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Journal of Functional and Environmental Botany

Volume 2, Number 1, May, 2012, 22-26Article DOI:10.5958/j.2231-1742.2.1.003

Research Article

Shannon Diversity Index (H) as an Ecological Indicator ofEnvironmental Pollution - A GIS Approach

Pulak Das1*, Santosh Joshi2, Jayashree Rout3 and DK Upreti4

1Former Ph.D. Student, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar,

Assam788011, India, and Independent Environment Researcher, House No.-2, Lane No.-2, 1st Link

Road, Silchar-788006, Cachar, Assam, India2Research Scholar, Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Division, CSIR-

National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (UP)226001, India3Professor, Depart. of Ecology and Environmental Sci., Assam University, Silchar, Assam788011, India4Senior Principal Scientist Lichenology Laboratory, Plant Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Division,CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (UP)226001, India

*E-mail id: pulakdas.ecology@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The present work deals with the application of Shannon Index to explore the spatial extent and pattern of

air pollution around a paper mill. The index measures the change in lichen diversity in response to the

polluted environment around a paper mill in Assam, North-East India. The Shannon index around the

paper mill ranged from 0.56 at 2.4 km to 1.20 at 13.7 km with a mean value of 0.92. About 47% of the sites

have Shannon index value below mean value. The index does not show significant correlation with thedistance from the paper mill. The values are plotted with the help of kriging interpolation and an air quality

model is prepared. The dark shades in the model indicate highly polluted regions while the brighter

shades indicate less polluted to clean areas. Higher polluted areas with low values of Shannon index are

the regions around and nearer to the paper mill, town area, and around stone crusher units. It is concludedthat the Shannon index is a potential indicator to measure the effect of air pollution and can be used to

delineate the pollution zones around any industrial area.

KEYWORDS: Shannon diversity index; lichen; kriging; paper mill