Taxonomy and Ecology of Brachyuran Crabs in Sunderbans

Authors

  • A. Gokul
     Southern Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai – 600028

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v117/i2/2017/118011

Keywords:

Abundance, Anthropogenic, Ecology, Ecosystem, Matla, Mangrove, Sunderbans, Taxonomy.

Abstract

Indian part of Sunderbans is a wide area spread between the rivers Matla in the west and Roymangal in the east. The Mangroves are unique intertidal ecosystem that supports the biodiversity in a wide band. The brachyuran crabs prefer mangroves to complete their biological cycle and along with the crabs, shrimps, prawns, lobsters are also found to be abundant in the mangrove creeks. The present study is an attempt to ô€ind the occurrence of some eco-sensitive species and to access the diversity loss. The eco-sensitive crab species acts as eco indicators. The present study mainly focused on the distribution and diversity of Brachyuran crabs in Sunderbans. The brachyuran crabs were collected from different ecosystems. It was collected from mud by hand-picking and using forceps. Crabs were counted with their holes within the area and accessed. The diversity and distribution of the crabs were examined along the coast and mangrove areas of different ecosystems. The GPS points were made using GARMIN 12 channel GPS. The present study resulted with the collection of 405 examples of brachyuran crabs comprises of 06 families, 07 genera and 14 species. All the species were taxonomically analysed and their distribution is illustrated. The ecological analysis resulted with the abundance of brachyuran crabs are more in the mangrove areas compared with the mud ô€lats of Sunderbans. Comparatively the Ocypode crabs were found to be abundant on the disturbed Bali Island. Studies were limited on the diversity, abundance and dynamic pattern of the brachyuran crabs in Sundarbans hence the present study undertaken. The mode of adaptation and successful completion of life cycle determines the species richness in the respective habitat. The Anthropogenic threats played a major role to change both the sandy beach and island ecosystem from vulnerable to endangered. Rapid increase of human population and solid constructions is the growing threat to not only to Gangasagar and Bakkhali but also to the entire Sundarbans.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2017-09-01

How to Cite

Gokul, A. (2017). Taxonomy and Ecology of Brachyuran Crabs in Sunderbans. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 117(2), 131–139. https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi/v117/i2/2017/118011

Issue

Volume 117, Issue 2, 2017

Section

Articles
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

Ajmalkhan, S. (1999). Biodiversity of Brachyuran crab resources in a Biosphere Reserve. UNO International Training workshop on methodologies for assessment of biodiversity in estuaries, mangroves, and coastal waters. CAS in Marine Biology, Annamalai University. pp. 147-154.

Alcock, A. (1895). Materials for the carcinological fauna oflndia, No. 1, The BrachyuraOxyrhyncha./. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 64: 157-291.

Alcock, A. (1896). Materials for the carcinological fauna oflndia, No.2, The Brachyura Oxystomata. /. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 65: 134-296.

Alcock, A. (1898). Materials for the carcinological fauna oflndia, No.3, The Brachyura Cyclometopa. I. The family Xanthidae. /. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 67: 67-233.

Alcock, A. (1899a). Materials for the carcinological fauna of India, No.4, The Brachyura Cyclometopa, Part II, a rivision of the Cyclometopa with an account of the families portunidae, Cancridae and Corystidae. /. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 68: 1-104.

Alcock, A. (1899b). Materials for the carcinological faima oflndia, No.5, The Brachyura Priniginea or Dromiacea. /. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 68: 123-169.

Alcock, A. (1900). Materials for the carcinological fauna of India, No.6, The Brachyura Catometopa or Grapsoidea. /. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 69: 279-456.

Allison, M. A., S. R. Khan, S. L. Goodbred, and S. A. Kuehl. 2003. Stratigraphic evolution of the late Holocene Ganges-Brahmaputra lower delta plain. Sedimentary Geology. 155 : 317-342.

Bikash, R. 1967. The Moon and the Net - Study of a Transient Community of Fishermen at Jambudwip, Anthropological Survey of India.

Dev Roy and Bhadra. 2005. Fauna of Andhra Pradesh, State Fauna Series, 5: (Part 5): 357-535.

English, S., Wilkinson, C. and Baker, V. (1997). Line Intercept Transect. In: English, S., Wilkinson, C. and Baker, V. (eds.), Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources, Australian Institute of Marine Science, pp. 1-390.

Gokul, A. 2008. Faunistic survey on the taxonomy and ecology of brachyuran crabs in sundarbans. Survey Report submitted to Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

Berry, 1963. Faunal zonation in mangrove swamps. Bull. National Mus., 32: 90-98.

Brij and Malavika, 2006, Biodiversity and its conservation in the Sundarban Mangrove Ecosystem, Aquat. Sci., 68 (3)

Guinot, D. (1976). Constitution de quelques groupes naturels chez les crustaces decapods brachyoures. I. La superfamille des Bellioidea et trios sous-familles de Xanthidae (Polydectinae Dana, Trichiinae de Haan, Actaeinae Alcock). Mem. Mus. nat. D’his. nat., Paris, pp. 308.

Jeyabaskaran, R., Ajmalkhan, S. and Ramaiyan, V. (2000). Brachyuran crabs of Gulf of Mannar. CAS in Marine Biology. Annamalai University. pp. 154.

Khan, R.A. 2002. Fish faunal resources of Sunderban Estuaries system with special reference to the biology of some commercially important species. Rec. zool. Surv. India, Occ. Paper No. 209: 1-150.

Lehane, L. 2000. Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning: A review. National Office of Animal and Plant Health, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia, Canberra. Mandal, A. K and R. K. Ghosh. 1989. Sundarban - A socio bio-ecological study. Bookland Pvt Ltd., Calcutta. pp xv+194, 9pls 2maps.

Mandal, A. K. and N. C. Nandi. 1989. Fauna of Sundarban mangrove ecosystem, west Bengal, India. Fauna of Conservation Areas, 3: 1-116+15 Black and White plates.

Mukherjee, A., A. E. Fryar, and W. A. Thomas. 2008. Geologic, geomorphic and hydrologic framework and evolution of the Bengal basin, India and Bangladesh. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences.

Sakai, T. (1976). Crabs of Japan and adjacent seas. Tokyo, Kodansha. pp. 1-725.

Sankarankutty, C. (1961a). On Decapoda Brachyura from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 1. FamiliesPortunidae, Ocypodidae, Grapsidae and Mictyridae. /. Mar. biol. Ass. India., 3: 101-119.

Sankarankutty, C. (1961b). On some crabs (Decapoda Brachyura) from the Laccadive Archipelago. /. Mar. biol. Ass. India., 3: 120-136.

Sankarankutty, C. (1962a). On Decapoda Brachyura from the Andaman and Nicobar Island -2. Family: Xanthidae. /. Mar. biol. Ass. India, 4: 121-150.

Sankarankutty, C. (1962b). On Decapoda Brachyura from the Andaman and Nicobar Island -3. Family, Calappidae, LeucosidaeParthenopidae, Maidae, and Gecarcinidae. /. Mar. biol. Ass. India, 4: 151-164.

Soundarapandian, P., N. John Samuel, S. Ravichandran and T. Kannupandi. 2008. Biodiversity of crabs in Pichavaram mangrove environment, South east coast of India. Int. /. Zool. Res., 4(2): 113-118.

Stanley, D. J. and A. K. Hait. 2000. Holocene depositional patterns, neotectonics and Sundarban mangroves in the western GangesBrahmaputra delta. J. of Coastal Res. 16: 26-39.

Subaa Rao, N.V.1995.A faunal appraisal of Hugly-Matla Estuarine Complex. Zool. Sur. India, Esturine Ecosystem Series, Part 2: Hugli Matla Estuary: 1-8