FRESHWATER MEIOBENTHOS AND BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA: DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS—A REVIEW

Freshwater meiobenthos and benthic macroinvertebrates are integral components of Maharashtra's aquatic ecosystems, yet their biodiversity remains incompletely documented. Existing studies demonstrate that rivers, reservoirs, lakes and smaller freshwater bodies support diverse assemblages of aquatic insects, molluscs, annelids, crustaceans and microscopic sediment-dwelling organisms. Maharashtra-specific evidence is strongest for macroinvertebrates, while freshwater meiofaunal research remains a major frontier. The ecological importance of these organisms extends from decomposition and nutrient cycling to food-web support and biological assessment. Their sensitivity to oxygen conditions, sediment characteristics, organic enrichment, nutrient loading and habitat disturbance makes them valuable indicators when interpreted within a standardized regional framework. The future of freshwater benthic research in Maharashtra should therefore move from isolated site inventories towards coordinated basin-scale monitoring that integrates taxonomy, functional ecology, sediment science, physicochemical measurements, molecular tools and spatial analysis. Such an approach would strengthen biodiversity documentation and provide a scientific basis for pollution control, river restoration, reservoir management and sustainable fisheries conservation.

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