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Mangroves

Mangroves. What is a mangrove?. A diverse group of trees that are salt tolerant (halophyte) and are viviparous. Where are they located?. shallow and protected tropical and subtropical regions restricted to intertidal and adjacent marine habitats

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Mangroves

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  1. Mangroves

  2. What is a mangrove? A diverse group of trees that are salt tolerant (halophyte) and are viviparous . Where are they located? • shallow and protected tropical and subtropical • regions • restricted to intertidal and adjacent marine • habitats • temperature range: 10oC to 20oC

  3. Ocean Productivity Open ocean <50 g C/m2/year Coral reefs 1000 g C/m2/year Mangroves 500 g C/m2/year Continental Shelf: Nonupwelling 200 g C/m2/year Coastal upwelling 300 g C/m2/year Seagrass beds 1000 g C/m2/year Estuaries and salt marshes 800 g C/m2/year Upwelling 300 g C/m2/year

  4. Salt Tolerance: What would happen if you watered your garden with salt water? • A few mangrove species can survive in freshwater, but are not good competitors with other species. • Mangroves have a high salt tolerance. They can survive well in 90%o soil salinity. The ocean averages 35 %o. • They need to prevent water loss by either: • excrete salt at leaves • exclude salt at roots • salt excretion and abscission (remove of salt laden organs)

  5. Physical Factors that Effect Growth and Development: wave action: windward (more tidal flush) vs. leeward (get more anoxic conditions, stagnation, algae blooms) nutrients tidal flush riverine flow canopy cover soil: low oxygen (anaerobic), high hydrogen sulfide, fine grain soils (muddy) anaerobic sulfur reducing bacteria calcareous shells of mollusks are acted upon sulfur bacteria--- in turn get Ca++ nutrients that the mangrove and other animals need, also raises the alkalinity of the soil.

  6. Stresses: • Channelization, drainage, and siltation • Hurricane • Herbicides and defoliants • Pesticides and pollution • Thermal loading (heat)

  7. Physiology: Most mangrove are viviparous, they drop propagules from branches, which are carried away by waves. No resting seed stage: fruiting body (propagule) is a seedling.

  8. Prop roots help support the tree, also the root system can be very spread out. Pneumatophores have a respiratory function. The soil is very anaerobic, so the pneumatophores stick out of the surface and take in O2. They also function by pushing nutrients to the upper soil layer.

  9. Ecological Role of Mangroves: • Stabilize sediment • Accumulate detrital or other foreign material • Habitat for epiphytes • Fish and invertebrate nursery • Nesting/roosting sites for birds • Limited role as a direct food source • Major contributor to detrital food chain

  10. Mangrove Use: • fish and shrimp cultivation • natural buffers against hurricanes • major detrital source • nursery for many different animals • food for: people, crabs, fungi, bacteria, other animals • coal • tanning material • finest honey

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