Research overview: rising salinity and mangrove change in Sundarbans tiger habitat

Beyond outright inundation, sea-level rise and reduced freshwater flow are increasing salinity in the Sundarbans, shifting mangrove species composition and forest productivity that underpin tiger habitat. This overview surveys how salinity gradients alter the dominance of species such as Sundri and how that affects the structure of the forest, its prey base, and tiger movement. It reviews the role of upstream water diversion and changing monsoon patterns in the freshwater-saltwater balance. The synthesis frames salinization as a slower, less visible climate stressor than flooding but one that can degrade habitat quality across the forest, illustrating why Sundarbans tiger research considers hydrology and vegetation, not just shorelines.