Scleractinian Diversity of Ritchie's Archipelago, Andaman & Nicobar

Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Agriculture & Biology Volume 12 Issue 4 Version 1.0 April 2012 Type : Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4626 & Print ISSN: 0975-5896

Scleractinian Diversity of Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman & Nicobar Islands By Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan & K. Venkataraman Zoological Survey of India

Abstract - Ritchie’s Archipelago, being the part of South Andaman, shows a variety of marine biodiversity in each of its thirteen islands. These islands show a great deal of scleractinian life on its continental shelf in a fringing pattern. The study will help up to get a summarized data of scleractinian diversity of this archipelago. The will be to take conservatory measure for the proper sustainable development of coral reef of the islands. A Total of 168 species of scleractinian corals were recorded during the study period from the study areas. Shannon –Weaver Diversity index (H¯) of Scleractinian corals ofthe islands was recorded between 4.718 and 6.556, indicating very high coral diversity of those places. Similarity index (S) was also ranges from 29.41% to 73.89%, suggeststhe existence of species strong links between islands. Ritchie’s Archipelago is a group of islands which shows a variety of scleractinian corals. high level of species co-existence which harbours with the other associated faunal communities for their survival. The diversity of scleractinian corals in the Ritchie’s Archipelago is discussed in detail in this paper.

Keywords : Scleractinian Coral, Diversity, Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman, Shannon –Weaver

Diversity index, Similarity index.

GJSFR-D Classification : FOR Code: 050202, 960802

Scleractinian Diversity of Ritchies Archipelago, Andaman Nicobar Islands

Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of :

© 2012 . Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan & K. Venkataraman.This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Scleractinian Diversity of Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Tamal Mondal α, C. Raghunathan α & K. Venkataraman σ

Abstract - Ritchie’s Archipelago, being the part of South In India, coral reefs are distributed in Andaman Andaman, shows a variety of marine biodiversity in each of its and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Gulf of thirteen islands. These islands show a great deal of Mannar and Gulf of Kachchh, and in patches off Malwan scleractinian life on its continental shelf in a fringing pattern. on west and Gopalpur on east coast. Indian coral reefs

The study will help up to get a summarized data of 2012 together with shelves, lagoon and submerged banks l scleractinian diversity of this archipelago. The will be to take i have a fishery potential of 0.2 billion tones per year or pr conservatory measure for the proper sustainable development A of coral reef of the islands. A Total of 168 species of about 10% of the total production [2]. The reef of corals scleractinian corals were recorded during the study period of the Andaman Islands belongs to Indo-west Pacific 53 from the study areas. Shannon –Weaver Diversity index (H¯) of faunal province. The Andaman are just northwest of the Scleractinian corals of the islands was recorded between central area of greatest marine biodiversity, referred to 4.718 and 6.556, indicating very high coral diversity of those as the ‘Coral Triangle’, an area enclosing the places. Similarity index (S) was also ranges from 29.41% to Philippines, central and eastern Indonesia, and northern 73.89%, suggests the existence of species strong links and eastern Papua New Guinea [3]. Coral reef V between islands. Ritchie’s Archipelago is a group of islands ecosystems are the most diverse and complex aquatic IV which shows a variety of scleractinian corals. high level of communities. Although they are diverse as a whole this species co-existence which harbours with the other associated ssue ersion I faunal communities for their survival. The diversity of diversity is not evenly distributed among habitat types scleractinian corals in the Ritchie’s Archipelago is discussed in within the reef. For a keystone species, the corals, XII I detail in this paper. diversity was found to be greatest on reef slopes, mid- Keywords : Scleractinian Coral, Diversity, Ritchie’s level on crests and lowest on reef flats in a study in the

Archipelago, Andaman, Shannon –Weaver Diversity region [4]. Coral reefs are among the most valuable yet index, Similarity index. most threatened of the world’s ecosystems. Reefs

provide subsistence food for a number of native D

populations, and also serve as major tourist draws [5]. () I. INTRODUCTION However, this precious resource is in decline around the

he Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a low mountain world as a result of a number of anthropogenic related chain of islands, which rise from a submerged factors such as global warming, overfishing, pollution, Tnorth-south trending ridge separating the sea from and even tourism [6]. The most important environmental Bay of Bengal between 6°-14° N and 92°-94° E. There factors determining the dominant morphologies of coral are 572 islands in the chain, some of which are volcanic. are light and wave energy, with sedimentation, The islands occupy an area of 8293 sq km. with a temperature, plankton availability, and the frequency of coastline of 1962 km and account for 30% of the Indian mortality caused by a number of factors such as Exclusive Zone [1]. Ritchie’s archipelago is one of the grazing, storms, and tidal exposure also playing a part most diverse areas with various marine biodiversity. This [7]. It is now widely appreciated that ecosystem Science Frontier Research Volume archipelago is the combined form of thirteen islands functioning is dictated to a large degree by biodiversity of such as, Sir William Peel Island, Nicolson Island, Wilson and the community structure that result from factors Island, Henry Lawrence Island, Havelock Island, Outram such as the richness and evenness of the diversity.

Island, Inglis Island, South Button Island, North Button Diversity at all levels, including infra-specific or genetic Journal Island, Middle Button Island, Sir Hugh Rose Island, diversity that characterize populations of a species, John Lawrence Island and Neil Island. This archipelago species diversity that characterize communities, and in is situated in the Eastern most region of Andaman turn community diversity that characterize an Global

Islands group. ecosystem, all play a major role in this. The present study was undertaken to inventories the scleractinian corals in Ritchie’s Archipelago.

Author α : Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional II. MATERIALS AND METHODS Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute,Haddo, Port Blair- 744102, India. E-mail : [email protected] Eleven Islands out of Thirteen Islands of Ritchie’s Author σ : Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M- Block, Archipelago were surveyed during August, 2009 to New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, India. November, 2011 (Table-1 & Fig-1).

Table 1 : Coordinates of Suryed Areas

Sl. No. Name of the Islands Latitude Longitude

1. Sir William Peel N-12°03.865’ E-93°07.239’

2. Nicolson N-1 2°06.231’ E-92°57.267’ 3. Wilson N-12°06.539’ E-92°59.267’ 4. Henry Lawrence N-12°12.598’ E-93°03.883’ 5. Havelock N-11°53.274’ E-93°01.439 6. Outram N-12°12.346’ E-93°06.475’ 7. Inglis N-12°08.586’ E-93°06.651’ 8. South Button N-12°13.243’ E-93°01.200’

2012 9. Sir Hugh Rose N-11°46.924’ E-93°04.599’

pril 10. John Lawrence N-12°00.112’ E-93°00.608’ A 11. Neil N-11°50.165’ E-93°01.846’ 54

ssue ersion I

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of Science Frontier Research Volume

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Fig 1 : Map showing the location of 11 Islands of Ritchie’s Archipelago.

Each island was surveyed primarily using H¯= -∑pi loge pi “Manta tow” study method [8, 9] followed by Line Intercept Transect Method [10] and Quadrate methods Where, pi = Proportion of number of individual [11] to investigate the diversity of the scleractinian of a particular species and total number of individual of corals. For the purpose of this study each location and all the species, H¯= diversity of a theoretically infinite depth combination was considered an individual “site”. population. Data were collected by Self Contained Similarity Index is the simple measure of the Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving and extent to which two habitats species in common. It has snorkeling during the above said study period. Belt been formulated below [15]. transect method was applied to get the data of the diverse scleractinian corals. Each quadrate was S= (2C/a + b) X 100 photographed with a housed digital camera (Sony - Cyber shot, Model-T900, marine pack, 12.1 megapixels) Where ‘C’= Number of species common at any oriented toward the start of transect. When possible, the two stations, ‘a’= number of species of one station and 2012 l entire quadrate was photographed in a single image. ‘b’= number of species at the other station. i pr

Occurrence of coral species in each quadrate was A

recorded. Individual photo quadrates were identified in III. RESULTS conjunction with Veron [12] Wallace [13] and labeled 55 according to the Islands. On the basis of this extensive study in Ritchie’s Species diversity was calculated following Archipelago, one hundred and sixty eight scleractinian corals (Table-2) were identified from the eleven islands Shannon- Weaver diversity index formula described in different frequency. below [14]. V

Table 2 : Diversity and distribution of Scleractinian Corals along surveyed areas of Ritchie’s Archipelago ssue ersion I

XII I SL. Name of Islands of Ritchie’s Archipelago Family Species NO. PL NCN WN HNL HL OM IN SB SHR JNL NL

1. Acropora aspera (Dana, 1846) - - + + + + + + + + + Acropora microphthlma 2. -+-+++-++-+ D

(Verrill, 1859) ()

roporidae

c Acropora robusta (Dana,

3. A +++++++++-+ 1846) Acropora humilis (Dana, 4. -+-++++++++ 1846) Acropora natalensis (Riegl, 5. ----+------1995) Acropora chesterfieldensis 6. --+-++-+--- (Veron & Wallace, 1984) Acropora schmitti(Wells, 7. ----+--+--- 1950) Acropora cerealis (Dana, Science Frontier Research Volume 8. +---+--+-+- 1846) of Acropora ocellata 9. -----+--+-+ (Klunzinger, 1879)

Acropora microclados Journal 10. ----+-++--- (Ehrenberg, 1834) Acropora subglabra (Brook, 11. +---+-++---

1891) Global 12. Acropora nasuta (Dana, 1846) ---++--+--+ Acropora papillare (Latypov, 13. -----+-+--- 1992) Acropora clathrata (Brook, 14. ----+-----+ 1892) Acropora pulchra (Brook, 15. -++-++-+--- 1891)

16. + + - + + + + + + + + 1846) Acropora loripes (Brook, 17. --+------1892) Acropora monticulosa 18. +++++++++++ (Bruggemann,1879) Acropora rudis (Rehberg, 19. +---+-----+ 1892) 20. Acropora nobilis (Dana, 1846) +--++-++-++

Acropora forskali (Ehrenberg, 21. ----+-----+ 1834) Acropora plantaginea 22. -+--+------(Lamarck, 1816) Acropora abrotanoides 23. ----++-+--+ 2012 (Lamarck, 1816)

pril Acropora cythera (Dana,

A 24. +-+-+++++++ 1846) 56 25. Acropora valida (Dana,1846) + - + - + + - + - - + Acropora hyacinthus (Dana, 26. + - + + + + + - + + 1846) Acropora gemmifera (Brook, 27. +--+++++-++ 1892) V Acropora bruggamnni (Brook, IV 28. ------+--- 1893) Acropora spicifera (Dana,

ssue ersion I 29. ----++----+ 1846) Acropora dendrum (Bassett- XII I 30. ---+------Smith, 1890) Acropora bifurcata (Nemanzo, 31. --+-++----+ 1967)

Acropora vaughani (Wells, 32. -+-----+--+ 1954) D

() Acropora grandis (Brook,

33. +-+-++-++-+ 1892) Acropora inermis (Brook, 34. ------+- 1891) Acropora austera (Dana, 35. ----+-+---+ 1846) Acropora tanegasshimensis 36. ------+ (Veron, 1990) Acropora palmerae (Wells, 37. -+--+--+--+ 1954) 38. Acropora florida (Dana, 1846) -----++++-+ Acropora polystoma (Brook, of Science39. Frontier Research Volume ------+ 1891) Acropora subulata (Dana, 40. ----+-----+ 1846) Journal Acropora sekiseiensis (Veron, 41. ------+ 1990) Acropora kimbeensis(Wallace, Global 42. ------+ 1999) Acropora millepora 43. ++--++++--- (Ehrenberg, 1834) Acropora selago (Studer, 44. ------+--- 1878) Acropora divaricata (Dana, 45. ----+-+--+- 1846)

Acropora wallaceae (Veron, 46. ----+-----+ 1990) Acropora samoensis (Brook, 47. ------++ 1891) Acropora efflorescens (Dana, 48. -+------1846) Acropora digitifera (Dana, 49. ----+-----+ 1846)

Acropora palifera (Lamarck, 50. ---++++++-+ 1816) Montipora hemispherica 51. ------+- (Veron, 2000) Montipora capitata (Dana, 52. -+--+------

1846) 2012 l Montipora hispida (Dana, i 53. +----+-+--+ pr A

1846)

54. Montipora digita (Dana, 1846) + - - + + - - - - + 57 Montipora 55. +-+++-+-+++ peltiformis(Bernard, 1897) Montipora grisea (Bernard, 56. ------+ 1897)

Montipora meandrina V 57. -----+----- (Ehrenberg, 1834) IV Montipora tuberculosa 58. -+--+-+---- (Lamarck, 1816) ssue ersion I Montipora varrucosa 59. ----++----- XII I (Lamarck, 1816) Montipora mollis(Bernard, 60. ----+------1897) Montipora informis (Bernard, 61. ----+-+++++ 1897) D

Montipora monasteriata () 62. ------+ (Forskal, 1775) Montipora undata (Bernard, 63. ------+---- 1897) Montipora 64. aequituberculata(Bernard, ++++++-++++ 1897) Montipora danae (Milne 65. ------+ Edwards and haime, 1851) Astreopora myriophthalma 66. ---+++-++-+ (Lamarck, 1816)

Science Frontier Research Volume Astreopora ocellata (Bernard, 67. ------1896) of

Pocillopora damicornis 68. +++++++++++ (Linnaeus,1758)

Pocillopora varrucosa (Ellis Journal 69. +++++-+++++ & Solander, 1786) illoporidae Pocillora meandrina (Dana, 70. oc ------+ P 1846) Global Pocillopora ligualata (Dana, 71. ------+ 1846) Seriatopora hystrix (Dana, 72. ++++++-++++ 1846) Seriatopora stellata (Quelch, 73. -+--+-----+ 1886) Stylophora pistillata 74. --+++-----+ (Esper,1797)

Galaxea astreata 75. -++-+-----+ (Lamarck,1816) Galaxea cryptoramosa

76. ulinidae ------+ c (Veron, 2002)

O Galaxea fascicularis 77. +++++++++-+ (Linnaeus,1767)

Pseudosiderastrea tayami 78. ----+--++-+ (Yaba & Sugiyama,1935)

rastrea Psammocora digita (Milne 79. ----+------de Edwards & Haime, 1851) Si Psammocora contigua (Esper, 80. +-+-+-++-++ 1797) Pachyseris gemmae 81. ++-+++-+--+ (Nemenzo,1955) 2012 Pachyseris speciosa riciidae pril 82. ++--+--++++ ga A (Dana,1846)

A Pachyseris rugosa (Lamarck, 83. +---++----+ 58 1801) Pavona duerdeni (Vaughan, 84. +---+--++-- 1907) 85. Pavona minuta (Wells, 1954) + - - - + - - + - - +

V Pavona danai (Milne Edwards 86. ------+-

IV & Haime, 1860)

i Ctenactis echinata 87. +++++++++++ dae ssue ersion I (Pallas,1766) ungi

88. F Ctenactis crassa (Dana, 1846) +-+-+--+-+- XII I Diaseris distorta (Michelin, 89. +--++------1843) 90. Cycloseris tenuis (Dana, 1846) ----+------Fungia danai (Milne Edwards 91. --+-++-+-++ & Haime, 1851) D

() Fungia fungites (Linnaeus,

92. ---+++++-++ 1758) Fungia paumotensis 93. -+-++--++++ (Stutchbury,1833) Fungia concinna (Verrill, 94. +-+-++-+--- 1864) Fungia corona (Doderlein, 95. +--++--+--- 1901) Fungia scabra (Doderlein, 96. -+-++-+-+-- 1901) Fungia spinosa(Klunzinger, 97. +----+----- 1879) of Science Frontier Research Volume Fungia granolusa 98. --+++------(Klunzinger, 1879) Fungia klunzingeri (Doderlein, 99. +--+++----- Journal 1901) 100. Fungia horrida (Dana, 1846) ++--+-++-++ Fungia moluccensis Global 101. ----+------(Stutchbury, 1833) 102. Fungia repanda (Dana, 1846) --+--++--+- Herpolitha limax (Houttuyn, 103. --+++--+--+ 1772) Herpolitha weberi (Horst, 104. ----+------1921) Lithophyllon lobata (Horst, 105. ----++----+ 1921)

Lithophyllon undulatum 106. ----++-+--+ (Rehberg,1892)

Hydnophora microconos 107. +++++-+++++ (Lamarck,1816) Hydnophora grandis 108. +---++-+-++ rulinidae

e (Gardiner, 1904)

M Hydnophora exesa (Pallas, 109. +++-++----- 1766) Hydnophora rigida (Dana, 110. +---+----++ 1816) Merulina scabricula (Dana, 111. ---+++-+--+ 1846) Merulina ampliata (Ellis & 112. +-++++-++-+ Solander, 1786) 2012 l 113. Symphyllia radians (Milne + - + i - - - - + + + +

pr dae

Edwards & Haime, 1849) A si

Symphyllia hassi (Pillai and 114. ---++------Mus Scheer, 1776) 59 Symphyllia agaricia (Milne 115. ----++---++ Edwards and Haime, 1849) Symphyllia valenciennsis 116. (Milne Edwards & Haime, ----+------V 1849)

IV 117. Symphyllia recta (Dana, 1846) +++++++++++

Lobophyllia pachysepta ssue ersion I 118. ------+- (Chevalier, 1975)

Lobophyllia hemprichi XII I 119. --+++++++++ (Ehrenberg, 1834) 120. Favia pallida (Dana,1846) + + + + + + + + + - + 121. Favia favus (Forskal, 1775) --+-+-----+ viidae a F Favia maxima (Veron and 122. ++--++---+- D

Pichon, 1977) ()

Favia lizardensis (Veron and 123. ------++ Pichon, 1977) Favia matthaii (Vaughan, 124. +++++++++++ 1918) Leptastrea transversa 125. ------+ (Klunzinger, 1879) Leptastrea purpurea (Dana, 126. +----++---- 1846) Favites abdita (Ellis and 127. +-+-+++++++ Solander, 1786)

Science Frontier Research Volume Favites pentagona 128. --+-++-++++ (Esper,1794) of Favites complanata 129. ++-++++++++ (Ehrenberg, 1834) Favites halicora (Ehrenberg, Journal 130. +++++++++++ 1834)

131. Favites flexuosa (Dana, 1846) ---+------

Global Barabattoi amicorum (Milne 132. ------+ Edwards and Haime, 1850) 133. Barabattoi laddi (Wells, 1954) -----+----- Leptoria phrygia (Ellis and 134. -+--+-++--+ Solander, 1786) Leptoria irregularis (Veron, 135. -+-+-++++++ 1990)

Platygyra pini (Chevalier, 136. +-+-++++-++ 1975) Platygyra verweyi (Wijsmann- 137. ----++---+- Best, 1976) Platygyra daedaea (Ellis and 138. ------+ Solander, 1786) Platygyra sinensis (Milne 139. ----++-+--+ Edwards and Haime, 1849) Platygyra lamellina 140. ++++++++-++ (Ehrenberg, 1834) Oulophyllia crispa (Lamarck, 141. ------+- 1816) Diploastrea heliopora 142. ----++-+++- (Lamarck, 1816) 2012 Echinophora fruticulosa pril 143. -----+-+-+- A (Ehrenberg, 1834) Echinophora gemmacea 144. ------+ 60 (Lamarck, 1816) Echinophora lamellosa (Esper, 145. +-+-+-----+ 1795) Goniastrea australensis

V 146. (Milne Edwards and Haime, -----+----+ 1857) IV Goniastrea retiformis 147. +++++-+++++ (Lamarck, 1816) ssue ersion I Goniastrea minuta (Veron, 148. +-++++---++

XII I 2000) Goniastrea pectinata 149. ----+------(Ehrenberg, 1834) Goniastrea edwardsi 150. +-+++++++++ (Chevalier,1971) D

151. Pectinia laetuca (Pallas, 1766) +---+--+--+ ()

152. Pectinia paeonia (Dana, 1846) +--+-----++

ctiniidae Echinophyllia aspera (Ellis 153. e -----+---++ P and Solander, 1788) Oxypora crassispinosa 154. ++--++++-++ (Nemenzo, 1979) 155. Porites solida (Forskal, 1775) ++++-++++++

156. tidae Porites lobata (Dana, 1846) ++++++++-++ ori

P Porites lutea (Milne Edwards 157. +---+-+---+ & Haime, 1860) Porites cylindrica (Dana, 158. ++++++-+-++ of Science Frontier Research Volume 1846) Porites annae (Crossland, 159. ---++-++--- 1952)

Journal Porites ankeli (Scheer and 160. ----+------Pillai, 1974) Porites murrayensis 161. --- - + ------Global (Vaughan, 1918) 162. Porites rus (Forskal, 1775) + + + - - + - + - + + Goniopora tenuidens (Quelch, 163. - - - - + + - -- - + 1886) Goniopora columna (Dana, 164. - - - + + - -- - - 1846)

Scleractinian Diversity of Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Euphyllia glabrescens 165. (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, + - + - + + - + - - + llidae 1821)

uphy Physogyra lichtensteini (Milne

166. E + ------Edwards & Haime, 1857) 167. Turbinaria stellulata - --- + ------id (Lamarck, 1816) ndro ae e Tubastrea micranthus D 168. phylli ---- + ------(Ehrenberg, 1834) Total Number of Individual Colony of Species 65 44 49 50 121 78 48 82 38 61 108 Shannon –Weaver Index (H¯) of each Island 5.585 5.115 5.173 5.243 6.556 5.758 6.013 6.059 4.718 5.366 6.169 2012 l i

*Since Pi is the proportion of a given category, its maximum value is 1 and its minimum approaches 0. For any base, pr A

the log of 1 is 0 and the log of any value between 0 and 1 is a negative number. By reversing the sign, the index becomes positive and is easier to understand. 61 [PL-Sir William Peel, NCN- Nicolson, WN- Wilson, HNL- Henry Lawrence, HL- Havelock, OM-Outram, IN- Inglis, SB- South Button, SHR- Sir Hugh Rose, JNL- John Lawrence, NL - Neil]

Among them corals in Sir William Peel-65 and, Neil- 108 species were noticed (Table-2). From the IV species, Nicolson-44 species, Wilson-49 species, Henry graphical presentation (Fig-2), it can be said that the

Lawrence-50 species, Havelock-121 species, Outram- highest number of species was observed in Havelock ssue ersion I 78 species, Inglis-48 species, South Button-82 species, Island whereas Sir Hugh Rose Island reported less Sir Hugh Rose- 38 species, John Lawrence- 61 species number of species. XII I D

()

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Fig 2 : Number of Species in Each Island Global

The species diversity (H’) ranged from 4.178 to 5.585, Nicholson- 5.115, Wilson- 5.173, Henry 6.556 in Sir Hugh Rose Island and Havelock Island Lawrence- 5.243, Outram- 5.758, Inglis-6.013, South respectively (Table-2). However moderately high values Button- 6.059, John Lawrence- 5.366 and Neil- 6.169 of species diversity was recorded in Sir William Peel- Islands (Fig-3).

Scleractinian Diversity of Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

2012

pril A

Fig 3 : Graphical Presentation of Species Diversity

IV Similarity Index (S) has been calculated of scleractinian corals between Havelock Island and between the islands and the values are depicted in Wilson Island (Fig-4). Most of the islands, the similarity ssue ersion I Table-3. The maximum similarity index value (73.89%) index of scleractinian corals varied between 40 and

XII I was observed for between Havelock and South Button 60%. Very few values are observed in between the range Island, and the lowest similarity index value (29.41%) of 20-40% while moderately high similarity index values was observed for significantly wide range of distribution were observed with the range of 60-80%.

() Table 3 : Species similarity index percentage between islands.

Name of Sir Henry South John Islands → Nicolson Wilson Havelock Outram Inglis Hugh Neil Lawrence Button Lawrence ↓ Ross

Peel 49.54 63.15 53.91 61.29 55.94 51.32 62.58 40.77 55.55 57.8 Nicolson 45.16 55.31 47.27 45.9 54.34 52.38 51.21 45.71 46.05 Wilson 54.54 29.41 50.39 47.42 56.48 48.27 52.72 52.22

Henry

Lawrence 52.63 48.43 57.14 56.06 61.36 52.25 51.89 of Science Frontier Research Volume Havelock 62.31 49.7 73.89 41.5 50.54 35.8 Outram 56.03 67.5 44.82 57.36 62.36

Journal Inglis 60 58.13 56.88 47.43 South

Global 53.33 61.53 68.42 Button Sir Hugh Ross 52.52 47.94 John Lawrence 55.62

2012 l i pr

Figure 4 : Comparative Similarity Index of Scleractinian Corals according to Islands V

IV. DISCUSSION

ssue ersion I The most species-rich marine communities in ecosystem processes. Though the islands have probably occur on coral reefs, a habitat in which many various species diversity index value, the scleractinian XII I groups of organisms reach their greatest diversity. The diversity of those islands is very optimum or great in diversity of scleractinian corals with their comparative status. The maximum species diversity value is 6.556 distribution are presented in this paper. Within the and minimum value is 4.718. Each of the surveyed continuum of spatial scale three levels are often islands of Ritchie’s Archipelago is the representative of D

discussed to taxonomic diversity: within habitat (alpha), saturated marine biodiversity areas with good () between habitat (beta), and regional (gamma) diversity scleractinian coral composition. Though the total [16, 17, 18]. Differences in taxonomic composition and number of individual species of scleractinian corals of diversity among regions can be explained in part by Inglis Island is less than Peel, Wilson, Henry Lawrence, present day condition. Thus, habitat area clearly plays a John Lawrence and Outram Islands, inspite of that the role with about 85% of the world area of reefs lying in the species diversity of corals is much more than the those Indo-Pacific, compared with only 15% in the Atlantic islands [Inglis (6.013) > Peel (5.585), Wilson (5.173), [19]. Beta diversity indicates the degree of difference in Henry Lawrence (5.243), John Lawrence (5.366), species composition between sites [16]. In this paper Outram (5.758)]. The islands also have great deal of the degree of scleractinian coral diversity was made similarity in their species composition which can be

among the eleven islands of Ritchie’s Archipelago to seen through the result of similarity index. These islands Science Frontier Research Volume draw a quantitative analysis. Species may be poor are interlinked with each other in respect of scleractinian competitors because of inherent traits such as small c orals diversity from 29.41% to 73.89%. This similarity of of polyps, small size, and short life span, or because of scleractinian coral diversity is high in Havelock and local environmental constraints [20]. Previously no such South Button Islands, whereas lowest similarity of coral Journal documentation was made regarding this archipelago to diversity was observed between Havelock and Wilson state the scleractinian corals diversity. Only Rao & Islands. The environment characteristics of each study

Sastry [21] showed a number of 50 scleractinian coral site account for some of the differences between sites in Global from three Button Island, i.e. North Button, Middle species composition. The characteristics of physical Button and South Button. However, the present study environment overshadow the influence of differences in included only South Button Island among those three. biodiversity of the functioning of the coral reefs, as long Through the result of extensive survey it can be said that as the representatives of each of the performers of key the Islands of Ritchie’s Archipelago have diverse ecological roles are present. In order to conserve the number of scleractinian corals species in its all the coral reefs of Ritchie’s Archipelago, an adequate islands. This diverse coral species for any given awareness among societies are required which helps to ecosystem, a biodiversity inventory per se is important. protect marine biodiversity. Equally, if not more important, is to understand their role

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