a b s t r a c t
We evaluated carbon stocks in the above-ground biomass (AGB) of three dominant mangrove species
(Sonneratia apetala, Avicennia alba and Excoecaria agallocha) in the Indian Sundarbans. We examined
whether these carbon stocks vary with spatial locations (western region vs. central region) and with
seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon). Among the three studied species, S. apetala showed
the maximum above-ground carbon storage (t ha−1) followed by A. alba (t ha−1) and E. agallocha (t ha−1).
The above-ground biomass (AGB) varied significantly with spatial locations (p < 0.05) but not with seasons
(p < 0.05). The variation may be attributed to different environmental conditions to which these areas
are exposed to such as higher siltation and salinity in central region compared to western region. The
relatively higher salinity in central region caused subsequent lowering of biomass and stored carbon of
the selected species.