Report on widespread occurrence of colonial epizoan ascidian Didemnum sp. in the seagrass beds of Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

The seagrass beds of Gulf of Mannar are one of the major habitats of the Sea cow Dugong dugon. This species is a herbivore that has become more vulnerable in the recent decades caused by habitat degradation due to anthropogenic activities. Ecologically, seagrass beds play several roles such as primary producers, food for herbivores, trapping sediments, preventing erosion and providing shelter for juvenile fishes. Seagrasses also serve as a substrate for fouling organisms, usually epiphytes such as barnacles, polychaetes, ascidians etc.