Optimizing mangrove conservation efforts with improved understanding of phytosociology-ecology synergy in Sri Lanka

The study aimed to understand the forest structure and ecological factors influencing mangrove distribution in eight mangrove forests across three climatic zones in Sri Lanka. We studied mangrove diversity and vegetation structure with 10m wide belt transects laid of different lengths (n=96) across the land-water gradient. Mangroves along the transect were identified, enumerated, and measured diameter at breast height (DBH). Subsurface water samples were taken in the adjoining lagoon/estuary to assess the environmental parameters (n=144), and water quality parameters were measured. Site-dependent spatial changes in the community structure were depicted through cluster analysis (CA). The forest survey revealed a heterogeneous mixture of 20 true mangrove species across the sites dominated by Avicennia, Rhizophora, and Sonneratia spp. Among the several environmental parameters analyzed by the distance-based redundancy ordination analysis (dbRDA), salinity, dissolved oxygen, and precipitation were found to be controlling factors in mangrove community structure. In addition, discriminant analysis confirmed the presence of ecological-phytosociological influence on mangrove assemblages identified through CA. The significant structural parameters tree density, and taxonomic diversity when tested using the canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP), altered the species abundance across the sites surveyed. The results suggest that there is a strong linkage between phytosociology and ecology with the mangrove forest distribution and this relationship needs to be considered wisely to fortify successful restoration practices.