Diversity and Distribution of Seaweeds in the Androth Island of Lakshadweep Archipelago

Abstract The coral lagoons of Lakshadweep have been widely reported to have luxuriant growth of seaweeds. In these coral reef ecosystems, calcareous algae form the important group in seaweeds, as they are essential in the formation of coral reefs. Though several surveys of seaweed growth have been carried out from time to time in different regions of the mainland, Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar Islands, studies are lacking from the Androth island, one of the Laccadivian archipelago islands to identify seaweed growing areas in Androth. Also, there is no significant work to assess the standing crop of seaweeds in Androth. Therefore, this study was attempted to map the distribution and diversity of seaweed species in the Andrott island of Lakshadweep. In agreement with studies on the coastal distribution of seaweed fauna and flora, our study also identified extensive growth of seaweeds species like Halimeda, Chaetomorpha , Boodlea, Composita, Chaetomorpha, Enteromorpha, Padina, Sargassum wightil, Acanthophora specifera etc along the coral coast of Androth island belonging to the Lakshadweep Archipelago.