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Distribution, diversity and abundance of scleractinian corals

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Relation http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/13924/
 
Title Distribution, diversity and abundance of scleractinian corals
 
Creator George, Rani Mary
Jasmine, S
Vinod, K
Manisseri, Mary K
Kingsly, H Jose
 
Subject Coral Reefs
 
Description 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.
 
Publisher ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
 
Date 2019
 
Type Book Section
PeerReviewed
 
Format text
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/13924/1/Stony%20corals%2C%20sponges%20and%20reef%20fishes_Distribution%2C%20diversity%20and%20abundance%20of%20scleractinian%20corals.pdf
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.