Journal of Research in Biology

ISSN No: Print: 2231 6280; Online: 2231- 6299

An International Scientific Research Journal

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Journal of Research in Biology

Floristic constitution and certain ecological characters of two selected

natural mangrove vegetation in Kollam district, Kerala.
Authors:
Sekaran S1,
Nisha Raj S2,
Arun S1 and
Paulsamy S3

ABSTRACT:

Corresponding author:
Sekaran S

Article Citation:
Sekaran S, Nisha Raj S, Arun S and Paulsamy S
Floristic constitution and certain ecological characters of two selected natural
mangrove vegetation in Kollam district, Kerala.
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(5): 1763-1768

Mangroves are the important salt tolerant vegetation having more

ecological and economical significances. In comparison to that of eastern coastal part,
the western coastal region of Peninsular India comprises less area of mangroves.
Therefore, establishing new mangroves in suitable habitats in this region is more
essential to maintain the ecological processes in coastal landscape. To select the
Institution:
suitable mangrove species for newer areas of Kerala coast, a preliminary study on
1.Department of Botany,
ecology was carried out in two natural mangrove vegetation at Ayiramthengu and
Sree Narayana College,
Mandrothruthu, Kollam district. The study revealed that out of 34 (Ayiramthengu) and
Kollam-691 001, Kerala,
24 (Mandrothruthu) species present, a sizable number of eight and six species
India.
respectively were true mangroves and adapted more prominently in their respective
2. PG Department of
site indicated by higher Importance Value Index (IVI) and Relative Value of Importance
Biotechnology, SAS, SNDP (RVI) obtained by them. Therefore, these species are suggested for new formations of
Yogam College,
mangrove vegetation in the coastal regions of Kerala.
Konni- 689691,
Kerala, India.
Keywords:
3. Department of Botany,
Mangrove vegetation, Kollam district, Kerala.
Kongunadu Arts and
Science College,
Coimbatore 641 029,
Tamil Nadu, India.

Email Id:

Web Address:
http://jresearchbiology.com/
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Journal of Research in Biology

An International
Scientific Research Journal

Dates:
Received: 07 Jan. 2015

Accepted: 07 Feb. 2015

Published: 30 June 2015

This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/

licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and
reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

1763-1768 | JRB | 2015 | Vol 5 | No 5

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Sekaran et al., 2015

determined using standard methodology (Cintron and

INTRODUCTION
Mangroves are the interesting and characteristic

Schaeffer-Novelli, 1984).

community in the shallow waters of tropical and

subtropical sea. They are the rich of productive

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

community but extremely sensitive and fragile (Odum,

In the vegetation of Ayiramthengu, a total

1959). They protect the coastal line from heavy cyclones,

number of 34 species were enlisted which includes eight

tidal thrusts, tsunami etc. (Saini et al., 2012; Sandilyan,

true mangrove species and 26 mangrove associate

2013). Therefore, establishing mangroves in suitable

species. The frequency percentage was widely varied

places of coastal line for the countries like India is more

between 20 and 100 across the species encountered

essential to protect the landscape. To achieve this goal,

(Table 1). The plant species like Acrostichum aureum,

the species richness along with their perpetuation level

Bruguiera cylindrica, Cleome viscosa, Clerodendrum

by knowing their ecological attributes is the basic

inerme,

requisite to select the species for introduction in coastal

Lumnitzera

area. Despite the taxonomical works, no major study on

showed higher frequency percentage of 100 in the

ecology has been done in the western coastal part of

community at the time of sampling. On the other hand,

Kerala for mangroves. To address this lacuna, the present

the three species viz., Avicennia officinalis, Eupatorium

study was carried out to select the well established

odoratum and Sonneratia caseolaris were exhibited

species on the basis of ecological characters.

lower frequency value of less than 20 only. Density was

Cyperus

distans,

racemosa

and

Excoecaria

agallocha,

Rhizophora

mucronata

much varied between the species. Some species of higher

MATERIALS AND METHODS

densities in the community were Cyperus distans (9.2

Study area

individuals/m2), Rhizophora mucronata (8.2 individuals/

The mangrove vegetation in two areas viz.,

m2) and Desmodium triflorum (7.0 indivuals/ m2). On the

Ayiramthengu and Mandrothruthu located in Kollam

other hand, the species, Sonneratia caseolaris showed

district of Kerala were selected for the present study. The

lower density of less than 0.50 individuals/m2 in this

former vegetation is situated in the coastal area and

vegetation.

spreads over an area of about 2.5ha and the later one is in

The mangrove species, Rhizophora mucronata

the backwater area of Kollam district, which covers an

registered higher basal cover (5875796mm2/100m2)

area of about 1.5ha.

followed by the other species Avicennia officinalis

Methods

(3313376mm2/100m2)

Excoecaria

A one hectare plot was established in each study

(3312102mm /100m )

and

area and then it was divided into 100 equal subsets each

(2384713mm2/100m2)

in

Bruguiera
the

agallocha
cylindrica

community

of

with the size of 100m . The sampling was made during

Ayiramthengu. The associated species, Desmodium

the month of April 2015 in both vegetations for the

triflorum recorded lowest basal area of less than

quantitative

and

223mm2/100m2. The relative values of frequency,

abundance) of constituent species as per the methods of

density and dominance were also varied widely among

Cottom and Curtis (1956). Quantitative ecological

the species. Based on the importance value index, the

attributes viz., density, basal area and Importance Value

species

Index (IVI), Relative Value of Importance (RVI) were

mucronata,

ecological

characters,

(frequency

like

Avicennia

Bruguiera

officinalis,

cylindrica

and

Rhizophora
Excoecaria

agallocha were regarded as species of more ecological

1764

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(5): 1763-1768

Sekaran et al., 2015

Table 1. Frequency, density, abundance and basal cover with their relative values and importance value
index (IVI) of species in the mangrove forest of Ayiramthengu during the month of August, 2014
Sl.
No.

Frequency
(%)

Density
(individu
als /m2)

Abundance

Basal
cover
(mm2 /10
0m2 )

Relative
frequency
(%)

Relative
density
(%)

Relative
dominance
(%)

IVI

Species

1
2
3
4
5
6

Acalypha indica
Acanthus ilicifolius
Acrostichum aureum
Aegiceras corniculata
Aerva lanata
Andrographi sechioides

60
40
100
80
60
40

2.6
5.6
3.4
4.8
3.0
1.0

4.33
14.00
3.40
6.00
5.00
2.50

2070
71337.6
389809
749044.6
597.2
796.2

2.78
1.85
4.63
3.70
2.78
1.85

2.25
4.84
2.94
4.15
2.59
0.86

0.01
0.41
2.26
4.34
0.00
0.00

5.04
7.10
9.82
12.19
5.37
2.72

7
8
9
10
11

Avicennia officinalis
Boerhavia diffusa
Bruguiera cylindrica
Cleome viscosa
Clerodendrum inerme

20
80
100
100
100

3.6
5.2
5.2
5.2
2.8

18.00
6.50
5.20
5.20
2.80

3313376
37261.2
2384713
16560.6
222930

0.93
3.70
4.63
4.63
4.63

3.11
4.49
4.49
4.49
2.42

19.18
0.22
13.81
0.10
1.29

23.22
8.41
22.93
9.22
8.34

12

Crotalaria striata

40

3.2

8.00

10191

1.85

2.76

0.06

4.67

13

Crotalaria verrucosa

60

2.0

3.33

6369.4

2.78

1.73

0.04

4.54

14
15
16
17

Croton hirtus
Cyperus distans
Desmodium triflorum
Eclipta alba

60
100
60
80

1.8
9.2
7.0
4.8

3.00
9.20
11.67
6.00

1433.2
1831.2
223
15286.6

2.78
4.63
2.78
3.70

1.55
7.94
6.04
4.15

0.01
0.01
0.00
0.09

4.34
12.58
8.82
7.94

18
19
20

Eupatorium odoratum
Euphorbia geniculata
Euphorbia hirta

20
40
60

0.8
1.2
2.2

4.00
3.00
3.67

10191
5971.4
437.8

0.93
1.85
2.78

0.69
1.04
1.90

0.06
0.03
0.00

1.68
2.92
4.68

21

Excoecaria agallocha

100

2.6

2.60

3312102

4.63

2.25

19.18

26.05

22

Hyptis capitata

40

0.8

2.00

5732.4

1.85

0.69

0.03

2.58

23
24

Hyptis suaveolens
Ipomoea biloba

40
40

1.8
1.0

4.50
2.50

5732.4
4976.2

1.85
1.85

1.55
0.86

0.03
0.03

3.44
2.74

25
26

Leucas diffusa
Lippia nodiflora

80
80

3.8
4.6

4.75
5.75

6807.4
3662.4

3.70
3.70

3.28
3.97

0.04
0.02

7.02
7.70

27

Lumnitzera racemosa

100

5.4

5.40

429936.4

4.63

4.66

2.49

11.78

28

Mimosa pudica

40

1.4

3.50

2508

1.85

1.21

0.01

3.08

29
30

Passiflora foetida
Rhizophora mucronata

40
100

0.6
8.2

1.50
8.20

1910.8
5875796

1.85
4.63

0.52
7.08

0.01
34.02

2.38
45.73

31

Scoparia dulcis

80

4.8

6.00

8598.8

3.70

4.15

0.05

7.90

32

Sida alnifolia

60

2.0

3.33

3582.8

2.78

1.73

0.02

4.53

33

Sonneratia caseolaris

20

0.4

2.00

368152.8

0.93

0.35

2.13

3.40

34

Tridax procumbens

40

3.8

9.50

1936.4

1.85

3.28

0.01

5.14

importance. On the other hand, the spices viz.,

species (6 true mangroves and 18 mangrove associates)

Eupatorium

odoratum,

echioides,

were enlisted. Among them, the two species, Acanthus

Desmodium

triflorum,

Euphorbia

ilicifolius and Acrostichum aureum were recorded higher

geniculata, Hyptis capitata and Ipomoea biloba were

frequency percentage (100%) followed by another

considered as species of poor ecological importance as

mangrove species, Excoecaria agallocha and two

they secured lower IVI value.

associated non-mangrove species viz., Euphorbia hirta

Andrographis
Eclipta

alba,

In Mundrothuruth vegetation, altogether 24

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(5): 1763-1768

and Hyptis suaveolens exhibited 80% frequency (Table

1765

Sekaran et al., 2015

Table 2. Frequency, density, abundance and basal cover with their relative values and importance value
index (IVI) of species in the mangrove forest of Mundrothuruth during the month of August, 2014.
Sl.
No.
1.

Acanthus ilicifolius

100

56.0

56.00

713384

Relative
frequency
(%)
8.20

2.

Acrostichum aureum

100

7.6

7.60

871340

8.20

7.29

4.94

20.43

3.

40

1.6

4.00

1273.6

3.28

1.54

0.01

4.82

4.
5.

Andrographis
echioides
Aristolochia indica
Avicennia officinalis

20
60

1.0
2.2

5.00
3.67

1791
2024840

1.64
4.92

0.96
2.11

0.01
11.48

2.61
18.51

6.

Boerhavia diffusa

60

1.6

2.67

11465.6

4.92

1.54

0.06

6.52

7.

Bruguiera cylindrica

20

0.4

2.00

183439.6

1.64

0.38

1.04

3.06

8.
9.
10.

Cleome viscosa
Clerodendrum inerme
Crotalaria striata

40
40
20

1.8
1.4
0.6

4.50
3.50
3.00

5733
111465.2
1911

3.28
3.28
1.64

1.73
1.34
0.58

0.03
0.63
0.01

5.04
5.25
2.23

11.

Desmodiumtriflorum

40

3.4

8.50

108.8

3.28

3.26

0.00

6.54

12.

Eclipta alba

60

1.8

3.00

5733

4.92

1.73

0.03

6.68

13.

Eupatoriu modoratum

60

1.6

2.67

20382.4

4.92

1.54

0.12

6.57

14.
15.

Euphorbia hirta
Excoecaria agallocha

80
80

2.0
9.8

2.50
12.25

398
12484074

6.56
6.56

1.92
9.40

0.00
70.76

8.48
86.73

16.

Hyptis

80

2.0

2.50

6370

6.56

1.92

0.04

8.51

17.

Ipomoea biloba

40

0.8

2.00

3980.8

3.28

0.77

0.02

4.07

18.
19.

Lentana camera
Lumnitzera racemosa

60
20

1.2
1.0

2.00
5.00

54025.2
79618

4.92
1.64

1.15
0.96

0.31
0.45

6.38
3.05

Species

suaveolens

Frequency
(%)

Density
(individ
uals /m2)

Abundance

Basal cover
(mm2 /100m2 )

Relative
density
(%)

Relative
dominance (%)

IVI

53.74

4.04

65.98

20

Mimosa pudica

40

1.6

4.00

2865.6

3.28

1.54

0.02

4.83

21.
22.

Passiflora foetida
Rhizophora mucronata

40
40

0.6
1.4

1.50
3.50

1911
1003185

3.28
3.28

0.58
1.34

0.01
5.69

3.87
10.31

23.
24.

Scoparia dulcis
Wattakaka bolubilis

40
40

1.4
1.4

3.50
3.50

2507.4
50036

3.28
3.28

1.34
1.34

0.01
0.28

4.64
4.91

2). The species like Aristolochia indica, Bruguiera

agallocha

(12484074mm 2 /100m 2 ),
2

cylindrica, Crotalaria striata and Lumnitzera racemosa

mucronata

were showed restricted distribution due to their lower

ilicifolius (35669.2mm2/100m2) have contributed higher

frequency values.

basal cover to the community (12484074, 1003185 and

The species, Acanthus ilicifolius registered

highest density of 56 individuals/m2 followed by

(1003185mm /100m ),

Rhizophora

and

Acanthus

713384mm2/100m2 respectively) than that of other

associated species in this study on mangrove formation.

Excoecaria agallocha with 9.8 individuals/m2. On the

The relative value of frequency, density and

other hand, some species like Bruguiera cylindrica,

dominance were also varied widely between the species.

Crotalaria striata, Ipomoea biloba and Passiflora

On ecological point of view, the secured value of IVI and

foetida were present with lower density of less than 1

hence the total ecological importance of the species like

individuals/m2. In general, true mangrove speices

Acanthus ilicifolius, Excoecaria agallocha, Acrostichum

contributed higher density in the community than the

aureum, Avicennia officinalis and Rhizophora mucronata

other non- mangrove plants. The species, Excoecaria

1766

Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(5): 1763-1768

Sekaran et al., 2015

Figure 1. Pie chart showing the contribution of

relative value of importance (RVI) by the
predominant species in the Ayiramthengu
mangrove vegetation.

Figure 2. Pie chart showing the contribution of

relative value of importance (RVI) the predominant
species in the Mandrothruthu mangrove vegetation.
species. It may indicate that these site-specific species

were significant as their IVI value are greater than the

were occupying higher ecological niches according to

other species.

their

adaptability

in

the

respective

community.

In Ayiramthengu mangrove vegetations, four

Therefore, to establish new formations of mangrove

true mangrove species viz., Rhizophora mucronata,

vegetation in coastal areas of Kollam district of Kerala

Excoecaria

and

state, the above mentioned species of higher RVI values

Bruguiera cylindrical were determined to have major

may be considered. The other associates can be expected

functional role as they secured higher value of relative

to invade in such formations in course of time during

importance (RVI) (15.24, 8.66, 7.74 and 7.64%

community development.

agallocha,

Avicennia

officinalis

respectively) (Figure 1). Similarly, in Mundrothuruth the

four true mangrove species viz., Excoecaria agallocha,

CONCLUSION

Acanthus ilicifolius, Acrostichum aureum and Avicennia

The establishment of mangrove vegetation by

officinalis obtained higher RVI value of 28.91, 21.99,

constituting the important true mangrove species namely,

6.81 and 6.17% respectively (Figure 2) and hence played

Rhizophora

major role in community metabolism than the remaining

Avicennia

Site 1. Ayiramthengu
Journal of Research in Biology (2015) 5(5): 1763-1768

mucronata,
officinalis,

Excoecaria

Bruguiera

agallocha,

cylindrical

and

Site 2. Mandrothruth
1767

Sekaran et al., 2015

Acrostichum aureum in all possible places of the coastal

its Mapping, Inventory and Some Environmental

part of Kollam district of Kerala is suggested to protect

Aspects. Centre for Earth Science Studies. Trivandrum,

this landscape very effectively.

India. 38pp.
Saini DC, Kulshrestha K, Kumar S, Gond DK,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Authors are thankful to the UGC Bangalore
for funding the Minor Research Project on Diversity
and Conservation Strategies on Mangrove Ecosystem
with special reference to Marshy Back waters of
Southern Kerala, Western Ghats
MRP/12

th

Vide ref No. No.F.

plan/14-15/KLKE057,dated 10

th

December

Mishra GK. 2012. Studies on floristic diversity and its

importance of Pichavaram Mangrove reserve forest,
Tamil Nadu. Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, pp.
149-151.
Sandilyan S. 2013. The aftermath of Thane cyclone in
Pichavaram Mangrove East coast of Southern India.

2014.

Science India, 16(2): 35-38.

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Cintron G, Schaeffer-Novelli Y. 1984. Methods of
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Nameer PO, Mohan Kumar B, Minood CR. 1992.

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