New recruitment of Acropora Oken, 1815 in South Andaman: A proof of recovery of Corals after 2010 mass bleaching

  • Bitopan Malakar Research Scholar, Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Port Blair -744112, A & N Islands, India
  • Venu S Assistant Professor, Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Port Blair -744112, A & N Islands, India
Keywords: Acropora spp, Bleaching, Corals, Recovery, Recruitment

Abstract

Mass bleaching of corals in 2010 seriously affected the corals in Andaman group of islands. Rise in Sea Surface Temperature (SST) was the primary reason due to less than normal rainfall during the bleaching period. Now three years after the bleaching episode the corals in South Andaman seems to recovering. The primary indicator of recovery being the new recruitment of corals especially Acropora spp. (branching corals) throughout the reef areas along with the increase in overall live coral cover. Multiple surveys were conducted in three stations viz. North Bay, Chidiyatapu and Marina Park along the eastern coast of South Andaman during this study and all the sites were found to have new recruitment of Acropora spp. which were severely affected during 2010 mass bleaching.

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Published
2015-05-15
How to Cite
Malakar, B., & S, V. (2015). New recruitment of Acropora Oken, 1815 in South Andaman: A proof of recovery of Corals after 2010 mass bleaching. Journal of Research in Biology, 5(3), 1699-1706. Retrieved from https://ojs.jresearchbiology.com/ojs1/index.php/jrb/article/view/379