Abstract
Heritiera fomes Buch.-Ham. is assessed as an endangered mangrove species by IUCN, and information on population status is lacking. The present study assesses the status of H. fomes in Mahanadi Mangrove Wetland on the east coast of India. Three forest blocks were selected and sampled for this study. Among these, the mean girth at breast height (GBH) of H. fomes was the highest in Hetamundia (HD) forest block. GBH of H. fomes was inversely proportional to the cumulative disturbance index (R2= 0.7244, p value <0.005). The relative density was maximum for H. fomes (56%) at Bhitarkharnasi (BK), and for Excoecaria agallocha at Hetamundia (HD; 35%) & Kansaridia (KD; 54%), respectively. Excoecaria agallocha is a dominant species possibly impacting natural populations of H. fomes. Climate change and rising sea levels may also negatively affect the existence of this species. Therefore, appropriate strategies should be taken for conservation of this globally threatened mangrove species prior to its extinction.
Highlights
Mangrove ecosystems are important with respect to their contribution towards biodiversity, carbon storage, ecosystem balance, prevention of soil erosion, economic development, health care and protection against natural calamities (Ellison 2008)
The estimated Cumulative Disturbance Index (CDI) were compared against other diversity parameters and mean girth at breast height (GBH) values of H. fomes in different forest blocks to evaluate the correlation between them
Among eight studied forest blocks, H. fomes was found only in three: Bhitarkharnasi (BK), Hetamundia (HD), and Kansaridia (KD) reserve forests. These forest blocks comparatively represented with low salinity conditions due to absence of continuous tidal water
Summary
Mangrove ecosystems are important with respect to their contribution towards biodiversity, carbon storage, ecosystem balance, prevention of soil erosion, economic development, health care and protection against natural calamities (Ellison 2008). Due to its threat of extinction and lack of data regarding its population structure, it is essential to assess the population status of H. fomes for further planning to conserve and manage this species. In these forest blocks two important species Heriteira fomes and Sonneratia griffithii are found which are considered as globally threatened plant species.
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