Abstract:
Mangroves are a group of plants that grow in inter-tidal zones in tropical and
subtropical latitudes. Most of the mangroves are trees and shrubs which contain
leathery and broad, evergreen leaves. About 15,670 ha of mangrove habitats
are scattered along the coastal zone of Sri Lanka. From that Eastern province
shares 28% of the mangrove cover. Since they were highly isolated during the last
three decades because of the civil war, there are limited research publications
related to mangroves in this part of the country, especially about mangrove habitats
Ampara District. The present study was conducted at Urani Kottugal mangrove reserve
forest in the Ampara district, the eastern coast of Sri Lanka with the objectives of
reporting the present Species composition and estimating the capacity of the
aboveground and belowground biomass with carbon stocks. This may be the first
time specifically scientific records about the Urani Kottugal mangrove reserve forest in
recent history. We used belt transects in width laid perpendicular to the
shoreline and across the water-land gradient for the mangrove vegetation survey. True
mangrove species in each transect were identified and counted. DBH (Diameter at
Breast Height) and height were recorded and determined above and belowground
biomass as well as carbon stock using published allometric equations and a
conversion factor, respectively. Four true mangrove species were recorded in
the Urani Kottugal mangrove reserve forest. Out of that, the highest species
composition was recorded in Excoecaria Agallocha. The species Bruguiera
Gymnorhiza was a critically endangered mangrove species recorded in study área.
The results showed that the values of above-belowground biomass were 24.5072
Mg ha-1 and 8.4854 Mg ha-1. The above-ground biomass is stored more than the
below-ground pool. Infrastructure development and selected mangrove replanting
programs directly influenced the biogeography of species there. More
research is needed to understand the ecological aspects of theses
mangroves. It is recommended that government should take immediate action to
prevent distractive anthropogenic activities in this mangrove ecosystem.
