Functional diversity of nematode communities in the Nizampatnam Bay, Bay of Bengal

322-337During the present study the relationship between taxonomic and biological trait approaches in relation to the abiotic environment were studied from the nematode samples collected from 64 subtidal stations during the four seasons in the Nizampatnam Bay, East coast of India. 19 categories of five biological traits known to represent an important ecological function were employed. These were related to buccal morphology, tail shape, body size, body shape and life history strategy. Data on trait membership was provided by biological information on species and genera. A total of 34 different trait combinations were recorded. In the present study, the most common morphotypes were non-selective deposit feeding nematodes, with colonizing abilities of 2-4 (in a scale of 1-5). Their abundance was correlated with depth. Inspite of a high turnover of species, functional diversity of assemblages did not change notably in space and time. A comparison of spatial and temporal patterns of nematode functional diversity between Nizampatnam Bay and other semi enclosed Bays in temperate and tropical regions suggests that two features are common: (1) in detecting spatial patterns, taxonomic approach is more powerful tool than biological trait approach; (2) biological trait approach offers more reliable correlative links with environmental factors than taxonomic one