Mangroves

What are the three types of mangals?

Riverine, Basin, Fringing

What characterizes fringing mangals

Large tidal range

Full salinity

Wave action

what characterizes basin mangals

Lower tidal range

Variable salinity

Lower wave action

What characterizes mangroves

Low to no wave action

Waterlogged, unconsolidated & saline mud

Anaerobic conditions

what is a propagule

Viviparous seedlings

How do mangroves disperse their propagules?

Water dispersal, wind, and animal-assisted pollination

What are characteristics of mudskippers (family Oxudercidae)

Amphibious

‘Walk’ on mud

Tolerant to desiccation

Burrow-dwelling

What role do crabs play in mangrove forests?

Nutrient recycling

bioturbation

increasing oxygen

decreasing sulfide and ammonia

what do Sesarma crabs contribute to mangroves

Nutrient recycling

• Digest mangrove leaves

• Reduce the export of organic matter

• Excretion & egestion

Bioturbation

• Increase oxygen

• Decrease sulfide and ammonia

• Increase mangrove growth & propagule production

What are some ecosystem services provided by mangroves?

Coastal protection

Nursery habitat

Organic production export

Habitat for migrating birds

what contributes to primary production in mangroves

Daily input of marine nutrients

Mangrove trees (90%), algae, diatoms

High productivity, but few herbivores

What makes up the mangrove food web

Sun

primary producers: mud algea and phytoplankton
Detritus - bacteria and other microbes

insects, hermit crabs, fiddler crab, amphipod, zooplankton, ect….

songbird, raccoon, shorebird, young fish

What are the main threats to mangroves?

Logging for fuelwood, conversion to aquaculture, storms, coastal development

How did mangroves help protect coastlines during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?

Absorbed wave energy, reduced damage In areas with coastal vegetation there were less or no deaths

What organisms commonly inhabit mangrove forests?

Mudskippers, fiddler crabs, mangrove crabs, migratory birds