Colonization and primary mangrove forest development in riverine islet of Indian Sundarbans

摘要

Sundarbans estuary is characterized by dynamic depositional and erosional processes of sediments. The change in species composition and diversity-dominance are deduced by two studies carried out in the year 2006 (1st Study) and 2014 (2nd Study). There are 13 species in the 1st Study which was dominated by the early colonizing species. It is marked by high stem density but low basal area. The diversity index is 1.59 and the total biomass 65.5472 t ha~(-1). In the 2nd Study, 20 species are recorded - where the dominance has shifted to the intermediate colonizers. While the stem density reduced by two and half times, the basal area tripled. The diversity value is 3.86 and the total biomass 269.6691 t ha~(-1). Initally, the islet measured 49.78 ha with 50% vegetation cover, which later expanded to 61.15 ha with 89% forest cover.