Chandani Appadoo

University of Mauritius | UoM · Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies

Small island developing states (SIDS) display high biodiversity but are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change and economic and environmental shocks. In Mauritius, located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, mangroves provide essential ecological services and support coastal communities’ livelihoods, but are threatened by continuous de...

The place for human activities in ecosystems is a central and controversial stake for nature conservation policy design. The multiplicity of socio-ecological assessment frameworks, in particular ecosystem services and nature's contributions to people, led scholars and practitioners to reach intense debates worldwide on the best way to understand hu...

Island ecosystems support diverse aquatic invertebrate communities comprising endemic taxa. Documentation of existing species is important for conservation. In this study, a checklist of marine opisthobranch from the Republic of Mauritius is presented. A combination of benthic surveys (50 m×5 m in triplicates), rover diving techniques and photo doc...

Small island developing states (SIDS) display high biodiversity due to their insular situation but suffer from a disproportionate vulnerability to climate change, economic and environmental shocks. In Mauritius, a SIDS located the Indian Ocean, mangroves ensure essential ecological functions and support coastal communities’ livelihoods, they are ho...

This review reveals the constraints and potential management options for improving the seagrass ecosystem. Southeast Asia is a global hotspot for seagrass biodiversity and its variety, providing essential ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, organic matter export, feeding and breeding ground for shell and finfish, sediment trapping, etc. Ho...

Seagrass beds are considered as breeding and feeding grounds for several species of shellfishes, finfishes and other fauna. The decline of seagrass meadows has been recorded all around the world, particularly in tropical areas, which have a high diversity of seagrass species. Increasing urbanization, coastal pollution, industrial development, port...

https://charlestelfaircentre.com/mangroves-are-essential-for-coastal-livelihoods-and-local-resilience-insights-from-mauritius/?fbclid=IwAR2t3iAvHcaNOAdeg4Ul65w7GuiFyR0MxHO0UoRne9VIcEVQ3muIV5d3T00

Marine sediments have been demonstrated to be a long-term sinks for microplastics and their contamination in mangrove sediment are of no exception with relatively scarce information available globally. This work aimed to determine the prevalence of microplastics in two natural mangrove forests of a small island developing state, Mauritius, with emp...

Ocean governance provides for the norms and tools needed to ensure the sustainable use and management of marine resources. In order to implement effective ocean governance and tools, there is a need to train all stakeholders involved in the management and sustainable use of ocean resources. This is where education, particularly tertiary education,...

Small island developing states (SIDS) are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change, economic and environmental shocks 1. In Mauritius, a SIDS located in the Indian Ocean, coastal ecosystems like mangroves ensure essential ecological functions and support coastal communities' livelihoods. Mangroves are a nursery for juvenile fish, they seques...

Small island developing states (SIDS) are highly dependent on coastal marine resources. Artisanal fishers in SIDS currently face multiple stressors related to global environmental change. Considering Mauritius (South Western Indian Ocean) as a case study, this paper characterizes artisanal fishers in SIDS and assesses their perception of global cha...

Blue carbon has gained recognition as a strategy to mitigate climate change. Mangroves allow significant amounts of carbon to be sequestered and stored and are considered an important component in the offset of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, little is known about the ecosystem-level carbon storage of the mangrove stands of Mauritius, weste...

The opisthobranch are a diverse group of sea slugs sensitive to anthropogenic pollution. Considering the plans of Mauritius to expand the harbour, the present study investigated the distribution of opisthobranch in area of close proximity. A total of three survey areas (Bain des Dames, Rivière Noire and Le Morne) were monitored over a period of fif...

To date, 179 species belonging to the gastropod infraclass Euthyneura are known from Mauritius. We report for the first time from Mauritius the chromodorid nudibranch, Hypselodoris infucata (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1830), based on 47 sites surveyed over 17 months. This species was previously known from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Indo-Pacific Ocean,...

Marine litter is a major global concern that is threatening marine ecosystems. This study assessed the meso-litter and microplastics density around Mauritius Island, South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region. WIOMSA guidelines were used for meso-litter and microplastics sampling from October to December 2019 at 12 sites. A total of 1095 meso-litter ite...

A new genus and species, Mauritiorchestia fayetta gen. nov., sp. nov., of talitrid amphipod is described from beaches in Mauritius. Mauritiorchestia differs significantly from the closely related genus Platorchestia in the maxilla 1 palp (absent in Mauritiorchestia, vestigial in Platorchestia) and in the dactylus of gnathopod 1 (simplidactylate in...

People from all around the world face problems in the identification of fish species and users need to have access to scientific expertise to do so and, the situation is not different for Mauritians. Thus, in this project, an innovative smartphone application has been developed for the identification of fish species that are commonly found in the l...

Mangrove ecosystem services are multi-dimensional (ecological, socio-cultural and economic), and their valuation is complex as not all of these dimensions are quantifiable in terms of monetary value. The main goal of this study was to determine the perception of local residents on the economic values of the mangrove ecosystem along the south west c...

Mangrove–coral habitat is characterized by heterogeneity in the physical environment that allows it to be out of equilibrium with open ocean conditions, resulting in differentiation of local physical, chemical, and biological attributes. This chapter highlights how some mangrove habitats can act as alternate refuges for corals during climate threat...

The invertebrate communities of Mauritius host a high degree of endemism, but are also imperilled by an array of factors, including invasive predators. Since their introduction in 1922, guttural toads ( Sclerophrys gutturalis ) have spread across the island and have been implicated in the decline of a number of endemic invertebrate species. In this...

We evaluated the status of anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) in two natural mangrove forests on Mauritius, one of which in proximity to human settlement (Mahebourg) and the other more remote (Ferney). AMD was collected monthly from October to December 2018 in 1500 m² at both sites and classified into material composition and their potential sources...

Abstract. RamdhunD, AppadooC.2020. A contribution to understanding blue carbon sequestration and forest structure in mangroves of different ages in a small island (Mauritius).Ocean Life 4: 74-81.Mangrove biomes, a blue carbon coastal ecosystem, are considered as the most carbon-rich forest in the tropics, but there is a knowledge gap on their ecosy...

The diet of albacore Thunnus alalunga from their spawning ground in the waters of Mauritius was investigated. The stomach contents of 249 albacore individuals, caught by industrial longliners and artisanal fishers, was analysed, and the dominant prey taxa were selected for lipid and fatty acid (FA) analysis. The FA profiles of prey were compared wi...

Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is a highly economically important species in the western Indian Ocean. However, knowledge of its ecological and nutritional characteristics, essential for proper management of the species, is lacking in the region. The trophodynamics of the Indian Ocean albacore was thus examined using known fatty acid trophic mark...

The Frenchman seabream Polysteganus baissaci is an important commercial fish species found on the slopes of the fishing banks of the exclusive economic zone of Mauritius. Exploitation of this species started in 2007, and it is targeted using hydraulic reels with baited hooks. The introduction of suitable management measures is important for this fi...

Nudibranchs are considered one of the most diverse groups of opisthobranchs. Their history in Mauritius dates from 1832, with first records appeared in expedition reports and systematic works. Recent review of their biodiversity in Mauritius identified 23 species. The present study provides a list of nudibranch species using data from both systemat...

Lipid composition in the reproductive and somatic tissues were investigated for female albacore tuna, Thunnus alalunga, in the western Indian Ocean, between latitude 18–21°S and longitude 56–60°E, from January 2014 to March 2015. Highest total lipids (TL) were found in the gonads of spawning-capable females (SCP) (mainly phospholipids, PL, triacylg...

Amphipods form an important component of coastal fauna and this study is focused on the biology of semi-terrestrial Platorchestia fayetta sp. nov. inhabiting sand and wave-cast algae on the north-eastern coast at Poste La Fayette, Mauritius. The population structure, size class variation, sex ratio and female reproductive status of the species were...

The reproductive biology of albacore tuna, Thunnus alalunga, in the western Indian Ocean was examined through analysis of the sex ratio, spawning season, length-at-maturity (L50), spawning frequency and fecundity. From 2013 to 2015, a total of 923 female and 867 male albacore were sampled. A bias in sex ratio was found in favor of females with fork...

Number of fish per oocyte developmental stage or ovarian phase by 3-cm interval fork length (LF) used for maturity analysis of female albacore tuna in the western Indian Ocean based on histology. In the first criterion, immature fish were viewed as containing the most advanced oocyte stage the primary growth (PG) stage, cortical alveolar (CA) and v...

Actinobacteria, commonly known as actinomycetes, are often constituents of sponge-associated bacterial communities and are well known producers of bioactive compounds. In the present study, 7 actinomycete species representing 3 genera were successfully isolated from the sponge Spheciospongia vagabunda (Ridley, 1884) and Neopetrosia exigua (Kirkpat...

This paper provides information on the length-length (fork-length, FL with pectoral length, PL and first dorsal length, LD1) and length-weight relationships of albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) in five regions of the Western Indian Ocean. Data were obtained for a total of 923 female and 867 male albacore, caught by different fishing gears, and sampl...

The WIO mangroves cover about 1 million ha, which is just about 5% of the global mangrove coverage. Almost 90% of these mangroves are found in four countries, namely Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania and Kenya; with the most expansive mangrove forests in these countries occurring in deltas and estuaries. This book is an outlook of the mangrove fores...

Mangroves are important coastal ecosystems in tropical areas. In Mauritius, there has been studies on understanding the role of this ecosystem. However, it is also essential to have information on its coverage and distribution. The aim of the present study was to investigate on the forest structure at two sites in the south east coast (Anse Jonchée...

The macrofaunal community associated with the sponge Neopetrosia exigua (Kirkpatrick, 1900) was studied across a Mauritian lagoon. A total of 191 macrofauna belonging to 18 macro-invertebrate species were found in associationwith host sponges collected at depths of 1.4-2.7 m. Polychaetes and amphipods mostly inhabited the sponge canals whereas crab...

Virtual Worlds are not “dead and gone” – far from it. If the 3rd Global Conference in Experiential Learning in Virtual Worlds taught its delegates anything, it was that virtual worlds are on the cusp of an exciting, resurging and impending upswing. A large variety of industries are captured within this eBook—architecture, computer programming, ethi...

The distribution and abundance of the sponge Spheciospongia vagabunda (Ridley, 1884) was investigated in a shallow lagoon (Albion) of Mauritius (Western Indian Ocean). Sponge abundance and environmental parameters were assessed. Sponges in Albion lagoon were mostly distributed in the central part of the lagoon some distance from wave action. Two di...

There has been a real revolution in the field of higher education in the recent decade with the inclusion of educational technology to improve the delivery and quality of education being imparted. The specific research question was to consider the challenges experienced by university students in a classroom environment. Another research question wa...

Estimation of the above ground biomass of mangroves is an important issue because of its relevance to nutrient turnover and the potential to store carbon. Productivity, as indicated by litter fall rates is important to determine the rate at which mangroves produce new biomass. The aim of the current study was to estimate the above ground biomass an...

Sponges are very important in the marine ecosystems and also represent organisms known for producing a diversity of chemicals. The present study was performed from September 2009 to February 2010 and aimed at making a mapping of the sponge Xestospongia exigua in the lagoon of Trou aux Biches. This research is a first in the lagoons of Mauritius and...

Four species of amphipod in the genus Mallacoota were collected from Mauritius between 1998 and 2000. One species, M. caerulea sp. nov. is new to science, two species, M. latibrachium (Walker), M. schellenbergi Ledoyer, have not previously been reported from Mauritius and one species, M. insignis (Chevreux) is known to be widespread in tropical sea...

Mangroves play an important role in the coastal eco system of Mauritius. Two species of mangroves, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam., and Rhizophora muc ronata Lam., have been identified so far. The latter species is more dominant and occurs in pure stands in most of the swamps. Loss of biodiversity due to the destruction of wetl ands, mangroves and...

The survival and growth of tropical sea cucumber, B ohadschia marmorata (Jaeger) was investigated. Juvenile B. marmorata were collected in the wild, f rom La Prairie, in the south west coast of Mauritiu s and was reared at Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC). The sea cucumbers were stocked at a density of six individuals per tank in three separ...

The present work represents a pioneer study on the family Melitidae from Rodrigues, Indian Ocean. Taxonomic descriptions and drawings are given for four new species of melitids namely Ceradocus shoalsi sp. nov., C. cotonensis sp. nov., C. oliveri sp. nov. and Mallacoota magnimerus sp. nov. A key to the Ceradocus species of the Mascarene Islands is...

The present work represents a pioneer study on the family Melitidae from Rodrigues, Indian Ocean. Taxonomic descriptions and drawings are given for four new species of melitids namely Ceradocus shoalsi sp. nov., C. cotonensis sp. nov., C. oliveri sp. nov. and Mallacoota magnimerus sp. nov. A key to the Ceradocus species of the Mascarene Islands is...

Taxonomic descriptions and figures are provided for five new species of Melitidae (Ceradocus greeni n.sp., Dulichiella cuvettensis n.sp., Melita corticis n.sp. Melita setimera n.sp. and Nuuanu rectimana n.sp.) from collections made in the shallow coastal waters of Mauritius. APPADOO, CHANDANI, & ALAN A. MYERS, 2005. Amphipods of the genera Ceradocu...

The reproductive bionomics and life history traits of two corophiid amphipods (Ampithoe laxipodus, Cymadusa filosa) and one melitid (Mallacoota schellenbergi) were studied in Mauritius (Indian Ocean) for the period March 1999 to February 2000. Results on the population structure, monthly size class variations, sex ratio, female reproductive states...

Twenty-three species of corophiidean amphipod are recorded from Mauritius of which six are new to science and five species are recorded for the first time from the island. Full descriptions and figures are provided for the six new species together with diagnoses and selected figures of other species recorded in the present work. A key to the specie...

The study reports on the tube-building behaviour of the corophioidean amphipod, Cymadusa filosa Savigny on two algae, Sargassum binderi Sonder and Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, based on experimental protocols using specimens in aquaria and in petri dishes. Cymadusa filosa was observed to construct open-ended, uniform diameter cylindrical tubes using amphi...

Nine species of the genus Elasmopus collected in the intertidal and shallow-subtidal zone of Mauritius are described and figured. These comprise five species, E. palu n.sp., E. pseudinteger n.sp., E. souillacensis n.sp., E. steelei n.sp., E. puteus n.sp., which are new to science, two species, E. menurte J.L. Barnard and E. spinimanus Walker that a...

Eight species of the Maera complex were collected from the intertidal, shallow-subtidal zones in Mauritius from February 1998 to February 2000. Two species, Quadrimaera micheli sp. nov. and Quadrimaera mirandella sp. nov. are new to science and two species, Maera mooreana Myers and Maera serratipalma Nagata are recorded for the first time from Maur...

Over 34 000 specimens of marine gammaridean amphipods were collected from 34 sites of varying wave exposure in the intertidal/shallow subtidal zones of Mauritius (19 degrees 59/-20 degrees 32'S 57 degrees 18'-57 degrees 47'E, Indian Ocean) in April to July, 1995. Substrates included algae, seagrass, coral, sand, and sponges. Sixty-nine species are...

Mangrove ecosystems are important as they harbour a diversity of life forms. This study aimed at study ing the benthic and arboreal macrofaunal diversity and abun dance associated with three naturally occurring mangrove forests of Mauritius, Western Indian Ocean . The mangrove areas included Roches Noires, Mahebourg and Pointe Maurice, on the east...