Measuring Biodiversity Index

Survey of Plants at Dhanmondi Lakeside Park

Fall 2019
 Report on
Measuring Biodiversity Index
Survey of Plants at Dhanmondi Lakeside Park

Submitted to:

Rumana Sultana, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor & Research Associate

Biodiversity & Nature Conservation ( GED 227 )

Section: 01
Center for Sustainable Development (CSD)

Submitted by:

Mahmuda Hossain 171011007

Nur-A-Zannat Maliha 171011074
Jahid Khan Rahat 171011211
Shahrier Kabir Chowdhury 171011231
Najib Alam 172011105

University of Liberal arts Bangladesh

Submitted on:
31st December, 2019.
 Introduction

Biodiversity means the diversity and variability of plants and other living organisms in a
particular area. It is usually a measure of variant of genetic, species and ecosystem level.
Biodiversity Index is a measure of these diversities which considers the number of species
present of these plants and animals plus, richness of each species.

For this particular report we have chosen the Dhanmondi lakeside area. When in 1956,
Dhanmondi was developed as a residential area the lake was designed to provide aesthetic and
recreational benefit to the residents of this particular area ("Dhanmondi Lake", n.d.). Since then
the lakeside area has become a well visited tourist spot because of its serenity and greenness
provided by many varieties of plants.

For measuring biodiversity index focusing on plants in an urban city like Dhaka, Dhanmondi
lakeside area is a very suitable place. So our team visited this chosen area for conducting the
survey.
 Methodology & Study site

As Dhanmondi lakeside area is almost 240.70 hectare (Ahmed, 2019) covering the whole area for
5 of us is quite a task. For better results of the study we chose particular area of 500 meter of
the lake side area and used the Transect method for this study. A transect method is carried
out by unrolling lines along the gradient identified. There are many variant such as, line, stripe,
belt, point. For our study we have used curved line transect.

Illustration 1: Whole Area of Dhanmondi Lake from Google Map

Illustration 2: Actual Study Area

‘Illustration 1’ shows the whole Dhanmondi lakeside area in Google Map, whereas ‘Illustration
2’ shows the actual study area in Images where the survey was conducted.
The study was done on 28th December between 10 Am to 12 Pm. It was a regular winter
morning, temperature between 15° C to 19° C with clear skies. Our team started from point A
and finished at point B (shown in Illustration 3), covering 500 m and collected the plants’
names and numbers alongside the line. As our team members are not expert in identifying
plants, we took help from the local Nursery Shop Owner who has extensive knowledge on this.

All our team members carried first aids tools with enough water and snacks with them while
conducting the survey.
 Biodiversity Index

Simpson’s Diversity Index is a measure of diversity which takes into account the amount of
species present, as well as the relative richness of each species. When the species evenness
with richness increases, the biodiversity upsurges as well. The value is symbolized with the
“D” and the value ranges between 0 & 1.

Illustration 3: Actual Study area with 500 m transect line.

 Survey of Plants at Dhanmondi Lakeside Park

SPECIES NUMBER (n) n/N (n/N)2

MEHEGONI 11 0.05851 0.00342342
KOROI 9 0.04787 0.00229154
BOKUL 6 0.03191 0.00101825
EUCALYPTUS 7 0.03723 0.00138607
KODOM 5 0.02660 0.00070756
KATHAL 23 0.12234 0.01496708
DAAB 13 0.06915 0.00478172
DEBDARU 19 0.10106 0.01021312
KAATH BADAM 17 0.09043 0.00817758
BOTGAACH 6 0.03191 0.00101825
TAAL 3 0.01596 0.00025472
TOGOR 11 0.05851 0.00342342
JAMRUL 3 0.01596 0.00025472
SHUPARI 6 0.03191 0.00101825
PEYARA 5 0.02660 0.00070756
NEEM 17 0.09043 0.00817758
AAM 4 0.02128 0.00045284
KOLAPOTI 4 0.02128 0.00045284
JAAM 3 0.01596 0.00025472
KAMRANGA 7 0.03723 0.00138607
MISCELLENIOUS 9 0.04787 0.00229154

TOTAL 188 0.066659

D=1- [ ∑(n/N)2 ]
= 1- 0.066659
= 0.933341

So, D = 0.933341.
 Findings

From the above data using Simpson’s Diversity Index, where D value is high and close to 1. A
higher D value is good for biodiversity of a particular area. From this value we can tell for this
area the plants’ species are higher in richness and evenness. From this we can also tell the
habitat in this particular area is also diverse and good for other living animals. As we know
more plants and trees provide more foods and shelters for other living beings like animals,
birds, insects and bacteria. Because of this it becomes a biodiversity hotspot as food supply,
food chains and food webs remain healthy. Also a small area like this with this level of index
strongly balances the cycles that are important for climate regulation like water, carbon and
nitrogen cycle. Air quality, water quality and it’s level remains better for that particular area.
The cooling effect keeps the temperature low in the surrounding areas as well.

Conclusion

As the plants have higher richness and evenness in this particular area of Dhanmondi lake the
biodiversity and climate regulation are healthy and strong in this area and will be able to resist
some level of environmental impact. But we also have to keep that in mind, other surrounding
areas of Dhanmondi lake doesn’t show similar attributions. There are dissimilarities in plants
variations, distributions and also human involvements and activities.

References

Ahmed, N. (2019). Saving Dhanmondi Lake. Retrieved 30 December 2019, from

https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/environment/news/saving-dhanmondi-lake-
1795978
Dhanmondi Lake. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanmondi_Lake