Rhodoliths are the prominent global reef builders, providing a hard calcium carbonate substrate to develop coral polyps and several marine algae. Studies on rhodoliths in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve are very scarce. The present study investigated the various forms of crustose coralline algae inhabiting coral reefs in three islands of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. Eleven coralline algal genera with various morphological forms such as encrusting, fruticose, layered, lumpy, and warty were recorded. Further, the study infers that molecular assessment of the biodiversity of these rhodoliths is required to discriminate morphological similarities and confirm the species identity.

中文翻译：

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印度南部曼纳尔湾海洋国家公园中的硬壳珊瑚藻（Corallinales，Rhodophyta）多样性

Rhodoliths是全球著名的礁石建造者，提供了坚硬的碳酸钙底物来生长珊瑚息肉和几种海藻。对马纳尔湾生物圈保护区的菱锰矿的研究非常稀少。本研究调查了在Mannar生物圈保护区海湾的三个岛屿中居住在珊瑚礁中的各种形式的硬壳珊瑚藻。记录了11种珊瑚藻属，它们具有各种形态的形态，例如结壳，果糖，层状，块状和疣状。此外，该研究推断需要对这些菱锰矿的生物多样性进行分子评估，以区分形态相似性并确认物种同一性。