Dynamics of Coral Community and Ecosystems of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Abstract

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands form a long / narrow broken chain of Islands spread
over in length of more than 700 kilometers from north to south, occupying an area of 8249
square kilometers. These Islands are famous for nature’s beauty and underwater paradise.
Corals are tiny organism belonging to group Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria. The coral is
formed by creatures which are very like the sea anemones. These coral polyps are of many
colours- red, yellow, green, pink purple and white and are many shapes. These Islands
richest of the Indian in coral diversity with as many as 179 species belonging to 69 genera,
coral colonies are near Ross Island, North Bay, Back side of G.B. Pant Hospital, Wandoor
Mahatma Gandhi National Park, Rangachang, Chidiyatapu, Kamorta, Nancowry, Campbell
Bay and North Andaman.
The Coral reef inhabitant fauna and flora of these Islands include -750 species of
fishes, 1422 species of Mulluses, 430 species of echinoderm, 112 species of sponges, 235
species of hard corals and 41 species of soft corals, 44 species of crustanceans , 64 species
of algae and few species of reptiles and mammals. The coral named Elentherobia a rare
species of soft coral is a potential drug for breast and ovarian cancer. The corals of these
Islands are facing two types of threats – Natural threats and Anthropogenic threats. So all of
us should save and protect the corals and ecosystem of marine life of these Islands, which
are rare in the country and the world. So, future generation can also enjoy underwater
paradise of these Islands.