History of mangrove vegetation in Paradip and Jambu islands, Orissa for the past 500 years B.P.: A palynological assessment

Abstract

Modern surface samples from Paradip and Jambu islands, Orissa have provided clues of modern pollen deposition, reconstruction of palaeovegetation and to interpret with greater precision the pollen data recovered from the sediments. Pollen composition of modern surface samples coheres with the type of vegetation growing today within the area of 10 sq km and facilitates the comparison of past vegetation with the modern analogues. Pollen diagram constructed from Paradip profile has revealed the history of mangrove vegetation for the past 500 years B.P., wherein four zones of vegetational developments have been recorded. The decline of mangrove vegetation at the top of the diagram going back to about 35 years B.P. could be correlated with a record date around early nineteen-hundred-sixties, when the construction of Paradip Port came into existence. This feature suggests the excessive human pressure over the surrounding vegetation resulting into the ruthless damages to the mangrove and the same has been depicted in the pollen diagram. The plantation of Casuarina along the coastline in the recent past has also been recorded in the pollen diagram.