Life Table of Grey Mangrove Avicennia Marina (FORSK.) Vierh, Pakistan

Pages:26-29
Syed Shahid Shaukat1, Kanwal Nazim, Muhammad Uzair Khan and Qadeer Muhammad Ali2, Moinuddin Ahmed3 (Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi1, Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi2, Pakistan, Laboratory of Dendrochronology and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany Federal Urdu University Karachi3)

Mangrove cover along the coast of Pakistan is decreasing day by day due to various disturbances particularly harvesting and cutting. Therefore, there is a need to observe changes in population of mangrove with known and unknown disturbance history. The present study deals with the population structure and dynamics of a dominant mangrove species Avicennia marina with a complete life table from seedling to mature trees in Pakistani coast. The causes and factors for the variation in six stages were also determined that predict the population structure after small and large scale disturbances. The survival (lx) of individuals of A. marina showed a gradual decline from seedling to mature trees at all locations. However, there was a rapid decline from seedling to juvenile stages at all sites. In disturbed stands population of seedlings showed lesser density compared to undisturbed areas. It is hoped that this study will help in the management and conservation planning of mangrove forests at the coastal areas of Pakistan.