.65) 01 05 (2.12) 06 (2.55)
32 32 (13.61) 24 (10.21) 50 (21.27) 59 (25.10)
Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Echinoidea Ophiuroidea,Asteroidea,
Post
* * * * * * * * * *
209
20 20 (9.56) 17 (8.13) 05 (2.39) 04 (1.91) 01 (0.47) 13 (6.22) 01 (0.47) 03 (1.43)
Monsoon
35 35 (16.74) 72 (34.44) 38 (18.18)
Southwest Southwest
* * * * * * * * * * * *
119
monsoon
-
01 01 (0.84) 10 (8.40) 11 (9.24) 03 (2.52) 02 (1.68) 01 (0.84)
30 30 (25.21) 41 (34.45) 20 (16.80)
Pre
i
sp.
at Sunehri. at Sunehri.
sp.
atra
sp.
sp.
Total no of sample no Total
Name of species of Name lorioli Asterina indicus Asteropectin rudis Anthenea Asterina imbricatus Ophioplocus dubia Ophionereis aspidota Macrophiothrix Ophiothrix Ophiothella mithai Echinometra Echinometra Holothuria arenicola (Thymiosycia) Holothuria leucospilota (Mertensiothuria) Holothuria pardalis (Lessonothuria) Holothuria verrucosa (Lessonothuria) Holothuria cinerascens (Semperothuria) Holothuria forbesi Aslia rosacea Staurothyone buccalis Stolus ehrenbergi Ohshimella
Holothuridea)
. Seasonal distribution and relative abundance of Echinodermata ( Echinodermata of abundance relative and distribution Seasonal .
3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
S.No.
Table *notpresent *notpresent *notpresent *notpresent *notpresent *notpresent *notpresent
110 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016.
Table 4. Seasonal variations in Shannon – Wiener diversity index (H'), Evenness (J') and Margalef Species Richness Index (d) at Buleji and Sunheri.
Wiener Wiener
–
(S) (d)
(J')
(H')
Evenness
TotalSpecies
diversity index
Richness Index
Margalef Species Shannon
Buleji Pre-monsoon 13 2.03 0.791 2.849 SW Monsoon 16 2.197 0.792 3.17 Post-monsoon 10 2.052 0.846 2.4 NE Monsoon 16 2.24 0.808 3.173 Sunheri Pre-monsoon 9 1.68 0.766 1.958 Monsoon 11 1.86 0.773 2.356 Post-monsoon 11 2.01 0.821 2.21 NE Monsoon 13 1.94 0.756 2.76 abundance was observed in Holothuria cinerascens (0.42%) during post-monsoon season (Table 4). Fig. 4 (a, b) shows relative abundance (%) in species collected from Bulejia nd Sunehri. Highest relative abundance (25.51%) were measured in Holothuria pardalis and lowest (0.37%) were recorded in Holothuria leucospilota and Aslia forbesi (Fig. 4a). From Sunehri highest relative abundance (28.53%) was recorded in H. arenicola and lowest (0.38%) abundance was measured in Holothuria cinerascens (Fig. 4b). The order of relative abundance in species at Buleji ; Holothuria pardalis (25.51%)> Holothuria arenicola (18.92%)> Ophioplocus imbricatus (12.90%)> Ophionereis dubia (11.01%)> Holothuria verrucosa (6.77%)> Echinometra mithai (5.64%)> Asterina sp.(5.36%)>Ophiothrix sp. (3.48%)> Macrophiothrix aspidota (2.16%)> Holothuria atra (1.88%)> Asteropectin indicus (1.60%)> Asterina lorioli (1.50%)> Ophiothella sp. (1.41)> Staurothyone rosacea (1.03%)> Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota (0.37%)> Aslia forbesi (0.37%) (Fig. 4a). The order of relative abundance in species at Sunehri; Holothuria arenicola (28.53)> Holothuria pardalis (23.65)> Asterina sp. (14.13)> Ophioplocus imbricatus (8.22)> Ophionereis dubia(7.06)> Holothuria verrucosa (6.42)> Echinometra sp.( 4.37)> Ophiothrix sp.( 2.82)> Ohshimella ehrenbergii (1.41)> Stolus buccalis (1.15)> Holothuria atra (1.15)> Anthenea rudis (0.64) >Holothuria cinerascens (0.38) (Fig. 4b). Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 111
300 Buleji 30 250 25 200 20 150 15
100 10 No.of indivisuals
50 Relative abundance(%) 5 0 0
a 300 Sunehri 30 250 25 200 20 150 15 100 10
No.of indivisuals 50 5 Relative Relative abundance(%) 0 0
b
Fig. 4. Number of individuals and relative abundance (%) of Echinodermata species from Buleji and Sunehri.
Table 4 shows seasonal Shannon – Wiener diversity index (Hs), Equitability (E) and Margalef Species Richness Index (d) at Buleji and Suheri. Highest Shannon – Wiener 112 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016.
a
13% 32%
32%
23%
Pre-monsoon Southwest Monsoon Post-monsoon Northeast monsoon b
15% 28%
27%
30%
Pre-monsoon Southwest Monsoon Post-monsoon Northeast monsoon
Fig. 5. Seasonal percentage composition (%) of echinoderms from Buleji and Sunehri. diversity index (H') at Buleji was recorded in Northeast monsoon season (2.24) and in post- monsoon season (2.01) at Sunehri. Highest Equitability (E) of 0.846 and 0.821 were recorded in post-monsoon season at Buleji and Sunehri respectively. Species richness (d) was high in both SW and NE monsoon seasons (3.17) at Bauleji whereas at Sunheri the highest value of species richness (2.76) was obtained in NE monsoon season. Presently no data is available on the diversity and distribution of Echinoderms from coastal areas of Pakistan. This is the first information deals on the occurrence and Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 113 distribution of four groups of Echinoderms. The species diversity was high at Buleji beach as compare to Sunehri beach. Lamp et al., (2014) reported high diversity with lower abundance in the shallow lagoons of Mauritius. Similar results were obtained in this study.
a Total Percentage composition (%) at Buleji Asteroidea 8%
Ophiuroidea Holothuroidea 31% 55%
Echinoidea 6%
b Total Percentage composition (%) at Sunehri
Asteroidea 15%
Ophiuroidea Holothuroidea 18% 63%
Echinoidea 4%
Fig. 6. Total percentage composition (%) of echinoderms from Buleji and Sunehri. 114 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol. 25(1&2), 2016.
a Site=1
3.17 3.173 2.849 2.4
0.791 0.792 0.846 0.808
2.03 2.197 2.052 2.24
Pre-monsoon SW Monsoon Post-monsoon NE Monsoon
Shannon – Wiener diversity index(H') Evenness(J') Margalef Species Richness Index(d)
b Site= 2
2.76 2.356 2.21 1.958
0.821 0.756 0.766 0.773
1.68 1.86 2.01 1.94
Pre-monsoon Monsoon Post-monsoon NE Monsoon
Shannon – Wiener diversity index (H') Evenness(J') Margalef Species Richness Index (d)
Fig. 7. Diversity Indices of Echinoderms from Site = 1 and Site = 2.
Ahmed et al.: Seasonal abundance and diversity of echinoderms 115
During the studies highest composition was observed in Holorhuroidea group. Similar observation was made by Rao and Kumar, (2014) which shows maximum percentage of species composition among Holothuroidea in South Andaman constituting 41% of Echinoderms. The diversity of Echinoderms in the Pacific coast of Central America as mentioned by Alvarado Marin et al., (2008), 287 species were constituted by 162 genera, 73 families and 28 orders. Sadhukhan et al., (2012) reported 75 species of Echinoderms from south Andaman. During the present study period 89 species were recorded constituting 41% of Holothuroidea and Echinoidea, Ophiuroidea, Asteroidea and Crinoidea constitutes 25%, 14%, 11% and 9 % respectively. Present study also reveals that the highest abundance was observed in Holothuroidea group. Sadhukhan and Raghunathan, (2011) reported the diversity and distribution of Echinoderms in Rutland Island, a total of 57 species have been reported during survey period. The species of Holothuroids (35.09%) and Echinoids (31.58%) were mostly distributed with higher percentage of abundance in the reef ecosystem of Rutland Island. Lamp et al., (2014) reported Holothurian diversity, abundance and distribution from the shallow lagoons of Mauritius, total of 7,488 Holothurians, of which 76% were of commercial importance. Conand et al., (2010) studied diversity of the Holothuroid fauna in La Réunion (Western Indian Ocean). Elmasry et al., (2013) conducted preliminary studies on habitat and diversity of some sea urchin species on the southern Levantine basin of Egypt. Four species of sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, Sphaerechinus granularis, Arbacia lixula, Psammechinus microtuberculatus were collected from the Alexandria coast. Pourvali et al., (2014) conducted studies on Echinodermata, species diversity and distribution in Hormuz Island (The Persian Gulf), Iran. This study was spread over three seasons; winter, spring and summer. The results revealed that distribution of Echinoderms has direct correlation with bottom type. Yuval et al., (2014) studied abundance and diversity of holothuroids in shallow habitats of the Northern Red Sea. During the studies 11 species were observed in these shallow sites. No work has been done on seasonal and spatial abundance of Echinoderms from Pakistan; hence this study will contribute to the knowledge of species richness, diversity of Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Asteroidea and Holothuroidea from coastal areas of Pakistan – northern Arabian Sea.
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