Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

C. Raghunathan ¹, K. Venkataraman ², P. T. Rajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Sea cow (Dugong dugon) is the only extant species in the Family Dugongidae and true herbivorous marine mammal. It is listed as vulnerable to extinction at a global scale by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The present paper documents the status of dugong in Andaman and Nicobar Islands by collating the published data as well as investigation through undersea surveys in selected places of this archipelago. Based on the existing data on dugong in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is observed that over the period of 51 years since 1959, a total of 76 dugongs were recorded either in the form of live or dead. Among them 47 dugongs were from Andaman Islands, whereas 29 encountered from Nicobar Islands. The distribution of this mammal is comparatively high in north Andaman, Ritchie's Archipelago and Great Nicobar Island. Potential threats and managerial strategies for the effective conservation of dugongs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have also been discussed in the paper.

Keywords

Dugong dugong, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Extinction.

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C. Raghunathan ¹, C. Sivaperuman ¹, Ch. Satyanarayana ², P. T. Rajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Station, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, 2nd Floor, Fireproof Spirit Building, IndianMuseum Complex, 27, JawaharlalNehru Road, Kolkata-700 016,W. B., IN

Abstract

The density and diversity of corals and their associated faunal communities were investigated by underwater survey in Katchal and Teressa Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Archipelago in order to assess the post-tsunami status of corals. The density of scleractinian corals in Katchal Island is 1-13 colonies/10m², and in Teressa Island it ranged from1 to 18 colonies/10m². Fifteen species of scleractinian corals belonging to 13 genera and 6 families with the species diversity of 0.98 were identified during the survey in Katchal Island. Whereas in Teressa Islands 25 species of corals under 14 genera and 7 families with the species diversity of 1.17 have been reported. The density and diversity of coral associated faunal communities such as zooplankton, octocorals, sponges, molluscs and echinoderms were also studied at both the islands.

Keywords

Corals, Post-Tsunami, Katchal & Teressa Islands, Coral Associated Fauna.

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