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Vijaya Ramesh Kunchithapatham

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (4): 923-934 - MONOGRAPH

    Iswarya Bhagyaraj & Vijaya Ramesh Kunchithapatham
    Diversity and distribution of seaweeds in the shores and water lagoons of Chennai and Rameshwaram coastal areas, South-Eastern coast of India

    ABSTRACT
    Seaweeds are floating and submerged plants of shallow marine meadows. Seaweeds belong to a group of plants known as algae. Seaweeds are classified as Rhodophyta (red algae), Phaeophyta (brown algae) or Chlorophyta (green algae) depending on their mode of nutrients, pigments and chemical composition. Many of the rocky beaches, mudflats, estuaries, coral reefs and lagoons along the Indian coast provide ideal habitats for the growth of seaweeds. The present study was conducted at shores and water lagoons of Chennai and in Rameshwaram, formed of different inter-tidal rock shores with algal vegetation. A total of 25 algal taxa were collected during the study period (Dec 2014–Feb 2016), including 10 Chlorophyta, 8 Phaeophyta and 7 Rhodophyta. Among them, Enteromorpha compressa L., Ulva lactuca L., Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh, Padina pavonica L. were the commonly occurring seaweeds in all the monsoon periods. Interestingly, Ectocarpus siluculosus (L.) Kjellman belonging to the family Phaeophyceae was found in the post monsoon period–Oct 2015 at Pulicat lake, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This study is the first report of macro algal diversity along Ennore, Thiruvottiyur and Royapuram coasts.