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Abstract
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Article Information:
Seagrass Diversity and Associated Flora and Fauna in the Coral Reef Ecosystem of the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India
S. Manikandan, S. Ganesapandian, Manoj Singh and A.K. Kumaraguru
Corresponding Author: S. Manikandan
Submitted: 2010 September, 03
Accepted: 2010 September, 30
Published: 2011 June, 05 |
Abstract:
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The Seagrass diversity and associated flora and fauna in the coral reef ecosystem of the Gulf of
Mannar was assisted with Line Intercept Transects (LIT) with help of SCUBA diving during December -
March 2010. There were 13 species of seagrass found, among this Cymodocea serrulata was dominant species
and the least was Halophila stipulacea. Percentage of seagrass was 68% among this 51% distributed towards
the shoreward side and 17% towards the seaward side. Shoot density was 345.9 shoot/m2 at shoreward side and
230.3 shoot/m2 at in seaward side. Among the species, Cymodocea serrulata has high shoot density at both
shoreward side and seaward side. Seagrass biomass was 255.6 gdwt/m2 at shoreward side and 129.1 gdwt/m2
at in seaward side. Among the species, Enhalus acoroides has high biomass with 83.5 gdwt/m2 and H. wrightii
and H. becarii has lowest biomass with 3.2 gdwt/m2 at shoreward side. Whereas, in seaward side Enhalus
acoroides with 54.1 gdwt/m2 followed by Cymodocea serrulata with 35.1 gdwt/m2 and H. decipiens, H. ovata,
H. ovalis and H. decipiens has lowest biomass with 2.4 shoot/m2. Seagrass biomass 384.7 gdwt/m2 among this
seagrass biomass was 330.9 gdwt/m2 and epiphytic biomass was 53.8 gdwt/m2. Total epiphytic biomass was
53.8 gdwt/m2 among this 35.4 gdwt/m2 at shoreward side and 18.4 gdwt/m2 at in seaward side. Distribution of
seagrass along the islands of Gulf of Mannar varies in a very less proportion. But the spatial variation between
the shoreward side and seaward side was very high. The present studies reveal that seagrass distribution,
diversity, shoot density and associated flora and fauna were significantly higher in shoreward relative to
seaward side. This study of seagrass in the coral reef ecosystem of the Gulf of Mannar would be the base line
data to know the changes in seagrass population and associated flora and fauna in future.
Key words: Associated flora and fauna, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Gulf of Mannar, seagrass diversity, ,
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Cite this Reference:
S. Manikandan, S. Ganesapandian, Manoj Singh and A.K. Kumaraguru, . Seagrass Diversity and Associated Flora and Fauna in the Coral Reef Ecosystem of the Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (4): 321-326.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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