Scientific Information on Gulf of Mannar - A Bibliography A.K. Kumaraguru V. Edwin Joseph N. Marimuthu J. Jerald Wilson Project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve’s Coastal Biodiversity Govt. of India August 2006 Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Trust Ramanathapuram - 623 501, Tamilnadu & Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai - 625 021, Tamilnadu Citation : Kumaraguru, A.K., V. Edwin Joseph, N. Marimuthu and J. Jerald Wilson 2006. Scientific information on Gulf of Mannar - A Bibliography. Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India. 656 pp. This publication has no commercial value It is for private scientific circulation only August 2006 Project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve’s Coastal Biodiversity Sponsored by Global Environment Facility and United Nations Development Programme New Delhi Published by Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Trust Ramanathapuram - 623 501, Tamilnadu, India Compiled by Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Madurai Kamaraj University Madurai - 625 021, Tamilnadu, India Authors A.K. Kumaraguru, N. Marimuthu, J. Jerald Wilson Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Madurai Kamaraj University Madurai –625 021, Tamilnadu, India Phone : 0452-2459080 E-mail : [email protected] V. Edwin Joseph Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Cochin - 682 018, Kerala, India Typeset & Printed at Rehana Offset Printers Srivilliputtur – 626 125, Virudhunagar District Ph.: 04563- 260383 Contents 1. Acknowledgements i 2. Foreword ii 3. Messages iii 4. Preface vii 5. Executive Summary viii 6. Introduction 1 Gulf of Mannar Environment 2 Islands of the Gulf of Mannar 4 Bio-Resources of Gulf of Mannar 8 Corals and Coral Reefs 10 Disturbance to coral reef ecosystems 12 7. A Report of research done in the Gulf of Mannar 17 8. Scientific gap areas identified 26 9. Bibliography 28 10. Units of Measurements 551 11. Acronyms 552 12. Abbreviations of Sources 555 13. Author Index 561 14. Taxonomy Index 578 15. Subject Index 591 i Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to Dr. V.K. Melkani, Director, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Trust for providing necessary funds through a project and encouragement given for bringing out this bibliography. The authors are thankful to Dr.Ravi Chellam, Programme Coordinator of the GEF-UNDP at New Delhi, for facilitating funds for the project. The authors are also thankful to Mr. V. Naganathan, Ecodevelopment Officer of the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Trust for his support in the preparation of the bibliography. The compilation team is grateful to Dr. Mohan Joseph Modayil, Director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute for permission to use the library facility at Cochin and to Dr. N. Kaliaperumal, the then Scientist-in-Charge of the Regional Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute at Mandapam Camp for permission to use the library. The scientific literature compiled are based on a number of sources including ASFA, SCOPUS, earlier bibliographies of the CMFRI, Cochin, the ENVIS Centre of the CAS in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, and the library facilities provided by various institutions including the Internet Access facilities of Dr. T.P.M. Library, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, and the Tamilnadu Fisheries College and the SDMRI both at Tuticorin. Journal sources viz., Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, Indian Journal of Fisheries, Marine Fisheries and Information Service : Technical & Extension Series of the CMFRI, Cochin, are gratefully acknowledged. The team is thankful to the Director, ICMAM Project Directorate of the Ministry of Earth Sciences at Chennai and to the Director, Institute for Ocean Management of Anna University, Chennai, for providing information on the GIS and Remote sensing works carried out in the Gulf of Mannar region. A number of researchers and technical personnel have helped in achieving the target for which the compilation team is grateful. The team thanks Mr. M. Pradhap, Junior Research Fellow for his valuable computer assistance at various stages. The help rendered by Ms. M. Rajee, Teaching Assistant; Mr. K. Jayakumar, Senior Research Fellow; Mr. P. Thavasi, Technical Assistant; Dr. M. Kandhasamy, Teaching Assistant; Dr. C.M. Ramakritinan, Research Associate and Ms. C. Archana Devi, Junior Research Fellow, are gratefully acknowledged. The authors are extremely thankful to all those who have helped, whose names might have been missed out here inadvertently, in the compilation work of this bibliography. ii Vishwanath Shegaonkar, I.A.S, Environment and Forest Secretary to Government & Department, Secretariat Vice-Chairman, GOMBRT Chennai 600 009 Phone (O): 25671511 FAX: 25670560 FOREWORD Gulf on Mannar, located in the southeast coast of India, is a unique marine environment, and is rich in biodiversity. It extends from Kanyakumari in the south to Rameswaram in the north. The importance of the Gulf of Mannar lies in the fact that it has a chain of 21 islands along a stretch of 140 km in between Rameswaram and Tuticorin. Although, all the islands are small and uninhabited, they are surrounded by a rich diversity of corals and associated ornamental and food fishes. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Re- serve (GOMBR), because of its possession of a variety of resources including corals, seagrasses, seaweeds, pearl oysters, sacred chanks, turtles, crabs, lobsters, shrimps, fishes, seahorses and the endangered seacows is a rich bio-diversity area. Gulf of Mannar in recent years has been encountering a variety of threats, both natural and anthropogenic, which might tell upon the sustainability of the marine resources in the region. Although the creation of a Marine National Park and protection of the Gulf of Mannar as a Marine Biosphere Reserve are on the agenda of the managers, the threats posed by a variety of sources need to be addressed in order to take suitable measures so that the marine resources of the Gulf of Mannar can be enjoyed on a sustainable yield basis. In order to achieve this we need to know the existing scientific information on the Gulf of Mannar and identified gap areas where more information is to be collected. Towards this, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust’s (GOMBRT) initiative to get the present bibliography compiled by a team lead by Prof. A.K. Kumaraguru of Madurai Kamaraj University is a right step forward. Almost all scientific literature published so far, comprising nearly 3,000 publications, has been brought under one umbrella in this bibliography which will be useful not only to a number of researchers but also to administrators and managers working in the Gulf of Mannar region. Vice Chairman of GOMBRT & Secretary, E&F Department, Chennai-600 009. iii C.K. SREEDHARAN, I.F.S. #1, Jeenis Road, Panagal Building Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015 Tel : 044 – 2434 8059 (O) : 044 – 2441 2062 (R) Fax : 044 – 2433 7307 Email : [email protected] MESSAGE The Gulf of Mannar along the coastline in Tamil Nadu is a priority area for marine bio-diversity conservation in our country. Its uniqueness and richness of bio-diversity is well acclaimed, yet it is a fragile system which cannot withstand the onslaught of ever increasing pressures and disturbances from many quarters in the coastal belt. These pressures will have to be curbed through proper understanding and acknowledging the future consequences by all the stakeholders. Scientific research is a key input in understanding our beautiful world, our natural heritage, its scope, limitations and developing options towards achieving proper, judicious and sustainable use of the fruits of natural resources for the welfare and prosperity of humankind and its progenies. Gulf of Mannar has attracted a number of scientists, researchers, agencies and institutions who have undertaken a variety of studies and surveys in the area in the past. The present publication is an attempt by the GOMBRT to facilitate compilation of the research works done in the area so far and their key findings. I place on record my deep appreciation for Dr.A.K. Kumaraguru, Professor & Director and his team from Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University for their sincere work. This will be of great help to scientists, researchers, managers and other agencies involved in the Gulf of Mannar area and will reduce undue duplication and studies of works already undertaken on various themes and issues in the area. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu iv Dr. SUKHDEV, IFS., #1, Jeenis Road, Panagal Building Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Saidapet, Chief Wildlife Warden Chennai – 600 015 Tel : 044 – 2432 1738 (O) : 044 – 2230 1501 (R) MESSAGE Coastal zone of India is important and known for its high productivity and human dependence on the resources. Coastal and marine ecosystems are extremely diverse and complex. Coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove enclosed seas and systems, estuaries, marshes, mud flats etc., are fragile and highly sensitive to abiotic factors. The Gulf of Mannar region along the Indian coast is a jewel in the crown of marine and coastal areas in the country and is rightly referred to as biologists’ paradise. Off late, this unique paradise is facing lot of disturbances and threats due to growing populations and their need and also because of fast growing economies. In the past, a lot of research inputs from various scientists, researchers and others have gone in the area and compilation of the outcomes of these inputs was a felt need. I am glad that the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) has brought out a detailed bibliography on scientific information on the Gulf of Mannar through active involvement of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University. I wish to congratulate the Trust and the scientists led by Prof. A.K. Kumaraguru from Madurai Kamaraj University, who have scanned various sources to make this publication informative and intensive.