Spatial and temporal variations in percentage cover of two common seagrasses at Sirinart National Park, Phuket; and a first step for marine base

Percentage cover and distribution of two common seagrasses, Thalassia hemprichii (Ehrenb.) Aschers. and Cymodocea rotundata Ehrenb. Et Hempr. Ex Aschers., were studied in the dry and wet seasons. The study was carried out at three levels on sheltered, moderately exposed and very exposed sites on the coastline of Sirinart National Park, Thailand. One hundred and twenty samplings were investigated and recorded. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there were significant differences in the percentage cover of C. rotundata among different degrees of wave exposure (P<0.01); and T. hemprichii was significantly influenced by interactions between seasons, shore levels and degrees of wave exposure (P<0.05). High sediment disturbance on the very exposed site was likely to influence the percentage cover and distribution of both seagrasses. This study provided baseline data for further work on ecological study and long term monitoring; and a first step to building up a ‘marine base’.