Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

R. Raguraman ¹, C. R. Sreeraj ¹, Titus Immanuel ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Station, Haddo, Port Blair–744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN

Abstract

Intensive field studies were carried out at Pongibalu coral reef in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in South Andaman from March-September 2009 to investigate scleractinian coral diversity in the 3 predetermined plots on the reef covering a total area of 20,000 m². A total of 76 species of hard corals were recorded with the live coral cover of < 50 percentage. Among the three plots, plot no. 2 harboured high species diversity with 43.3% live coral cover where existing concrete jetty acts as a substratum for the settlement and growth of the corals.

Keywords

Scleractinia, Marine National Park, Coral Reef, Diversity, Andaman.

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Koushik Sadhukhan ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Island, IN

Abstract

The coral fauna of Middle Andaman was surveyed from April, 2009 to October, 2010. A total of 72 species belonging to 32 genera and 11 families were recorded. The present investigation estimated the coral diversity and distribution of Scleractinia fauna at Aves Island, Sound Island, Rail Island, and Karlo Island of Middle Andaman. Underwater field survey was carried out at four selected sites by skin diving and scuba diving methods and for quantitative analysis, LIT and quadrate methods were used. In Middle Andaman, coral reef communities mainly composed of Acroporidae, Faviidae, Fungiidae, Poritidae, Agariciidae and Pocilloporidae families. The maximum diversity of corals is found in the Aves Island (H'=2.58). The species evenness was higher in Sound Island (J=0.92) and less in Karlo Island (J=0.77). Among the genera Acropora, Porites, Favites and Fungia are highly distributed at the different study areas.

Keywords

Coral, Diversity, Distribution, Middle Andaman, Quantitative Analysis.

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