The data presented in the paper is derived from observations made based on 144 samples collected from Kakinada Bay, Gaderu and Coringa estuarine complex (Lat. 16º 51’ to 17º 00’ N and Long 82º 14’ to 82º 22’ E). Observations on the physico-chemical characteristics of the sea water (dissolved oxygen and salinity), % organic matter and mean particle diameter (MPD) of the sediment were made from the study area. In this study, it was observed that the sediment texture was sandy clay in the North Bay, South Bay and Gaderu, whereas silty in Coringa. The meiobenthic abundance was dominated by Nematoda (37%), Copepoda (15.0%), Foraminifera (13.1%), Polychaeta (9.9%), Ostracoda (6.2%), Archiannelida (2.0%), Kinorhyncha (2.4%) and others (14.3%). The dominant species among the Nematoda, Copepoda, Foraminifera, Polychaeta, Ostracoda, Kinorhyncha, and Archiannelids were identified upto species level. Numerically, meiobenthos abundance varied appreciably in the North Bay, South Bay, Gaderu and Coringa waterways showed considerable seasonal variations, in both occurrence and abundance. The CCA analyses showed that salinity along with sediment texture influenced the meiobenthic abundance in the Kakinada Bay, Gaderu and Coringa estuarine complex. It is recommended to include meiobenthic community level analysis in future environmental studies for a better understanding of coastal marine ecosystems.

Hydrography, sediment texture, meiobenthos abundance, dominant species, Kakinada estuarine complex, east coast of India