V. Pahalawathaaracchi, and A.L.M Rifky: Assessment of Mangrove Forest Structure in Puttalam Lagoon and Dutch Bay. Annual Scientific Session (Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR)) – 22nd May 2015
V. Pahalawathaaracchi, and A.L.M Rifky: Assessment of Mangrove Forest Structure in Puttalam Lagoon and Dutch Bay. Annual Scientific Session (Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR)) – 22nd May 2015
V. Pahalawathaaracchi, and A.L.M Rifky: Assessment of Mangrove Forest Structure in Puttalam Lagoon and Dutch Bay. Annual Scientific Session (Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR)) – 22nd May 2015
SRI LANKA ASSOCIATION FOR
FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES
(SLAFAR)
SCIENTIFIC
GaHnth
2015
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERSProceedings of the Twenty-first Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and 36
Aquatic Resources, 22"! May, 2015. Auditorium of National Aquatic Resources Research and
Development Agency, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka,
Assessment of mangrove forest structure in Puttalam lagoon and
Dutch Bay :
V. Pahalawattaarachchi'*and A.L.M. Rifky?
‘National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency
*Hardy Advanced Technological Institute, Ampara
“Corresponding author (email:vasalanka@gmail.com)
Structural parameters of mangrove forests were measured at eight locations in
Puttalam lagoon and Dutch Bay from January to March of 2014. Eight transects of
50-60m in length and 10m in width were divided into 50m x 50m plots where all
individuals greater than 2.5cm DBH were measured, identified and recorded.
Height of the trees also measured. The complexity index (Cl) and importance value
(IMV) were computed using standard methods. Avicennia marina was the most
dominant mangrove species in the Puttalam lagoon with the highest relative
dominance value of 89 and the importance value of 241. Rhizophora mucronata
was the second most dominant species with heights relative dominance value of 86
and the importance value of 222.5. Fringing mangroves of Eramathivu island
exhibited the highest dominance for R. mucronata and A. marina, respectively.
Structurally well developed R. mucronata trees which are approximately 5m in
hight and 83% of relative dominance could be observed at Erumathivu islands.
Highest importance values were recorded for A. marina in the second location of
Erumathivu island while second highest Importance value was recorded for R.
mucronata at the first location of the same island. Highest species diversity (06 spp.)
was observed at Periyaarchchi island which comprised of higher density of
Pemphis acidula and Sonnaratia cassiolaris. Highest stand density (4683trees/ha)
was encountered at the second location of fringing mangroves in Periyaarchchi in
which five species of mangroves were recorded. A. marina has the highest
importance value for landward fringe mangroves at Kalpitiya, Puttalam lagoon due
to the highest relative frequency (83). Structural studies of mangroves at
Erumathivu islands in 1990 recorded that the complexity index was 1.95 and
structural importance values (IMV) for the dominant species, A. marina and R.
mucronata were 122.4 and 177.6 respectively (Amarasingha and
Balasubramenium, 1992). When compared with those findings, structural
importance (IMV) of species and the diversity and the abundance (Cl) have been
increased in the fringing mangrove island habitat after 24 years of period. Despite
of that, riverine mangroves of Dutch Bay showed a complexity index from 8 to 22
while in the present study it was ranged from 2.9 to 8.2 evidencing that structural
diversity has decreased after 24 years. It could observe that the lower structural
complexity was due to decrease of structural characteristics such as stand density,
basal area and number of species encountered in the present study area except tree
height. High regeneration capacity was observed in each plot of study with the
lower densities.
Keywords: Avicennia marina, Puttalam lagoon; Rhizophora mucronata.