Abstract
Background: Species distribution, abundance and diversity of mangrove benthic macroinvertebrate fauna and the
relationships to environmental conditions are important parts of understanding the structure and function of
mangrove ecosystems. In this study seasonal variation in the distribution of macrobenthos and related
environmental parameters were explored at four mangrove stations along the Pondicherry coast of India, from
September 2008 to July 2010. Multivariate statistical analyses, including cluster analysis, principal component
analysis and non-multidimensional scales plot were employed to help define trophic status, water quality and
benthic characteristic at the four monitoring stations.