Ecological investigation of Urpad beel: A major wetland of Goalpara district of Assam, India.

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the ecological study of Urbad beel of Goalpara district of Assam with reference to aquatic plant community. The study was carried out during the year 2016 to 2017. Diversity indices viz. Shannon-Weiner diversity index, Simpson diversity index, Menhinick diversity index and Concentration of dominance were calculated to show the plant community structure of the wetland. A total of 93 aquatic macrophytic plant species belonging to 74 genera and 45 families have been reported from the wetland. Based on IVI value, Eichhornia crassipes was the most dominant species (IVI= 22.54) followed by Hygroryza aristata (IVI= 19.96), Arundo donax (IVI= 8.21) respectively whereas Cyperus brevifolius (IVI= 0.768) showed the lowest IVI value among all the life forms of the aquatic macrophytes of the wetland. Results showed that anthropogenic disturbances inside the wetland areas are the prime factor for losing aquatic plant community of the wetland. The obtained Shannon -diversity index values (3.06 and 2.18) both in summer and winter seasons indicate the further degradation of the wetland. Therefore, anthropogenic activities inside the wetland areas should be prevented for the sustainable existence of the wetland as well as the livelihood of the fringe villagers.

Wetland Changes and Ecosystem Services Valuation of Kapla Beel in Assam

“…The beel is surrounded by villages, grazing lands, agricultural lands and wetlands. Most of the people residing in its vicinity are directly or indirectly dependent upon wetland resources for their living (Deka, 2009). The section below discusses about the LULC changes of Kapla beel area.…”

“…37,85,420 6,20,66,798.6 -2,17,18,621.40 Net present value of wetland ecosystem services 69,82,11,836 51,72,23,321.7 -18,09,88,514.30 Source: Unit value/hectare/year related to crop cultivation and fish is collected from field survey; other services unit value data were obtained from Ramachandra, Sincy and Asulabha, 2021. Value of provisioning services provided by raw materials, genetic resources, medicinal resources and ornamental resources has been declining with the fall in the area of the Kapla beel due to invasion of exotic aquatic weed like Eichhornia crassipes and some other dominant aquatic macrophytes which after death and decay increased the peat formation in the wetland increasing the shallowness of the Kapla beel (Deka et al, 2015).…”