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A New Record of Seagrass Halophila Beccarii Ascherson in Bangladesh

Abu Hena Mustafa Kanal*
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong- 4331, Bangladesh

F. Short
Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, Department of Natural Resources,University of New Hampshire, 85 Adams Point Road, Durham, NH 03824, USA

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The seagrass Halophila beccarii Ascherson was collected from the intertidal area of Bakkhali estuarine environment, situated at Cox’s Bazar in the south-east coastal area of Bangladesh. Seagrass H. beccarii was found in an accrete area and co-existed with mangroves (Avicennia alba and A. marina) and salt marsh (Porteresia coarctata) and scattered sparsely in the salt marsh habitat and macroalgae Ulva intestinalis. The morphological structures, especially vegetative, distribution and environmental parameters are discussed. The discovery of H. beccarii from the vicinity of Bakkhali estuarine environment is a new record and increases the number of published seagrasses species known in Bangladesh waters to three.

Keywords: Seagrass, Halophila beccarii Ascherson, Bakkhali estuary, Bangladesh

Location: Bakkhali estuarine environment, situated at Cox’s Bazar in the south-east coastal area of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-02-2006

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Plant

Objectives:

This paper describes the vegetative structures of the plant as well as notes its distribution and environmental parameters.

Methodology:

The seagrass Halophila beccarii specimens were collected from the intertidal area in the vicinity of Bakkhali estuarine environment physically by the authors during the field visit in February 2006. The study area is situated at 20° 85´40”-20°46´ 92” N latitude and 91° 96´ 60”–92° 34´ 37” E longitude. Materials were processed for herbarium specimen as described by Waycott et al., (2004) and some were preserved in 4% formalin in saline water for further examination. All specimens are currently kept by the first author. Collection and Analysis of Environmental Parameters During the study period, the water temperature, transparency and water salinity were measured in situ using mercury thermometer, Secchi disk (30 cm in diameter) and salinity refractometer (o~100%, OSK, Japan), respectively. Soil samples of seagrass bed were collected using a mud corer, placed in the plastic bags and labeled. After collection, all samples were brought back to the Laboratory of Estuarine, Coastal and Aquaculture Research (LECAR) within 2-4 h for analysis. In the laboratory, the samples were dried at 100°C for 24 h and powdered, sieved through a 0.5 mm stainless steel sieve and kept in a desiccator for further analysis. The texture of the soil was analyzed following the procedure described by Bouycous (1962).

Source of Information: CMU. J. Nat. Sci. (2009) Vol. 8(2) 201

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The seagrass ecosystems also serve as an alternative feeding site for forage species and seagrass itself acts as a nutrient source in the near-by ecosystems. This species has not been reported in the coastal area of Bangladesh except this report. No threat was observed during the present research due to lack of facilities such as funding and equipment. The biology and ecology of this species in the coastal area of Bangladesh is not well understood. However, it is assumed that this species is in danger due to huge amount of siltation from the land and the sea level rise may change the zonation profile of these coastal macrophytes.

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