BEACH FLORA ALONG THE COAST OF GAHIRMATHA MARINE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (ODISHA), INDIA

Beach flora along the maritime ecosystem is very sensitive and fragile in nature. Studies on floral species composition and their ecological role in the sensitive coastal and marine ecosystem of Indian coast in general and coast of Odisha in particular are scanty. Keeping in view, a detailed survey along the coast of Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapara district, Odisha was conducted. A total of 67 species under 62 genera belonging to 36 families of flowering plants were collected and identified at different localities from the shoreline towards inland of the coastline. The floral composition of sandy beach of Gahirmatha coast was found to be rich and diverse. The sensitive ecosystem need to be protected from habitat degradation in order to provide congenial niche for the diverse beach elements that caters the ecological functioning and also supporting the associated floral as well as faunal assemblages in the area.