Research

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Title :

Molecular taxonomy and species divergence studies of sea urchin from gulf of manar coral reef ecosystem

Area of research :

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Focus area :

Ocean science

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Radhika Rajasree, Senior Proff. & Head, Department of Fish Processing and Technology, KUFOUS

Timeline Start Year :

2022

Timeline End Year :

2025

Details

Executive Summary :

The present study will give first hand comprehensive information on sea urchin genetic data base from Gulf of Mannar coral reef ecosystem. There are very few work on the molecular taxonomy of sea urchins around the globe and no work so far have been reported from Indian seas , which shows a big gap between our knowledge and high diversity of sea urchin in coral reef ecosystem . The need for comprehensive data on molecular taxonomy of sea urchin from a major reef ecosystem could be a major boon to marine ecosystem studies of Indian Seas in bridge linking different fragments of sea urchin species identification. Sea urchin are known to inhibit coral recruitment, as well as prey on living coral tissue of mature colonies. It is very necessary to assess the influence of native sea urchins and their importance in reef dynamics of Gulf of Mannar ecosystem

Co-PI:

Dr.S.Suresh Kumar ,Dean, Faculty of  Ocean Science and Technology, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies

Total Budget (INR):

60,90,480

Organizations involved