Analysis of Phytodiversity and Phytosociology of Wetlands in Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, Gujrat

Phytodiversity is the diversity of plant species present in a region. Wetlands vegetation is a significant element of wetland ecosystem by providing unique habitat for other organisms and supporting various crucial ecological functions. (Kokaly et al., 2003; Lin and Liquan 2006; Adam, 2010).  A wetland is an area in which soil is covered or saturated by the water. They are the transitional ecotones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Mitsch and Gosselink 1986; Prasad et al., 2002). Wetlands often described as “kidneys of the Earth” and “Biological supermarkets” as they are the most significant and productive ecosystems on the Earth (Daryadel & Talaei, 2014). There are many definitions of wetlands but widely accepted definition of wetlands given by Ramsar convention (1971), which conclude that wetlands are “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, weather natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.” The qualitative and quantitative assessment of plant species of wetlands is chore for the sustainable management of wetlands and environment. The study of plant communities and vegetation of an area is referred as phytosociology. Additionally, wetland plants are the best indicator of any chemical or physical degradation in wetland ecosystems (Dennison et al., 1993). Wetland vegetation depends on the quality and quantity of water is present in a wetland (Sikorska, 2017). Wetland plants are adapted to hydrological condition of wetlands and called hydrophytes. Gujrat is located in the arid ecoclimatic zone of the country. It has highest number of wetlands in India, covering 3.5 million hectares or 17.8% of the state’s total land area (SAC, 2021). Among which 4 wetlands are designated as Ramsar sites, and the state also have 8 wetlands of national importance. Besides these there are many small wetlands or waterbodies in Gujrat that are not documented yet.  Ahmedabad City is situated in the central part of Gujrat. The city has 122 small and big lakes (Kuchara et al.,2023), Kankariya Lake, Vastrapur Lake, and Chandola Lake are some major urban wetlands present in Ahmedabad. Nal Sarovar and Khijadiya wetland are also located near the Ahmedabad city.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area: The Chandkheda is located in west Zone of Ahmedabad near Gandhinagar, Gujarat. There are 2 major wetlands in Chandkheda, namely Visatmata talav and Vada talav were analyzed. These are natural lacustrine wetlands. The Vada talav wetland is situated at eastern part of Chandkheda at 23°07’15” N latitude and 72°35’22” E longitudes.  This wetland comprises an area of 13,044.52 m², surrounded by agricultural fields. The Visatmata talav is situated at western part of the Chandkheda at 23°07’02” N latitude and 72°34’45” E longitudes. This wetland has an area of 3,597.18 m² and it is surrounded by residential buildings. The region lies in the arid climatic zone and the climate of the area has three main seasons winter, summer, and monsoon. The temperature is extremely harsh in summer and milder in winter.