Diversity and spatio-temporal dynamics of Caulerpa J.V.Lamouroux, with two new locality records from Northern Sri Lanka
Spatio-temporal dynamics of Caulerpa from Sri Lanka
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18001560Keywords:
Caulerpa diversity, diversity indices, new records, Northern Sri Lanka, seaweed, spatio-temporal dynamicsAbstract
The genus Caulerpa is a key component as a primary producer of tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems, yet its diversity and distribution along the northern coast of Sri Lanka remain poorly documented. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the diversity and spatio-temporal dynamics of Caulerpa species at four coastal sites, Mandaitivu, Mathagal, Kankesanthurai, and Point Pedro from July 2024 to June 2025. Monthly sampling using the quadrat-transect method revealed six species: Caulerpa lentillifera, Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa sertularioides, Caulerpa taxifolia, Caulerpa serrulata, and Caulerpa peltata. Among these, C. lentillifera and C. serrulata are reported as new locality records for the Jaffna region, while the distributions of C. taxifolia and C. peltata are significantly expanded. C. sertularioides was the most widespread and dominant species, occurring at all sites, whereas C. lentillifera and C. taxifolia were rare, each found at only one location. Distinct seasonal patterns were observed, with a complete absence of all species during the northeast monsoon (November–December). Mandaitivu exhibited the highest diversity overall, with peak Simpson diversity (0.375) and evenness (0.946) in March and maximum Shannon diversity (1.121) and species richness (4) in June. Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicated that the growth and distribution of Caulerpa species along the northern coast of Sri Lanka are mainly influenced by salinity, temperature, nutrient availability, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and seasonal monsoonal variability. This study establishes the first detailed baseline of Caulerpa diversity in northern Sri Lanka, highlighting its ecological significance and providing a foundation for future conservation and bioprospecting efforts.
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