Gastropods and bivalves associated with reef building corals, Palk Bay, Southeastern India

Reef building corals of the families Pocilloporidae, Acroporidae, Poritidae, and Faviidae were collected at low tide. A total of 73 species of molluscs were associated with corals in Pall, Bay, viz., 46 species of gastropods belonging to 17 families, and 27 species of bivalves belonging to 13 families. Molluscs were rarely associated with young corals. The present study shows that the structure and size (weight) of corals influence the molluscan diversity. The number of molluscan individuals increased with increasing coral weight. With a single exception. no molluscs were associated with the massive coral Favia pallida. Very few boring bivalves were recorded from branching corals

Distribution and abundance of molluscan cryptofauna from Karaichalli Island (Gulf of Mannar), southeastern coast of India

Replicate samples of live coral, dead massive coral, dead branching coral, and live & dead coral were studied. The surface area, volume, percentage cover, biomass and percentage available living space were determined for molluscan cryptofauna in each habitat. The gastropods Pyrene versicolor, Drupa sp. and Cerithium sp. were common in branching corals. The bivalves Saccostrea cllecullata, Area sp., Isognomon sp., Pinctada sp. and Lithophaga sp. were common in dead parts of ramose corals. Mytilids were rare in living parts of ramose corals. Pyrene sp., Drupa sp., Cerithium sp. and Lambis sp. were found crawling on the surface of the massive corals

Not Available

Not AvailableReef building corals of the families Pocilloporidae, Acroporidae, Poritidae, and Faviidae were collected at low tide. A total of 73 species of molluscs were associated with corals in Pall, Bay, viz., 46 species of gastropods belonging to 17 families, and 27 species of bivalves belonging to 13 families. Molluscs were rarely associated with young corals. The present study shows that the structure and size (weight) of corals influence the molluscan diversity. The number of molluscan individuals increased with increasing coral weight. With a single exception. no molluscs were associated with the massive coral Favia pallida. Very few boring bivalves were recorded from branching corals.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableReplicate samples of live coral, dead massive coral, dead branching coral, and live & dead coral were studied. The surface area, volume, percentage cover, biomass and percentage available living space were determined for molluscan cryptofauna in each habitat. The gastropods Pyrene versicolor, Drupa sp. and Cerithium sp. were common in branching corals. The bivalves Saccostrea cllecullata, Area sp., Isognomon sp., Pinctada sp. and Lithophaga sp. were common in dead parts of ramose corals. Mytilids were rare in living parts of ramose corals. Pyrene sp., Drupa sp., Cerithium sp. and Lambis sp. were found crawling on the surface of the massive corals .Not Availabl