Mangrove Ecosystems

Presented By : Katrina Aleksa

Background

Subtropical and Tropical Wetland

Utilized as a nursery environment

Protect against shoreline erosion

Structure

Shallow waterShallow water

Extensive Root SystemExtensive Root System

Thick Canopy Thick Canopy

High NutrientsHigh Nutrients

Dark EnvironmentDark Environment

Mollusk Study

In The Caribbean Sea

Collected One Root from 17 different Mangrove trees

Found 5,771 individuals

21 species

17 families

(Vilardy and Polania 276)

Juvenile Fish HypothesesJuvenile Fish Hypotheses

1)1) Structure and Root SystemStructure and Root System

2)2) Decrease in PredationDecrease in Predation

3)3) Increase in Food AvailabilityIncrease in Food Availability

Not one, but all make it a productive Not one, but all make it a productive nursery environmentnursery environment

(Laegdsgaard and Johnson)(Laegdsgaard and Johnson)

Juvenile Fish StudyJuvenile Fish Study

Conducted In Spanish Bay, Caribbean SeaConducted In Spanish Bay, Caribbean Sea

Compare and Discover the usage of mangroves, Compare and Discover the usage of mangroves, seagrass beds, and shallow coral reefsseagrass beds, and shallow coral reefs

Results- Results-

Smallest size-classes utilize the seagrass bedsSmallest size-classes utilize the seagrass beds

Middle size-classes utilize the mangrovesMiddle size-classes utilize the mangroves

Large size-classes Large size-classes ((mature/adult)mature/adult) utilize the utilize the reefs reefs

(Cocheret de la Moriniere et al.)(Cocheret de la Moriniere et al.)

Juvenile Fish StudyJuvenile Fish Study (cont.) (cont.)Conclusion-Conclusion-

Seagrass BedsSeagrass Beds→Mangrove→Coral →Mangrove→Coral ReefReef

Some species only utilize one Some species only utilize one habitathabitat

Mangroves more productive than Mangroves more productive than seagrass bedsseagrass beds

All three environments are All three environments are importantimportant

((Cocheret de la Moriniere et al.)Cocheret de la Moriniere et al.)

Human Use• AquacultureAquaculture

• AgricultureAgriculture

• SilvicultureSilviculture

• Urban DevelopmentUrban Development

• Extraction of ProductsExtraction of Products

• Tannins Tannins

• FoodFood

• Medicine Medicine

• TimberTimber

• Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

(Tam and Wong)(Tam and Wong)

Destruction

• 1% of the total mangrove area is being destroyed each year

• About 50% is already gone

• Considered one of the most threatened biomes in the world

• The mangrove trees themselves becoming threatened

(Tam and Wong)

Destruction FactsDestruction Facts • 60-70% of mangroves around 60-70% of mangroves around Thailand and Philippines turned to Thailand and Philippines turned to shrimp farms and are destroyed shrimp farms and are destroyed within 3-5 yearswithin 3-5 years

• China in 1950’s had 42,000 ha, now China in 1950’s had 42,000 ha, now has 24,115 hahas 24,115 ha

• Hong Kong-Hong Kong-

Deep Bay- lost 85% Deep Bay- lost 85%

Tolo Harbor- lost 45%Tolo Harbor- lost 45%

(Tam and Wong)(Tam and Wong)

Conservation

Public Education

International Policy to preserve the Mangroves and other wetlands

ReferencesCocheret de la Moriniere, E., B.J.A. Pollux, I. Nagelkerken, and G. van der Velde.

Post-settlement Life Cycle Migration Patterns and Habitat Preference of Coral Reef Fish that use Seagrass and Mangrove Habitats as Nurseries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 55: 2002. 309-321.

Duke, N.C. and A.E. Schwartzbach. Life on the edge: Past and future of mangroves. Wetlands Ecology and Mangement. 9: 2001. 159.

Laegdsgaard, Pia and Craig Johnson. Why do juvenile fish utilise mangrove habitats?. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 257: 2001. 229-253.

Mitsch, William J. and James G. Gosselink. Wetlands. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY. 2000.

Tam, Nora F.Y. and Y.S. Wong. Conservationans sustainable exploitation of mangroves in Hong Kong. Trees. 16: 2002. 224-229.

Vilardy, Sandra and Jaime Polania. Mollusc fauna of the mangrove root-fouling community at the Colombian Archipelago of San Andre and Old Providence. Wetlands Ecology and Mangement. 10: 2002. 273-282.