BU researchers find new marine roundworm in Chilika
2
Berhampur: Researchers from Berhampur University have discovered a new species of roundworm in the Chilika lake.
The marine nematode was named Admirandus odishaensis, in honour of Odisha as it was found in the state.
The species belongs to the genus Admirandus. The discovery marks the first report of the genus from the northern Indian Ocean.
Earlier, the genus had been found in the Indian Ocean near Africa.
Suman Patra, a research scholar in marine science department of the university, under the guidance of assistant professor Shesdev Patro, along with Amita Kumari Choudhury, a research scholar in department of zoology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, were involved in the research.
Renowned nematologist Daniel Leduc of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand, helped to identify the species. The findings were published in the Journal of Natural History on Tuesday.
The researchers collected six specimens of the roundworm from the outer channel of Chilika near Satapada in Nov 2023. After an in-depth analysis, they confirmed the uniqueness of the species.
"Marine nematodes are extremely sensitive to environmental fluctuations and serve as important bio-indicators of ecosystem health," said Patro.
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Despite their microscopic size, nematodes play a vital role in benthic ecosystems. Their short life cycles and adaptability make them valuable for monitoring ecological conditions, the researchers said. They noted the ecologically rich coast of Odisha remains largely unexplored when it comes to microscopic benthic fauna like nematodes.
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