Meiofaunal Responses to Environmental Stressors Along the Thoothukudi Coast, Tamil Nadu, India: A Review

Abstract

The Thoothukudi Coast in Tamil Nadu, India, faces significant environmental stressors due to industrial pollution, urbanization, and coastal erosion, impacting its benthic ecosystems. Meiofauna, as sensitive bioindicators, play a crucial role in monitoring ecological health and environmental degradation. This review synthesizes existing studies on meiofaunal assemblages in the Thoothukudi region, examining their taxonomic composition, abundance, and distribution patterns in response to stressors such as heavy metals, organic pollution, sedimentation, and climate variability. We highlight the utility of meiofauna in assessing ecosystem resilience and their potential as early warning indicators of ecological disturbance. Key findings reveal shifts in nematode and copepod dominance under polluted conditions, reduced diversity near industrial outfalls, and correlations between physicochemical parameters (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH, and heavy metal concentrations) and meiofaunal community structure. The review also addresses knowledge gaps, including the need for long-term monitoring, molecular approaches to biodiversity assessment, and integrative management strategies. By consolidating regional data, this paper provides a foundation for future research and policy interventions aimed at conserving Thoothukudi’s coastal ecosystems.