Ecology and Biodiversity of Indian Mangroves (2 Vols-Set)

Contents: Preface. Part I: 1. Introduction. 2. Geographical position of the Sundarbans, West Bengal--in the lower Ganga delta. Geology and land types of the lower Ganga delta: the Sundarbans. 3. The major factors governing the mangrove ecosystem. 4. Mangrove environment and mangrove distribution. 5. Sundarbans biosphere reserve--its aims and objectives. 6. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem--a brief review. 7. Mangroves and the distribution of mangroves in the world: i. Definition of mangroves. ii. World distribution of mangroves. iii. Origin and geological status of mangroves. iv. Mangrove evolution and palynological studies. v. The early mention or reports of the mangroves. vi. Salinity tolerance and productivity of mangroves: A. Osmoregulation mechanism and salt balancing in mangroves. B. Salt concentration and growth of the mangroves: a. Salt exclusion. b. Salt extrusion. c. Salt accumulation. vii. Characteristics of the mangrove flora. viii. Protective and economic roles played by these mangroves. 8. Mangrove ecosystems, mangroves and mangrove associated flora in the Indian sub-continent: A. Mangroves in the west coast of India. B. Mangroves in the east coast of India. 9. Present status and stresses on the mangroves and mangrove. 10. Present status and stresses on the mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of the Bangladesh Sundarbans. 11. Comparative studies of the mangroves of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh and Indian territories. 12. Present status of management practices, vis-a-vis, Mangal Destruction in the Sundarbans in Indian part. 13. Early history of the Sundarbans, the past and present botanical activities on the mangroves in India. 14. Root architectures and intertidal adaptations of mangroves in the Sundarbans of West Bengal, India: a. Pneumatophores. b. Knee roots. c. Stilt or proop roots. d. Root buttresses. e. Pneumatothodes. f. Flanges. g. Surface cable roots or plank roots. 15. Shoot, stem and canopy structures of the Sundarbans mangroves. 16. Leaf structures of the mangroves. 17. Flowers, fruits and seed germinations of the major mangroves. 18. Biological and ecological features of the mangroves and mangrove associates in Indian Sundarbans: A. Major elements of the mangroves. B. Minor elements of the mangroves. C. Mangroves associates or back mangals. D. Other halophytic plants in the intertidal mangrove zones of the Sundarbans, India. E. Few xerophytic plants on the sand dunes or river bank. F. Algal flora of the Sundarbans. 19. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystems of the old world and new world: i. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Sri Lanka. ii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Pakistan. iii. Atoll mangroves from the Republic of Maldives. iv. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Mauritius. v. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of the Republic of Seychelles. vi. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of east coast of Africa: a. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of South Africa. b. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Mozambique. c. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Tanzania. d. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Kenya. vii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Madagescar Republic. viii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Thailand. ix. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Singapore. x. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Malaysia. xi. Mangroves of Matang on the west coast of Peninsular Malaya. xii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Indonesia: a. Mangroves in Java. b. Mangroves in Sumatra. c. Mangroves in Indonesian Kalimantan. d. Mangroves in the Sulawesi. e. Mangroves in the Irian Jaya. xiii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Philippines Islands. xiv. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Vietnam. xv. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Kampuchea. xvi. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Burma. xvii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of S.W. Japan. xviii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of other Pacific Islands. xix. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Fiji. xx. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Papua New Guinea. xxi. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of Australia. xxii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of New Zealand. xxiii. Mangroves and mangrove ecosystem of the new world tropics and sub-tropics.

Part II: 20. Morphometric features of the mangroves and associated flora of the Sundarbans: i. Key to the families. ii. Taxonomic enumeration of the true mangrove families: Family: I. Rhizophoraceae. II. Avicenniaceae. III. Sonneratiaceae. IV. Combretaceae. V. Arecaceae. VI. Sterculiaceae. VII. Meliaceae. VIII. Euphorbiaceae. IX. Myrsinaceae. X. Rubiaceae. XI. Plumbaginaceae. XII. Pteridaceae. XIII. Acanthaceae. XIV. Tiliaceae. XV. Malvaceae. XVI. Rutaceae. XVII. Fabaceae. XVIII. Asclepiadaceae. XIX. Amaryllidaceae. XX. Chenopodiaceae. XXI. Boraginaceae. XXII. Convolvulaceae. XXIII. Aizoaceae. XXIV. Verbinaceae. XXV. Loranthaceae. XXVI. Poaceae. XXVII. Tamaricaceae. XXVIII. Solanaceae. iii. Other frequent back mangal families: Family: 1. Barringtoniaceae. 2. Bignoniaceae. 3. Malvaceae. 4. Asclepiadaceae. 5. Pandanaceae. 6. Meliaceae. 7. Tamaricaceae. 8. Chenopodiaceae. 9. Verbinaceae. 10. Cactaceae. 11. Lauraceae. 12. Poaceae. 13. Cyperaceae. 14. Ruppiaceae. 15. Sapotaceae. 16. Araceae. 17. Cuscutaceae. 21. Anatomical features of the mangroves: Family: I. Rhizophoraceae. II. Avicenniaceae. III. Sonneratiaceae. IV. Combretaceae. V. Arecaceae. VI. Sterculiaceae. VII. Meliaceae. VIII. Euphorbiaceae. IX. Myrsinaceae. X. Rubiaceae. XI. Plumbaginaceae. XII. Pteridaceae. XIII. Acanthaceae. XIV. Tiliaceae. XV. Malvaceae. XVI. Rutaceae. XVII. Fabaceae. XVIII. Asclepiadaceae. XIX. Amaryllidaceae. XX. Chenopodiaceae. XXI. Boragiaceae. XXII. Convolvulaceae. XXIII. Aizoaceae. XXIV. Verbenaceae. XXV. Loranthaceae. XXVI. Poaceae. XXVII. Tamariaceae. XXVIII. Solanaceae. 23. Critical estimation on the anatomical features of mangroves and their Halophytic adaptations in the saline zones. 23. Overview on the mangroves anatomy and successions. 24. Palynology of mangroves : its impact on the past and present evolutional, ecological and biodiversity estimation. 25. Filamentous algal flora of the Sundarbans attached with the soil, mangrove roots and stem or trunk bases. 26. Selected bibliography on the mangroves. 27. Index.

"Mangroves--the threatened coastal intertidal halophytic flora play very dominant and important roles in the estuarine mouths, sea-land interphase areas or deltaic ecosystems of both the tropical and sub-tropical zones, especially in the highly populated South-East Asian countries, several Pacific Islands and Australian coasts. Inspite of their important roles and immense ecological impacts, these mangroves and the mangrove ecosystems have faced both biotic and abiotic threat and these highly productive mangrove zones have been cleared or the mangrove ecosystems have also been degraded very rapidly during the last three centuries.

"In these perspectives, the mangroves and the mangrove associates of the Indian Sundarbans are described in relation to their morphometric features, anatomical characteristics and also with their distinct halophytic adaptations. Besides their structural and habitat distinctness, their economic importances, distributions in the different mangrove habitats of the Indian sub-continent and the mangals of both old and new world tropics and sub-tropics are also highlighted based on the pioneer works on the Indian and world mangroves." (jacket)