Mapping of seagrass meadows from the Lakshadweep Islands (India), using aerial photographs

Abstract

Seagrass meadows from the Lakshadweep Islands were mapped with the help of black and white aerial photographs. A maximum of 40 ha seagrass cover was estimated in the lagoon of Minicoy, followEd. by Kavaratti (43 ha.). The total seagrass cover from six major islands of Lakshadweep was estimated to be 112 ha with standing crop of ca 800 metric tonnes. The dominant seagrass species observed was Thalassia hemprichii while Cymodocea rotundata, Halophila ovata, Syringodium isoetifolium and Halodule uninervis were common to these islands.