1Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, National Coral Reef Research Institute, Haddo, Port Blair-744 102, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
2Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: ecoli240733@yahoo.com
Online published on 29 May, 2014.
Diversity of scleractinian corals in the world ocean demonstrated by the species belong to the family Acroporidae. Andaman and Nicobar Islands represent a total of 158 species of acroporids which is equivalent to 57.04% of the global diversity. The numerical data on Shannon-Weaver diversity (H’), Simpson's density (D) and Pielou's evenness (J) indices showed a healthy state of acroporids in these islands. South Andaman region can be emphasized as the best reef environment area followed by North and Middle Andaman region and Nicobar region as all the indices such as H’ (5.82), D (0.98) and J (0.94) show maximized value.
Acroporidae, diversity, density, evenness, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
