Community Structure of Intertidal Macrofauna: Spatial Autocorrelation of Two Rocky Coasts of Gujarat, India

The present study describes the community structure of intertidal macrofauna on two rocky coasts of the Kathiawar Peninsula, Gujarat State. The results show significant spatial autocorrelation between the two study sites, with the Mantel correlogram identifying contrasting patterns of species distribution across the coasts. The Veraval coast shows a strong positive correlation owing to its rocky coastal regions. The homogeneity of the intertidal habitats leads to a diverse and cohesive macrofaunal community. In contrast, the Adri coast displays a negative correlation, attributed to the heterogeneous habitats of its intertidal zones. The combination of sandy and rocky patches creates a range of microhabitats, resulting in distinct ecological regions within the coast. This environmental variability promotes a more distinct and less uniform distribution of species. The study underscores the importance of conducting further ecological research on diverse marine ecosystems, particularly in areas with varied habitat types.