| Pak. J. Bot., 39(2): 577-582, 2007. | Back to Contents | ||||
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Updated: 09-07-09 | ||||
DISPERSAL AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MANGROVE PROPAGULES IN AN EXPOSED COASTAL HABITAT OF INDUS DELTAAbstract:
Dispersal and establishment of propagules
and seedlings of the grey mangrove Avicennia marina (Forssk.)
Vierh., were studied in a small exposed coastal area of the Indus Delta
near Karachi. The propagules appeared on the shore in early August
1999. They were recruited into the area from neighboring mangrove
inhabited islands and were concentrated in depressions, among rocks and
already existing young mangroves. They increased in numbers until late
September and later declined and disappeared by the end of October.
Their average fresh weight and length increased continuously but
gradually showing little difference between the initial and final
values. The seedlings appeared about two months later with decline in
numbers of the propagules and increased sharply to a peak density in the
last week of October and later gradually declined in numbers until they
disappeared by the end of December. The mortality of both propagules and
seedlings may possibly be attributed to several environmental
vicissitudes including exposed nature of the habitat, hyper salinity,
grazing by herbivores, etc.
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