Mapping the extend of seagrass meadows of Gulf of mannar biosphere reserve, India using IRS ID satellite imagery.

Abstract

Gulf of mannar marine biosphere reserve is the first of its kind in India and also in south east Asia. It extends from Rameswaram in the north to Tuticorin in the south. GOM is having a chain of 21 islands running almost parallel to the mainland. These areas are endowed with a combination of ecosystems including mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. Remote sensing techniques offer a wide range of possibilities in the study of various ocean related parameters. During the present survey, the occurrence of 12 seagrass species in the islands was verified and is mapped using satellite imagery. The study reported a total of 85.5 sqkm area covered by seagrass beds in Gulf of mannar (GOM) based on IRS- 1D 1998 satellite data and there is a need for the continuous monitoring of the seagrass resources because of its importance to the marine environment.   Key words: Gulf of mannar, remote sensing, seagrass, mapping, IRS-ID.