International Journal of Science, Engineering and Computer Technology

Syed Shahid Shaukat ¹, Kanwal Nazim ², Muhammad Uzair Khan ², Qadeer Muhammad Ali ², Moinuddin Ahmed ³

Affiliations
1 Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, PK
2 Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi, PK
3 Laboratory of Dendrochronology and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany Federal Urdu University Karachi, PK

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Population Structure, Avicennia marina, Life Table, Survival (lx), Juvenile

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Kanwal Nazim ¹, Paras Siddiqui ², Qadeer Muhammad Ali ¹, Muhammad Uzair Khan ¹, Moinuddin Ahmed ³, Rahmatullah Jillani ², Siraj Munir ²

Affiliations
1 Marine Reference Collection and Resource Center (MRCC), University of Karachi, Karachi, PK
2 Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Karachi, PK
3 Laboratory of Dendrochronology and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, PK

Abstract

During the past few years, the increasing pressure of anthropogenic activities along the shoreline of Pakistan (i.e. Machar colony) led to the clearing of habitats for the construction of houses and industrial development. In this study Remote Sensing Technique is used to evaluate this loss and assess the change in mangrove habitats within Machar colony. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the impact resulting from human development on the mangrove distribution in the study area. A field work is carried out to observe the actual situation while satellite images are processed on temporal basis to visualize the synoptic view of the situation. Furthermore the physico-chemical analysis of soil and leaves is also carried out to determine the pollution status on the site. Change detection is applied and mangrove in the study area is found a decrease of about 16% from 2006 to 2012. It is concluded that the cutting of mangrove and encroachment are the main factors in destroying mangrove trees from this area. From physio-chemical analysis it was concluded that polluted waste water in this colony nourishing mangrove plants instead of harming while the only factor involved in destroying of mangrove is encroachment.

Keywords

Mangrove Forest, Satellite Images

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