Research Journal of Science and Technology

Tamal Mondal ¹, C. Raghunathan ², K. Venkataraman ³

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, IN
3 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhavan, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

The pristine islands of Andaman & Nicobar groups are well known for its biological features in terms of faunal and floral diversity coupled with several ecosystems which made these areas a natural heritage for the world community. The extensive favorable habitat with a continental shelf helped the coral community to develop for the construction of reef. Five species of scleractinians such as Pavona frondifera (Lamarck, 1816) belongs to Agariciidae family, Platygyra yaeyamaensis Eguchi and Shirai, 1977 and Montastrea magnistellata Chevalier, 1971 belong to Faviidae family whereas Goniopora palmensis Veron & Pichon, 1982 and Goniopora tenella (Quelch, 1886) under Poritidae family were recorded for the first time in Indian water from Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The present paper dealt with the findings of newly recorded five species of scleractinian corals along their morphological features and the existing distributional ranges with the present one.

Keywords

Scleractinian Corals, Species, New Record, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

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Tamal Mondal ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹, K. Venkataraman ²

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Diversification in the components of underwater marine life is truly fascinating in Andaman and Nicobar group of islands. These group of islands show several scleractinian species throughout their continental shelf in a fringing pattern. With the extensive faunal survey work, ten scleractinian corals such as Montipora corbettensis Veron and Wallace, 1984 of Acroporidae family, Zoopilus echinatus Dana, 1846 of Fungiidae family, Fenner and Veron, 2000 and Pavona diffluens (Lamarck, 1816) of Agariciidae family, Stylophora danae Milne Edwards and Haime, 1850 of Pocilloporidae family, Australomussa rowleyensis Veron, 1985 and Isophyllia rigida (Dana, 1846) of Mussidae family, Coscinaraea exesa (Dana, 1846) of Siderastreidae family and Heterocyathus aequicostatus MED and H, 1848 of Caryophylliidae family were newly recorded in the Indian water. The paper dealt with the taxonomical features of these newly recorded corals along with their distribution.

Keywords

Scleractinian Corals, Taxonomy, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Tamal Mondal ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹, K. Venkataraman ²

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102 Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Diversity of scleractinian corals in the world ocean demonstrated by the species belong to the family Acroporidae. Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent a total of 158 species of acroporids which is equivalent to 57.04% of the global diversity. The numerical data on Shannon-Weaver diversity (H'), Simpson's density (D) and Pielou's evenness (J) indices showed a healthy state of acroporids in these islands. South Andaman region can be emphasized as the best reef environment area followed by North and Middle Andaman region and Nicobar region as all the indices such as H' (5.82), D (0.98) and J (0.94) show maximized value.

Keywords

Acroporidae, Diversity, Density, Evenness, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Tamal Mondal ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹, K. Venkataraman ²

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

On global record the family faviidae is the 2^nd largest under the order scleractinia. A total of 88 species of faviids were recorded from entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands, of which a maximum of 85 species (H’: 5.96) at South Andaman, whereas the minimum was recorded from Nicobar with 49 species (H’:5.13). Though the variation in species composition, diversity, density and evenness varied between study areas, the results showed significance on the health status of the recorded species under the family faviidae.

Keywords

Faviidae, Diversity, Andaman and Nicobar.

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Tamal Mondal ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹, K. Venkataraman ²

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, IN

Abstract

Six species of scleractinian coral were recorded for the first time from Nancowry group of islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the underwater faunal exploration. The identified corals viz. Euphyllia paraglabrescens Veron, 1990 and Catalaphyllia jardinei (Saville-Kent, 1893) belonging to family Euphyllidae, Alveopora allingi Hoeffmeister, 1925 and Alveopora gigasVeron, 1985 under family Poritidae, Acropora crateriformis (Gardiner, 1898) belongs to Acroporidae family and Favia marshae Veron, 2000 belongs to Faviidae family were new records to Indian waters. The present paper deals with the taxonomical features of newly recorded six species of scleractinian corals with their distribution ranges.

Keywords

Scleractinian Corals, New Record, Taxonomy, Nancowry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Koushik Sadhukhan ¹, C. Raghunathan ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Haddo, Port Blair-744102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN

Abstract

Assessment of crinoid diversity was done at 6 islands of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (MGMNP) during January 2011 to June 2012. Line intercept transect method was employed at different depths between 5m - 30m to evaluate quantitative analysis. 21 species of crinoids belonging to 7 families and 14 genera were identified. Species richness and species eveness among the islands was not much varied but diversity index was quite different in study area of MGMNP. The numerical density of crinoids showed higher in Jolly Buoy Island (27.6ind/50m²) whereas it was less in Chester Island (5.9ind/50m²). Shannon-Index and Similarity index of crinoids in MGMNP was also estimated. The relative abundance of Comaster multibrachiatus (11.4) was found higher followed by Lamprometra palmate (9.8) and Pontiometra andersoni (9.1). It seems that community structure was stable along the study area. The distribution of crinoids in order to depth showed significant differences.

Keywords

Assessment, Crinoids, Species Richness, Species Eveness, Line Intercept Transect, MGMNP.

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V. Madhan Chakkaravarthy ¹, C. Raghunathan ²

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Port Blair – 744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN
2 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Port Blair – 744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, IN

Abstract

Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the earth. Eight diseases such as black band, brown band, yellow band, white syndrome, white pox, pink spot and pink line syndrome were reported in corals at different ratio around the islands. Overall coral disease prevalence was 53.3%. With the maximum at South Andaman (59.8%) followed by Middle Andaman (56.6%) and North Andaman (43.7%). The similarity index between the islands ranged from 0.18 to 0.50 %. Coral disease and its prevalence were discussed in detail.

Keywords

Coral Disease, Prevalence, Outbreak, Andaman Islands, Pollution.

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