Comparison of Reproductive Biology, Pollinator Resource, Reproductive Success and Natural Recruitment of Three Mangrove Species in Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Abstract
Pollination ecology of mangroves has been explored at very few habitats. In India, this field is in its early stage. The present work has compared reproductive phenology, pollinator resources and status of natural recruitment (which is reflection of health of any population) of three mangrove species, i.e., Aegiceras corniculatum, Ceriops tagal and Rhizophora mucronata in the Marine National Park and Sanctuary, Gulf of Kachchh, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. For each mangrove species, three populations were selected and observations were made during 2007–2009. All the three species remain in reproductive phase throughout the year with different flowering and fruiting peaks. Further, these three species show temporal and spatial variations in their reproductive phenology. Pollinator resource varies significantly among the species and also among different populations of a particular specie. Species with higher pollinator resource have shown better reproductive success and natural recruitment and vice versa. Bees are the most important pollinators in the Gulf of Kachchh for the three selected mangrove species. The availability of biotic pollinator resource is poor for C. tagal and R. mucronata in the Gulf of Kachchh. It is relatively better for A. corniculatum which may be an important causal factor for the observed better reproductive success of this species in the Gulf of Kachchh. Further, as the proportion of clay increases in soil, natural recruitment of mangroves increases. Considering inundation condition, areas receiving regular tidal inundations have shown better recruitment of mangroves than those receiving infrequent tidal inundations.
Keywords: Aegiceras corniculatum, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, mangrove reproductive biology, natural recruitment, pollinator resources, reproductive success