An assessment of marine and coastal diversity of Covelong, Chennai, India

Abstract

Covelong coast situated in north Tamil Nadu has a unique habitat comprising of intertidal rocky and sandy areas. Located near the mouth of Muttukadu brackish water, Covelong is considered as one of the sites for artificial reef deployment by the state government. With all these coastal habitats, it can be assumed that this area supports remarkably diverse marine life forms. The present work represents the first-of-its-kind study where we have assessed the fish landing center, intertidal zones, and beach areas to assess the common marine and coastal diversity of Covelong. A total of 224 species of marine flora and fauna belonging to 135 families, 61 orders, 20 classes, and 10 phyla were reported from the fish landing center, intertidal rocks and sands, and beach strandings. The present findings will provide baseline information to marine enthusiasts, marine biologists, and ecologists for their future research on the Covelong coast. We would recommend in favor of declaring the Covelong coast as one of the long-term monitoring sites for ecological studies, as this area is much influenced by natural and anthropogenic activities.