Plant Science Research, Vol. 41, 2019

Cyanobacterial diversity of Bhitarkanika mangrove forests, Odisha

Bhitarkanika National Park in the district of Kendrapara is represented by the mangrove forests of Brahmani and Baitarani Delta of the Odisha coast. Cyanobacteria diversity was assessed in this mangrove forest in five major areas viz. Bhitarkanika, Dangamal, Kalibhanjdian, Gupti and Ekakula. A total of 29 cyanobacteria were isolated and identified from these sites and grouped in to eleven genera. The genus Lyngbya was found to be most abundant in this mangrove forest. Among these five areas, Kalibhanjadian showed maximun species richness (11) and dominance (0.44) whereas, minimum richness was recorded for Ekakula (4) and minimum dominance at Bhitarkanika (0.22). Both Shannon index and Simpson’s diversity index indicated that Bhitarkanika is having the highest cyanobacteria diversity and
Kalibhanjadian, the lowest. The diversity and distribution of cyanobacteria in the study sites will throw light on the health and functioning of the mangrove ecosystem.