Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal
Open Access

Mangrove Macro Flora and Faunal Diversity: Editorial

Karunasree P^{* *}Correspondence: Karunasree P, Department of Management studies, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, India, Tel: +9985642255, Email:

Author info »

Editorial

Mangroves are tree like plants that grow at the ally between coast and the sea in tropical and sub-tropical regions where they survive in high saline conditions, high tides, strong winds, extreme temperatures and muddy, anaerobic soils conditions. There is no other group of plants with such developed morphological and physiological adaptations to extreme conditions [1]. Morphological conditions include profuse lateral roots of the trees in the free deposits of soil, exposed aerial roots for gas exchange and viviparous water dispersed rhizopora propagules. Physiological conditions include high salt levels, strong osmotic potentials [2].

The mangrove inter-tidal zone is supported by a vast presence of floral and faunal diversity. The mangroves provide a large habitat for a variety of species like vast communities of benthic organisms and function as nursery habitats for large varieties of crabs, prawns and different fish species and support off-shore fish populations and fisheries [3]. Mangrove faunal normally consisted of 5 major groups in the world mainly India. As of now, gastropods and crustaceans dominated the faunal aswith 14 and 15 species in 24 general.

Mangroves are one of the important productive coastal ecosystems. The development and luxury of the mangrove habitats depends on several factors and their interactions like substratum, its depth and consistency, interaction of frequency of flooding, soil, water salinity and extent of sheltered areas. Normally the flora includes 26 true mangroves and 15 different species [4].

In India Mangrove Macro Faunal Diversity can be seen at different sites in Port Blair Bay, South Andaman Islands [5] and Mundra and Kharo in Kachchh, Gujarat [6]. There are less studies going in this area. So, it the diversity of the mangrove floral and faunal community ’ s studies is a must for the researchers of Aquaculture related studies.

Habitat destruction through human influence has been the major cause of mangrove loss. These influences are likely to continue, and worsen, due to over population and expanding into the mangroves and its habitat.

References

1. Norman D, Marilyn B, Joanne E. Factors influencing biodiversity and distribution gradients in mangroves. Global  Ecology and Biogeography letters 1998;7:27-47.
2. Vishwas Rao M, Ajith Kumar TT, Ghosh S. Studies on the Mangrove Macro Faunal Diversity and Assessment among Different Sites in Port Blair Bay, South Andaman Islands. Fish Aquac J. 2015;6:124.
3. Debnath HS, Bishen S, Singh MP. Mangrove of Andaman and Nicobar Island: Taxonomy and Ecology. 2004.
4. Dagar JC, Moniga AD, Bandhopadhya AK. Text Based on : Mangroves of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 1991.
5. Kathiresan K. Flora and fauna in mangrove ecosystem: A manual of coastal and marine biodiversity, training and capacity building on coastal biodiversity (East coast), Ministry of environment and forests, CAS in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, India. 2000.
6. Thivakaran GA, Kumar A. Mangrove macrofaunal diversity and community structure in Mundra and Kharo, Kachchh, Gujarat. NISCAIR. 2016;45: 1584-1592.