Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Recruitment of epibenthic communities on artificial reefs in Tuticorin coastal waters, southeast coast of India

Volume 46 Issue 1

R. Ramkumar and J. K. Patterson Edward

Abstract

Recruitment of epibenthic organisms on artificial reefs deployed in different depths off Tuticorin coastal waters was studied for a period of one year from June 2062 to May 2003. Algal mats were formed all over the modules and the epibenthic communities recruited included barnacles, sponges, hydroids, molluscs, echinoderms and ascidians. The percentage occurrence of organisms varied between the AR sites and was high on the modules deployed in the deeper area with particular domination by barnacles (55 %). The studies indicate that the artificial reefs support a variety of faunal communities belonging to various ecological niches and make the area ecologically sound. The assemblage of epibenthic communities in different AR stations and their seasonal variations are discussed

Date : 30-06-2004