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Indigenous Ascidians in VO Chidambaram Port 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 Ascidiacea 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 Didemnidae (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, Lissoclinum 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 2148 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL 43, NO.11 NOVEMBER 2014 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 animals 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. ALI et al.: NON- INDIGENOUS ASCIDIANS IN V. O. CHIDAMBARAM PORT 2149 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 2150 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL 43, NO.11 NOVEMBER 2014 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 ALI et al.: NON- INDIGENOUS ASCIDIANS IN V. O. CHIDAMBARAM PORT 2151 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.
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