Trematode infestation in coral colonies at Poshitra Reef, Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, Gujarat, India

Authors

  • D. Adhavan Present address: Wildlife institute of India, P.O. box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India Zoological Survey of India, Office of C.C.F. Forest Campus, “Van Sankul”, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3635-958X
  • R. Chandran Zoological Survey of India, Office of C.C.F. Forest Campus, “Van Sankul”, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001, India http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6934-9751
  • S. Tikadar Zoological Survey of India, Office of C.C.F. Forest Campus, “Van Sankul”, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8910-3748
  • K. Sivakumar Wildlife institute of India, P.O. box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6938-7480

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2730.9.6.10345-10346

Keywords:

Coral disease, Coral reef, Kachchh, Marine National Park, Porites, Trematodes.

Abstract

 Some colonies of Porites sp. at Poshitra Reef were spotted with pink swollen nodules. These nodules are termed as a condition called “Porites trematodiasis†which is due to an infection of digenetic trematodes. The temperature fluctuation and anthropogenic pressures are perhaps the reasons.  This situation indicates that if the corals fail to develop disease resistance and thermal tolerance, the reefs along the Indian subcontinent may experience a phase shift in community structure, which could impact fisheries.

Author Biographies

D. Adhavan, Present address: Wildlife institute of India, P.O. box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India Zoological Survey of India, Office of C.C.F. Forest Campus, “Van Sankul”, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001, India

Project Scientis

Dept. of Endangered Species (Marine Biology)

R. Chandran, Zoological Survey of India, Office of C.C.F. Forest Campus, “Van Sankul”, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001, India

Scientist

S. Tikadar, Zoological Survey of India, Office of C.C.F. Forest Campus, “Van Sankul”, Jamnagar, Gujarat 361001, India

Chief Conservator of Forests, MNP

K. Sivakumar, Wildlife institute of India, P.O. box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India

Scientist F

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26-06-2017

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