Progressive recovery of macrobenthic fauna in Chilika Lagoon after its restoration, with a focus on Stenothyra blanfordiana (Gastropoda: Stenothyridae)

The macrobenthic fauna of Chilika Lagoon was investigated from July 2012 to June 2016 to comprehend the status post its restoration and to discern signs of biological recovery.The study revealed the existence of 42 macrobenthic faunal taxa belonging to 28 families, apart from polychaetes, oligochaetes and fishes.Gastropods dominated the macrobenthic population of the lagoon, especially in its Central sector during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons.Stenothyra blanfordiana an endemic species with an abundance as high as 3067 no./m 2 , contributed to 80% of the total abundance of the macrobenthic fauna.Despite its importance concerning global biodiversity, information on its ecology, habitat, feeding behaviour, etc. is seldom available worldwide.This study elucidated the distribution, habitat preference and behaviour of S. blanfordiana in Chilka Lagoon.This endemic species showed a preference for comparatively less sandy substratum with higher C:N values and exhibited a dietary preference for dead and decaying plankton, particularly prevalent in macrophytedominated regions.The study has also demonstrated the gradual recovery of the macrobenthic community within the ecosystem, particularly notable in the case of S. blanfordiana, from previously degraded conditions.