Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FLORISTIC DIVERSITY OF LACUSTRINE ECOTONE OF LAKES IN VALSAD DISTRICT, GUJARAT, INDIA

Ayantika Das and Jigna Desai

Abstract

The primary aim of this paper is to determine the floral biodiversity of ten lacustrine ecotones in Valsad district. Secondarily we will find out the factors affecting the floral biodiversity. We investigated the composition and distribution pattern of the flora of ecotones of ten lakes for a period of one year. Jaccardian similarity index was used to analyze the species composition of the lake ecotones under study. Total 131 species of angiospermic plants belonging to 119 genera and 46 families found in the lacustrine ecosystem of the ten lakes under study. Dominant tree families of the area were Fabaceae followed by Apocyanaceae and Lamiaceae. Dominant weed families are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Malvaceae. The study demonstrates the anthropogenic impact on the floral diversity of the plagioclimax lacustrine ecotones and the need for conservation.