Multi-cluster analysis of Crabs and Ichthyofaunal Diversity in relation to habitat distribution at Tropical Mangrove ecosystem of the Indian Sundarbans

Abstract

Mangroves have enormous ecological significance and socio-economic importance as promising hub for tropical marine and estuarine biotope. Therefore, mangroves are considered one of the world’s richest resources of biological and genetic diversity. Although, crabs and fishes significantly occur among the other macrofauna of the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, supportive information on resource and diversity of mangrove’s macrofauna are insufficient due to their non judicious exploitation in unscientific ways. Concerning that, the present survey based experimental research find out the localized endemic composition and bio-distribution of crabs and estuarine fish species which are prevalent in the tropical Sundarbans mangrove systems. A special drive has also been taken to characterize the variation of such species in course of spatial and environmental changing scenario. The consequences of this research concluded a total 115 numbers of crab species and 312 numbers of brackish and marine water fish species were available at Sundarbans. Which are identified, categorically assessed showing their predominant positions in the localized mangrove-associated estuary of 17 different specified clusters or survey areas. Apart from that, the Multivariate Cluster Analysis was performed on the available fish and crab diversity, up to the Family and Species level following their present conservation status.