Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences Vol. 43(11), November 2014, pp. 2147-2157

Non- indigenous ascidians in V. O. Chidambaram port, Thoothukudi, India H. Abdul Jaffar Ali 1* M. Tamilselvi2 and V. Sivakumar3

1Department of Biotechnology, Islamiah College, Vaniyambadi - 635752, India. 2Department of Zoology, V.V. Vanniaperumal College for Women, Virudhunagar, India 3 Director of Research and Conservation, 4e India NGO ( Reg 188/2010) Thoothukudi - 628008, India. [*E-mail: [email protected] ]

Received 07 March 2014; revised 31 July 2014

V. O. Chidambaram port, formerly Tuticorin port, is one among the 12 major ports in India with regular services to United States, Europe, China, Red sea port and Mediterranean countries and so serving as gateway for bioinvasion. Ascidians belonging to the Class of sub-Phylum Tunicata are abundant in many ports around the world and most of them are non-indigenous. They are one of the key ecological groups because of their invasive potential and ability to thrive in eutrophic environments. During a survey of the port area over the past three years (2011-2013), sixteen species of ascidians were identified belonging to diverse families: Ascidiidae (4), Styelidae (2), Pyuridae (4), Polycitoridae (2), and (4). Among the identified species, Phallusia nigra, P. arabica, Ascidia gemmata, Microcosmus exasperates, Herdmania pallida, Eudistoma viride, E. laysani, Didemnum psammatode and Diplosoma similis are classified as cryptogenic species while M. squamiger, M. stoloniferus, Styela canopus, A. sydneiensis Didemnum candidum, fragile and Eusynstyela tincta are invasive species. Presence of large number of cryptogenic and invasive ascidians in this harbour reinforces the need for continued and periodic monitoring of population expansion of these species and also for establishment of control programme. Utilization of non–indigenous ascidians for the betterment of humankind may be considered as one of management strategies of non–indigenous species.

[Key words: Ascidians, invasive species, V. O. Chidambaram port, Thoothukudi coast, cryptogenic species]

Introduction easily be transported through hulls of ships and Bioinvasion is one of the growing ballast water. Being strong spatial competitors, environmental issues in this century arising due to once they become established, they undergo increasing globalization of markets, travel, global population explosion and develop into dense trade etc., which in turn impact significantly on all stands or mats that over grow and cover available types of ecosystems. In the marine environment, surfaces. Once non-indigenous ascidians become ships and ballast waters are considered as the established, they provide large local sources of major vectors for introduction which represents a larvae for further possible invasions into other serious global threat to marine biodiversity, locales of harbours and nearby natural marine survival of native species and the economy1-3. communities. Given these economic and Usually non indigenous species (NIS) are ecological concerns, intense interest has abundant in harbours and this higher propagule developed to focus on the distribution of invasive delivery rate of NIS is due to anchoring of a ascidians in Thoothukudi coast. number of ships and mechanized boats which Ascidian diversity is greater in facilitate the introduction and also the available Thoothukudi coast, given that the waters are substrata favour the establishment of NIS. The tropical and that more than 70 species have been Indian coast, being dotted with 12 major ports and reported by many authors6-10 in several locations a number of minor ports is susceptible for along the Thoothukudi coastline. However, little bioinvasions and hence warrants a close watch. is known from marine ecosystems of India Ascidians represent one of the main regarding the presence and distribution of biofouling taxons, particularly on ship hulls4. invasive alien ascidians11,12. Some species have They colonise all types of hard substrata, both been reported only from specific habitat types natural and artificial 5, mainly in environments rather than in the port area proper. characterized by low diversity fauna (e.g. V.O. Chidambaram port, formerly called estuaries, lagoons, harbors, shellfish farms, as Tuticorin port, located along the Gulf of eutrophic habitats etc.). By virtue of its sedentary Mannar region, is important regionally and nature and brief planktonic larval period they can internationally with intense services to United

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States, Europe, China, Red Sea and Mediterranean formalin in seawater. The specimens were sorted countries and may serve as a gateway for and identified to species or the lowest practicable bioinvasion. This port is provided with artificial taxon, with dissection and/or compound substrates such as extensive pilings, floating microscope using various taxonomic references13- docks, super barges and large cargo ships which 19. act as suitable substrata for fouling organisms. The identified species were classified into Hence, the present study was aimed to understand cryptogenic or introduced by adopting possible the occurrence of alien ascidians in this harbour. criteria such as, appearance in local regions where not found previously, prevalence or restriction to Materials and methods new or artificial environments and also based on Area description published geographic records20. V.O.Chidambaranar port is within the After an extensive review of literature on Gulf of Mannar (8º 44’ 53.82”N-Latitude, 78º global invasive species21-39, their spread based on 12’15.77”E longitude) in the south east coast of history, species origin, species behavior and field India. This port is one of the important and major observations at Indian coastal areas, a list of ports in south India, with year round heavy traffic invasive alien ascidians was prepared. The by a number of ships and other mechanised boats. websites were also examined extensively for In addition to the port, large marinas are also background information permanently found in this region. The study area (http://www.marinespecies.org, (Fig 1) (8048’N and 78011’E) is situated opposite http://www.catalogueoflife.org and to the Central Electrochemical Research Institute http\\www.sealifebase.org). The specimens were and finger jetty, 1200 meters away from the South deposited in the Ascidian collection at the Break Water (SBW) with very limited wave Museum of Islamiah College, Newtown action. Granite rocks have been laid down to Vaniyambadi – 635752, Tamil Nadu, India. prevent soil erosion on the slopes of the Harbor basin. Few large barges are anchored in the Results harbor area regularly. Sixteen species of ascidians were identified belonging to diverse families: Method of collection Ascidiidae (4), Styelidae (2), Pyuridae (4), Specimens were collected seasonally Polycitoridae (2), and Didemnidae (4). Most of during May 2011 to January 2013. Search for these species are known from Thoothukudi coast species at each habitat lasted for approximately rather than in the port area proper. two hours. Intertidal sites were visited at low tides Most taxa were found in harbor and a variety of collection methods were installations rather than in the natural substrata. employed to obtain the organisms. Hand tools Some species such as Eudistoma viride, were used to remove from solid surfaces Didemnum psammathodes and Lissoclinum such as bumper tires, docks, small rocks, stones fragile were common to both natural and artificial and marina floats. SCUBA divers were engaged substrata. In contrast, 12 species were found only to sample at marinas to remove ascidians from the in port installations (Table 1). Among these, undersides of floating docks and barges. Phallusia nigra, P. arabica, Ascidia gemmata, Microcosmus exasperatus, Herdmania pallida, Method of identification Eudistoma viride, E. laysani, Didemnum All organisms collected were narcotized psammatodes and Diplosoma similis are classified using menthol crystals for up to three hours (for as cryptogenic species while M. squamiger, M. colonial ascidians) and five or more hours (for stoloniferus, Styela canopus, A. sydneiensis solitary ascidians). After narcotization, the Didemnum candidum, Lissoclinum fragile and specimens were preserved in 10% buffered Eusynstyela tincta as invasive species.

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Table 1. List of ascidians collected from different habitats of the study area Substrates Periods Large Small Pearl Ascidians Status Granite Hull of Old cement embedded oyster 2011 2012 2013 stones ship barges blocks rocks cages Microcosmus C x - - x x x x x x exasperatus M. squamiger I x - - x x x x x x M. stoloniferus I x - - x x x x x - Herdmania C x - - x x x x - - pallida Phallusia nigra C - - - x x x x x x P. arabica C - - - x x x x x - Ascidia gemmata C - - - x x x x x - Ascidia I - - - x x x x x - sydneiensis Styela canopus I x - - x x x x x x Eusynstelya I x - - x x x x x - tincta Eudistoma viride C - x x x - - x x x E. laysani C - x x x - - x x - Lissoclinum I - x x x - - x x x fragile Didemnum C x x x x x x x x x psammatodes Diplosoma C - x - x - - x x - similis Didemnum I - - x x - - x x x candidum Note: C – cryptogenic; I – invasive;

Fig. 1 - Sampling sites in V.O.Chidambaranar Port, Fig. 2 - Microcosmus exasperatus Heller, 1878 Thoothukudi

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Fig. 3 - M. squamiger Michaelsen, 1927 Fig. 4 - M. stoloniferus Kott,1952

Fig. 5 - Herdmania pallida (Heller, 1878) Fig. 6 - Phallusia nigra Savigny, 1816

Fig. 7 - P. arabica Savigny, 1816

Fig. 8 - Ascidia gemmata Sluiter, 1895

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Fig. 9 - Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855 Fig. 10 - Styela canopus (Savigny, 1816)

Fig. 11 - Eusynstelya tincta Van Name, 1902 Fig. 12 - Eudistoma viride Tokioka, 1955

Fig. 14- white colony - Lissoclinum fragile (Van Name, Fig. 13 - E. laysani (Sluiter,1900) 1902) and Dirty colony - Didemnum psammatodes

(Sluiter, 1895)

Fig. 15 - Diplosoma simile (Sluiter, 1909) Fig. 16 - Didemnum candidum Savigny 1816

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Non indigenous ascidians: both test and mantle bodies are the characteristic Family Pyuridae features of this species. Microcosmus exasperatus Heller, 1878 (Fig 2) World Distribution: Indo-West Pacific and the Material examined: Collected from large cement Mediterranean: Sub-Antarctic Region blocks, pearl oyster cages and old barges at 3-4 m depth (ICBT Asc.S18) Family Ascididae External appearance: Solitary species. The Phallusia nigra Savigny, 1816 (Fig 6) globular body is enclosed within a leathery and Material examined: Collected from large barges wrinkled tunic. The tunic is orange or purple, at 1-3 m depth and also from cages installed for maintaining colour in formalin, and contains some aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters (ICBT Asc. sand and encrusting organisms on the surface. S22). Gonads are partly enclosed. The long siphon and External appearance: This is a common large leathery reddish orange coloured test are the solitary ascidian. The unique feature is the typical identification marks in the field. Characterized by velvety-black or dark-brown colour. It is free of eight branchial folds lining with small rounded epibionts throughout its life. It is characterized by scales and pointed unique siphonal spines. the presence of accessory openings in the neural World Distribution: Indo-west Pacific, Atlantic gland duct. Ocean and the Mediterranean: Sub- Antarctic, World Distribution: Widely distributed Southeast America throughout the warm water of the Western Atlantic ranging from Bermuda to Brazil. It is Microcosmus squamiger Michaelsen, 1927 (Fig also found in Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, other 3) parts of Arabian Sea, Mediterranean, Hawaiian Material examined: Collected from large cement Island and Micronesia. Off late, it is recorded blocks, pearl oyster cages and barges at 3-4 m from the both east and west coast of India depth (ICBT Asc. S19) especially in harbours and embayment. External appearance: Solitary species with long siphon and leathery orange coloured test and P. arabica Savigny, 1816 (Fig 7) characterized by unique small rounded scales in Material examined: Collected from large barges siphon. It has the gonads divided into three lobes at 1-3 m depth and also from cages installed for and has been confused with M. exasperatus, but aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters (ICBT Asc. the siphonal spines are very different, with roof- S23). tile shape and spiny rims. The species light brown External appearance: This is also a common large or light yellowish brown in live condition. solitary ascidian free of epibionts throughout its World Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Southwest life. It is characterized by the presence of Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, Sub- accessory openings in the neural gland duct. It Antarctic region. differs from P. nigra by its colouration (dark grey) and rudimentary siphons. Microcosmus stoloniferus Kott, 1952 (Fig 4) World Distribution: North Atlantic Ocean, Material examined: Collected from large cement European waters, Red Sea, South Pacific Ocean blocks and barges at 3-4 m depth. Few specimens and Indian waters. were collected from cages installed for aquaculture (ICBT Asc. S20) Ascidia gemmata Sluiter, 1895 (Fig 8) External appearance: Solitary species with short Material examined: Collected from large barges curved siphon and leathery dirty brown coloured at 1-3 m depth and also from cages installed for test with few encrustations around the base. aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters (ICBT Asc. Presence of both siphonal spines and scales is the S24). unique character of this species. External appearance: Simple ascidian. Dirty World Distribution: Australian waters and Gulf of white colour, translucent, wrinkled test with Mannar, India epibionts. Posterior position of atrial siphon is the peculiar feature. Four stigmata per mesh are Herdmania pallida (Heller, 1878) (Fig 5) present. Intermediate papillae on the longitudinal Material examined: Collected from large cement vessels are absent. blocks, barges at 3-4 m depth and also from cages World Distribution: Central Indo-Pacific and installed for aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters south Pacific and Indian Ocean. (ICBT Asc. S21) External appearance: Large sized flesh coloured solitary species with cylindrical siphon turned away from each other. Numerous barbed spines in ALI et al.: NON- INDIGENOUS ASCIDIANS IN V. O. CHIDAMBARAM PORT 2153

Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855 (Fig 9) Family Polycitoride Materials Examined: Collected from barges at 4-5 Eudistoma viride Tokioka, 1955. (Fig 12) m depth and also from pearl oyster cages (ICBT Materials examined: Collected from small Asc. S25). embedded rocks and calcareous stones at a depth External appearance: Simple ascidian with of 1 meter and also from cages installed for translucent, wrinkled and leathery test. Have aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters (ICBT Asc. prominent branchial and atrial siphons. No C14). accessory openings from the neural duct. The External appearance: Colonial ascidian. Colonies peculiar feature is the bilobed nature of anal are Greenish yellow in colour. Lobes of the border. . colonies are closely packed. Colonies are free of World Distribution: Hawaii Islands and Indian epibionts. Black spots on either side of the oral Ocean. siphon’s basal region are the characteristic mark. No distinct constriction between thorax and Family Styelidae abdomen. Styela canopus (Savigny, 1816) (Fig 10) World Distribution: Western Central Pacific and Materials Examined: Collected from large cement Indian Ocean. blocks, barges at 3-4 m depth and also from cages installed for aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters. E. laysani (Sluiter, 1900) (Fig 13) Few specimens were collected from shallow water Material Examined: Collected from small regions also (ICBT Asc. S26) embedded rocks and calcareous stones at a depth External appearance: The species is readily of 1 meter and also from cages installed for identified by its deeply curved gut loop, long aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters (ICBT Asc. stomach with fine longitudinal pleats, long anal C14). lobes, and leaf-like endocarps on and in the gut External appearance: Colonial ascidian. Colonies loop. Presence of brown coloured wrinkles around are lobed. The lobes have rounded head which is the branchial siphon is the peculiar feature. The covered by delicate transparent test. No pigment species is light red, dark rose or white in living spot in the siphon. The branchial sac has three condition. rows of rectangle stigmata. The atrial siphon World Distribution: Japan, France, Indonesia, originates opposite to the first row of stigmata. Hong Kong, New South Wales (Central E coast), The abdomen is longer than the thorax. Gonads Queensland (Central E coast, NE coast), Western are in the gut loop. The unique features of this Australia (Lower W coast, NW coast); Torres species are the existence of lobed colonies with a Strait, Coral Sea, west Pacific Ocean, Korea, common test devoid of sand and the terminal part tropical and temperate Atlantic Ocean, Persian of the lobe with bluish white iridescence. Gulf, Adriatic, Mediterranean, Ascension Is., World Distribution: Pacific Ocean and Indian Channel Is., west coast of France. Ocean.

Eusynstelya tincta Van Name, 1902 (Fig 11) Family Didemnidae Materials examined: Collected from various Lissoclinum fragile (Van Name, 1902) (Fig14) harbour installations such as cement blocks, Materials Examined: The ascidians collected from calcareous stones, ropes etc at varying depths small embedded rocks and calcareous stones at a from 1-4 m and also from cages installed for depth of 1 meter and also from cages installed for aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters, encrusting aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters (ICBT Asc. on bivalve shells (ICBT Asc. C12). C15). External appearance: Colonial ascidian with External appearance: The colony is soft, thin, bright red colour in live condition and with brown encrusting with extensive cloacal cavity. The colour in formalin. Zooids are embedded in a thorax is almost free, and the abdomen is included common test. Atrial and oral siphons have four in pillars in the tunic. Larvae are located in the lobes. Two different sizes of tentacles can be seen basal lamina. The branchial sac shows a brown around the branchial siphon. Ten rows of stigmata pigment, light or dark. The body wall is almost with 4 folds per side. Smooth dorsal lamina. Two missing, visible at the level of a short atrial elongated testis on gonad. The stomach is also languet and posteriorly where it holds thoracic extended. lateral organs at the basis of the fourth stigmata World Distribution: Western Atlantic, row. There is no fixative appendage. The testis Mozambique, Red Sea, Gulf of Suez, African has a straight sperm duct and ovary is present Coast, South Indian Coast. above the testis. The tadpole has 3 suckers and 4

2154 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL 43, NO.11 NOVEMBER 2014 small papillae. The colony is in varying shades of deferens always spirals 7 times around the outer white colour. surface of the testis. World Distribution: East Pacific Ocean off South World Distribution: Canada, Madagascar, North America to California, West Indies, North Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea, South Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean to Arctic Ocean and Northwest of Indian Ocean Iceland, West Pacific Ocean. Discussion Didemnum psammatodes (Sluiter, 1895) (Fig 14) As expected due to marine context of Materials Examined: Collected from all kinds of port, large numbers of introduced ascidian species substrates available in the study area (ICBT Asc. which include several cryptogenic species were C16). found at V.O.Chidambaranar port, Thoothukudi External appearance: Colony forms thin coast. It is well-known that a number of ships and encrusting sheets, although sometimes they are mechanized boats would have introduced these produced into fleshy lobes or have irregular twig– sedentary through ballast water or from like branches. Faecal pellets embedded hulls of ships. Besides the availability of man- throughout the colony are a peculiar feature. No made substrata, other artificial structures such as green cells are found. All have characteristically boulders, prolonged barges, concrete submerged restricted thoracic common cloacal centre. blocks etc, provide suitable substratum for Spicules never crowded and numerous in surface attachment and help the dispersal of species. It is test. Zooids are minute and the atrial aperture is stated that Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata wide and exposes a large part of the branchial sac might have been introduced to northeastern to the common cloacal. The colony is brown or Pacific through ballast water or from ship fouling light yellowish- brown in live condition. or with Japanese oysters40. Many researchers41-44 World Distribution: Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, have reported that shipping has introduced exotic New Zealand, New South Wales (Central E species into many ports worldwide. coast), Queensland (Central E coast, Great Barrier There is ample evidence that the artificial Reef, NE coast), Victoria (Bass Strait); west substrata in and around ports often have large Indian Ocean, Red Sea and India number of introduced ascidians45, 38, 11. In the present investigation, the presence of large Diplosoma simile (Sluiter, 1909) (Fig 15) number of cryptogenic ascidians could be Materials Examined: Collected from calcareous explained by the availability of artificial substrata. stones at a depth of 1 meter and also from cages Similar results are known in Southern installed for aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters California45, Mediterranean Sea46 and Brazil38. (ICBT Asc. C18) The Selection Regime Modification (SRM) states External appearance: This genus is characterized that highly disturbed environments will have a by the absence of spicules in the test and no coiled greater abundance of exotic species and that the vas deferens. Test is gelatinous not firm. The impact of invading species on native species will colony is translucent. Prochloron present in be greater in other coastal environments47. In this common cloacal cavities. Zooids are evenly study the occurrence of four species such as spread. Six branchial lobes are triangular. Microcosmus squamiger, M. exasperatus, M. Symbiotic cells are present. Retractor muscle is stoloniferus and Styela canopus are new records from the base of the oesophagus. The colony is in this port area. very transparent and gelatinous with black dots. Due to uncertainty in the origin of some World Distribution: Gulf of Mannar in India, species, their status as non – indigenous species Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, QLD (Great Barrier remains unclear. Various level of evidences Reef); West Pacific Ocean. suggest that Phallusia nigra, P. arabica, Ascidia gemmata, Microcrosmus exasperates, Herdmania Didemnum candidum Savigny 1816 (Fig 16) pallida, Eudistoma viride, E. laysani, Didemnum Materials examined: Collected from calcareous psammatode and Diplosoma similis are classified stones at a depth of 1 meter and also from cages as cryptogenic species. Phallusia nigra was first installed for aquaculture at a depth of 4-5 meters described from the Red Sea but most records (ICBT Asc. C19). come from the West Atlantic. The ambiguity of External appearance: Colonial ascidian with thin, native region of P. nigra has also been reported39. smooth, irregular sheets encrusting on available Records of P. nigra and P. arabica in substrates. Flesh colour in live condition but white Indian waters revealed a very restricted in formalin. Sometimes shade of red or orange distribution of these species in Gulf of Mannar colour can be noticed. Spicules have 7-9rays. Vas suggesting that they may also be considered as ALI et al.: NON- INDIGENOUS ASCIDIANS IN V. O. CHIDAMBARAM PORT 2155

lessepsian migrant. There is a high possibility References: that these species have been introduced through 1. Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A., Biotic invasions in Red Sea and /or Mediterranean since they are a Mediterranean lagoon, Biol. Inva. 2 (2000) recorded from these areas. Microcosmus 165-176. squamiger which seems to have an invasive 2. Occhipinti-Ambrogi A. Global change and potential48 is actually present in southern marine communities, Alien species and California45. In the Mediterranean Sea, specimens climate change, Mar. Poll. Bull., 55 (2007) of M. squamiger have been recorded in several 342 -352. harbours and coastal bays from Bizerte (Tunisia), 3. Blum, J.C., Chang, Andrew, L., Liljesthrom, to Savona, Taranto, Imperia (Italy)49. M., Schenk, M.E., Steinberg, M.K., Ruiz, and identification have been Gregory M. The non-native solitary ascidian the major limiting factors in the ability to detect Ciona intestinalis (L.) depresses species non – indigenous species of ascidians in the area. richness, J. Exp. Mar. Bio. Eco., 342 (2007) This is compounded by the lack of updated local 5-14. fauna inventories and the lack of taxonomic 4. Lambert G, Nonindigenous ascidians in expertise and knowledge in Indian waters. tropical waters, Pac. Sci., 3 (2002) 291-298. Furthermore, some of the earlier records of alien 5. Lambert, G., Invasive sea squirts: A growing ascidians in the Thoothukudi coast remain global problem, J. Exp. Mar. Bio. Ecol. 342 uncertain. The effect of non-indigenous species on (2007) 3-5. natural communities and habitats occurring in this 6. Renganathan, T.K., On the occurrence of region is unknown and research programmes to colonial ascidian, Didemnum psammathodes examine these issues should be promoted. (Sluiter, 1985) from India, Curr. Sci., 50, In fact not all non-indigenous species are (1981), 922. harmful, some are highly useful in fisheries50. The 7. Renganathan, T.K., On the occurrence of Government of Chile recognizes the threats posed colonial ascidian Lissoclinum fragile (Van by alien invasive species, but also recognizes the Name, 1902) from India, Curr. Sci., 51 significant societal benefits associated with (1982a) 149. aquaculture51. Non indigenous ascidians can 8. Abdul Jaffar Ali, H., Sivakumar, V., sustainably be utilized for the benefit of mankind Occurrence and distribution of ascidians in since ascidians are prolific producers of novel Vizhinjam Bay (south west coast of India). J. bioactive metabolites exhibiting antimicrobial, Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 342 (2007) 189-190. antineoplastic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, 9. Tamilselvi M. Ecological studies on antifouling, antioxidant, deterrent and insect ascidians of Tuticorin coast, India. control activities. Tyrosine derived antimicrobial Ph.D.Thesis, Manonmaniam Sundaranar compounds have been isolated from the non – University, Tirunelveli, India, 2008. indigenous ascidian Phallusia nigra from 10. Tamilselvi, M., Abdul Jaffar Ali, H., Thoothukudi coast of India52. A value added Exploration of untapped resource of product, ascidian pickle, was prepared from alien ascidians along the Thoothukudi coast of ascidian Herdmania pallida53. Besides, recent India. Multidisciplinary research J. VVV study reveals pellet feed prepared using H. pallida College, 1(1) 2013 139-145. showed better performance on growth, survival 11. Abdul Jaffar Ali, H., Sivakumar, V., and reproduction during culturing periods of black Tamilselvi, M.., Distribution of Alien and molly (personal communication)54. Utilization of cryptogenic ascidians along the Southern non – indigenous ascidians for the betterment of Coasts of Indian Peninsula. World J. Fish. humankind may be considered as an alternative Mar. Sci. 1(4) (2009) 305-312. way of managing non – indigenous species. 12. Tamilselvi, M., Sivakumar,V., Abdul Jaffar Ali,H., Thilaga R.D., Distribution of alien Acknowledgement tunicates(Ascidians) in Tuticorin coast, India, The authors are thankful to the Traffic World J. Zoo., 6(2) (2011) 164-172. Manager, V.O.Chidambaranar Port Trust, 13. Sebastian, V.O., A new species of Thoothukudi for having given entry permit to the Synascidian from Madras. Curr. Sci. 21(11) port. The first author thanks Mr. L.M. Muneer (1952) 316-317. Ahmed, Secretary and Dr. K. Prem Nazeer, 14. Sebastian, V.O., On Polyclinum indicum, a Principal, Islamiah College (Autonomous), new ascidian from the Madras coast of India. Vaniyambadi for their support and enthusiasm. Wash. Acad. Sci. 44(1) (1954) 18-24.

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