Trematode infestation in coral colonies at Poshitra Reef, Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Some colonies of Porites sp. at Poshitra Reef were spotted with pink swollen nodules. These nodules are termed as a condition called “Porites trematodiasis” which is due to an infection of digenetic trematodes. The temperature fluctuation and anthropogenic pressures are perhaps the reasons. This situation indicates that if the corals fail to develop disease resistance and thermal tolerance, the reefs along the Indian subcontinent may experience a phase shift in community structure, which could impact fisheries.

Keywords

• coral disease
• coral reef
• kachchh
• marine national park
• porites
• trematodes.