Quantitative Estimation of Mangroves and Their Associates’ Marshy Lands at Palghar District in Maharashtra

Abstract

Mangroves are the shrubs or trees growing in coastal saline or brackish water. The ecological study has practical applications in conservation biology, wetland management, natural resource management, city planning community health economic, basic & applied science & human social interaction. Mangrove ecosystems are highly productive but extremely sensitive and fragile. The present study deals with quantitative estimation, density, abundance and diversity index of mangroves located in western coastal region of Maharashtra, the Palghar district which is also a part of Konkan tract or Konkan coast. In the study area of Palghar coastline, out of 16 recorded species, 13 species are true mangrove from 4 genera & 8 families are observed. The flora from family Acanthaceae, Primulaceae, Fabaceae, Convolvulaceae, Combretaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Salvadoraceae, Aizoaceae, Lythraceae, Amaranthaceae are recorded as mangroves and their associates at 5 marshy locations of Palghar coastlines. Due to anthropogenic activity, industrialization & tourisms, sewage water and non-degradable wastes like plastic wrappers, plastic bottles get deposited in the marshy areas which is the reason why the mangrove are degraded. The covered upline areas with plastic suffocate the roots, even the pneumatophores and plants die due to suffocation. Until the adaptation for the plastic-coated marshy lands has not been developed in mangrove plants.