06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

Lakshadweep Islands
and, Scaveola koneiggi (Kanni). Pandanus (Screwpiues),
once growing wild have been cleared to
make way for coconut plantations and to extend
housing for government servants, school buildings
and helipads. Appendix: D-3. provides a list of
species found in Lakshadweep.
A few attempts have been made to describe the
flora of Lakshadweep. Dr J.S Gardiner, 1903-1906
who explored the Maldives and Minicoy Island,
provided the earliest description. A more recent
survey was undertaken by Ananda Rao and J.L
Ellis in 1995. The variations in the types of
vegetation in these islands are not perceptible.
Mangroves are found only in Minicoy Island. They
are not established elsewhere since there are no
rivers of rivulets carrying silt. (Ananda Rao & J.L
Ellis, 1995).
b. Fauna:
The land fauna of Lakshadweep is unremarkable
and consists mainly of rodents and lizards. Cats
were brought in to control the rodents and are the
only carnivore found in these Islands. There is a
variety of short-legged goats that were originally
brought here from the Malabar Coast. These goats
have completely adapted themselves to the Island
environment and are now considered as a native
variety.
Birds: Daniels R (1991) has prepared a checklist of
birds in which 67 birds have been listed (Appendix
D4) while the Madras Naturalists Society (1991)
have prepared a checklist of birds, in which 101
species of birds have been identified. The most
significant feature of Lakshadweep Islands is the
breeding colony of terns in the Pitti Island. The
Pitti Island is the breeding ground for four species
Naturalists Society, 1991)
People report that some coconut varieties,
endemic to Lakshadweep such as Lakshadweep
Micro and the Kaidathali are rarely grown any
more. The population of the former has reduced to
2% of the coconut cultivated and there are only 2
trees of the latter in the islands.
iii. Conservation Values
a. Direct Values
Extractive value: The produce from the coral
reefs that are extracted are: house construction
materials such as: coral shingle, coral boulder and
sand: Food, various fish and molluscs, medicines,'
bait fish for Tuna fishing and shark fishing.
Non-extractive use value: Coral reefs are
beautiful to behold and people derive immense
pleasure from knowing that they exist. Tourists
and Coral reef enthusiasts are willing to travel far
to spend time scuba diving and snorkeling to view
a pristine reef. Coral reefs can be sites for
generating income from eco-tourism. The
Administration is therefore promoting tourism as a
revenue earner.
Productive use value: Corals constitute the
central organisms in the coral reef community. Due
to their symbiotic association with zooxanthellae
and the efficient recycling of nutrients
productivity of coral reefs is high. These corals
check erosion and are closely associated with
diverse organisms such as brachyuran crabs,
gastropods and fishes. Turtles consume sea
grasses in the reef.
b. Indirect Values
of terns (Sooty, Noddy, Large Crested and Brown Non-extractive non use value: The Islands have
Winged). Terns are fish eating seabirds with been formed by coral growth and the living coral
colonial nesting habits. Pitti Island is very reef forms a barrier around the island and
important because such breeding colonies are very protects them from the erosive force of the ocean
rare and it is the only breeding ground in the waves. During high tide water exchange takes
Indian Territory for the Noddy Tern. (pitti Island place between the lagoon and the. open sea over
Lakshadweep: An ornithological Study, Madras the reef and prevents eutrophication from takIng
Threatened species: Some of the important notified species found at the site are
Animals: Hawks bill turtle
Green Turtle
Fish: Dolphins
Sharks & Rays
Sea horse
Grouper
Birds: Sooty, Noddy and
Large Crested Tern
Echinodermata:
Coelenterates:
112
Cowries (Cyprae tigris, moneta,etc.)
Cone shells
sea Cucumber (All Holothurian)
Sponges (all Calcareans)
Reef building coral (All Scleraetinians).
sea Fan (All Gorgonians)