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International Journal of Marine Science 2014, Vol.4, No.66, 1-11
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
2
1 Results
1.1 Shore Platform Zones
From the field data, it emerged that the shore platform
can be divided into three zones (in East-West direction)
based on taxonomic groups of macroalgae
(www.algaebase.org) observed. The shore platform
can be divided into: i) cliff base part ii) an intertidal
mixed zone and iii) a subtidal zone at the seafront. In
this study, it is found that Ochrophyta (Phaeophyta) in
rock pools (these pools were found in less numbers in
the northern section) dominate the cliff base part. The
cliff base is followed by a mixed intertidal area, where
there is a transition from Ochrophyta (dominant in the
intertidal zone) to Chlorophyta (dominant in the
subtidal zone). The subtidal zone dominated by
Chlorophyta is found at the seafront.
1.2 Spatial Variations of Macroalgae
As discussed the shore platform of Dwarka was divided
into three sections for the convenience of field
sampling; the results are reported here section wise.
1.2.1 Northern Section
Transect and quadrate
data sampled during three
months of field survey are represented in Table 1 and
Figure 3A. During April profile
Cystoseira indica
(Thivy & Doshi) Mairh and
Centroceras clavulatum
(C.
Agardh) Montagne
were recorded with maximum
frequency at 0 m and 18 m respectively.
Ulva fasciata
Delile,
Cystoseira indica
(Thivy & Doshi) Mairh
,
Sargassum
sp
. and Hypnea pannosa
J. Agardh
were
reported only at 0 m
. Caulerpa recemosa
(Forsskål) J.
Agardh
, Iyengaria stellata
(Børgesen) Børgesen
,
Padina boryana
Thivy
and
Gelidiella acerosa
(Forsskål) J. Feldmann were reported only at 18 m. In
June profile,
Ahnfeltia plicata
(Hudson) Fries
dominated with high frequency.
Halimeda
sp. was
found only in subtidal zone at 60.60 m and 71.27 m
distance with low frequency.
Udotea indica
A. & E.
Gepp. was observed only at 4 m distance. In October
profile,
Ulva lactuca
Linnaeus was reported in both
intertidal and subtidal zone with high frequencies
(Table 1).
Centroceras clavulatum
(C. Agardh)
Montagne
was observed at 0 m and 53.8 m with
increased frequencies of 26% and 55% respectively.
1.2.2 Central Section
Transect and quadrate data sampled during three
months of field survey are represented in Table 1 and
Figure 3B. In April profile,
Centroceras clavulatum
(C.
Agardh) Montagne was reported at 6 m (14%) and 12
m (87%) with increased frequency.
Cystoseira indica
(Thivy & Doshi) Mairh was reported in three quadrates,
with high frequency (Table 1).
Udotea indica
A. & E.
Gepp.
, Ulva fasciata
Delile and
Padina tetrastromatica
Hauck were reported only at 6 m, 12 m and 27 m
respectively. In June profile,
Valoniopsis pachynema
(Martens) Børgesen was observed with low frequency
(22%, 15% and 2%) in all quadrates but it increased to
29% at 70.6 m.
Ahnfeltia plicata
(Hudson) Fries was
reported at 14.6 m (10%), and thereafter at 55.6 m
(10%) with same frequency.
Valonia aegagropila
C.
Agardh was observed at 33.6 m (76%) and 40.6 m
(28%) with decreased frequency.
Caulerpa racemosa
(Forsskål) J. Agardh was observed at 70.6 m and 85.6
m. In October profile,
Ulva lactuca
Linnaeus was
found at 0 m (32%) and 67.8 m (50%) with high
frequencies.
Boodlea composita
(Harvey) Brand was
high at 67.8 m (10%).
Gelidiella acerosa
(Forsskål) J.
Feldmann was observed at 0 m (10%) and 30 m (38%)
with high frequencies.
Rosenvingea orientalis
J.
Agardh was observed only at 0 m with 38% frequency.
Caulerpa racemosa
(Forsskål) J. Agardh var.
turbinata (J. Agardh) Eubank
and
Valonia aegagropila
C. Agardh were observed only at 67.8 m. In this section
Rhodophyta dominated the subtidal zone.
1.2.3 Southern Section
Transect and quadrate data sampled during three
months of field survey are represented in Table 1 and
Figure 3C. In case of April profile, highest number of
quadrates were demarcated on 105.5 m transect line.
Centroceras clavulatum
(C. Agardh) was observed at
12.5 m (14%) and 33.5 m (28%) with high frequency.
Ahnfeltia plicata
(Hudson) Fries was observed in all
quadrates with low as well as high frequency (Table 1).
Sargassum cinctum
J. Agardh was found with high
frequencies at 12.5 m (20%), 33.5 m (31%) and 87.5 m
(41%) and low frequencies at 69.5 m (29%), 93.5 m
(37%) and 99.5 m (30%).
Cladophora javanica
(Kützing) P. Silva was observed at 12.5 m (1%) and at
87.5 m (5%) with higher frequency.
Halimeda
sp
.
was
observed in subtidal zone with high frequency.
Iyengaria stellata
(Børgesen) Børgesen was seen only
at 33.5 m. Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta dominated the
subtidal and intertidal zones respectively. In June
profile,
Boodlea composita
(Harvey) Brand was
observed with high frequencies in all quadrates but was