A mangrove community along the oligohaline zone of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF), Bangladesh was selected to study stand structure, biomass accumulation, and carbon storage. Field data were measured from six plots of 2400 m 2 at three different locations. Species diversity and species wise contribution to total biomass carbon (TBC) were also analyzed. Heritiera fomes has maintained its dominance (53.8%, relative density) of the stand. The mean above-and below-ground biomass carbon stock of the mangrove community was 76.8 Mg ha¡1 and 41.1 Mg ha ¡1 , respectively. Avicennia officinalis contributed the highest TBC accumulation. Individuals of different mangrove species having diameter 9.99 cm constituted more than 72% of the mangrove stand but contributed less in carbon accumulation, representing only 15.6% of the TBC. While individuals having diameter in the 10-56 cm range constituted only 28% of stand density but contributed to high carbon accumulation, representing 84.4% of the TBC. Mangrove communities growing along the oligohaline zone of the SRF show high species richness and carbon stock, indicating their ecological significance, This needs to be considered in future decision making processes for the area as well as in understanding the role of SRF on mitigating the effects of climate change.

Mangroves in the subtropical area of Japan are growing to their northern limits, yet little is known of their phenology. The aim of the present study was to understand both vegetative and reproductive phenology patterns, such as leaf emergence, leaf fall, bud setting, flowering, fruiting and propagule setting, in the mangrove Kandelia obovata. The phenology of this species was assessed using litter-fall data for 5 years. Leaf and stipule litter-falls continued with a clear monthly pattern throughout the years. New leaf production and leaf fall peaked in summer, immediately after the propagules fell. Leaf and stipule litter-falls were linked to monthly sunshine hour, and monthly mean air temperature and monthly mean air relative humidity, respectively. Kandelia obovata had a distinct flowering period, with the flowering phenophase starting in spring and continuing into summer. Fruit initiation started at the end of summer and continued into autumn, whereas propagule production occurred during winter and spring. Flowering of K. obovata was influenced by monthly sunshine hour and monthly mean air temperature, whereas fruit and propagule litter-falls were not linked to any climatic factors. The present results showed that a small portion (4.4%) of flowers developed into propagules. The average development period from flower buds to mature propagules was approximately 11 months. Kendall's consistency coefficient suggested that the monthly trends in vegetative and reproductive litter-fall components, except for branches, did not change significantly among years.

Background: The article presents the first estimates of biomass and productivity for mangrove forests along the Oligohaline zone of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF), Bangladesh. This study was conducted overone year from March 2016 to April 2017. Stand structure, above and below-ground biomass changes, and litterfall production were measured within a 2100 m 2 sample plot.