Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 23 (10): 2411-2417, 2015 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2015.23.10.96260

Diversity and Distribution of Common Ascidians of Andaman Group of Islands

Jhimli Mondal, C. Raghunathan and Tamal Mondal

Zoological Survey of , Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, - 744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract: The studies of diversity and distribution of Ascidians (benthic sessile ) were carried out at Andaman group of islands. A total of 32 species of ascidian fauna were found from 27 study areas of this region. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index ranges up to 2.10. Higher degree of similarity of species was found between geographically nearby areas. However, no similarity also been recorded may be due to the poor species richness in some of the areas. Details of diversity with various ecological indices along with distributional patterns are depicted in the present paper.

Key words: Ascidians Diversity and Distribution Diversity Indices Similarity Index Andaman

INTRODUCTION ascidians from the India. Although this species list not included the ascidians of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ascidians are with approximately 3000 species, From Andaman and Nicobar Islands only 43 species were found across the World’s Ocean. They are commonly reported [15-17] out of which only 27 ascidians were known as sea squirt as they eject waters through their reported [15,17] from Andaman group of islands. siphons when they are disturbed [1]. Ascidians can be Ascidians are very commonly found in Andaman group solitary or colonial and the size of single ascidians of islands from the intertidal zone to up to the depth of ranging from few millimetres to more than 10 cm [2]. 43 m. Present paper deals with the diversity and The is covered with test or tunic, made up of distributional pattern of ascidian fauna of Andaman group tunicin a kind of cellulose [2]. From the word tunicin the of islands. Subphylum name Tunicata (also known as Urochordata) was originated [2]. Except class the two MATERIALS AND METHODS other classes of Tunicata are planktonic in nature. The larvae of ascidians are planktonic in nature and A total of 27 areas of Andaman group of islands such have resembles to other primitive though as eleven areas of North Andaman, seven islands of adult ascidians have a little resembles with the chordates. Middle Andaman and eight islands and one jetty area of The animals are hermaphrodite in nature. However, South Andaman were surveyed during December, 2013 to they commonly avoid self-fertilization. First study on March, 2015 (Table 1 and Fig. 1). The data were collected Indian ascidians was made by Herdman in 1906 as he by Line Intercept Method of English et al. [18] and describes the ascidians from Gulf of Mannar [3]. Quadrat methods of Bakus [19] by employing Self Although it is considered that Oka in 1915 started the Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) study of ascidians in India [4] by studying the deep sea diving to explore the diversity of ascidians. Each quadrat collections made on board during R.I.M.S Investigator was photographed by Canon G15 underwater camera. expedition and described 11 new species [3]. Later on Wherever possible, entire quadrat was photographed by Sebastian and Kurian [5] and Renganathan [6-14] studied using by Canon G15 underwater camera in a single frame on Indian ascidians. In 2003, Meenakshi et al. [4] depending upon the topography of the sea bottom. submitted a report to the Ministry of Environment and Species abundance monitoring takes place at specified Forests in which they mentioned about 388 species of sample points using a square grid called a quadrat.

Corresponding Author: Jhimli Mondal, Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Tel: (+91) 9434831324. 2411 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 23 (10): 2411-2417, 2015

Typically, a quadrat is a grid of ten squares by ten squares allowing easy approximation of percent coverage. Centre a quadrat directly over a sample point. Record of species abundance within the quadrat was determined using the ACFOR scaling method. The methodology includes: A = abundant (Species present in 30% or more of quadrant squares), C = common (Species present in 20-29% of quadrant squares), F = frequent (Species present in 10-19% of quadrant squares), O = occasional (Species present in 5-9% of quadrant squares) and R = rare (Species present in 1-4% of quadrant squares). Species diversity and density was calculated considering Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) [20] Simpson's density index [21] Menhinick diversity index [22] Berger-Parker diversity index [23] and Fisher alpha diversity index [24]. The formula is given below:

The formula for the Shannon-Weaver diversity index is:

H’= - pi ln pi

where, pi = Proportion of number of individual of a particular species and total number of individual of all the Fig. 1: Study areas of Andaman group of islands species, H’= diversity of a theoretically infinite

Table 1: Co-ordinates of surveyed areas population. Sl. No. Study areas Latitude Longitude North Andaman The formula for the Simpson’s density index is: 1. 13°37.694’N 93°00.932’E ni( ni − 1) 2. Peacock Island 13°33.692’N 93°03.119’E S D =1 − ÷ 3. Cape Price 13º30.172’N 93º02.627’E ∑i=1 4. Table Excelsior Island 13°24.862’N 93°05.223’E NN( −1) 5. Trilby Island 13°24.812’N 93°04.146’E 6. Turtle Island 13°22.064’N 93°04.832’E where S is the number of species, N is the total percentage 7. Smith Island 13°17.755’N 92°57.830’E 8. Durgapur 13°16.517’N 93°02.557’E cover or total number of organisms and n is the 9. 13°14.112’N 93°03.343’E percentage cover of a species or number of organisms of 10. Craggy Island 13°13.531’N 93°03.394’E a species. In this form, D ranges from 1 to 0, with 1 11. North Reef Island 13º03.560’ N 92º42.764’ E representing infinite diversity and 0 representing no Middle Andaman 12. 12°56.513’N 92°57.269’E diversity. 13. Oliver Island 12°59.684’N 92°57.257’E 14. Curlew Island 12º56.092’ N 92º53.168’ E The formula for Menhinick diversity index is: 15. North Button Island 12°18.880’ N 93°04.010’ E 16. Long Island 12°25.359’ N 92°57.869’ E 17. Round Island 12°20.070’ N 92°54.627’ E d = S/ N 18. 12°18.288’ N 92°54.830’ E South Andaman where, S = Total number of species and N = Total number 19. Inglis Island 12º08.946’N 93º06.8261E 20. John Lawrence Island 12°03.015’N 92°02.200’E of individuals. 21. Neil Island 11°° 52.112' N 093 01.052'E The formula for Berger-Parker diversity index is: 22. North Bay 11°41.962’N 92°45.219’E 23. 11°30.119’ N 92°37.112’ E d=N /N 24. Riflemen Island 11°30.837’ N 92°38.767’ E max 25. Pongibalu Jetty 11°30.956’ N 92°30.206’ E

26. South Brother Island 10° 55.577'N 092° 37.159'E where, Nmax =number of individuals in the most abundant 27. Island 10° 53.226'N 092° 32.060'E species and N=total number of individuals in the sample.

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The formula of Fisher alpha diversity index is: abundant in the Andaman group of islands although 7 species out of 32 species are commonly found , S=a×ln (1+n/a) occasionally 6 species and frequently 1 species are found. However, 12 species were categorised as rare as where, S=number of taxa, n=number of individuals and they found less than 4% of total examined ascidian fauna a=Fisher’s alpha. in Andaman group of Islands. Results of different diversity indices are given in Evenness of the ascidian community was described Table 3. Shannon-Weaver diversity index was highest by the Pielou’s evenness index (J’) [25]. The formula of (2.10) at Sound Island and lowest (0.14) at Turtle Island. the index is: Menhinick diversity index exhibited the maximum value (1.89) at North Button Island and minimum value (0.19) at

J’=H’/H’max North Reef Island. Equitability index was maximum (0.95) at John Lawerence Island while minimum (0.11) at Smith where H' is the number derived from the Shannon Island. Pielou’s evenness index exhibit highest value (1) diversity. at Curlew Island and Round Island due to single species recorded from those islands and least (0.13) at Oliver Margalef’s community index [26] was calculated by Island and Simpson’s Density Index also displayed the using the following formula below: maximum value (0.84) at Sound Island while minimum (0.05) at Smith Island. Margalef’s community index and d = S -1/ log N Fisher Alpha diversity index was maximum (2.83 and 7.82) at Sound Island and North Button Island respectively where, S = Total number of species and N = Total number while the minimum (0.29 and 0.47 respectively) at Turtle of individuals. Island. Both the Dominance index and Berger – Parker Diversity index exhibited the highest value (0.94 and 0.97 Percentage of Similarity Index is the simple measure respectively) from Smith and Turtle Island and lowest of the extent to which two habitats species in common. (0.16 and 0.31 repectively) at Sound Island. The Sørensen index is a statistic used for comparing the Percentage of Similarity index (Table 4) was similarity of two samples [27]. It has been formulated calculated among the surveyed regions of Andaman below: group of islands. Maximum similarity (85.71%) was recorded between Smith Island and Durgapur while QS= (2C/A + B) × 100 minimum (11.11%) was found between Sound Island and South Brother Island. No similarities were recorded where, A and B are the species numbers in samples A and between several islands. B, respectively and C is the number of species shared by the two samples. This expression is easily extended to DISCUSSION abundance instead of incidence of species. Ascidians are found in wide range of habitat from the RESULT intertidal zone to 6500 m depth [28]. These filter feeder animals also act as common biofoulers in the marine A total of 32 species of ascidian fauna (Table 2) were ecosystem. Along with the natural reef areas, mangrove identified from 27 places. Among these, a maximum roots, they are also found on the artificial structures [1]. numbers (13) of species of ascidians were found from Ascidians are commonly found in the reef areas of both Oliver Island and Neil Island while the minimum of Andaman group of islands. Due to the cryptic nature only single species was found from both Curlew Island and very few ascidians were reported from Andaman group Round Island. Didemnum molle (Herdman, 1886), of islands [15]. Present work reported 32 species of Phallusia mammillata (Cuvier, 1815), Polycarpa ascidians along with their diversity and distribution in pigmentata (Herdman, 1906), Hardmania momus Andaman group of islands which enhanced the earlier (Savigny, 1816), Herdmania pallida (Heller,1978) are report of 27 species [15, 17]. Ascidians are considered as

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Table 2: Distribution of ascidian fauna in surveyed areas of Andaman groups of islands Study areas ------Sl. No Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Status Subphylum UROCHORDATA/TUNICATA Lamarck, 1816 Class ASCIDIACEA Nielsen, 1995 Order APLOSOBRANCHIA Lahille, 1886 Family DIDEMNIDAE Giard, 1872 Genus Didemnum Savigny, 1816 1. Didemnum molle (Herdman, 1886) ••••••••• • ••••••A 2. Didemnum moseleyi (Herdman, 1886) ••• •C Genus Lissoclinum Verrill, 1871 3. Lissoclinum bistratum (Sluiter, 1905) •O 4. Lissoclinum fragile (Van Name, 1902) ••• •• • •O Genus Diplosoma Macdoland, 1859 5. Diplosoma virens (Hartmeyer, 1909) ••• O Family POLYCITORIDAE Michaelsen, 1904 Genus Caullery, 1909 6. Eudistoma gilboviride (Sluiter,1909) •••• •• ••••F Family CLAVELINIDAE Forbes and Hanley, 1848 Genus Savigny, 1816 7. Clavelina moluccensis (Sluiter, 1904) ••• • C 8. Clavelina robusta Kott, 1990 •• ••C Family POLYCLINIDAE Milne Edwards, 1842 Genus Aplidium Savigny, 1816 9. Aplidium multiplicatum Sluiter, 1909 • • R 10. Aplidium pliciferum (Redikorzev, 1927) • R Family DIAZONIDAE Seeliger, 1906 Genus Rhopalaea Philippi, 1843 11. Rhopalaea macrothorax Tokioka, 1953 •••• ••• ••••••C Order PHLEBOBRANCHIA Lahille, 1886 Family ASCIDIIDAE Herdman, 1882 Genus Ascidia Linnaeus, 1769 12. Ascidia challengeri Hartmeyer, 1882 • • O 13. Ascidia conchilega Muller, 1776 •R 14. Ascidia latesiphonica Hartmeyer, 1922 • O 15. Ascidia sydneiensis Stimpson, 1855 • • • O Genus Phallusia Savigny, 1816 16. Phallusia arabica Savigny, 1816 • • •••••••C 17. Phallusia mammillata (Cuvier, 1815) ••••••••••••• •••••A 18. Phallusia nigra Savigny, 1816 • • R Order Lahille, 1887 Family Sluiter, 1895 Genus Polycarpa Heller, 1877 19. Polycarpa mytiligera (Savigny, 1816) • R 20. Polycarpa pigmentata (Herdman, 1906) •••••••••• ••••••A Genus Botryllus Gaertner, 1774 21. Botryllus perpureus (Oka, 1932) • R Genus Eusynstyela Michaelsen, 1904 22. Eusynstyela latericius (Sluiter, 1904) •R 23. Eusynstyela misakiensis (Watanabe and Tokioka, 1972) ••••O Family PYURIDAE Hartmeyer, 1908 Genus Pyura Molina, 1782 24. Pyura vittata (Stimpson, 1852) •••••••• • • ••C 25. Pyura isobella Kott, 1985 • R 26. Pyura curvigona Tokioka, 1950 • R 27. Pyura sacciformis (Drasche, 1884) • R Genus Microcosmus 28. Microcosmus exasperatus Heller, 1878 • R Genus Herdmania Lahille, 1888 29. Herdmania papietensis Herdman, 1882 • R 30. Hardmania momus (Savigny, 1816) • •••• • ••• •A 31. Herdmania pallida (Heller,1978) •• •••• ••••••A Genus Halocynthia Verrill and Ratbburn, 1879 32. Halocynthia dumosa (Stimpson, 1855) ••• ••• • •• •C Total 12 9 4 8 9 2 4 3 2 8 5 12 13 1 5 4 1 4 2 3 13 9 7 5 11 6 11 [1: Landfall Island, 2: Peacock Island, 3: Cape Price, 4: Table Exelsior Island, 5: Trilby Island, 6: Turtle Island, 7: Smith Island, 8: Durgapur, 9: Shibpur, 10: Craggy Island, 11: North Reef Island, 12: Sound Island, 13: Oliver Island, 14: Curlew Island, 15: North Button Island, 16: Long Island, 17: Round Island, 18: North Passage Island, 19: Inglis Island, 20: John Lawrence Island, 21: Neil Island, 22: North Bay, 23: Rutland Island, 24: Riflemen Island, 25: Pongibalu Jetty, 26: South Brother Island, 27: Little Andaman Island] (Status- A: Abundant, C: Common, F: Frequent, O: Occasional, R: Rare)

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Table 3: Numerical representation of Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index, Manhinick Diversity Index, Simpson’s Density Index, Pielou’s Evenness Index, Equitability Index, Margalef’s Community Index, Fisher Alpha Diversity Index, Dominance Index and Berger Parker Diversity Index Shannon-Weaver Menhinick Simpson's Pielou's Equitability Margalef's Fisher Alpha Dominance Berger-Parker Diversity Index (H) Diversity Index Density Index Evenness Index Index Community Index Diversity Index Index Diversity Index Landfall Island 1.34 0.52 0.63 0.32 0.54 1.75 2.18 0.73 0.85 Peacock Island 0.71 0.95 0.27 0.23 0.32 1.78 2.50 0.26 0.40 Cape Price 0.39 0.45 0.17 0.37 0.28 0.69 0.89 0.83 0.91 Table Exelsior Island 0.32 0.34 0.12 0.17 0.15 1.10 1.32 0.88 0.94 Trilby Island 0.84 0.63 0.37 0.26 0.38 1.51 1.93 0.63 0.79 Turtle Island 0.14 0.35 0.06 0.57 0.20 0.29 0.47 0.94 0.97 Smith Island 0.15 0.32 0.05 0.29 0.11 0.60 0.75 0.94 0.97 Durgapur 0.80 1.13 0.45 0.74 0.72 1.03 1.99 0.55 0.71 Shibpur 0.64 1.16 0.44 0.94 0.92 0.91 2.62 0.56 0.67 Craggy Island 1.87 1.02 0.82 0.81 0.90 1.70 2.46 0.18 0.28 North Reef Island 0.28 0.19 0.12 0.27 0.18 0.61 0.73 0.88 0.94 Sound Island 2.10 1.71 0.84 0.68 0.84 2.83 5.07 0.16 0.31 Oliver Island 0.49 0.36 0.17 0.13 0.19 1.68 2.02 0.83 0.91 Curlew Island 0.00 0.58 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.53 1.00 1.00 North Button Island 1.48 1.89 0.73 0.87 0.92 2.06 7.82 0.27 0.43 Long Island 0.40 0.37 0.18 0.37 0.29 0.63 0.81 0.82 0.90 Round Island 0.00 0.71 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.80 1.00 1.00 North Passage Island 1.24 1.63 0.67 0.87 0.90 1.67 5.25 0.33 0.50 Inglis Island 0.64 1.16 0.44 0.94 0.92 0.91 2.62 0.56 0.67 John Lawrence Island 1.04 1.50 0.63 0.94 0.95 1.44 5.45 0.38 0.50 Neil Island 0.72 0.57 0.27 0.16 0.28 1.92 2.41 0.73 0.85 North Bay 1.67 1.39 0.74 0.59 0.76 2.14 3.51 0.26 0.40 Rutland Island 1.61 1.18 0.74 0.71 0.82 1.69 2.63 0.26 0.43 Riflemen Island 1.25 1.09 0.62 0.69 0.77 1.31 2.08 0.38 0.57 Pongibalu Jetty 1.02 0.44 0.55 0.25 0.43 1.55 1.90 0.45 0.55 South Brother Island 0.23 0.34 0.08 0.21 0.13 0.87 1.06 0.92 0.96 Little Andaman Island 0.61 0.32 0.32 0.17 0.25 1.41 1.67 0.68 0.81

Table 4: Percentages of Species Similarity Index between the surveyed areas of Andaman group of islands 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1 76.19 50 60 76.19 14.29 50 40 14.29 50 35.29 50 48 15.38 23.53 37.5 15.38 25 14.29 26.67 48 47.62 31.58 35.29 69.57 33.33 60.87 2 30.77 58.82 77.78 - 46.15 33.33 18.18 47.06 14.29 57.14 54.55 20 42.86 30.77 20 46.15 18.18 33.33 54.54 33.33 37.5 28.57 60 26.67 60 3 50 46.15 33.33 50 57.14 - 33.33 44.44 12.5 23.53 - 22.22 50 - 25 - - 35.29 30.77 36.36 44.44 40 20 40 4 82.35 - 66.67 54.55 - 62.5 46.15 60 66.67 22.22 61.54 33.33 22.22 66.67 20 36.36 57.14 58.82 53.33 30.77 63.16 28.57 73.68 5 18.18 61.54 50 18.18 47.06 28.57 57.14 54.55 20 42.86 46.15 20 46.15 18.18 33.33 45.45 33.33 37.5 42.86 70 26.67 70 6 33.33 40 - - 28.57 - 26.67 - - 33.33 - - - - 26.67 18.18 22.22 - 15.38 25 15.38 7 85.71 - 50 22.22 37.5 47.06 - 44.44 50 40 25 - 28.57 47.06 30.77 36.36 22.22 53.33 40 72.73 8 - 36.36 25 26.67 37.5 - 50 57.14 - 28.57 - 33.33 37.5 33.33 40 25 42.86 44.44 42.86 9 - 28.57 28.57 - - - 33.33 ------15.38 10 30.77 40 47.62 - 30.77 16.67 22.22 16.67 20 36.36 47.62 35.29 26.67 46.15 63.16 42.86 63.16 11 35.29 33.33 - 20 22.22 - 22.22 - - 33.33 57.14 50 20 37.5 44.44 50 12 64 15.38 47.06 25 15.38 50 14.29 26.67 48 38.10 52.63 23.53 52.17 11.11 60.86 13 14.29 44.44 35.29 14.29 47.06 26.67 37.5 69.23 47,61 60 33.33 66.67 42.11 66.67 14 - - - 40 66.67 50 - - 25 33.33 16.67 - - 15 22.22 - 66.67 - 25 44.44 42.86 33.33 20 25 18.18 50 16 - 25 - - 23.53 15.38 36.36 22.22 26.67 20 40 17 - - - 14.29 - - - 16.67 - 16.57 18 33.33 28.57 35.29 30.77 54.55 44.44 26.67 - 40 19 80 13.33 - 22.22 57.14 30.77 25 15.38 20 25 16.67 20 50 42.86 44.44 28.57 21 45.45 50 33.33 58.33 42.11 66.67 22 37.5 14.29 40 40 60 23 50 66.67 30.77 44.44 24 62.50 18.18 37.5 25 47.06 63.64 26 47.06 [1: Landfall Island, 2: Peacock Island, 3: Cape Price, 4: Table Exelsior Island, 5: Trilby Island, 6: Turtle Island, 7: Smith Island, 8: Durgapur, 9: Shibpur, 10: Craggy Island, 11: North Reef Island, 12: Sound Island, 13: Oliver Island, 14: Curlew Island, 15: North Button Island, 16: Long Island, 17: Round Island, 18: North Passage Island, 19: Inglis Island, 20: John Lawrence Island, 21: Neil Island, 22: North Bay, 23: Rutland Island, 24: Riflemen Island, 25: Pongibalu Jetty, 26: South Brother Island, 27: Little Andaman Island]

2415 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 23 (10): 2411-2417, 2015 bio-indicators of marine pollution [29]. Su et al. [30] 7. Renganathan, T.K., 1983a. A note on gonadial documented that the photo-symbiotic ascidians are the variation of a colonial ascidian, Eudistoma sp. of indicators of pollution free marine environment. Presence Tuticorin coast. Geobios New Reports, 2: 78-79. of higher numbers of ascidians species from Sound, Neil, 8. Renganathan, T.K., 1983b. Breeding season of a Landfall and Oliver Islands indicate the pristine colonial ascidian, Didemnum psammathodes environment. The diversity of the ascidian fauna in (Sluiter, 1895) of Tuticorin coast, India. J. Bio. Res., Andaman group of islands is comparatively greater 3(1): 54-56. than the Nicobar group of islands as only 16 species 9. Renganathan, T.K., 1983c. Breeding season of a are reported from the Nicobar group of Islands [16]. colonial ascidian, Eudistoma sp. of Tuticorin coast, Though maximum numbers of species of ascidians were India. Comp. Physiol. Ecol., 8(2): 135-137. recorded from Neil and Oliver Island, Sound Island 10. Renganathan, T.K., 1983d. First record of a simple exhibits highest diversity in terms of Shannon-Weaver ascidian, Microcosmus curvus Tokioka 1954 from diversity index, Simpson's density index and Indian waters. Current Science, 52(19): 929-930. Margalef’s community index and also higher in other 11. Renganathan, T.K., 1983e. Perophora formosa Oka, diversity indices indicating that the island has both the 1931 (Ascidiaceae: Perophoridae) – A new record for richness and evenness of the species content. No defined Indian waters. Geobios New Reports, 2: 128-130. trend could be noticed in similarity index as the 12. Renganathan, T.K., 1984a. Ecteinascidia garstangi species distribution varied between islands of study. Sluiter 1898 - A colonial ascidian not hitherto Hereafter, extensive surveys are required to explore the been recorded from India. Geobios New Reports, ascidian fauna to enhance the ascidian database of 2: 128-130. Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as India. The 13. Renganathan, T.K., 1984b. New record and re- widespread studies on ascidians may signify their description of a rare colonial ascidian, Eudistoma ecological role as a key parameter towards the viride Tokioka 1955 from the Indian waters. Geobios understanding of reef environment. New Reports, 3: 49-51. 14. Renganathan, T.K., 1986. Eudistoma lakshmiani n. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT sp. a colonial ascidian from Tuticorin coast India. Geobios New Reports, 5: 163-164. Authors are greatful to the Director, Zoological 15. Venkataraman, K., C. Raghunathan, R. Raghuraman Survey of India, for facilites provided. and C.R. Sreeraj, 2012. Marine Biodiversity in India. (Published by Director, Zoological Survey of India, REFERENCES Kolkata), pp: 178. 16. Ananthan, G., 2014. Diversity and Ecology of 1. Meenakshi, V.K., 2010. Indian Ascidians – Potential Sedentary Ascidians of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Candidate for Research - A Review. IJBT, Reserve. First Year Progress Report, pp: 103 1(Special Issue): pp: 29-33. 17. Jhimli Mondal, C. Raghunathan, Tamal Mondal and 2. Ruppert, E.E., R. Fox and R.D. Barnes, 2004. K. Venkataraman, 2015. Diversity and distribution of Invertebrate Zoology. Thomson-Brooks/ Cole, 7e, common Ascidians of South Andaman. Biodiversity pp: for Sustainable Development, UP State Biodiversity 3. Dhandapani, P., 1991. Protochordata. In: Animal Board, pp: 51-57. Resources of India, Ed., Jairajpuri, M.S. Zoological 18. English, S., C. Wilkinson and V. Baker, 1997. Survey Survey of India, pp: 573-575. manual for tropical marine resources. Publ. by 4. Meenakshi, V.K., T.K. Reganathan, S. Sentharamarai Australian Institute of marine Science, pp: 390. and J. Jeyalakshmi, 2003. Marine Biodiversity- 19. Bakus, J.G., 1990. Quantitative ecology and marine of Indian Ascidians. Technical Report, biology. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., pp: 38. pp: 157. 5. Sebastian, V.O. and C.V. Kurian, 1981. Indian 20. Shannon, C.E. and W. Weaver, 1964. The Ascidians. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co., pp: 163. Mathematical Theory of communication. The Uni. of 6. Renganathan, T.K., 1981. On the occurrence of a Illinois press, Urbana, IL. colonial ascidian, Didemnum psammathodes 21. Simpson, E.H., 1949. Measurement of diversity. (Sluiter, 1895) from India. Current Science, 50(20): 922. Nature, pp: 163-188.

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