Studies on the ecology of  scleractinian  corals of palk bay

 

Principal Investigator:       A.K. Kumaraguru, Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. Tamilnadu, India

Sanctioned cost:                 INR  560050   

Man Power:                        1 Research Fellow, 1 Technical Asst.

Tenure:                               2 years

 

Objectives:

i.                    To gather information on the availability of corals in the Palk Bay region

ii.                  To study the coral life forms using line-intercept transect method

iii.                To make insitu underwater photographic and videographic records of coral

iv.                 To collect specimen of corals and preserve them for making a coral depository

v.                   Study the ecological conditions of the corals such as, locations, light penetration, temperature, salinity, turbidity and nature of the substratum

vi.                 To compile the findings and cataloguing with ecological nodes on corals.

 

Results:

  1. Coral fauna observed in palk bay are found to be in good health

  2. Corals were found to have recovered from the 2002 bleaching event

  3. New recruitment and rejuvenation are common

  4. Active polyp are observed in all the studied corals

 

Benefits:

            This study will throw light on the status  of corals in Palk Bay and the  concluding suggestions will  help the planners and decision makers to take appropriate steps to protect  the serenity of coralline ecology