Tube dwelling gastropod an indicator of coral reef status at the tropical reef of Palk Bay region, southeast coast of India

Porites coral colonies at Olaikuda reef, Palk Bay region were observed with pink spot and covered with mucus. Close examination of these spots revealed the presence of polychaete tubeworm and vermitid snail. The polychaete worm made aberrant growth with pink spot and this would change the growth pattern or morphology of coral colonies. In addition to that, mucus produced by vermetid snail stressed the corals in the Palk Bay region by covering the corals with their sediment trapped mucus. This is the first report of stresses imposed by coral associates on coral colonies from the Indian waters. The presence of tube dwelling vermetid snail, the stressor factors could be an indication to understand the health status of coral reefs

Tube dwelling gastropod an indicator of coral reef status at the tropical reef of Palk Bay region, southeast coast of India

585-587Porites coral colonies at Olaikuda reef, Palk Bay region were observed with pink spot and covered with mucus. Close examination of these spots revealed the presence of polychaete tubeworm and vermitid snail. The polychaete worm made aberrant growth with pink spot and this would change the growth pattern or morphology of coral colonies. In addition to that, mucus produced by vermetid snail stressed the corals in the Palk Bay region by covering the corals with their sediment trapped mucus. This is the first report of stresses imposed by coral associates on coral colonies from the Indian waters. The presence of tube dwelling vermetid snail, the stressor factors could be an indication to understand the health status of coral reefs

The first record of shark attack on the Indo-Pacific hump-back Dolphin, <i>Sousa chinensis</i> (Osbeck, 1765) in Mithapur coast, India

1317-1319Present report is the documentation of shark attack on Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, which was washed ashore at Mithapur coast in Gujarat, India. The crescent shaped tooth impregnation on the deceased dolphin revealed it was attacked by shark. As the animal was injured only in seven places, perhaps, the attack was due to competitive interaction between shark and dolphin. Morphometric measurements and description of the wounds on the dolphin were recorded and documented. This is the first report of shark attack on Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin from Gujarat coast

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project funded Coral restoration processes in the Gulf of Kachchh –A present scenario

15-19About fifty-three hard coral species recorded till date in the Gujarat coast based on the available literature. One of the projects under Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme, Coral transplantation, are in progress to improve the quality of reefs at GoK. Major aim of this project is to develop a protocol for coral transplantation processes and making transplanted reef park at GoK by using local massive coral species as well as re-introducing the Acropora spp. from other parts of Indian reef ecosystems