Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Stand structure and environmental factors of mangroves of Abdasa, Gujarat, India

Volume 64 Issue 2

R. Madhavan Unny, K. Karthika and S. Paulsamy

10.6024/jmbai.2022.64.2.2327-04

Abstract

Mangrove forest structure in terms of adult, recruitment and regeneration categories along with seven governing physicochemical parameters was investigated in the Abdasa Taluka of Kachchh District, Gujarat. Mangrove vegetation in the categories of mature trees (≥1 m), regeneration class (<60 cm) and recruitment class (>60 cm and <1m) were analyzed in six stations. To delineate the forest structure, 2210 trees in 74 quadrats of 10×10 m in 28 transects were investigated using the line intercept transect method. For mature tree density, a range of 1963/ha and 3800/ha was estimated while the density of younger classes such as regeneration and recruitment categories ranged widely. Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) in all the six stations ranged from 1 to 6.7 and 0.3 to 38.8 cm, respectively. Tree height in 42.8% of trees was in the size range of 1.8 to 2.5 m while 80.8% of trees were in the DBH class of 0.3-8.3 cm. The density of the regeneration class in all the six stations exceeded that of the recruitment class, indicating good regeneration potential of the stand. The entrance of younger classes into the mature tree category varied significantly among the stations investigated. In the light of ongoing developmental initiatives, the conservation significance of Abdasa mangroves is highlighted to draw the researchers' and managers' attention

Keywords

Stand structure, mature trees, younger classes, environmental parameters, Avicennia marina

Date : 20-09-2022