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Dugongs, Sea Horses and mangroves, all play their part in Gulf of Mannar being a Marine Biosphere Reserve.
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Biodiversity
Around 3,600 species of fauna and flora have been identified in the Gulf of Mannar area, which comprises of 3 different ecosystems - Sea grass, Mangrove and Coral Reef Ecosystem. 17 species of mangrove occur within the reserve and act as an important nursery of habitats. The shallow waters in the area have the highest concentration of sea grass species along India’s 7,500 km coastline. 11 species of sea grass recorded in India are found in the reserve. The island’s surrounding shallow waters harbours 3 species of seagrass that are found nowhere else in India. These same shallow waters are also known to have at least 147 species of marine algae (seaweed). These support complex ecological communities and provide feeding grounds for many species, including the globally endangered marine animal, dugong. Endangered species such as whales, dolphins, sea horse and sea snakes are found in these waters as well.
Productive fringing and the patchy coral reef surrounding the Park’s islands are comprised of at least 91 species of coral reef systems. The islands are used by 168 migratory bird species and the sandy shores of most islands provide a nesting habitat for 5 species of marine turtles. This region is also home to over 450 species of fish, 79 species of crustaceans, 108 species of sponges, 260 species of mollusks and 100 species of echinoderms.
Krusadai Island, in Mandapam, exemplifies the biological significance of the Gulf. The fact that close to 3,600 species of plants and animals are natural inhabitants of the Gulf of Mannar make it the biologically richest coastal region in India.
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Around 3,600 species of fauna and flora have been identified in the Gulf of Mannar area, which comprises of 3 different ecosystems - Sea grass, Mangrove and Coral Reef Ecosystem. 17 species of mangrove occur within the reserve and act as an important nursery of habitats. The shallow waters in the area have the highest concentration of sea grass species along India’s 7,500 km coastline. 11 species of sea grass recorded in India are found in the reserve. The island’s surrounding shallow waters harbours 3 species of seagrass that are found nowhere else in India. These same shallow waters are also known to have at least 147 species of marine algae (seaweed). These support complex ecological communities and provide feeding grounds for many species, including the globally endangered marine animal, dugong. Endangered species such as whales, dolphins, sea horse and sea snakes are found in these waters as well.
Productive fringing and the patchy coral reef surrounding the Park’s islands are comprised of at least 91 species of coral reef systems. The islands are used by 168 migratory bird species and the sandy shores of most islands provide a nesting habitat for 5 species of marine turtles. This region is also home to over 450 species of fish, 79 species of crustaceans, 108 species of sponges, 260 species of mollusks and 100 species of echinoderms.
Krusadai Island, in Mandapam, exemplifies the biological significance of the Gulf. The fact that close to 3,600 species of plants and animals are natural inhabitants of the Gulf of Mannar make it the biologically richest coastal region in India.
See Causes for concern
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