International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Environmental Sciences 2319-1414 8 4 2019 10 22 Ecological impact of destruction of mangrove vegetation on juvenile fish populations in Negombo lagoon 14 20 EN Henri Kpèdékpo AKOGBETO 1 International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA), Faculty of Sciences and Technologies (FAST), University Abomey-Calavi, 072 P.O.Box 50, Cotonou, Benin and Unité de Recherche sur les Zones Humides, Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d′Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526 Cotonou, Bénin Emile Didier FIOGBE 2 Unité de Recherche sur les Zones Humides, Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d′Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526 Cotonou, Bénin N.N. Punchihewa 1 Department of Zoology, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka E.M.D Tharangani 2 Department of Zoology, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka > Research Paper 2018 11 27 2019 10 22 The present study was to assess the impact of destruction of mangrove on distribution of juvenile fish. The samples were collected during January 2015 to June 2015 at day time and low tide using a drag net. It was dragged in the water at the edge of the lagoon in two selected sites, Kadolkele (mangrove area) and Liyanagemulla (mangrove cleared area). Total of 102 juvenile fish were collected, belonging to 14 species representing of 11 families. Oryzias melastigma was the most abundant fish species (26.47%), followed by Hemiramphus marginatus (21.56%) and Atherinomorus duodecimalis (9.80%). Hemirhamphus marginatus was the most common species in both habitats. Oryzias melastigma was the most abundant species recorded from mangrove area followed by A. duodecimalis, and H. marginatus. Kadolkele site recorded 13 species while Liyanagemulla recorded 2 species. Diversity of fish associted with mangrove area was higher than that of the other area. This indicates that mangrove areas are the most preferable nursery habitats for juvenile fish. However, it has shown that there is an ecological impact of destruction of mangroves on the distribution of juvenile fish populations.The distribution and abundance of number of species and individuals are highly depend on salinity (P& Copyright@ International Science Community Association