Studies on Canopy Parameters of Some Mangroves Along the Coast of Maharashtra

CrossRef, Scientific Indexing Services (SIS), Google Scholar, Index Copernicus International (ICI), Directory of Research Journal Indexing (DRJI), CiteFactor, Scientific Journal Impact Factor (SJIF), General Impact Factor, Journal Factor, Cosmos Impact Factor, PKP Index, AJIFACTOR Indexing, etc. Mangrove species, viz., Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia marina var. acutissima, Avicennia marina (dwarf), Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia alba, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel were chosen for measurement of height of the tree and girth or circumference. The sampling was random and at least 50 records were made. The girth is measured by the tape. The measurement of the height is made with the help of Abney level. The Tables 1 to 8 records the values for girth, height and canopy cover as well as for correlation coefficient (r). There correlation between girth and canopy in all the species studied however in case of Avicennia officinalis and Aegiceras corniculatum girth and height show more corelation than girth and C. cover. The positive co-relation observed between girth and canopy is more or less 0.7 except Avicennia marina (dwarf) Excoecaria agallocha and Aegiceras corniculatum. The co-relation is observed in girth and height is difficult to explain. This case is observed in Avicennia officinalis and Aegiceras corniculatum.


INTRODUCTION
There is scanty literature available on the relationship of girth of the tree with its height. On several occasions the girth and/or height of mangroves are recorded, however, for any specific site such records are not available. This is true also for canopy cover. Nevertheless, there is one report ( Bhosale, 2002) of canopy records for mangroves in Maharashtra. In the present study the records of girth, height and canopy area were made with the view to know co-relation between either height or girth with canopy cover. The results are presented in Tables from 1 to 8. The species selected are studied from Kolamb (16°02' N to 73°27' E) and Kalavali (16°05' N to 73°27' E) estuaries near the Malvan city from Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Matured individuals of some dominant Mangrove species of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra coast viz., Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia marina var. acutissima, Avicennia marina (dwarf), Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia alba, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel were chosen for measurement of height of the tree and girth or circumference. The sampling was random and at least 50 records were made. The girth is measured by the tape. The measurement of the height is made with the help of abny level.  Height and canopy cover = 0.06 3) Girth and canopy cover = 0.57

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Tables 1 to 8 records the values for girth, height and canopy cover as well as for correlation coefficient (r). There correlation between girth and canopy in all the species studied however in case of Avicennia officinalis and Aegiceras corniculatum girth and height show more co-relation than girth and C. cover. The positive co-relation observed between girth and canopy is more or less 0.7 except Avicennia marina (dwarf) Excoecaria agallocha and Aegiceras corniculatum. The co-relation is observed in girth and height is difficult to explain. This case is observed in Avicennia officinalis and Aegiceras corniculatum.
During the present study the vegetation is also analyzed to understand the possible Correlation between height and girth with that of canopy cover. It is found that the species like Avicennia officinalis and Aegiceras corniculatum show more positive correlation in case of girth and height. The positive correlation is observed between girth and canopy cover is more or less 0.7 except Avicennia marina (dwarf), Excoecaria agallocha and Aegiceras corniculatum.
The data presented in the Tables indicate that in eight species studied there is co-relation between girth and canopy cover except Avicennia officinalus and Aegiceras corniculatum. In case of Sonneratia alba the value of 'r' for girth and height is higher (0.61). Some of the species show distinct co-relation (Kandelia candel) between girth and canopy cover. In others there is narrow difference in value of 'r'. Kurlapkar and Bhosale (1985) have given the average canopy diameter for Rhizophora apiculata. Ramchandran, et al. (1985) has given the height of some mangrove species and he has recorded 4-6 m height for Rhizophora mucronata, 2-3 m height for Kandelia candel, 3-5 m for Aegiceras corniculatum, 2-4 m for Avicennia marina, 6-8 m for Avicennia officinalus, respectively. In the present study similar range of height has been recorded for these species. Kulkarni (2006) and Kulkarni and Bhosale (2014) have given the similar observations.
The only inference drawn can be, the growth is proceeding in two directions, vertical and horizontal. It is felt that mature (old) individuals may not add much to the height but can increase in the girth and produce more branches in the canopy.