Abstract The 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake (9.3 Mw) and subsequent tsunami caused upliftment and subsidence throughout the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. This incident has significantly impacted the mangroves (97% vegetation loss) and coastal ecosystems of the Nicobar archipelago. Interestingly, the coastal subsidence has also created new intertidal habitats in the erstwhile agricultural lands and terrestrial forests, which provided an opportunity for the colonization of mangrove species. During our long-term monitoring of mangrove colonization in the Nicobar archipelago, we collected Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco (Primulaceae) from Alreak, in Nicobar Islands. The occurrence of this species forms a new distributional record for the Nicobar archipelago. The present article provides detailed information on its taxonomy, ecology, and discusses the potential future spread of this species in the Nicobar Islands.

Abstract The 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake (9.2 Mw) and tsunami that followed it resulted in uplift and subsidence across the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. This unusual natural event severely affected the mangrove and coastal ecosystems across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The tsunami and land drowning of 1.1-2.85 m resulted in considerable loss of mangrove habitats in the Nicobar archipelago. Meanwhile, the land drowning also created new intertidal habitats in the earlier terrestrial zones that are now providing suitable conditions for the colonization of mangroves. During the long-term monitoring of mangrove colonization in these new inter-tidal zones, we identified the first occurrence of the Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. in the Nicobar archipelago. The distribution of A. marina and the characteristics of its colonizing sites are discussed herein.