Assessment of Abundance and Density of Phaeophyceae Group of Seaweed along the Sikka Coast, Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat

The abundance and density of Phaeophyceae group of seaweeds from two different sites (GSFC jetty and Vador site) along the Sikka coast of Gujarat were carried out in the current investigation. Sampling stations were chosen due to varying environmental conditions and the magnitude of seaweed colonization. Seaweed abundance and density at the Sikka coast were studied for six months (October 2020 to March 2021) using the belt transect random sampling method. There were variations in abundance and density of brown algae between sites with a total of 18 and 16 species found at the GSFC jetty and Vador site respectively. Among the two sites, the abundance and percentage density of phaeophyceae was highest at GSFC Jetty than at the Vador site because of the more anthropogenic activity and pollution there. The highest abundance and density were recorded for Padina gymnospora followed by Ectocarpus sp. at both the sites. This research not only provides a foundational understanding of brown seaweed ecology on the Sikka coast but also offers insights into potential commercial harvesting and conservation strategies in the region.