Vegetation structure and potential gross primary productivity of mangroves at Kadolkele in Meegamuwa (Negombo) estuary, Sri Lanka

The potential gross primary productivity of the mangrove stands at Kadolkele in Meegamuwa (Negombo) estuary was studied in relation to vegetation structure with a view to understanding the salient structural components that affect functioning of mangrove ecosystems. Structure of mangrove stands under study was characterized with plant species richness, plant (stem) density, frequency of occurrence of constituent species, plant basal area and height. The structural complexity index values calculated from above parameters revealed a statistically significant (p DOI: 10.4038/sljas.v13i0.2209 Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 13 (2008): 95-108

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