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Distribution pattern and community structure of zoanthids (Zoantharia) along the coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

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Relation http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/9199/
 
Title Distribution pattern and community

structure of zoanthids (Zoantharia) along

the coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India
 
Creator Kumari, Sonia
Zacharia, P U
Kripa, V
Sreenath, K R
George, Grinson
 
Subject Estimation
 
Description Coral reef environments support a great diversity of benthic organisms, of which zoanthids form an integral part. Studies have
been carried out regarding the degradation of coral reefs and changes in community structure under the present dynamics of
climatic change. Zoanthids are dominant among the observed fauna in these degrading reef ecosystems. Zoanthids are
observed at mid and lower intertidal zones beyond 20 m from highest high tide level. In the present study, distribution patterns
of zoanthid species along three coastal villages of Saurashtra coast, Gujarat were studied. Line intercept transect method was
performed to assess the zoanthid coverage. A total of seven species of zoanthids were recorded during the survey. Palythoa
mutuki formed the abundant species in the area with 45.99% coverage, followed by Zoanthus sansibaricus with 33.67%
and Zoanthus cf. sansibaricus with 12.26% coverage. Abiotic parameters (sea surface temperature, salinity, dissolved
oxygen, pH) and nutrient data (ammonia, phosphate, total suspended solids and nitrate) were also recorded during sampling
to determine their influence on zoanthid colonies. Higher levels of DO were found to favour the growth of Palythoa mutuki
and Isaurus tuberculatus, whereas increased SST was tolerated by Palythoa tuberculosa only. Ammonia and phosphate were
negatively impacting the growth of Palythoa mutuki and Zoanthus spp. The study provides new information on quantitative
zoanthid distribution and the dynamic changes exhibited by zoanthids in relation to various environmental parameters.
Zoanthids could be looked upon as an adaptive species which may support reef resurgence in degraded reefs under stress
from climate change effects.
 
Date 2015
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format text
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/9199/1/JMBAUK_Zooanthids_2015_Zacharia_Kripa_Grinson.pdf
Kumari, Sonia and Zacharia, P U and Kripa, V and Sreenath, K R and George, Grinson (2015) Distribution pattern and community structure of zoanthids (Zoantharia) along the coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. pp. 1-6.