@article {2057,
	title = {Floral diversity of six mangrove forests along the northwestern coastline of wet, intermediate and dry climate zones of Sri Lanka},
	journal = {Wildlanka},
	volume = {3},
	year = {2015},
	pages = {84-94},
	abstract = {Although the primary role of mangrove vegetations as photosynthetic primaryproducers, they are the basis of a complex and productive ecosystem. The mangrove forests in\&nbsp;the tropics are threatened due to the immense human pressure especially through infrastructure\&nbsp;development and aquaculture. Therefore information on the change of mangrove species\&nbsp;diversity in different climate conditions and in the location of the forest is useful for restorationand identifying the conservation needs. The species diversity of six mangrove forests of\&nbsp;three different climate regions was examined in this study. Species diversity in bottom, hydromorphic\&nbsp;fringe, non-hydromorphic fringe and upland segments of each forest was alsostudied. There was no clear species difference in different climate regions. The highest diversity\&nbsp;was reported in Negombo Lagoon of wet zone followed by Chilaw Lagoon of dry zone.\&nbsp;Avicennia marina, Excoecaria agallocha, Lumnitzera recemosa and Rhizophora mucronata\&nbsp;were found in all six forests. Aegicereas corniculatum, Bruigera gymnorrhiza and B. sexangula\&nbsp;were found only in wet and intermediate zones. The lowest species diversity was identified in\&nbsp;the bottom segments having R. mucronata, R. apiculata, Acanthus ilicifolius and Scyphiphora\&nbsp;hydrophyllacea. The highest diversity was recorded in the non-hydromorphic fringe segment\&nbsp;where 14 out of 15 totally recorded species were found in that region. Several threats to the\&nbsp;mangrove forests, especially due to infrastructure developments and shrimp farming were\&nbsp;also identified.},
	author = {Nigamuni, SS and SMCUP Subasinghe}
}
