Biodiversity Data Journal :
Taxonomic Paper
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Corresponding author:
Academic editor: Pavel Stoev
Received: 21 Jan 2016 | Accepted: 24 Feb 2016 | Published: 02 Mar 2016
© 2016 Abdul Jaffarali, Soban Akram, Kaleem Arshan
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Jaffarali A, Akram S, Arshan K (2016) New distributional data on ascidian fauna (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) from Mandapam coast, Gulf of Mannar, India. Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7855. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7855
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Ascidians play a key role in the ecology and biodiversity of marine ecosystem. Ascidians can be transported in ship ballast water and while attached to ship and boat hulls. Heavy traffic by domestic and international ships as well as cargo vessels between the major and minor ports warrants continuous monitoring for new introductions of ascidians. The Mandapam coast is situated in the Gulf of Mannar, India, a marine hot spot area in the Indian Ocean which provides an environment suitable for the settlement of ascidians.
A total of 30 species of ascidians were reported from Mandapam coastal waters, of which 26 species were new to the study area and five species: Ecteinascidia turbinata, Eudistoma carnosum, Trididemnum caelatum, T. vermiforme and Didemnum spadix, were new to India.
Ascidian, diversity, Gulf of Mannar, India, Mandapam.
Ascidians (Class: Ascidiacea and subphylum: Urochordata), commonly called tunicates, are a common, diverse group among the macro fouling communities in marine ecosystems, that attach to natural and artificial substrates in the intertidal and subtidal zones of coastal habitats throughout the world. They are one of the key ecological groups because of their invasive potential. Ascidians have the potential to produce new lead molecules with significant pharmacological activities (
India has a rich natural heritage and nurtures a unique biodiversity, placing it among the 17 most biodiverse countries (
Mandapam (Latitude 9°28’N and Longitude 79°15’E) is located in Gulf of Mannar and experiences heavy traffic of fishing and defense vessels from various major and minor ports along the Indian coast. Tidal exchange in the area is seasonal. Direction and force of the monsoonal winds influence this station, since the coast line in the east-west direction.
The study was carried out from March 2014 to February 2015 at Mandapam, India. Collections were made randomly during the study period at intertidal beds and in shallow water regions. Hand tools were used to remove animals from solid surfaces like pillars of jetties, small rocks and hulls of fishing vessels. Snorkeling was also employed to collect ascidians at 1-2 meter depths. Collected specimens were narcotized with menthol and then preserved in 10% buffered formalin in seawater. The specimens were sorted and identified to species or the lowest possible taxonomic level using taxonomic keys (
Andaman Sea, Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin, Thailand, Djibouti, South Pacific Ocean
Gulf of Mannar.
United States, Djibouti, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.
Mandapam.
India
Thoothukudi coast.
Indonesia, Hong Kong, China (People's Republic), Palau, New Caledonia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Northern Territory (N coast), Queensland (Central East coast, Great Barrier Reef, Northeast coast), South Australia (Great Australian Bight, South Gulfs coast), Victoria (Bass Strait), Western Australia (Central West coast, Lower West coast, Northwest coast); Noumea, also West Indian Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean.
Thoothukudi coast, Leepuram, China Muttom, Colachel & Vizhinjam Bay.
Japan, France, Indonesia, Hong Kong, New South Wales (Central East coast), Queensland (Central East coast, Northeast coast), Western Australia (Lower West coast, Northwest coast); Torres Strait, Coral Sea, west Pacific Ocean, Korea, tropical and temperate Atlantic Ocean, Persian Gulf, Adriatic, Mediterranean, Ascension Is., Channel Is., west coast of France.
Thoothukudi coast and Vizhinjam Bay.
Fiji, Philippines, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Bermuda, Brazil, Indonesia, Florida, New South Wales (Central East coast, Lower East coast), Northern Territory (North coast), Queensland (Central East coast, Northeast coast), Western Australia (Central West coast, Lower West coast, North coast, Northwest coast); West Indies, East Africa, Red Sea.
Thoothukudi coast, Chinna Muttom and Vizhinjam Bay.
Australia
Vizhinjam Bay.
Australia
Mandapam.
Central Indo-Pacific.
Gulf of Mannar.
Madagascar, Central Indo-Pacific.
Tiruchendur.
Central Indo-Pacific.
Thoothukudi coast.
Australia
Mandapam.
Indonesia, Northern Territory (North coast), Queensland (Great Barrier Reef, Northeast coast), Western Australia (Northwest coast).
Vizhinjam Bay.
New South Wales (Lower East coast).
Vizhinjam Bay.
North Atlantic Ocean.
Vizhinjam Bay.
Australia, Indonesia.
Gulf of Mannar.
Australia.
Chinna Muttom and Leepuram.
Australia
Vizhinjam Bay.
Australia.
Mandapam.
South Pacific Ocean.
Thoothukudi coast and Vizhinjam Bay.
South Pacific Ocean.
Colachel.
Indonesia, Bermuda, Florida, Northern Territory (North coast), Queensland (Northeast coast), Western Australia (Northwest coast); West Indies.
Thoothukudi and Colachel.
Australia.
Mandapam.
Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, New South Wales (Central East coast), Queensland (Central East coast, Great Barrier Reef, Northeast coast), Victoria (Bass Strait); west Indian Ocean, Red Sea.
Thoothukudi coast, Leepuram, Chinna Muttom and Vizhinjam Bay.
Australia.
Mandapam.
Djibouti, South Pacific Ocean, Tanzania.
Thoothukudi.
A total of 30 species of ascidians, comprising 6 families and 11 genera, from the Mandapam water has been reported in the present study (Suppl. material
Previously, a total of 19 ascidian species was reported from this station (
The diversity of ascidians is influenced by the development of coastal patterns and environmental impacts (
The Mandapam station has lots of substrata such as jetties, embedded rocks, small stones, fishing and coastguard vessels providing a suitable environment for the settlement of ascidians in a subtropical habitat.
Members of the family Polyclinidae occured in huge numbers throughout the study period with maximum colony size during summer season (March-May). Ecteinascidia venui was recorded in large numbers during premonsoon season (June-August). Ascidians are seasonal recruiters (
Our deep sense of gratitude to Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for the financial support (BT/PR6801/AAQ/3/609/2012) and also to our College Secretary and Principal for their motivation. We also acknowledge Dr. V. Sivakumar, Hon. Director of Research and Conservation, 4e India NGO (Reg 188/2010) and Dr. M. Tamilselvi, Associate Professor of Zoology, V.V.V. College for Women, Virudhunagar for their kind support.
Figure shows the number of genus and species represented in the families of ascidians.