Impact of Tsunami on echinoderm diversity at Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

The In the present study, the Echinoderm species were collected month wise from August 2005 to January 2006 from two fishing centres of Tsunami affected areas in Tuticorin district and identified at the laboratory. The coastal areas of the entire Tamilnadu were negatively affected as a result of tsunami waves with serious negative impacts on coral reefs causing considerable destruction of echinoderm diversity. However the present investigation revealed that the echinoderm diversity of study areas was not much affected due to the presence of coral reef and mangrove forests which might have acted as barriers against the Tsunami waves.