Diversity and distribution of scleractinian corals from Mandapam group of Islands in Gulf of Mannar marine national park, South East coast of India

Abstract

The Mandapam group of Islands being a part of the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park shows a variety of marine biodiversity in each of the seven Islands. A Scleractinian coral shows a rich diversity in the study islands during the study period. The present study will help us to get a summarized species distribution in the Mandapam group of Islands. The maximum percentage of hard coral cover was recorded in the Poomarichan Island followed by Single Island, Manoliputti Island, Manoli Island, Hare Island, Kurusadai Island and Pullivasal Island. A total of 69 species of scleractinian corals were listed from the coral reef Islands in the study sites of Mandapam group. Statistical analysis such as Principal Component Analysis and Correspondence Analysis supported the status of maximum coral cover in Poomarichan Island.