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Benthic communities of mesophotic coral ecosystem off Puducherry, east coast of India

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Relation http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/13607/
https://www.currentscience.ac.in/
 
Title Benthic communities of mesophotic
coral ecosystem off Puducherry,
east coast of India
 
Creator Laxmilatha, P
Jasmine, S
Sreeram, Miriam Paul
Rangaiyan, Periasamy
 
Subject Marine benthos
Coral Reefs
 
Description The shallow coral reef ecosystems along the Indian
coast are being threatened by anthropogenic global
ocean warming and increased frequency of coral
bleaching in the recent past. Identification and conservation
of deeper reef habitats are essential as they
serve as a source of larvae and livestock to replenish
the shallow reef habitats. Information on the location
and spatial extent of the mesophotic coral ecosystems
(MCEs) and their biodiversity is poorly known in the
continental shelf of the east coast of India. In this
study, we have documented the species diversity of
MCEs at a depth of 30–40 m off Puducherry along the
east coast of India. In total, 12 species of corals, including
5 black corals and 16 octocorals, 4 species of
sponges and 31 species of coral-associated benthopelagic
fish species were recorded. Subergorgia sp. was
the most dominant species of octocorals and found extensively
as gorgonian forests. The MCEs reported in
this study raise important questions about the origin
and connectivity of the coral populations in this region
to the other major coral reef ecosystems along the east
coast. Understanding the physical processes and hydrographic
features around the MCEs, off Puducherry
will reveal more information about the distribution
and colonization of coral communities and their vulnerability
to changes in future.
 
Publisher Current Science Association
 
Date 2019
 
Type Article
NonPeerReviewed
 
Format text
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/13607/1/Current%20Science_2019_Laxmilatha%20P_Benthic%20communities%20of%20mesophotic%20coral%20ecosystem%20off%20Puducherry.pdf
Laxmilatha, P and Jasmine, S and Sreeram, Miriam Paul and Rangaiyan, Periasamy (2019) Benthic communities of mesophotic coral ecosystem off Puducherry, east coast of India. Current Science, 116 (6). pp. 982-987.