Mangrove Vegetation Zones in Ranong Coastal Wetland Ecosystem, Thailand

Abstract

Mangrove zonation in Ranong coastal wetland ecosystem was conducted from December 2007 to February 2008 using the Point Centered Quarter (PCQ) method to determine vegetation zones and dominant mangrove species. Mangrove vegetation zones were evaluated using cluster analysis particularly the standardized relative Euclidean distance. Seven zones were identified and named after the dominant species: Zone I) Rhizophora apiculata - Xylocarpus granatum, Zone II) Rhizophora apiculata - Ceriops decandra, Zone III) Avicennia officinalis, Zone IV) Avicennia marina, Zone V) Rhizophora apiculata - Rhizophora mucronata, Zone VI) Rhizophora apiculata-Avicennia officinalis and Zone VII) Rhizophora apiculata.The dominant mangrove species in Zones I, II, V, VI and VII was Rhizophora apiculata, while Avicennia officinalis and A. marina were the dominant species in Zones III and IV, respectively. We recommended that dominant native species be utilized for mangrove habitat restoration and mangrove biodiversity corridor establishment in a linear pattern in Ranong coastal landscape, Thailand.