Spatio – Temporal Variation of Meio-fauna Distribution in Bhavanapadu Creek, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present study was conducted to observe distribution of meio-fauna community structure and its variation both spatially and temporally in relation to the sediment temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll – a, organic carbon and soil composition. A monthly sampling was carried out during one year of time period at three stations. The meio-faunal density ranged from 27 to 56 no/10 cm2. Among them harpacticoid copepods were dominant followed by nematodes. The fauna was significantly correlated with environmental parameters like temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, organic carbon and dissolved oxygen.