Occurrence of the Tharaustochytrid, @iCorallochytrium limacisporum@@ gen. et. sp. nov. in the coral reef lagoons of the Lakshadweep Islands in Arabian Sea

Abstract

A new thraustochytrid protist, @iCorallochytrium limacisporum@@ gen. et sp. nov. is described from the waters of the coral reef lagoons of Agatti, Kavaratti and Bingaram belonging to the Lakshadweep group of islands in the Arabian Sea. The organism is characterised by a lack of an ectoplasmic net system, and the production of 8 to 32 limax-shaped motile spores from each cell. No zoospores are formed. The abundance of @iC. limacisporum@@ in different parts of the lagoons was estimated during two cruises. This varied from 0 to 10700/1 water, the highest number being recorded in April 1984 from the waters of the Kavaratti lagoon. It general, the numbers were higher in April 1984 than in January 1985. The results suggest a possible correlation with particulate organic carbon. The importance of thraustochytrids in these waters is discussed in view of the findings