Spatial and seasonal dynamics of plant patches: a study of biodiversity and soil variability along the asmavati riverfront

Patch dynamics play an important role in shaping plant communities by influencing biodiversity, species interactions, and ecological resilience. The stability of patches is highly influenced by environmental disturbances such as seasonal variations, soil composition changes, and human-induced alterations. Thus, the knowledge of structural and functional differences between homogeneous and heterogeneous patches is critical for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. This study assesses species composition, biodiversity, and soil properties across homogeneous and heterogeneous patches along the Asmavati Riverfront, Porbandar. It evaluates seasonal variations in species abundance, richness, and connectivity while analysing the influence of environmental factors on patch stability. The key ecological parameters measured were the Perimeter-Area Ratio, Shape Index, and Nearest Neighbour Distance; phytosociological features included Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index and Simpson's Diversity Index. The patch dynamics of a site also related to the soil physicochemical properties like pH, temperature, and water-holding capacity. The results show that heterogeneous patches have higher species richness, ranging from 11 to 15 species. The Shannon-Weiner Index was higher in heterogeneous patches (1.742 to 2.062) than in homogeneous patches (0.624 to 0.673), showing greater ecological stability. Soil pH varied between 7.2 in winter and 9.5 in summer, and water-holding capacity decreased from 40% to 16% in some patches. The ANOVA results showed that the seasonal variations were significant, especially in species abundance (F = 8.25, p < 0.01) and soil temperature (F = 56.64, p < 1.02 × 10⁻⁷). These results indicate the ecological benefits of patch heterogeneity in maintaining biodiversity and resilience, emphasizing the need for conservation strategies that prioritize diverse habitat structures to ensure long-term ecosystem sustainability.