Assessing diversity, analyzing community structure, and mapping mangrove distribution at Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary: A lesser-explored model Island in Indian Sundarbans

Sarkar, Rajat Kanti and Ghosh, Shramana and Biswas, Raju and Oraon, Satyajit and Gaine, Tanushree and Adak, Sharadindu and Chaudhuri, Punarbasu and Bhattacharya, Swati Gupta and Bhattacharya, Kashinath (2025) Assessing diversity, analyzing community structure, and mapping mangrove distribution at Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary: A lesser-explored model Island in Indian Sundarbans. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 91. p. 104545. ISSN 23524855

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Abstract

The vast Sundarbans, located in the southern part of the Gangetic Delta encompassing Eastern India and Bangladesh, stretches between the Hooghly River (India) to the west and the Meghna River (Bangladesh) to the east. The present study focused on the Indian Sundarbans, situated within the North and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal. The study was conducted at tiger free Lothian Island, designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1976. The whole Island was divided into 36 grids, each covering an area of 1 sq. km. This study involved a quantitative analysis of the plant community in each grid, employing 100 sq. m quadrats as sampling units. A total of 56 plant species were identified, including 25 true mangroves, 13 mangrove associates, and 18 exotic plants. This study revealed the presence of 10 additional true mangrove species and 5 more mangrove associates compared to prior research. Notably, Avicennia marina and Avicennia alba displayed the highest Important Value Indices (IVI), followed by Excoecaria agallocha and Ceriops decandra. Analysis of species diversity, utilizing various indices, indicated that Lothian Island possesses high plant diversity and a balanced species distribution. Through dendrogram analyses, five distinct plant community types were discerned. Spatial distribution data highlighted the prevalence of three Avicennia species, accompanied by associated plants like Aegialitis rotundifolia and Excoecaria agallocha. These species showed distribution patterns across varying soil pH and salinity levels on the Island. But surprisingly, no significant correlations were found between environmental parameters and diversity indices within the mangrove plant community based on Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Item Type:	Article
Authors:	Sarkar, Rajat Kanti and Ghosh, Shramana and Biswas, Raju and Oraon, Satyajit and Gaine, Tanushree and Adak, Sharadindu and Chaudhuri, Punarbasu and Bhattacharya, Swati Gupta and Bhattacharya, Kashinath
Document Language:	Language English
Subjects:	Natural Sciences > Life sciences; biology > Ecology Natural Sciences > Plants (Botany) History & geography History & geography > History of Asia > India and neighboring south Asian countries
Divisions:	Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > School of Arts and Sciences
Full Text Status:	None
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/6925
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104545

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