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| "If there
are no mangrove forests, then the sea will have no meaning. It is like having a
tree with no roots, for the mangroves are the roots of the sea."
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Mangrove swamps are found
along tropical seacoasts on both sides of the equator. They are named for the
Mangrove trees that grow there. Mangrove swamps, to most people, look like
muddy, swampy places filled with mosquitoes, snakes and spiders. Actually, they
are a forest community that bridges the gap between land and sea. Mangroves are
found along muddy estuaries of large rivers, and in sheltered intertidal
coastal settings that include lagoons, bays, tidal creeks and
inlets. |
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Mangrove Root System |
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Mangrove trees stand in
mud on roots that look like stilts above water that contains a high degree of
salt. This tangle of roots can be divided into three types: |
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- the radiating cable roots
with their tangle of anchor roots provide support against the ocean's strong
waves and tides
- little nutritive roots grow
up out from the main cable root and feed on the rich soil just below the mud's
surface
- the third type of root
collects oxygen for the plant.
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| Mangrove root systems provide a
filtering system for run-off from the guts of our islands, allowing the
sediments to be removed before entering open water. This sediment would
otherwise cover and kill coral reef colonies. The mangrove swamp is regularly
inundated with salty seawater, but the trees are never fully submerged. With
each high tide, the soil surface is covered and the soil often becomes
waterlogged. The soil may also be shifted by the waves. |
Mangroves At High Tide |
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Mangrove swamps protect
the land from soil erosion and the effects of storms. They also act as a form
of pollution control, naturally filtering out industrial and human waste.
Mangrove swamps, like other wetlands, are important components of the water
cycle, absorbing excess water flow during times of flooding. |
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Mangrove swamps serve
important functions:
- they provide food, nesting
and nursery areas for many animals which include at least 220 fish species, 24
reptile and amphibian species, 18 mammal species and 181 bird species. The dead
leaves and twigs in the water grow microorganisms that provide food for young
marine animals.
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- they protect the coastline by
acting as wave breaks. They stabilise coastlines, promote coastal accretion and
serve as natural barriers against torrential storms. In this way, they preserve
the coastline and prevent shoreline erosion.
- they trap debris, sediments,
excess nutrients and toxicants through their natural filtering processes. This
improves the water quality of tidal rivers that drain through
mangroves.
- they act as wind breaks which
reduce the force of winds that may destroy and damage property.
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The term "mangrove" refers
both to the many species of salt tolerant trees which may be found in a
mangrove swamp, and to the actual area in which these salt tolerant trees are
dominant. |
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Mangrove species reproduce
by producing flowers and rely on pollination by bees and insects. After
pollination, the seed remains on the parent tree. It germinates and grows roots
before dislodging. It then has a better chance of establishing itself in the
sediment before getting swept away by outgoing tides. Many mangrove species
release their seed inside a capsule. The capsule floats and is deposited in a
location where it germinates and sends out its shoots and then becomes a new
mangrove tree. |
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There is a belief that
the increasing floods in Bangladesh are due to loss of mangroves in the past
few decades and there is not much disagreement regarding this view in the
scientific community. |
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Mangrove Swamps offer
mankind many benefits, including, but not limited to:
- Mangroves are extremely
important for supporting the fisheries industry which generates a high amount
of revenue.
- Mangroves are a rich source
of timber which can be harvested on a sustainable basis.
- Other mangrove products are
also used, including the harvesting of mangrove plants for a wide range of
medicinal uses.
- Some mangrove animals, like
the proboscis monkeys of Borneo with their unusual noses, are tourist
attractions and thus generate income.
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 "After reading that description, I realize this place
is even better than I thought! The plants and animals are just as exotic as the
area itself. Boy, you're going to love this!! Here they are - the plants and
animals found in Mangrove Swamps!! |
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"Aren't they incredible?
I am so proud |
| to be part of that group!
The Mangrove Swamp habitat areas are in trouble. Next, you'll find out why they
are in danger of being lost. This is where the 'convincing part' of my job
starts. I sure hope I can convince you to help. I know you won't help, if you
don't know what's wrong. Please make sure you understand what's happening here
in the Mangrove Swamp. Oh, in case you have any questions, I have a friend who
is willing to answer them. Just click on the link below and email your
questions to him." |
Research
Department
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| Reasons for
Habitat Destruction |
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Mangrove forests are
lost when they are torn up, filled in and dug under for other purposes such as
agriculture, aquaculture and other development activities. |
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People often wrongly
perceive Mangroves as unsightly and want them removed so as to enhance the
environment. Mangroves then often become garbage dumps. |
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Pollution adversely
affects Mangrove Swamps. Pollution degrades the quality of the plantlife and
the water in the swamp, which in turn adversely affects the insects and
animasls that also live there. The roots of the mangroves can become easily
clogged with man-made sediments and petroleum as well as from other
pollution. |
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Mangrove Swamps
often are mistakenly thought to be breeding grounds for mosquitos and
either flooded with insecticides or filled in with dirt hoping to prevent a
mosquito infestation.. |
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Pruned mangroves
grow fewer prop roots and fruit and this in turn provides a lower quality
habitat. Pruning also diminishes shoreline protection and reduces the number of
bird species using this habitat. |
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Mangroves are
vulnerable to oil spills because oil floats into these swamps and strands among
the roots and sediments, killing and damaging trees and fauna, and persisting
in sediments afterwards. |
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| "Now for my grand finale!! Here are some things I want you to
do to help the Mangrove Swamp habitat areas and their inhabitats (that's me!).
We'll help you as much as we can. Truth is, there's not much we can do. It's
really all up to you!" |
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| What You Can
Do To Help |
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Every time another
house is built; a bigger shopping mall goes up; or another parking lot is
paved, wildlife habitat is lost! Become aware of all new building proposals in
your area. Voice your disapproval of any that threaten wildlife habitat. You
can do this in a number of ways, two of which are: 1) attend town meetings and
clearly and respectfully voice your objections and 2) vote out of office those
politicians who do not support the environment or wildlife. |
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Learn all you can
about the importance of Mangrove Swamps. Teach others what you have learned. Be
sure to impress ipon others how important Mangrove Swamps are to biodiversity
on Earth! Help others see the real beauty of this unique habitat
area. |
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Buying organically
grown vegetables, flour or meat reduces the use of chemical fertilizers,
pesticides and herbicides, which, in turn lessens the pollution killing the
Mangrove Swamps. |
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Use
environmentally-friendly cleaning products to avoid polluting water. If your
local market does not carry these, ask the manager to start. |
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Dispose of oils,
chemicals and old batteries at your local collection site. This will ensure
that they are disposed of properly and will not end up in a Mangrove Swamp, if
you live near one, or in your local river or stream that eventually will pass
through a wetland area on its way to the sea. |
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Use less water. Try
doing the following:
- Turn the water off
while brushing your teeth
- Repair Leaks. A small
leak of one (1) drop per second wastes 2,400 gallons of water per year! Most
leaks are easy to detect and easy to repair with some basic know-how and a few
simple tools.
- Install Water Saving
Devices. There are many devices that you can either buy inexpensively such as
aerators (to mix air with water), flow regulators (to reduce water flow), and
displacement devices (to reduce the amount of water in older toilet tanks).
Make sure the water-saving device is installed properly.
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Using less petroleum
products will mean less oil transportation thus resulting in less oil spills.
Drive less in order to lessen your gasoline consumption. Carpool whenever
possible. Better yet, bicycle or walk to work! It's healthier. |
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| "By the way, I hope you
like to |
| color as much as I do!
There's a picture of the Mangrove Swamp
habitat area to color, if you'd like to. I wonder where I put my crayons? I'll
ask my Mom. She'll know! Bye for now!" |
 "See, I told you this place is exotic. Do
you like Slim Chance? I think he's terrific! I sure hope you are writing down
all these things that you can do to help. With so many habitat areas and so
many things to do in each area, I sure wouldn't want you to forget any of them.
If you think you might need to revisit any of the areas we've already been to,
please do! Click on the link below and then click on any of the postcards of a
habitat we've already visited. Please, choose one of the ideas above and begin
doing it today! We haven't much time left to save the Mangrove
Swamps!" |
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| For more information about
Mangrove Swamps, please visit: |
Manzanar Project
The Role Of Mangroves in
the Marine Environment
Mangrove
Swamps
The
Department of Fisheries Malaysia Marine Education Kit |
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 Back to Habitat
Awareness Main Page
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Pinch Homepage!
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