A first report on the distribution of Ostracod taxa in the Ashtamudi Lake, southwest coast of Kerala, India

The present study is the first taxonomical account of Ostracoda occurring in the sediments of the Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala, intending to generate a baseline for future palaeo-ecological or palaeoenvironmental applications. A total of 22 Ostracod species belonging to 16 genera, 11 families, 5 superfamilies and 2 suborders of the order Podocopida have been identified from 66 surface sediment samples collected across the lake. Sedimentological parameters, such as CaCO3, organic matter, sand silt and clay, were estimated and their distribution is discussed. The ratio between the carapaces and open valves has been taken into consideration for determining the rate of sedimentation in the study area.