Download Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 1, No 7, 2011 © Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association Research article ISSN 0976 – 4402 Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast Coast of India Asta Lakshmi.S 1 , Sundaramanickam.A 2 1­ Research Scholar, Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. 2­ Assistant Professor, Centre for Advanced study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, TamilNadu, India. [email protected] ABSTRACT Coral reefs have the highest degree of biodiversity in its complex ecosystem which is difficult to manage. Reefs are ecologically and structurally important and they are also important resources, both economically and in terms of biodiversity. Understanding of the diversity of reef ecosystem is an important basic need. Coral reefs fishes embed the concepts of beauty, diversity and complexity. In the coral reef ecosystem finfishes contribute considerably to the biomass and species diversity. Present study aims to provide basic information on reef fishes inhabiting the Cuddalore coastal waters. The present preliminary observation may stimulate better investigation in future for the reef formation and reef ichthyofauna along the Cuddalore coast. Key words: Coral reef, biodiversity, Ichthyofauna, Finfishes, Cuddalore. 1. Introduction In the marine system, coral reefs are the most diverse habitats on the globe (Veron 1995). The World Conservation Strategy (IUCN/UNEP/WWF 1980) identified coral reefs as one of the essential ecological processes and life support systems. It is also one of the most diverse and spectacular ecosystems of the world and considered to be marine equivalent of tropical rain forest. Although fragile, coral reefs are highly productive and known for the diverse fauna and flora, complex food web and rich sites of living and non living resources. It is also one of the dynamic ecosystems of throbbing beauty and fantasy. Coral reef ecosystem is not only an important resource in terms of their biological diversity and productivity, they are also the foundations of coastal protection, tourism, and subsistence economies and in many areas serve as focal points for cultural and community heritage (Maragos et al 1996). The rich diversities of coral reefs are valuable for education and scientific interests, recreational activities and they provide nutrient and feeding grounds for very many commercial and subsistence fish species as well as a habitat for numerous molluscs and crustaceans they also form food resources like fish, shellfish, genetic resources, pharmaceutical chemicals medicine and dyes. Coral reefs in the Central Indo Pacific and the Caribbean are usually thought to hold the greatest diversity of marine life (Choat & Bellwood 1991). Study on coral reef ichthyofauna of Indian seas are mainly restricted to the Lakshadweep groups of islands, and observation are lacking for the other coral reefs ecosystems, particularly, along the southeast coast. Understanding of the diversity of reef fishes in reef ecosystem is an important basic need.
Received on May 2011 Published on June 2011 1616 Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast Coast of India Practically nothing is known about the reef ichthyofauna occurring along the Cuddalore coast in south. Hence, the present study aims to provide basic information on reef fishes inhabiting the Cuddalore coastal waters. The present preliminary observation may stimulate better investigations in future for through understanding of reef ichthyofauna along the Cuddalore coast. 2. Materials and Method For the present study (July 2008 – December 2008), finfishes belonging to the coral reef ecosystem were collected from the commercial arbitrated fish landing centre of Cuddalore coast of south east coast of India. Then the collected fishes were stretched and preserved in 10% neutralized formalin solution for further analysis. Subsequently, the preserved materials were transported to laboratory and identified up to species level, by referring the publication of Day (1878), Fischer & Bianchi (1984), and Nelson (1994). 3. Results and Discussion As a result of this present study over a period of 6 months a total of 234 specimens representing 72 species of finfishes which are coral inhabitants have been identified based on material collected from Cuddalore coast (Table 1). After recording the total length and weight of the individual fish they were preserved in 5% formalin for subsequent examination. The species diversity in each month was calculated and expressed in the form of a graph (Fig.1). Reef fishes belonging to the families Chaetodontidae, Tetraodontidae, Lutjanidae and Pomacentridae were relatively more abundant, whereas the other groups such Balistidae, Diodontidae, Apogonidae, Haemulidae, Nemipteridae, Priacanthidae, Uranoscopidae, Synodontidae, Labridae, Monocanthidae, Gobiidae, Triacanthidae, Mubulidae and Lethrinidae were also represented. Among the reef fishes recorded, the members of the order Perciformes outnumbered the other groups throughout the observation. No uniformity has been observed regarding the distribution of reef fishes in the present observation. However, the Perches were numerically abundant throughout the period of observation. Figure 1: Species diversity of reef fishes recorded in Cuddalore coast.
Asta Lakshmi. S Sundaramanickam. A International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011 1617 Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast Coast of India Southeast Asia's coral reefs have the highest degree of biodiversity of all the world's coral reefs. This extraordinary diversity generates high productivity, providing food for millions of people within the region and beyond. Scientists are showing more interests to understand the potential diversity of coral reefs around the world. It is estimated that only 10% of marine species associated with coral reefs have been identified and described (Reaka­Kudla 1997, Lauretta et al 2002). Table 1: Monthly (July 2008 – Dec. 2008) occurrence of the species of reef finfishes recorded from Cuddalore Coast: (+) occurred in particular months, (­) not occurred in particular months No. Order Family 1 Tetraodontiformes Balistidae 2 Perciformes Acanthuridae 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Species July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. + + ­ ­ ­ + Abalistas stelatus ­ + + ­ ­ + Acanthurus bleekeri ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ Beryciformes Holocentridae Adioryx furcatus ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ Perciformes Pomacentridae Amphiprion sp. + ­ + + ­ + Perciformes Apogonidae Apogon aureus ­ ­ + ­ ­ Perciformes Serranidae Apogon fraenatus ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ Perciformes Lutjanidae Aprion virescens ­ ­ + ­ ­ + Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae Arothron immaculatus ­ + ­ ­ ­ + Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae Arthron stellatus ­ ­ ­ + ­ + Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae Chelonodon patoca + ­ ­ ­ ­ + Perciformes Chaetodontidae Chaetodon selene + + ­ ­ ­ ­ Perciformes Chaetodontidae Chaetodon vagabundus ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + Anguilliformes Murnanesocidae Congresox talabonoides ­ ­ + + ­ ­ Scorpaeniformes Dactylopteridae Dactyloptera orientalis ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + Perciformes Pomacentridae Dasyllus sp. ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + Tetraodontiformes Diodontidae Diodon holocanthus ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ Perciformes Serranidae Diploprion bifasciatum ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + Perciformes Serranidae Epinephelus malabarica ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ Perciformes Serranidae Ephinephelus merra ­ + + ­ ­ ­ Perciformes Serranidae Ephinephelus undulosus ­ + ­ ­ ­ + Perciformes Carangidae Gnathanodon speciosus + + + ­ ­ + Perciformes Chaetodontidae Heniochus acuminatus + + + ­ ­ + Perciformes Chaetodontidae Holacanthus xanthotis + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae Lagocephalus lunaris ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + Perciformes Lethrinidae Lethrinus nebulosus ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + Perciformes Lutjanidae Lutjanus argentimaculatus ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ +
Perciformes Lutjanidae Lutjanus decussatus Asta Lakshmi. S Sundaramanickam. A International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011 1618 Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast Coast of India 28 29 30 31 62 Lutjanus kasmira Lutjanus lineolatus Lutjanus lutjanus Lutjanus monostigma Perciformes Lutjanidae Lutjanus quinquelineatus Perciformes Lutjanidae Lutjanus sebae Rajiformes Myliobatidae Mobula diabolus Anguilliformes Murnanesocidae Muranesox cinereus Perciformes Acanthuridae Nasa sp. Perciformes Nemipteridae Neripterus delagoae Perciformes Nemipteridae Neripterus furcosus Tetraodontiformes Balistidae Odonus niger Perciformes Gobiidae Parachaeturichthys polynema Tetraodontiformes Monacanthidae Paramonacanthus japonicus Perciformes Pinguipedidae Parapersis alboguttata Perciformes Pinguipedidae Parapersis sp. Perciformes Mullidae Parupeneus indicus Scorpaeniformes Platycephalidae Platycephalus indicus Perciformes Haemulidae Plectorhinchus orientalis Perciformes Chaetodontidae Pomacanthus imperator Perciformes Priacanthidae Priancanthus hamrur Tetraodontiformes Triacanthidae Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer Scorpaeniformes Scorpaenidae Pterois miles Perciformes Lutjanidae Pterocaesio chrysozona Perciformes Rachicentridae Rachycentron canadum Scorpaeniformes Platycephalidae Rogadius asper Beryciformes Holocentridae Sargocentron rubrum Perciformes Nemipteridae Scolopsis bimaculatus Perciformes Nemipteridae Scolopsis vosmeri Perciformes Siganidae Siganus javus Perciformes Siganidae Siganus canaliculatus Tetraodontiformes Balistidae Suffalamen fraenatus Aulopiformes Synodontidae Synodus englemani Tetraodontiformes Ostraciontidae Tetrasomus gibbosus Perciformes Labridae Thalassoma lunare 63 Tetraodontiformes Monacanthidae 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 Perciformes Perciformes Perciformes Perciformes Lutjanidae Lutjanidae Lutjanidae Lutjanidae Thamnaconus japonicus + ­ + ­ + ­ + ­ + + ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ + ­ ­ + ­ + + + + ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ + + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + + + ­ ­ + ­ + ­ ­ + ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ + ­ + ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ + + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + + + + + + ­ ­ + ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ + ­ ­ + ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ + + + ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ + + ­ + + ­ ­ + + ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ + ­ ­ + + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ + + + + + ­ ­ + + ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ + + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ Asta Lakshmi. S Sundaramanickam. A International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011 ­
1619 Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast Coast of India 64 Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae 65 Aulopiformes 66 Tetraodontiformes Triacanthidae 67 Perciformes Nemipteridae 68 69 Perciformes Perciformes Nemipteridae Nemipteridae 70 Perciformes Uranoscopidae 71 Perciformes 72 Perciformes Torguigener hypselogenion Trachinocephalus myops Triacanthus biaculeatus Upeneus moluccensis Upeneus sulphurus Upeneus sundaicus ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ + ­ + ­ + ­ + ­ ­ ­ + ­ ­ + ­ + ­ + ­ + + + ­ ­ + Labridae Uranoscopus coagnatus Xyrichthys veirens + + ­ ­ ­ ­ Labridae Xyrichthys sp. ­ ­ + ­ ­ ­ Synodontidae Kent et al (2004) explained distribution data for 2983 species reveals a pattern of richness on a finer scale and identifies a peak of marine biodiversity in the central Philippine Islands and a secondary peak between peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Muralitharan (1998) has recorded 213 species of reef fishes from the Gulf of Mannar which is considered National Biosphere resource. Further, the central parts of the Indo­west Pacific have also been considered as one of the richest reef fishing grounds. However, the numerical abundance of reef fishes, along the Cuddalore coast throughout the year, strongly suggests that this coast is to be surveyed adequately for the existence of coral formation in order to conserve the fragile ecosystem and the efficient management of the reef ichthyofauna associated with reef formation. Global warming, coral bleaching, and overfishing are all capable of changing reef biodiversity and reducing the quality of reefs over large areas. Clearly, if we wish to protect global biodiversity, we must understand the richness of biodiversity, processes that maintain diversity at the best level. 4. Conclusions In the present study, 72 species of coral inhabitant finfishes have been recorded from the Cuddalore coast. The distribution of coral fishes has been observed. The numerical abundance of coral fishes along the Cuddalore coast strongly suggests the existence of coral formation between Puducherry and Cuddalore coast of southeast coast of India. Based on the present study, it is strongly recommended that immediate survey is needed to identify coral formation along the Cuddalore coast. This will pave the way for proper management strategies and better implementation practices for conservation of finfish resources and sustainable development of the region through its improved yield. 5. References 1. Choat J. H. Bellwood D. R., (1991) Reef fishes: their history and evolution. In: The ecology of fishes on coral reefs. Sale P. F., Academic Press, San Diego, 2 nd edition, pp 39–66. 2. Day F. (1878) Fishes of India: being a natural history of the fishes known to inhabit the sea and freshwater of India, Ceylon and Burma, Atlas in 4th part, London, 778
Asta Lakshmi. S Sundaramanickam. A International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011 1620 Biodiversity of Reef Ichthyofauna in Cuddalore Coast, Southeast Coast of India 3. PP Fischer W., Bianchi G., (1984) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes, Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). FAO, Rome, Volume 2. 4. IUCN/UNEP/WWF. (1980) World conservation strategy living resources, conservation for sustainable development, IUCN/UNEP/WWF Gland, Switzerland, pp5­9. 5. Kent E. C., Victor G. S. (2004) The Centre of the Centre of marine shore fish biodiversity: the Philippine Islands. Environmental Biology of Fishes 72, pp 467– 480. 6. Lauretta B., Selig L., Spalding M., (2002) Reefs at risk in southeast Asia. Chapter 2, Biodiversity of southeast Asia coral reefs, Washington, World Resource Institute, pp 13­16. 7. Maragos J. E. Crosby M. P., McManus J. W., (1996) Coral reefs and biodiversity: a critical and threatened relationship. Oceanography 9(1), pp 83­99. 8. Muralitharan J. (1998) Biodiversity of reef ichthyofauna of Gulf of Mannar along the southeast coast of India, Ph. D. Thesis, Annamalai University, India, pp 161. 9. Nelson J. S. (1994) Fishes of the World, 3rd edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons, pp 600. 10. Reaka­Kudla M. L. (1997) The global biodiversity of coral reefs: a comparison with rain forests. In: Biodiversity II: understanding and protecting our biological resources. Reaka­Kudla M. L., Wilson D. E., Wilson E. O. (eds), Washington DC, Joseph Henry Press, pp 560. 11. Veron J. E. N. (1995) Coral in space and time: the biogeography and evolution of the Scleractinia, UNSW Press, Sydney, Australia, pp 321.
Asta Lakshmi. S Sundaramanickam. A International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 1 No.7, 2011 1621