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Loss of Dugong grass [Halophila ovalis (R. Brown)] population structure due to habitat disturbance in an island ecosystem

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Title Loss of Dugong grass [Halophila ovalis (R. Brown)] population structure due to habitat disturbance in an island ecosystem
 
Creator Mishra, A K
Narayana, S
Apte, D
 
Subject Anthropogenic disturbance
Boat anchoring
Habitat loss
Meadow traits
Seagrass tropical islands
Halophila ovalis
India
 
Description 115-121
Seagrass ecosystems are lost due to habitat disturbance, coastal development, and human activities. The impact of boat anchors from traditional fishing and recreational activities was assessed on the seagrass Halophila ovalis from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) of India. The plant density, biomass, morphometrics, canopy height and percentage cover were estimated from two sites of Govind Nagar beach of ANI. The shoot density of H. ovalis was reduced by physical damage caused by boat anchors. The morphometrics of H. ovalis, such as the number of leaves per ramet, leaf length, width, and horizontal rhizome length was significantly reduced when impacted by boat anchors. Seagrass canopy height and percentage cover were reduced by 71 and 54 %, respectively. Though the impact of boat anchors reported here is on a small-scale, it may impact the feeding grounds of locally endangered dugongs. Therefore, proper management and preventive measures should be implemented to prevent the loss of dugong grass habitats from tourism, recreational, and fishing activities.
 
Date 2021-02-25T05:27:57Z
2021-02-25T05:27:57Z
2021-02
 
Type Article
 
Identifier 2582-6727 (Online); 2582-6506 (Print)
http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/56320
 
Language en_US
 
Rights CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India
 
Publisher NISCAIR-CSIR, India
 
Source IJMS Vol.50(02) [February 2021]