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Animal Diversity in the Mangrove Forest at Bichitrapur of Balasore District, Odisha, India-A Case Study


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1 Zoological survey of India, F.P.S. Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata – 700016, West Bengal, India
     

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The present work forms the preliminary study of ecosystem of Bichitrapur in Balasore district, though it covers a small area. A total 56 species of estuarine animals are found in the locality. They are normally mangrove associate animals, found in and over mangrove plants as borers or non-borers. These animals are either harmful to mangrove plants or opportunists by depending on mangroves for shelter or feeding. The dominating group in this mangrove is found to be the Molluscs, comprising 8 species of borers of mangrove-wood and 19 species as opportunistic epi-fauna. Crustaceans are the second diverse group in this ecosystem, represented by 13 species of crabs, 6 species of boring Isopods and a single species of Amphipod. The other epifaunal components comprise a few species of Cnidaria, Polychaetea, Echinoderm and some fishes, which are found on 7 species of mangrove plants in this ecosystem. But they seem to be non-specific to any mangrove plant species. An in-depth study of these faunal components in ecological viewpoints may provide pathway towards conservation and management of the mangrove ecosystems.

Keywords

Epi-Fauna, Habitat, In-Fauna, Mangrove Plants, Odisha.
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  • Animal Diversity in the Mangrove Forest at Bichitrapur of Balasore District, Odisha, India-A Case Study

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Authors

Santanu Mitra
Zoological survey of India, F.P.S. Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata – 700016, West Bengal, India
Sayantani Shaw
Zoological survey of India, F.P.S. Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata – 700016, West Bengal, India
Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra
Zoological survey of India, F.P.S. Building, 27 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata – 700016, West Bengal, India

Abstract


The present work forms the preliminary study of ecosystem of Bichitrapur in Balasore district, though it covers a small area. A total 56 species of estuarine animals are found in the locality. They are normally mangrove associate animals, found in and over mangrove plants as borers or non-borers. These animals are either harmful to mangrove plants or opportunists by depending on mangroves for shelter or feeding. The dominating group in this mangrove is found to be the Molluscs, comprising 8 species of borers of mangrove-wood and 19 species as opportunistic epi-fauna. Crustaceans are the second diverse group in this ecosystem, represented by 13 species of crabs, 6 species of boring Isopods and a single species of Amphipod. The other epifaunal components comprise a few species of Cnidaria, Polychaetea, Echinoderm and some fishes, which are found on 7 species of mangrove plants in this ecosystem. But they seem to be non-specific to any mangrove plant species. An in-depth study of these faunal components in ecological viewpoints may provide pathway towards conservation and management of the mangrove ecosystems.

Keywords


Epi-Fauna, Habitat, In-Fauna, Mangrove Plants, Odisha.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.26515/rzsi.v119i1.181711