DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2016.v04i11.012

Pages: 1045-1053

The studies on diversity and distribution of octocorals were carried out during pearl bed survey on 2008 to 2009 at Gulf of Mannar reef environment. A total of 25 species of octocoral fauna were found from 15 study sites from shallow reef areas. The maximum life form was observed in ST 9 (Thoothukudi) & ST 11 (Vembar) and minimum in ST 15 (Vembar). Of which the Alcyonacea was dominant group followed by Gorgonacea and Pennatulacea at all the study sites, which is contributed with result obtained based on De-Treneded Analysis and Ternary Plot. Bray-Curtis cluster analysis 67% similarity were obtained between the study sites and Principal Component Analysis significant positive correlation was noted between the study sites. The Shannon – Weaver diversity index range upto 1.06 higher degree of similarity of species was found between geographically nearby areas. Details of diversity with various ecological indices along with distributional patterns are depicted in the present paper.