ABSTRACT
Aim: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that submerged shipwrecks along the western coast of India can function as artificial fish habitats with trophic structure of fish assemblages similar to natural rocky reef habitats. Methodology: The fish assemblages on shipwreck and natural reefs were analysed from September 2013 to December 2016 using diver assisted underwater visual census (UVC). Data collected on fish assemblages were used to compare the fish trophic structure between shipwreck and natural reefs using diversity indices, permutational multivariate analysis of variance and similarity percentage analysis. Results: Fish abundance was two times greater on shipwreck than on natural reefs and the major trophic guilds on shipwreck were omnivores and carnivores. Multivariate analyses showed a distinct fish trophic structure on shipwreck from that of natural reefs and certain fish species differentiated the trophic structure of shipwreck from natural reefs. The high densities of Pomadasys furcatus, P. guoraca, Pempheris multiradiata, Lutjanus indicus, L. fulvus, Ostorhinchus compressus, Epinephelus coioides, E. erythrurus, Monodactylus argenteus and Heniochus singularis contributed significantly to the average dissimilarity for fish assemblages in shipwreck from natural reefs. This has helped to differentiate the fish communities on shipwreck from natural reefs. Interpretation: This study showed that shipwreck and natural reefs differ significantly in fish trophic structure. Fish species richness and abundance were significantly higher on shipwreck than natural reefs. Therefore, the Greater species richness, abundance and diversity of fish communities on shipwreck could be a result of unique, complex and heterogeneous habitat features existing within the wreck
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of schistosomiasis control in“Oriental Star shipwreck event”in Jianli County, Hubei Province,so as to provide experiences for schistosomiasis prevention and control in rescue of emergency in the future. Methods According to the data of historical schistosomiasis prevalence and the results of the field survey in the townships in the upstream and downstream of the rescue spots,the emergency handling measures of schistosomiasis control were evaluated. Meanwhile,the Oncomelania hupensis snail situation,priority crowd chemotherapy,key aquatic monitoring,and illness moni?toring of people and livestock were investigated to evaluate the schistosomiasis control effect after the events comprehensively. Results There were no schistosome?infected snails found in the place of shipwreck and the rescue spots. The average density of O. hupensis snails in 5 townships of Jianli County was 0.064 snails/0.1 m2 ,and there were no infected snails found. The positive rate of 2 090 migrants in the schistosomiasis serologic tests was 0.29%and there were no positive ones found in the fecal exami?nation. There were no acute schistosomiasis cases found by the sentinel surveillance fever clinics,and also no positive cattle were found. The results of sentinel mice monitoring in the place of shipwreck and 4 villages in the upstream and downstream showed no infected mice were found. Conclusion The schistosomiasis control measures taken after the shipwreck is effective, which achieves the goal of no schistosomiasis transmission after emergency.
ABSTRACT
The Gulf of Mannar is one of the world’s richest marine biospheres and occupies an area of 10,500 sq.km. Twenty one coral reef islands and small patchy reefs are present between Lat. 800 47’N and Long. 780 12’ E to Lat. 900 15’ N and Long. 790 14’ E. from Pamban to Thoothukudi as an arc. These islands possess a very interesting heterogeneous group of fauna and flora. The study was conducted on a twenty year old ship wreck in the Gulf of Mannar, India. During low tides, remnants of the ship are exposed to about 1.5 meters above the water surface. The entire ship wreck is regarded as an artificial reef that harbors corals, fishes and other fauna. Artificial reefs are beneficial in reef conservation and rehabilitation efforts. Successions of artificial reef communities were preliminarily studied using the Line and Belt transect method to assess the composition of benthic organisms like soft corals (25.6 %) and live corals (23.1 %). The abundance of several common reef fishes is also reported.