The Animal Life
Corals, now recognized as ‘forests of the ocean’ or ‘lungs of the seas’, are becoming threatened by human activities. A large number of coral species are found in the Seychelles group of islands. Early surveys revealed up to 51 genera of corals, but later surveys in 1992/93 added over 40 new species of stony reef coral species and a total species list of 161 species (excluding the Acropora spp.).
The zonation of coral around the granitic islands is very different from those of the coral islands. Compared to the coral islands where species such as Gorgonians, Porites spp. and Dendropyllia spp. exist at depths below 38m, in the granitics corals become increasingly rare at depths in excess of 15m. Furthermore the difference between the fringing reefs of the granitics and that on the coral islands is largely due to the shallow Seychelles Mascarene plateau, nutrient input from the hilly granitics and the fact that many of the atolls are built upon ancient volcanoes.
Often ignored but considered part of the reef system are algae and sea grass beds. The algal flora of the Seychelles consists of about 350 described species of chlorophyta, phaeophyta, and rhodophyta. Seagrass beds are also commonly found between the cobble ridges and the shore. A total of eight seagrass species have been found in the Seychelles. Coral reef on Aride ( Shoals of Capricorn)
