Human Dimension Mangroves

MARINE BOTANY Class 19 FALL 2011

Main ecosystems Connections and Ecotones

INTERACTIONS
ATENUATION OF WAVES AND CURRENTS

CORAL REEF

PRODUCTION OF CALCAREOUS SEDIMENTS

MIGRATION
FIXING OF SEDIMENTS

SEAGRASS

BED
MIGRACIN

NURSERY

MANGROVE SWAMP

EXPORT OF PRODUCTS OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION

BUFFERING OF TERRESTRIAL INFLUENCE, STORAGE OF NUTRIENTS OF TERRESTRIAL ORIGIN

Healthy mangroves: Good water flux Interconnection with ocean and inland water sources

Mangroves cover around 150,000 square kilometers and are found in 123 countries worldwide. The biggest concentration (21 percent) of the world's mangroves is in Indonesia, with Brazil home to around nine percent and Australia, seven percent. UNEP 2010 Mangrove Atlas

Global coverage
They cover of the worlds tropical coastline 181,000 km2 worldwide (Spalding et al. 1997) Indonesia, Australia, Brazil and Nigeria have ~ 43% of the worlds mangroves

C sink

Importance of mangroves
Ecological services: - Shoreline stabilization (note: mangroves do not build coastlines as
previously believed)

- Coastal buffer (mediates impacts from marine and upland influences)

Example: reduced effects of tsunami on mangrove fishing villages reduced pollutants entering marine ecosystems biogeochemical alterations of nutrients entering nearshore areas

Importance of mangroves
The value of intact mangroves in Malaysia for storm protection and flood control alone has been estimated as US$ 300,000 per kilometer - the cost of replacing them with rock walls (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 2000).

Importance of mangroves
Economic services:
Primary importance
Food (fish, shrimp, crabs, etc.) Construction material (timber, rattan, roof thatch [from Nypa fronds])
(Note: wood from some mangrove species are used for docks/jetties because they are not as susceptible to rotting in seawater as other species)

Charcoal (primarily in South East Asia)

Fishermen collecting fish alongside otters in the Sundarbans.

Mature fronds of the palm Nypa fruiticans are used as roof thatch.

Organic Production
50% of productivity exported as detritus
May supply as much as 52% of the fixed carbon available for secondary productivity

Detritus primary food source to invertebrates and forage fish

 Mangroves are a source of wood and non-wood forest products, including timber, fuelwood, charcoal, tannins & resins, animal feed, thatch, honey & medicines

Extraction practices

Oceans.greenpeace.org

Mangrove Loss
1/3rd of all mangroves have been lost in the last 50 years Net loss of 3.8 x 1014 g C stored as mangrove biomass (Cebrian 2002) Rate of deforestation has slowed from
1.7 % per yr from 1980 to 1990 1.0 % per yr from 1990 to 2000. (FAO 2003) > 1,000 km2 annually

Spalding et al. 1997

Threats to Mangroves
Deforestation is greatest threat
Tourism

Often associated with aquaculture

overexploitation of fisheries

Alongi 2002

Commercial Aquaculture

Conversion of coastal habitats into shrimp farms 55 % mangrove loss in Thailand

It is estimated that 447 g of wild fish & shrimp are lost from nearshore catches for every 1 kg of shrimp farmed (Naylor et al. 2001)

Shrimp Culture in Thailand

Not a sustainable practice

A semi-intensive farm needs an area of mangroves 35190 times larger than farm to provide Food Clean water Nursery areas for shrimp For each joule of shrimp protein produced, 295 J of ecosystem work is required 2030% of Colombias entire mangroves is needed to supply industrys needs for postlarval shrimp coastal aquaculture Aquaculture is one of the most resourceintensive industries (Larsson et al. 1994).

Disturbed mangrove forests Canalization Lost water flux Lost open communication with both fresh water and ocean sources

Viveros de manglar en Navachiste, Bahia de Altata, Mazatln (Sinaloa), Altamira (Tamaulipas) y Campeche

Mangroves in Florida
i. 240,000 km2 worldwide ii. 2,700 km2 in Florida

Map of Mangrove Forest Height Simard, Marc et al, 2006. "Mapping Height and Biomass of Mangrove Forests in Everglades National Park with SRTM Elevation Data" Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing. Vol.72, No.3, pp299-311.

Florida Mangroves and our Environment Coastal erosion Habitat value Hurricane buffer Sequestration of carbon dioxide Water quality

Coastal Erosion Mangroves colonize sediment buildup Protect against coastal erosion Stabilize shoreline

Habitat Value Nursery Rookery Shelter Food

Extreme Storm Events Reduce Wind Action Reduce Wave Energy

Hurricane Andrew

Carbon Dioxide Sequestration 3.7 lbs/acre/day of carbon (1336 lbs/acre/yr) May be most effective carbon sinks of any natural ecosystem, but look at salt marshes

Simard, Marc et al, 2006. "Mapping Height and Biomass of Mangrove Forests in Everglades National Park with SRTM Elevation Data" Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing. Vol.72, No.3, pp299-311. Map of Mangrove Forest Biomass

Water Quality
Absorption of nitrates and phosphates Protection of associated marine systems

Mangrove Threats
Development Invasive species Trash Improper pruning

Summary of the uses, functions and attributes of mangroves uses Fucntions Attributes
Forestry Agriculture Salt production Food, drugs, beverages Fuel wood, charcoal Fishing/aquaculture materials Household items Textile and leather production Agriculture Construction materials Water supply Wildlife protection Recreation/tourism Research site Education site Transport routes Flood mitigation Prevention of intrusion of saline waters Storm protection Sediment trapping Toxicant removal Groundwater recharge Erosion control Nutrient export Wildlife habitat Fish/shellfish habitats Protection of offshore habitats (coral reefs, sea-grass beds) Biological diversity value Socio-economic values Cultural Value Historic value Aesthetic value Wilderness value Educational value Research value

Ecological economics
The undervaluation of products and services generated by mangrove ecosystems is a major driving force behind to conversion into alternative uses.
If mangrove uses are to be sustainable, they must operate on the basis of economics Monetary value of some mangroves services:
Mangrove-related fish fisheries = US$475 to 5330 ha/yr Penaeid shrimp fishery (catch) = US$91 to 5292 ha/yr Timber = US$ 60800 ha/yr Coastal erosion protection US$1800 ha/yr Wastewater treatment US$6700 ha/yr

Worlds mangrove forests are worth US$ 18 trillion/y US$475 to 5330 ha/yr ear
(Costanza et al. 1998, Roonback 1999)

Global climate change

1. Changes in sea level 2. Extreme high-water events 3. Storms 4. Precipitation 5. Temperature 6. Atmospheric CO2 concentration 7. Ocean circulation patterns 8. Health of linked ecosystems 9. Human responses to climate change

CAPITAL NATURAL