The ecological and economic importance of mangroves is highly recognized in Asia, especially after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The Nicobar archipelago that sustained greater damage due to the 2004 tsunami and subsidence provides a unique case to the tsunami-related mangrove literature. We analyzed the trends in mangrove vegetation recovery from two severely impacted sites (one each with and without remnant vegetation) in the Nicobar archipelago using vegetation data collected during two field seasons (2010-2011 and 2019) and long-term satellite remote sensing data (2004 -2019). We found that the recovery rates in terms of stem density and vegetation cover were much higher in the site with remnant vegetation compared to the site without remnant vegetation. Especially, the vegetation recovery rates were higher in the landward mangrove zone compared to the seaward mangrove zone. The species composition especially in the landward zones has changed drastically during the study period. Rhizophora mucronata dominated the seaward zone of both the sites, while Lumitzera racemosa, L. littorea, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Sonneratia alba dominated the landward zones. The geomorphology of study sites seems to play a critical role in the landward transgression process of mangroves. Long-term ecological monitoring in the study sites inclusive of mangrove fauna and soil processes can greatly enhance the knowledge on mangrove recovery following this unique natural disturbance. Moreover, such an approach can provide much-needed insights for the management and restoration of the ecologically and economically important mangrove ecosystems.
The present paper deals with the first study of polyclad fauna from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep. Through this study, Pseudobiceors apricus, Pseudobiceros hymanae and Pseudoceros bolool are recorded for the first time from Lakshadweep waters while Pseudoceros bicolor is recorded for the first time from Indian waters. Description of two new species, Pseudoceros agattiensis sp. nov. and Pseuodoceros stellans sp. nov. is also provided with good quality photographs of external and internal details. Pseudoceros agattiensis sp. nov. is characterized by a brown to black background colour, with minute white spots, marginal band thick and black with minute white spots present at very edge of the margin, three dorsal longitudinal white bands, out of which, two are laterally branched. Pseudoceros stellans sp. nov. displays a brown background colour with a black marginal band and completely covered with lighter microdots and a unique pattern of white dorsal blotches. This study adds to the knowledge of Indian polyclads, which are still an understudied group from Indian waters.
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