Biju, A; Dr.Saramma, Panampunnayil U(National Institute of Oceanography, July , 2008)
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Abstract:
Members of the order Mysidacea are important component in marine
and estuarine plankton inhabiting all regions of the oceans. There are many
brackish water species and few species occur in fresh water, some have
become adapted to the specialized environments of caves and wells. They are
omnivores, responsible for remineralisation of a substantial portion of the
detritus in the water column. They form an important link in the food chain
(between microbial producers and secondary consumers) and therefore play a
major role in the cycling of energy within the aquatic ecosystem. In tropical
and subtropical waters, swarms of mysids are exploited commercially and
marketed as preserved cooked food. Mysids have been used in fish farming as
live feed resource. They are also excellent experimental organism, extremely
useful in the studies of potential impact of various pollutants in the aquatic
environment. Mysids are also used in wood pulp effluent plants.Considering the significant role of mysids in the productivity of tropical and coastal ecosystems,the present study has been undertaken to extend our knowledge on the systematics,
species composition, distribution,abundance and ecology of mysid fauna of the
Indian EEZ and adjoining areas. The present study therefore will undoubtedly fumish
valuable information on Mysidacea of the Indian waters.