Snowflake Coral
Scientists have recently discovered the presence of
several colonies of an invasive species of snowflake coral off the coast of
Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari. These fast growing alien species have been
discovered at a depth of 10 metres off Kovalam, a beach town by the Arabian Sea
in Thiruvananthapuram. Scientists have warned that these invasive species of
snowflake coral could pose a serious threat to the marine ecology of the
region.
About Snowflake Coral:
· The snowflake coral or
branched pipe coral is a species of soft coral in the family Clavulariidae. The
snowflake coral is a colonial soft coral with a tangled, bushy growth form. Its
hollow branches go up to 30 centimetres in length, forming a creeping stolon.
· Native to the tropical
western Atlantic Ocean, it has spread to other areas of the world such as
Hawaii. In 1972, it was first reported as an invasive species in Hawaii. Since
then, it has spread to countries like Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and the
Philippines.
· Being a shade-loving
species, snowflake coral grows on hard surfaces, away from direct sunlight.
These include caves, overhangs, ledges and under piers.
· Because of its capacity to
dominate space and crowd out other marine organisms, snowflake coral is
considered as an invasive species.
· In India, it was reportedly
seen from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu), Gulf of
Kutch (Gujarat) and Goa.
=========================================
No comments:
Post a Comment