Preliminary Survey of Coral Reefs at Vakare with special emphasis on Kayankerni Reef

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favites, montastrea, pl<strong>at</strong>ygyra, Leptoria, Pavona spp.etc.) Almost all coral are imm<strong>at</strong>ure colonies which may be 2-4 years old the southward placement <strong>of</strong> this reef p<strong>at</strong>ch facing the direction <strong>of</strong> the Kayankerni reef may indic<strong>at</strong>e larval recruitment <strong>of</strong> corals from th<strong>at</strong> reef. The corals in this area seem to be prolifer<strong>at</strong>ing and expanding <strong>with</strong> little new dead coral seen the substr<strong>at</strong>e dominance <strong>of</strong> algae could pose a thre<strong>at</strong> to the reef if any growth trigger in algae is experienced. In addition the new coral is growing on a thick base <strong>of</strong> dead and decaying coral rubble; which makes it prone to significant damage in the event <strong>of</strong> a storm dislodging the unstable coral rubble base. The outer reef areas facing the western slope <strong>of</strong> the reef contain good popul<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> large dome coral domin<strong>at</strong>ed environment. the reef slopes from exposed reef crests to depths <strong>of</strong> over 6m. the area contain a mixed assemblage <strong>of</strong> species <strong>with</strong> Porites, Pl<strong>at</strong>ygyra,Favids,Montastrea, Pachyseris, Pavona etc. The fish popul<strong>at</strong>ions are moder<strong>at</strong>e <strong>with</strong> large groups <strong>of</strong> Parrotfishes prominent.
Sand stone reef <strong>at</strong> 10m. deep The local divers speak <strong>of</strong> many dive sites in deeper areas beyond Sallithivu Island and aerial (Google) images confirm the existence <strong>of</strong> an extensive area <strong>of</strong> Sandstone reefs loc<strong>at</strong>ed about 3km. East and South east <strong>of</strong> the island. One spot check dive was undertaken on this reef. The reef consisted <strong>of</strong> a large fl<strong>at</strong> table <strong>of</strong> Sandstone <strong>with</strong> little surface relief. the area sampled included few cracks and raised sections. the floor contained about 10% cover <strong>of</strong> Padina algae. The fauna recorded was not significant <strong>at</strong> the site inspected. it is possible th<strong>at</strong> the there may be better loc<strong>at</strong>ions on the reef elsewhere which the team could not loc<strong>at</strong>e in the preliminary survey. The reef fauna included many barrel sponges <strong>of</strong> about a meter high, good diversity and abundance <strong>of</strong> Crinoids (fe<strong>at</strong>her stars) Sinularia and the Musids, Favids, Plerogyra and some species <strong>of</strong> open branched Acropora species were prominent among the corals observed. The fish popul<strong>at</strong>ions were low and prominent fish species recorded included Butterflyfish Chaetodon decuss<strong>at</strong>us, Angelfish, Centropyge flavipectoralis, Apolemichthys xanthurus, Damsels Pomacentrus phillippinus, Dasyllus aruanus, assorted parupenids and a single large Grouper Plectropomus leopardus. Though the site sampled was not significant based on the extent <strong>of</strong> this reef and reports from local divers and ornamental fish collectors the area is known to contain many good reef environments.
Page 1 and 2: Preliminary <stron
Page 3 and 4: Kayankerni reef The area was a long
Page 5 and 6: and 4m. across are found in some re
Page 7: Sallativu/Sallithi
Page 11 and 12: Caesionidae Pterecaesio chrysozona
Page 13 and 14: Enneapterigius sp. 1 Blenniidae Pla

Preliminary Survey of Coral Reefs at Vakare with special emphasis on Kayankerni Reef

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