Marine sediment texture and distribution of seagrasses in the Gulf ofMannar biosphere reserve

摘要

Distribution of seagrasses with reference to sediment texture was studied in nine different marine locations of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. It was found that the seagrasses viz. Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Halodule spp. and Halophila spp. preferred silty to clayey soils while Cymodocea spp and Syringodium isoetifolium preferred sandy soil for their growth. Though some of the stations surveyed recorded higher silt and clay contents (suitable for the growth of many seagrasses), the seagrass species composition was not impressive at these stations. It is therefore inferred that in addition to sediment characteristics, other physico-chemical characteristics are important in governing the occurrence and distribution of seagrasses.