#subergorgiidae

[mbimphblog]

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE DOMINANCE OF Alcyonaceans (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) IN THE REEF AREAS IN GULF OF MANNAR, INDIA | UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Corals are the most common benthic community in the Gulf of Mannar's reef areas. The loss of hard corals makes space for other coral taxa to take over, which helps to stabilise damaged reef habitats. One such degraded patch reef area with abundant octocoral distribution was recorded. This location is near Periyasamipuram, a mainland coastal village (outside Marine National Park). In Kariyachalli Island, we conducted a comparative analysis to determine the major difference in octocoral distribution between the patch reef and the main reef (inside Marine National Park). The research took place from January to March in 2017 and January to March in 2018. The rise in octocoral cover is substantially different in the patch reef and the island reef, according to this study's underwater visual estimations. A total of 19 octocoral species were discovered, representing the Alcyoniidae, Subergorgiidae, and Ellisellidae families. Identification was achieved down to the smallest level possible based on external morphology and the existence of sclerites (calcareous structures). According to our preliminary findings, the patch reef area had a maximum of 15.53 percent octocoral coverage and the reefs of Kariyachalli Island had a total coverage of 1.51 percent. The disparity in the octocoral distribution between the study sites is revealed by statistical analysis and non-parametric multivariate and univariate scaling. To assess their ecological position and devise successful conservative reef ecosystem steps, long-term monitoring is needed. Please see the link :- https://mbimph.com/index.php/UPJOZ/article/view/2109

#Benthic communities #distribution #Octocorals #Octocorallia #Southeast coast