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International Journal of Marine Science 2014, Vol.4, No.66, 1-11
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
1
Research Article Open Access
Spatial and Temporal Profiling of Macroalgal Groups on Shore Platform: A case
study from Dwarka
Dimpal Sanghvi
1
, Nandini Ray Chaudhury
2
, B. K. Jain
1
1. M. G. Science Institute, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
2. Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Corresponding author email
International Journal of Marine Science, 2014, Vol.4, No.66 doi: 10.5376/ijms.2014.04.0066
Received: 27 May, 2014
Accepted: 13 Jul., 2014
Published: 11 Oct., 2014
Copyright
©
2014 Sanghvi et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Sanghvi et al., 2014, Spatial and Temporal Profiling of Macroalgal Groups on Shore Platform: A case study from Dwarka, International Journal of Marine
Science, Vol.4, No.66 1
-
11 (doi
Abstract
Dwarka coast of Gujarat state from India has a stable shore platform. For this study, the shore platform was divided into
three sections: i) northern, ii) central and iii) southern. Macroalgae growing on this shore platform were surveyed based on
systematic random sampling for three months in sequence (April, June and October, 2013). On this site, total 36 taxa of macroalgae
were identified through intensive fieldwork/
in situ
survey based on Line Intercept Transect and Quadrate based methods. An overall
analysis of the field data so far collected reveals that Chlorophyta dominates in the subtidal zone while Ochrophyta (Phaeophyta)
dominates in rock pools near the cliff base as their preferred habitats. Rhodophyta showed a seasonal predominance during June.
Iyengaria stellata
was found in all the three months. The result obtained in this study provides an insight to understand the
macroalgae habitat zonation on the shore platform and can be useful to support conservation of this study site as a rich macroalgae
habitat of Indian Coast.
Keywords
Macroalgae; Spatial and temporal variation; Stages of growth; Shore platform; Dwarka coast
Introduction
Marine macroalgae, popularly known as seaweeds, are
the most beautiful groups of photosynthetic organisms,
which grow under the ocean’s blue water (Sahoo,
2010). They grow in the intertidal and subtidal zones
(shallow and deep areas), in the estuaries and
backwaters on solid substrates such as rocks, corals,
pebbles, shells and even on plant materials (Kumar, et
al., 2009). Macroalgae are the ecological base of most
of the close-shore tropical and temperate marine
ecosystems. Their diversity supports a mass of other
taxa, provides essential ecosystem services in the
coastal zone, supply food and shelter for thousands of
associated plant/animal species and their loss or
replacement may lead to substantial negative
implications for ecological function and biodiversity
(Wernberg, et al., 2011).
The floristic variations in macroalgal communities are
controlled by several environmental factors, including
season, habitat, topography, duration of tidal exposure,
tidal amplitude and biotic factors (algal turf, grazing,
high concentration of limpets and many others) (Jha,
et al., 2009). Macroalgae are economically very
important: they are used as food, fodder, fertilizer and
also as source of raw materials for industry, production
of medicines, cosmetics and others products. Study on
seasonal variation of macroalgae in Indian waters
specifically in the east and west coasts of peninsular
India were carried out by various researchers from the
eighteenth century (Gohil and Kundu, 2012; Sahoo,
2010; Jha, et al., 2009; Untawale, et al., 1983;
Børgesen, 1935; Iyengar, 1927). M. O. P. Iyengar
(1927) was the first phycologist to report marine flora
of the Indian coast.
The present study was carried out with the following
objectives:
To study spatial variations in different macroalgae
groups;
To study temporal variations in different macroalgae
groups;
To record stages of growth of different macroalgae
taxa with respect to the sampling seasons.