Diu island: A paradise for tourists and seaweed biologists

摘要

While working on iota and lamda carra-geenophytes of Gujarat coast, we got an opportunity to study the seaweeds of Diu island, west coast of India. Floristic studies on Indian seaweeds divulge that only a few places on the mainland have been worked out extensively according to the xigencies of travel and convenience of the collector; however, the islands have been neglected greatly. The island of Diu, an erstwhile Portuguese colony, is situated off the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat bordering Junagadh district, with geographical area of only 38.5 km 2 and coastal stretch of 21 km. The summer temperature goes up to 32 degrees C, while in winter it declines down to 15 degrees C; annual average rainfall is 70 cm. With pleasant climate throughout the year, the island affords unprecedented peace and tranquility to tourists. The Saurashtra region is of special interest not only to seaweed biologists of India, but also those from abroad due to its diverse marine algal flora. However, such studies for Diu island are meagre and fragmentary. The northern side of theisland facing Gujarat is all tidal marsh and salt pans, while the southern coast alternates between limestone cliffs, rocky caves and sandy beaches harbouring a variety of seaweeds.