• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-140
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• 2004

Seven new species of cope pods associated with marine invertebrates are described from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. They are Panjakus bidentis from the scleractinian Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander), Scyphuliger humesi, S. vicinus and S. placidus from the scleractinian Acropora squarrosa (Ehrenberg), Doridicola parapatulus from the nudibranch Glossodoris atromarginata (Cuvier), Ruhtra germinata from an unidentified alcyonacean coral, and Collocheres oribullatus from the crinoid Comanthina belli (Carpenter).

• ALGAE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.205-216
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• 2010

The marine red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii is a major source of $\kappa$-carrageenan. It has been introduced in 20 countries including India. Recently, several reports have expressed concerns about Kappaphycus invasion on Acropora corals at Kurusadai Island in the Gulf of Mannar, India, which is part of a marine bioreserve. To understand the extent of the Kappaphycus invasion, 27 randomly selected locations around Kurusadai Island and the mainland coast were surveyed during May-August 2008 and July 2009. Our rigorous sampling revealed that K. alvarezii was confined to two different patches of 105 m $\times$ 55 m and 8 m $\times$ 9 m located at the southeastern part of Kurusadai Island. The actual extent of the K. alvarezii canopy coverage was 76.7 $m^2$, accounting for less than 0.0035% of the total coral reef area. The daily growth rate of the K. alvarezii at Kurusadai was 0.7%. K. alvarezii was not observed in the coral reef area of the adjoining Pullivasal and Poomarichan Islands or the Palk Bay area cultivation sites. The lack of functional reproductive cycle, low spore viability, and the absence of microscopic phases in the life cycle of this alga coupled with the abundance presence of herbivores may restrict the further spread of this alga, so its invasive potential at Kurusadai Island is considered remote.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2013

The coral symbiotic algae zooxanthellae is often expelled from the host as the host coral is under physiological stress, causing the coral to turn completely white. Such coral bleaching events are occurring more frequently with the increase in the global warming, ocean acidification and increased level of anthropogenic impacts such as eutrophication. In the present study, we investigated the effects of inorganic nutrients including ammonium, nitrate, phosphate and elevated water temperature on the symbiotic zooxanthellae density in the fragment of branching coral Acropora nobilis. Zooxanthellae density in the host coral decreased 8 hrs after the experiment at a given elevated water temperature ($32^{\circ}C$, p < 0.05). In contrast, no clear coral bleaching or decrease in the symbiotic algae density was observed from the branching coral exposed to a normal water temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ and high levels of nutrients such as 20 ${\mu}M$ of $NH_4Cl$, 20 ${\mu}M$ of $NaNO_3$ and, 10 ${\mu}M$ $KH_2PO_4$. Accordingly, the data indicated high water temperature is one of the stressful factors to cause bleaching in A. nobilis, whereas the high levels of nutrients is not a factor. It is believed that the results obtained in the present study are useful as baseline information in the management of the coral reefs.