Organisation of commercially supporting meroplankton in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve areas, southeast coast of India

The samples were collected along the southeast coast of India at three diff erent stations - st 1 is nearer to Mandapam in Palk Bay, st 2 nearer to Man dapam, the head of Gulf of Mannar and st 3 nearer to Kudankulam, the foot o f Gulf of Mannar. The Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar (near Mandipam) are coral dominated, partially closed shallow seas, harbour rich flora and fauna. Ku dankulam is directly exposed to open sea with rocky patches of sandy bottom . The highest species diversity was encountered in st 2 followed by st 3 an d st 1 (2.18 > 2.1 > 1.9) indicates the high fertility and optimal environm ental conditions of Gulf of Mannar. It was also underscored by high species evenness at st 2 followed st 3 and st 1 (1.5 > 1.4 > 1.3). The influence o f west coast current, and conglomeration of open ocean species causes the m aximum of species richness at st 3, which is followed by st 2 and st 1 (3.2 6 > 3.13 > 3.0). Dominance index (79.3 > 74.6 > 71.6) was found maximum at st 2 followed by st 1 and st 3 denote protective nature of coral beds for t hese young ones at Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.