Modelling the impact of mangroves on fish population dynamics of Hooghly - Matla estuarine system, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Breakdown of mangrove litter, adjacent to Hooghly-Matla estuarine ecosystem, plays a major role in regulating the fish population of the estuary. For last several decades, there has been a gradual decline in fish population due to over exploitation of resource but the exact cause of this decrease in production is still not known. To know this cause, an eleven compartment holistic model of nutrient source to estuary and grazing food chain is constructed. Model results depict the role of mangroves in regulating fish population dynamics of the estuary and predation rate of carnivorous fish on detritivorous fish is sensitive parameter in maintaining the balance between grazing food chain and detritus food chain.