Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Shipwrecks in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: An artificial habitat for corals

Volume 59 Issue 2

Tamal Mondal* and C. Raghunathan

10.6024/jmbai.2017.59.2.1910-12

Abstract

Globally scleractinian corals are facing the threats of devastation due to anthropogenic activities as well as natural calamities. The concept of artificial reef was developed to increase the parallel reef areas along with the natural reef to strengthen marine biodiversity. The artificial reef ecosystem can be developed with the help of shipwrecks, abandoned tyres, cars etc. while the reef ball concept is the modern one to adapt. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is one of the biologically diverse areas with healthy number of scleractinian corals. Four shipwrecks scattered along the waters of these islands are serving as substratum for 125 species of scleractinian corals. North Bay shipwreck alone reported 114 species under 41 genera with the diversity (H’) of 2.91. The studies on natural reef area showed 61% similarity in species content in comparison with the shipwrecks of North Bay region due to the proximity in location. The present study indicates that, shipwrecks serve as artificial substratum for the formation of coral reef with high diversity.

Keywords

shipwreck, artificial reef, marine biodiversity, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Date : 30-12-2017