Aquatic: Molluscs: - Molluscs that are filter feeders are found here. - They have a commercial value. - They grow on the roots of mangroves (e.g. Oysters and mangrove mussels), or burrow between the roots (e.g. mangrove cockles and mangrove clams). - Ship worms (Teredinidae) feed entirely on dead mangroves. Crustaceans: - Sesarmid crabs and Ocypodid crabs consume leaf litter. - Mangroves provide nurseries for penaeid prawns (not solely though). Fish: - Mangroves as an environment create an area that is plentiful in food and shelter. - Many coral reef fish use the mangrove forests as nurseries. - Acts as a shelter for foraging fish adjacent to seagrass and coral reefs. Insects and microbes: - Termites consume dead wood. Microorganisms: - This environment is rich in fungi, protists, bacteria, archaea, and some viruses. Birds: - The roots hold the mud in a way that allows many invertebrate to hide inside. - Some birds (waders) probe the mud for these as food. - Larger predatory birds use the mangroves to roost and nest (e.g. hawks and osprey; and storks, pelicans and cormorants). - The Coppename Monding Nature Reserve in Suriname hosts up to 1.2 million migratory shore birds each year. Larger animals: Reptiles: - Provide homes and food for animals which reptiles can then eat. - Snakes, lizards (mangrove monitor lizard), and crocodiles. Mammals: - Some monkeys use the mangrove leaves and fruits as part of their diet - Howler monkeys, colobus monkeys, and proboscis monkeys. - Deer, goats and camels often visit the mangroves for foliage as part of their diets. - Also the pygmy three toed sloth (Critically endangered). - Predatory mammals use this environment for protection while feeding on the rich adjacent environments (e.g. seagrass and coral reefs). - Some bats use the mangroves to roost on. Fisheries: - Essential intertidal habitat for fisheries. - 30% of fish catch and ~100% shrimp catch in South East Asia. - 75% of commercial fish catch in Queensland, Australia (Manson et al, 2005). - Molluscs such as osyters, cockles, mussels, crabs and shrimps, provide enough profit to sustain many 1000s of small scale fishers. - In some communities, timetables in schools are set around the fisheries of mangroves (ManKenzie, 2001). - Finfish, such as, mullet, anchovy, snapper, catfish, and tilapia are caught here. - The most profitable fish include: Barramundi, mangrove snapper (north Australia and South east Asia), bonefish, permit, and snook (carribean). - Shrimp fisheries are an important economic aspect to Northern Australia, Borneo, Mexico and the Guianas. Tourism: - Sometimes Mangrove forests are not a popular visit due to: hard access, mosquitoes, and bad smells. - Boat tours give a much easier access for tourists to the mangrove forests to view the ecosystem. - Boardwalks give a cleaner, easier, independent access to tourists. - Mangrove forests are used for recreational fishing. - Also for bird watching. - Tour examples: Proboscis monkeys in Borneo, Caroni Swamp in Trinidad (for Scarlet ibis), Bioluminescent plankton in Puerto Rico, and Fireflies in Malaysia. - 60,000 visitors a year to Laguna de Restinga in Venezuela and also to Dongchaigang Nature Reserve in China. Benefits to the environment: - Mangroves have an important role in filtering out sewage and pollutants from the water (Lal, 2003; Lin and Dushhoff, 2004; and Tam, 2006). - 2-5 hectares of mangrove forest for every hectare of aquaculture. - Mangroves are believed to have a CO2 sequestration ability. Coastal protection: - Roots help maintain structure of sediments. --> Reduces erosion and acts as a buffer during storms. - Mangroves carry out wave attenuation (reducing wave noise by absorbing energy??) - Study on the Gulf of Thailand (Thampanya et al, 2006) shows less net erosion where there is extensive mangrove coverage. - During storms, mangroves are thought to prevent some flooding, reduce damage caused by waves, and stop large debris from being moved great distances. Timber and plant products: - Timber values are usually lower than fisheries. - Timber is used for housing, charcoal, fuel (and other wood), firewood, fishing stakes and poles in Singapore, Hongkong and Malaysia, pulp (textile industry), Tannin (leather works), .
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:31:46 +0000
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