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Preliminary Taxonomic Survey of Aquatic Plants of Feni District, Bangladesh

Mohammad Zashim Uddin
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Joton Chandra Pal
Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Preliminary taxonomic survey of aquatic plants of Feni district was conducted between July 2016 and June 2017. Traditional taxonomic techniques and random meander methods were applied to record and collect aquatic plant species. A total of 56 aquatic plant species under 29 families were recorded from Feni district. Ecological habitats of aquatic plant species showed variations. Among them, 30% species prefer to grow near the edge of water, 20% as rooted submerged, 18% as rooted emergent, 16% as free floating, 12% as rooted floating and 4% surface creeper in the aquatic habitat. The uses of aquatic plants were showed that 27% species were used as fodder, 14% as medicinal, 11% as vegetable, 11% as edible fruits, 5% as duck weeds, 2% as artifacts and 30% as others purposes in the study area. Abundance of aquatic plant species in the habitat was showed variations. Among them 9% was found very abundant, 30% found common and 61% found rare in the study area. Based on the field observations and discussion with local people we were able to identify a good number of threats to aquatic plants and also pointed out some conservation measures for them. It was seemed that the species Achyranthes aquatica (thuash), Oenanthe javanica (painnaadani), and Chumannianthus dichotomus (patipata) were found to be limited in distribution outside Feni. These rare species need to be given priority for in situ and ex situ conservation.

Keywords: Preliminary; Taxonomic survey; Aquatic plants; Feni district.

Location: Feni, south-eastern district of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2016

End Date: 00-00-2017

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Plant

Objectives:

In the present study an attempt has been made to achieve the following objectives: to conduct the taxonomic survey of aquatic plants with all relevant data and also to find threats and to suggest some conservation measures for the aquatic plants of Feni district.

Methodology:

Feni is a south-eastern district of Bangladesh and lies between 22º44´and 23º17´N and between 91º15´and 91º35´ E. The total area of the district is about 990.36 sq. km. The district is bounded on the north by Cumilla district and Tripura (India), on the east by Tripura (India), on the south by Chittagong district and on the west by Noakhali district. The district consists of 6 upazilas including Chhagalnaiya, Daganbhuiyan, Feni Sadar, Parshuram, Phulgazi and Sonagazi. The Feni, Selonia, Kohua and Muhuri are the main rivers of this district. There is huge number of manmade ponds present in the district. Maximum areas of Feni are flooded by four main rivers during monsoon. Sea water cannot reach to the cultivated land because of Muhuri dam. The area enjoys tropical climate with high rainfall and flush flood during monsoon period. The dry period the area has gone under boro cultivation using water from Muhuri project, a dam made in the estuary of Feni and Muhuri rivers. The vegetation type is similar to the vegetation of the lower Gangetic plain and other districts in the southern region of the country (Ishaq, 1977). A number of field works for aquatic plants survey (Hyland, 1972; Alexiades, 1996) were conducted in different seasons of the year between 2016 and 2017. The survey areas were included seasonal and permanent water bodies, flood plains, rivers, ponds, and streams. Special efforts were given to find the species of conservation concern including threatened, endemic and rare. Maximum identifications were done at the field site and in case of confusion in identity, fertile plant specimens were collected and processed using standard herbarium techniques (Hyland, 1972). The Identification and updated nomenclature of the species were confirmed with standard literature (Uddin and Hassan, 2004; Siddiqui et al., 2007; Ahmed et al., 2008a,b; 2009a,b,c,d).Threatened categories of plants were recognized following Khan et al. (2001). Some noxious exotic plant species were also determined comparing with the reports of Hossain and Pasha (2004). Families were determined according to Cronquist (1981). Voucher specimens were deposited at Dhaka University Salar Khan Herbarium (DUSH).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 27(1): 103?111, 2020 (June)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present study in aquatic habitats of Feni district was first initiation. The record 56 aquatic plant species is the good indication of species richness. Further study in the district may enrich the list of aquatic plants. The finding of some interesting rare aquatic plants with their local uses made the demand for their conservation in the aquatic habitats. It was seemed that the species Achyrantehs aquatica (thuash), Oenanthe javanica (painnaadani), and Chumannianthus dichotomus (patipata) were found to be limited in distribution outside Feni. These rare species need to be given priority for the conservation either in natural habitats or at the ponds otherwise it will be lost from the nature before known to scientific world for the evaluation of their medicinal properties. The presence of Muhuri dam (an irrigation project) is one of the strongest divers for the elimination of aquatic plant species from the nature. As the results of the present study are very preliminary, sound conclusion was not possible here. Further long term study is needed.

Knowledge Management: Journal