Status and Distribution of Sea Anemone in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

Several biodiversity explorations revealed 11 species of sea anemones belonging to 7 genera and 6 families from the coral reef ecosystem of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. Among the study sites, the B’Quarry represents maximum number (seven species) of sea anemones, whereas Joginder Nagar and Gandhi Nagar represent only one species each. The diversity indices of sea anemones showed that Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indices were higher in B’Quarry with Shannon (H’) value of 1.845 and Simpson (1-D) value of 0.828. Of the recorded species of sea anemones, three species, namely, Calliactis polypus, Cryptodendrum adhaesivum and Telmatactis decora, are observed in the intertidal zone. We observed an interesting commensalism between Calliactis polypus and hermit crab. During the period of the survey, only four species such as Boloceroides mcmurrichi, Telmatactis decora, Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis magnifica are commonly found in Great Nicobar Island.