Polychaete infestation on porite corals in the Andaman Sea

Abstract

Polychaete infestations are common among the porites group of corals in Andaman and Nicobar group of islands. However, these infestations occur in small numbers and the intensity of the effect is not so pronounced. The number and intensities of polychaetes in various transects surveyed indicates that anthropogenic activities are playing a major role in proliferating the polychaete infestation, which are otherwise in a low profile. The surveys were conducted for assessing the reef health status at North Bay, Havelock Hathi Dera, Aberdeen jetty, Chidiyatapu, and North Wandoor. In sites which are directly exposed to human activities, the number of feather duster polychaetes and Christmas tree polychaetes are high. In North Bay reef the polychaete infection was very high which shows the effect of tourism. Aberdeen jetty and Havelock jetty also, the polychaete number is high on Porites sp. Such incidences are not encountered in areas with less anthropogenic disturbance.