Mangrove Distribution and Types of Mangroves - Essay Example

Mangrove Mangrove Introduction Mangroves are salt-tolerant vegetation that have adapted to existing in salt and blackishwater conditions. Mangrove may characteristically refer to an individual species. Terms such as mangrove area, mangrove ecology, mangrove wood, mangrove swamp, and mangal are normally used interchangeably to explain the complete mangrove community. This paper will look at mangrove distribution, types of mangroves, the importance of mangroves, protection of mangroves, and uses of mangroves. Mangrove distribution Mangroves are distributed circumtropically, they occur in about 112 countries and territories. Mangrove distributions within their ranges are strongly affected by temperature and moisture. Large-scale currents might also manipulate distributions by preventing propagules from realization in some areas. Individual mangroves species vary in the duration of time their propagules remain viable, their establishment achievement, their augmentation rate, and their tolerance limits. These factors, which appear moderately reliable around the world, combine to produce characteristics distributional ranges for most species. Mangroves grow mostly along the eastern coastlines of the Americas and Africa than along the cooler western coastlines. They prefer areas with humid climate and fresh water inflow that brings in abundant nutrients and silt. Mangroves grow luxuriantly in alluvial soils. They are abundant in broad, sheltered, low-lying coastal plains where topographic gradients are small and tidal amplitudes are large. In common cases flooded but well-drained soils support good mangrove growth and high species diversity. Mangroves do not grow well in the stagnant water. Types of Mangroves There exists about 90 species of mangrove that are recognized in the world that belong to some 20 plant families. Around the tropics of Australia, 37 types from 15 plant families occur, approximately 40 per cent of the entire number of mangrove types found all over the world. Mangrove families include Avicenniaceae, Meliaceae, Rhizophoraceae and the Sonneratiaceae. The most prolific species include the Grey Mangrove, and the Red Mangrove. Each mangrove type is definite by its forbearance to salt and temperature strain. Moving upstream in a mangrove woodland, species location becomes conspicuous. Species such as the Grey and Red Mangroves control the downstream segment of the mangrove woodland, where flood occurs daily, while some of the black, orange, and yellow mangroves grow in the upstream segment where flood of seawater doesn’t occur as recurrently. The milky mangrove expels a white sap on breaking the stem or leaves which is irritating and poisonous on contact. Mangrove varieties are often zoned corresponding to the seashore. The region where each type occurs is determined by tide levels and soil situation. The River Mangrove usually occurs in the Fringing Zone, near to the mean sea level mark. Strand Structure in Mangrove Stand structure that is experienced in mangrove forests is comparatively easy when compared to that of other forest types, like humid rainforests. The quantity of strata is frequently condensed to one; the major canopy. In a number of forests, a carpeting of seedlings might form a subsequent layer, but the plentiful lianas and subcanopy vegetation and shrubs universal to the majority tropical forests are principally absent in mangrove vegetations. The arrangement of salinity strain and the requirement for light are sufficient to exclude the growth of understory undergrowth and, therefore, create an evolutionary difficulty that has not been crossed. There are mangrove vegetation with understories, nevertheless. These have a tendency to be in areas with plentiful year-round precipitation and freshwater overflow. In this circumstance, a number of minor tree and bush species can be originate in the woodland as mangrove associates, but these types are much more universal in freshwater inundate or tropical forest environments. Destruction of Mangroves A mixture of natural interruption regimes affects mangrove woodland. These may be moderately local-scale proceedings such as fracture of branches throughout windstorms, lightning strikes, hoarfrost damage, and whole-scale destruction of the forest by hurricanes. Gradients in the types and frequency of disturbance are also present across the geographic range of mangrove forests. Because of their immediacy to inhabitants’ centers, mangals have in history been advantaged sites for sewage discarding. Manufacturing effluents have contributed to a great extent to heavy metal pollution in the deposit. Oil from spill out and from petroleum production has flowed into several mangals. These direct insults have had important negative The Importance of Mangroves Mangroves are important for a variety of ecosystem services, which have an equal broad range of value. The total economic value of the ecosystems is decomposed into direct use, indirect use and non-use values. Direct use values refer to consumptive and non con-consumptive uses that entail direct physical interaction with the mangroves and their services such as outputs of fish, fuel wood, recreation, and transport. Indirect use values include regulatory ecological functions, which lead to indirect proceeds such as flood management, storm fortification nutrient retention, nursery grounds for diverse type, and erosion control. Non-use values include existence and bequest values of mangroves. Mangrove trees create great amounts of organic material. The fallen vegetation, seeds, and seedlings go through the waterway and are grazed by tiny animals. The waste is additionally broken down by bacteria and fungi. Rotting pieces of debris are taken by other marine flora and fauna called detritivores. These in return supply food for better fish and other animals (Chapman, 1976). Mangrove provide shelter for the juveniles and adults of many fish species, including commercially and recreationally important species such as bream, mullet, flathead and shellfish such as prawns and crabs. Mangroves also provide habitat for other forms of wildlife including birds such as the threatened Mangrove Honey Eater. Mangrove also play a vital role in protecting coastal grounds by absorbing the power of tidal currents and storm-driven storm and wave action, creating an accepted breakwater that assists to stop erosion. Mangrove plants also help in providing a buffer between the terrestrial and nearby marine environments; trapping and stabilizing sediment, nutrients and contaminants from runoff, thus helping to maintain water quality (Saenger, 2012). Mangrove forests are also imperative in conditions of aesthetics and tourism. Many inhabitants vacate in these areas for sports, boating, fishing, bird watching, and other recreation pursuits. Mangroves are also proficient of absorbing contaminations such as heavy metals and other poisonous substances as well as nutrients and poised matter. Mangroves therefore, provide a natural wastewater filters, and hence preventing several land-based and nearshore pollutants from reaching deeper waters. Protection of Mangroves Existing at the boundary between land and sea, mangroves are well modified to deal with ordinary stressors. However, since they exist close to their forbearance limits, they may be predominantly sensitive to disorder like those formed by human activities. Since mangroves have several economic values there is need to help protect them. There are many ways in which we can help protect the mangroves this includes: fencing along the intertidal zone to prevent stock from, accessing the mangrove areas. One can also protect the mangroves by designing riverfront structures such as jetties or boat ramps to prevent or diminish impacts to the mangroves. The public should avoid riding, walking, and driving through mangrove areas at low tide. There should be restrictions to prevent people from disposing oils and chemicals in regions with mangrove vegetation, and people should report activities that harm mangroves by contacting the concerned authorities. People should not harm the mangroves by gathering, cutting, pulling them up, destroying, poisoning, removing, injuring, preventing light from reaching or otherwise harming the marine vegetation, or any part of it (Alongi, 2002). Uses of Mangroves Mangrove woodland has been utilized for numerous functions that includes for lumber, firewood, and charcoal. However, it is now imperative that governments around the globe should accept regulations to limit this consumption because; it is significant to sustain ecosystem variety, and mangroves can be used for other function including acting as a basis for chemical component with possible medicinal and farming value. In addition, individual mangrove vegetation can be used as fish poisons, mammal food, food and drink for man, and in the making of methanol and acetic acid. Apart from wood, other mangrove products have been subjugated commercially. Mangrove bark has conventionally been used to produce tannins, which are used as a dye and to protect leather. The pneumatophores of diverse mangroves species are used in making corks and fishing floats; some are also used in perfumes and condiments. The ash of Avicennia and Rizophora mangle is used as a soap substitute. Other mangrove extracts are used to produce synthetic fibers and cosmetics (Kathiresan, 2001). Conclusion Mangrove vegetation is found along the seashore of countries that are to the east. This vegetation is useful to both the human beings, wildlife, and fish. It helps in water purification, and provides a habitat for distinct animals. The importance of the mangrove forests for ecosystem diversity cannot be underestimated because mangroves are extensive throughout the earth and relate to a broad variety of significant ecosystem functions. Reference Alongi, D. M. (2002). Present state and future of the worlds mangrove forests.Environmental conservation, 29(03), 331-349. Chapman, V. J. (1976). Mangrove vegetation. Vaduz.: J. Cramer, 581. Kathiresan, K., & Bingham, B. L. (2001). Biology of mangroves and mangrove ecosystems. Advances in marine biology, 40, 81-251. Saenger, P. (1998). Mangrove vegetation: an evolutionary perspective. Marine and Freshwater Research, 49(4), 277-286. Valiela, I., Bowen, J. L., & York, J. K. (2001). Mangrove Forests: One of the Worlds Threatened Major Tropical Environments At least 35% of the area of mangrove forests has been lost in the past two decades, losses that exceed those for tropical rain forests and coral reefs, two other well-known threatened environments. Bioscience, 51(10), 807-815. l Read More