Distribution, diversity and abundance of scleractinian corals

George, Rani Mary and Jasmine, S and Vinod, K and Manisseri, Mary K and Kingsly, H Jose (2019) Distribution, diversity and abundance of scleractinian corals. In: Stony corals, sponges and reef fishes off Enayam to Kollam, south-west coast of India. CMFRI Special Publication (119). ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, pp. 37-47.

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    Abstract

    Three extensive surveys were conducted for the assessment of scleractinian coral diversity along Enayam to Kollam waters in southern India during the period 2008-2012 (i.e., in three phases), using the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) method. A total of 15 coral species belonging to 5 families and 6 genera were recorded and the relative abundance values were derived for each species and were assigned the status as dominant/ abundant/ common/ uncommon/rare. The genera Pocillopora and Montipora were represented by five species each. In Vizhinjam waters, the total coral cover was only 16.2% of the surveyed area in the first phase of the study period. Subsequent studies revealed a decline in coral growth due to construction of a wharf and also by the removal of pocilloporids by divers. But during the third phase of the survey, new colonies were observed in the area resulting in increased coral cover in Vizhinjam Bay. Though during the first phase, 83% of coral cover was observed at Enayam, a decline in the coral cover (75% only) was recorded in the second phase of the study due to replacement of pocilloporids by the luxurious growth of brown mussels and encrusting zooanthids. The incidence of bleached corals was found to have increased considerably after the initial study. An important observation recorded was that though the decline was noticed among the pocilloporids, an increase in coverage was noticed for other groups such as acroporids and poritids. The present paper presents an overview of coral resources along the south-west coast of India, their distribution and diversity and climatic as well as anthropogenic stress on coral growing areas.

    Item Type: Book Section
    Uncontrolled Keywords: Coral diversity, Distribution, Health status, Scleractinian corals
    Subjects: Marine Ecosystems > Coral Reefs
    Divisions: CMFRI-Calicut (Kozhikode)
    CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    Subject Area > CMFRI > CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    Subject Area > CMFRI-Kochi > Marine Biodiversity Division
    Depositing User: Arun Surendran
    Date Deposited: 18 Nov 2019 05:57
    Last Modified: 18 Nov 2019 05:57
    URI: http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/id/eprint/13924

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