Distribution and Spatial variation of seagrass in the northern part of Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India

Abstract

The distribution and spatial variation of seagrass in the coral reef ecosystem of the Gulf of Mannar was assisted with Line Intercept Transects (LIT) with help of SCUBA diving during January-March 2009. Overall percentage of seagrass was 63% among this 42% distributed towards the shoreward side and 21% towards the seaward side. There were 13 species of seagrass found, among this Cymodocea serrulata was dominant species and the least was Halophila stipulacea. The shoot density of seagrass varied between 63 and 13.4 shoot m-2 in the shoreward side, while in seaward side it was between 65.1 and 2.4 shoot m-2. Seagrass biomass was 179.2 g dwt m-2 at shoreward side and 63.62 g dwt m-2 at in seaward side. Distribution of seagrass along the islands of Gulf of Mannar varies in a very less proportion. But the spatial variation between the shoreward side and seaward side was very high. The present study reveal that seagrass distribution, diversity; shoot density and biomass were significantly higher in shoreward relative to seaward side. This study of seagrass in Gulf of Mannar would be the base line data to know the changes in seagrass population in future. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information.